One of our Griot guest speakers, Ephraim Asili, a filmmaker and educator whose work focuses on the African diaspora, came to chat over lunch with faculty and students. Asili answered listeners questions from varying disciplinary perspectives, from video production to education, guiding listeners through his personal experiences and lessons learned. The majority of student questions were geared toward the artist’s career, asking about the lifestyle of an up-and-coming artist.Â
Asili offered a word of caution, emphasizing the importance of artistic passion as a motivator rather than monetary success. He advised students pursuing a filmmaking career to get comfortable working multiple jobs simultaneously to support their art, noting that the added pressure of earning a living from the art could diminish productive creation.
Overall, Asili supported students in preparing for future artistic careers by providing guidance on the artist lifestyle, creative processes, and logistical production.