As an undergraduate, I majored in Africana Studies, Theater, and Political Science. While I had hopes of working as an actor, I never saw myself as a filmmaker, which is equivalent to being a storyteller. It wasn’t until I developed an interest in independent world cinema that I started to think seriously about being a writer/director as a career option—a storyteller. There was something magical yet real about seeing films by writers/directors such as Charles Burnett, Claire Denis, Robert Bresson, Billy Woodberry, Spike Lee, Yasujiro Ozu, the Dardenne Brothers, and later Kelly Reichardt that fed my soul and desire to be a filmmaker. I often wondered why those filmmakers. Then, I realized why. It was mainly because they are all intelligent and unapologetic about using their craft as filmmakers, along with their humanity, to tell stories about everyday people in circumstances that I am familiar with, like being vulnerable, being poor, and being working class. It was navigating these types of complex human circumstances in a story setting that allowed me to see myself planting creative stakes as a filmmaker. To be able to shine a light on the humanity and intelligence of those who are so often marginalized in the dark corners of media representation excites me. Although I am considered a late bloomer in the cinematic world of filmmaking, I am by no means a late bloomer in storytelling. Therefore, I have decided to spend my life learning and developing my craft as a writer/director – embracing the tools of love, creativity, and perseverance to let my humanity shine to the world as a storyteller. Just maybe, someday, my work will inspire someone else to live and dream beyond the zeitgeist of their surroundings.
-Jeremiah OC Jahi
(Writer/Director)