What You Want by Evanescence

I find that life after college graduation even for a few months is incredibly challenging, especially if you are majored in something that is not in demand. Its really a Health Care and IT/Computer Science-catered economy at the moment; leaving us Humanities and Social Science, Political Science, and Philosophers in trouble. Was it a mistake to major in what we did for the X thousands of dollars in debt we bury ourselves in for a piece of paper that shows our completion of our 4+ years in college? Unfortunately, I have no place in my post to answer this question for you, but I can show you from experience that if you are truly blessed with a skill, definitely nurture it to the best of your ability. It is also wise to do more courses that can help you make you stand out as an individual. I see myself different from other videographers and photographers because I tend to focus on different styles of photography with heavy emphasis on composition and color. I am signed to fly to Cameroon in October as a Still-Photographer/Production Assistant for a movie, yet seeing that I have not returned back to Mother Africa for more than a decade will not be easy. Nor figuring out how I am going to pay for my travel there, whether take out a loan or wait to see if I can get sponsors to assist me.

One of the hardest parts is dealing with the fact that I have not found a full-time job, despite the skills, uniqueness, and energy I have. I always do want to help out in so many ways (videography/photography), but without a full-time job or a strong payback from gigs (I will get to a point where I refuse to do free gigs, unless for important charities) I find myself worried of what jobs I go from there.The fact that as a Nigerian-American, I am limited to career choices my people wanted me to venture in. The old saying of: “If you don’t go to school to become a doctor, lawyer, nurse, you are screwed for life”  often perturb me, but I know eventually I will figure it out. I will be one of the best Nigerian-American photographers out there. In fact, one of the most unique. If I think of it as a competition, I will lose. Its all about doing the very best each day, learning, meeting people, and the works. If you read from my previous post, I have many things planned for myself for this month. For you my readers and for my self growth as a photographer/videographer, this blog will always have some insight of where I am in the world. One thing for certain, I won’t stop doing videos and photography. I won’t give up when the economy gets me down. When my family often discourages me to go back to school to be a stereotypical Nigerian doctor, I stand my ground. It’s finally time I do things for myself and hopefully this can encourage others to do the same. Let’s here it for life, we only live once so do all that it worth the fight.  This post is dedicated to a song I actually wanted to do some kind of short film or photo shoot, but I have to find the time to make better plans the shoot.

Here are sample lyrics to What You Want by Evanescence:

Do what you, what you want
If you have a dream for better
Do what you, what you want
’til you don’t want it anymore (remember who you really are)

Do what you, what you want
Your world’s closing in on you now (it isn’t over)
Stand and face the unknown (got to remember who you really are)

Every heart in my hands
Like a pale reflection

Hello, hello, remember me?
I’m everything you can’t control
Somewhere beyond the pain
There must be a way to believe
We can break through

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PS: I am not pale, LOL.

Link to Evanescence’s What You Want: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVWazHTunSI

Plans for August 2012

 

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I glad that I have made it to Day 3 on writing this blog, since that was the number I stopped on my Blogger blog. Not to mention, I never enjoyed writing the blog in the first place because I rely on memory to write down past experiences. Having a brand new blog was on top on my bucket list for this month. Now that I am on my fifth post, I plan to write at least 3 times a week, at most everyday. Today was another goal accomplished (writing 3 times a week), as August is far from over for me. I still have quite a few things to do before I am ready for September to breeze by. So I am going to list my goals for this month and the steps I am doing t get there. Hopefully, this can encourage you to do the same. Having a to-do list as a blog can be both beneficial and encouraging. I share mines, for you guys go ahead and get your goals accomplished. Let’s get started!

Goal:

1. Attend Afro-Punk Festival 2012 as Press Photographer in Brooklyn, NY on August 25-August 26- (I actually got approved as Press, but I have to work hard to get the pictures I wanted since I do not have the Photo Pass. Let’s see. )
2. Meet some of the performers at Afro Punk- (My goal is to meet Straight Line Stitch, Janelle Monae, Eryakah Badu, and Purple Ferdinand.)
3. Attend the Ooh La La Fashion in Long Beach this Saturday (Hopefully this will be a great show)
4. Take another driving lesson from Alex this Saturday (I still do not have a driver’s license)
5. Get some friends together and start shooting corporate, model, actor headshots, and create a sample music video. (Boy, do I have plans for this one!)
6. Work with MUIPR and attend their New York Fashion Week event on September 6th. (They invited me)
7. Work with Long Tran as their videographer/photographer for NYFW.  (I got accepted)
8. Apply to at least 50 potential sponsors for Yefon the Movie (Money is not easy to get)
9. Figure out how to go to Cameroon and at the same time make sure my potential employer is fine with me leaving for a month. (TBA)
10. Have chiomaozuzu.com as my overall portfolio site. (Still working on it) 

More to come guys!

Check out chiomaozuzu.smugmug.com for more pictures!!!!

P.S. Just added….Your girl got Press for the 2012 Couture Fashion Show in New York City!