Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tiffani Alexander. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Tiffani, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on has been producing my documentary mini-series on Nashville’s Hip Hop scene and the city’s Black musical lineage. The project was originally my thesis for graduate school and during the research process, it turned into so much more. Working on the project felt like building community and honoring a story that needed to be told…as our team interviewed artists and historians, the story grew, organically.

Creating the series was a pinnacle in my academic career and felt like a marker indicating the end of one chapter and the beginning of becoming a “full-time” artist.

Tiffani, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Growing up in metro-Atlanta, Ga, I was surrounded by creative expression and art of different mediums, which gave me a deep love for storytelling from an early age. In undergrad, I pursued journalism but realized pretty quickly that I wanted a more creative path and decided that film was a better fit. As a result, I went to film school in Nashville after undergrad, which was a good experience to build my network and break into the film community.

I work mostly as a producer and creative director and am passionate about narratives that surround marginalized demographics. As a southern, Black filmmaker, it’s imperative that I create art that reflects the warmth, authenticity and genuineness that I’ve found in the communities that have cultivated my growth as a person and a creative.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

As a creative, it’s so easy to become so devoted to your work that you neglect self. Over the years, I realized I had a skewed view of what it takes to be successful or productive. I’ve had to unlearn the concept of self-neglect or suffering as badge of “honor” in the creative process or as a creative professional.

While long hours are unavoidable and life can be vexing, it’s important to find ways/time to rest and recharge (which sounds so cliche, ha).

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I want to encourage more POC and marginalized youth to pursue storytelling in the form of film, as an outlet. It’s a personal goal of mine to make film as an art practice more attainable, from the aspect of providing resources. I believe that a big part of diversifying the industry and the stories we see is creating a new context of access for those who don’t have a concept of the creative process of filmmaking.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @tiffeli_
• Linkedin: Tiffani Alexander ; https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffani-a-775930a5/