As the Founder & Executive Director of Amaz1n Media, I take a lot of pride in my craft because it allows me to immerse myself in each of my client’s stories to fully realize their ideas.
My journey into the world of video production started at the young age of 7. I developed a love and passion for video cameras and technology early. My parents recognized this and purchased a $400 Hi-8 DV cassette camera for my High School graduation. I guess you could say the camera was surgically attached to my hand from that point on because I filmed every trip, family function, and outing with friends as I could.
I never really had an objective or purpose when I ventured out to film, other than simply wanting to capture as many moments as possible! In fact, It wasn’t until I was hired by Apple in 2008 that I was introduced to the world of Mac computers and video editing. This was the missing piece of the puzzle for me because, not only could I revisit all of my old, directionless tape recordings to now tell a story, but I could also express my creative thoughts visually through video editing. It was at this point that I realized my unique storytelling ability
I enrolled and paid for video production courses at my local Public Access studio to sharpen my video editing skills and increase my knowledge about the film/media industry, and in 2009, I started Amaz1n Media. The next couple of years were spent developing processes/workflows while also building/expanding my network. In 2011, I took what I learned in my first 2 years and began covering prominent events and conferences as press/media. This was the method I used to get my foot in the door and access prominent events. This allowed me the opportunity to capture all of the great moments from each event and put my funky touch on the edited highlight reel.
When I delivered the final product to the event coordinators, they were so impressed with my work and how I captured the true essence of their event, that some would hire me to be their in-house videographer for their next or future events. This is how I grew my client base and reputation.
In 2013, several crucial components came together that elevated Amaz1n Media that I’ll briefly explain:
I went from a “Me” to a “We” mentality
As more and more of my work got out there, word began to spread, and I started receiving more requests for services. So much of an influx that I could no longer keep up with the demand. This is when I decided to start offering internships, and I reached out to and registered with area colleges & universities to recruit Radio, Television & Film students. I developed a curriculum to teach students about the industry and enhance their skills through a real-world, hands-on approach vs a classroom style. I was doing everything from putting them on client projects to assigning them to work/cover prominent events such as SXSW, CES, Essence Festival, BET Awards, and much more. This gave my interns direct access into the industry and experience all while receiving credit for their classes.
I essentially built an intern-to-staff pipeline to grow my team. The vision became much bigger than myself and morphed into a (what I like to call) a conglomerate of creatives.
I fully realized my entrepreneurial spirit
I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur because I never felt fulfilled doing the same, mundane, day-to-day tasks of a 9-5. After successfully building out my workflows/systems/processes, I began to develop a business acumen/mindset. That coupled with y unique storytelling ability, creativity, curiosity about the unknown, and technical savviness made me feel as though I could not fully express my talents within the four walls of a 9-5. Creating and running my own agency allowed me to freely flex my creative muscles.
Amaz1n Media became fully independent
I did not mention this, but I worked multiple customer service + technical support jobs during the first 3 – 4 years of starting Amaz1n Media. I always looked at my employers as my silent investors as I would use part of my paychecks to pour into my business. I was working at a mortgage company when things began to click and Amaz1n became self-sustainable. I was a month away from putting in my 2-week notice when I received a company-wide email stating that the mortgage company had been sold to another company overseas. This meant that 900+ employees including myself were being laid off.
Although I felt extremely sad for those who had been working for the company for 5, 10, or even 20+ years, this was a blessing in disguise for me, because I received a large severance that allowed me to purchase my own production equipment (cameras, lights, microphones, tripod, etc), and also included a benefits package that allowed me to go to school and have it completely paid for. I planned to eventually go to school to learn filmmaking, so this was the perfect opportunity! I enrolled in Austin Community College and received my Associates in Radio, Television & Film + Converging Media Production.
You can now see why this was a huge turning point for me and Amaz1n Media. All of the components came together perfectly to move the vision forward.
In summary, my journey of entrepreneurship as an African American, and not having come from a family of entrepreneurs hasn’t been an easy one. I had to become extremely resourceful and find opportunities and mentors along the way to stay on course.
I bootstrapped and did everything I had to do to pursue my dream. I never looked at myself/circumstances as a disadvantage although I knew they existed. I was simply confident in my abilities, and let my work speak for me!
The journey I went through showed me the importance of building relationships, networking, perseverance, resourcefulness, and mentorship (providing guidance to others and helping them avoid the same obstacles). This has shaped not only how I carry myself but my business as well.
What I love the most is that I’ve created a platform that highlights the achievements and accolades of individuals, and a community that may be otherwise overlooked. It has become the voice of the community and also serves as a platform for employment, opportunities, and resources for other disadvantaged creatives as well.
This is what I get to do every single day of my life. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
