Hometown: Monroe, NC
Current City: Pittsburgh
Considers self: Filmmaker
and: Videographer
Is also seen as: Video Artist
Artist Statement:
I am an artist first, then filmmaker, but all of my life I have been a minority and have experienced life like many other minorities. One of the goals with my film work is to give the audience a view of life and how events could affect them – even when they are not directly affected.
This is what I strive for in all of my work-- to pull the audience in, whether it’s for a 30 second commercial or a full length feature film and to leave them with something either humorous or heartfelt but most of all inspiring; inspiring them to have conversations for change or better yet to spur the seeds of action.
I love my life as a working artist in the city of Pittsburgh. At times it can be a struggle but to have the power and resources to get quality work done is priceless. I feel that Pittsburgh in some ways offers more opportunities for artistic growth than any other city in the U.S. because of its wealth of grant opportunities and foundational support aimed at making the city and surrounding area a better place.
Unfortunately, this does not always translate into work opportunities in Pittsburgh for self-sustainability but it does help to move working artists into the direction of achieving just that. Yes, life is a struggle but I love my life and my work. I feel very lucky to have the impact I have on other people’s lives with the work I create. In ways, having that kind of impact is the greatest wealth of all.
Current City: Pittsburgh
Considers self: Filmmaker
and: Videographer
Is also seen as: Video Artist
Artist Statement:
I am an artist first, then filmmaker, but all of my life I have been a minority and have experienced life like many other minorities. One of the goals with my film work is to give the audience a view of life and how events could affect them – even when they are not directly affected.
This is what I strive for in all of my work-- to pull the audience in, whether it’s for a 30 second commercial or a full length feature film and to leave them with something either humorous or heartfelt but most of all inspiring; inspiring them to have conversations for change or better yet to spur the seeds of action.
I love my life as a working artist in the city of Pittsburgh. At times it can be a struggle but to have the power and resources to get quality work done is priceless. I feel that Pittsburgh in some ways offers more opportunities for artistic growth than any other city in the U.S. because of its wealth of grant opportunities and foundational support aimed at making the city and surrounding area a better place.
Unfortunately, this does not always translate into work opportunities in Pittsburgh for self-sustainability but it does help to move working artists into the direction of achieving just that. Yes, life is a struggle but I love my life and my work. I feel very lucky to have the impact I have on other people’s lives with the work I create. In ways, having that kind of impact is the greatest wealth of all.