We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jakari Lister. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jakari below.

Jakari, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My most meaningful project is currently my graduate thesis film that I’m working on in post-production right now. The story was inspired by my breakup last year, which triggered me to sit down and write. I’ve never been one to withhold my feelings, so when I write stories since I’ve been in this graduate program, I’ve done my best to ensure my stories aren’t just ideas out of thin air, but relatable concepts. When I finally finished writing and sharing the script, I realized that not only my experience went into the story, some of my friends’ experiences made their way into the story/characters as well. For me, that realization made the story precious because I know this could never be a “just Jakari” story, it’s universal.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

The year was 2009, I found myself in a middle school A/v class with a camcorder in my hand. I learned a little bit about editing and shooting but it wasn’t until I entered my high school A/v class that I got into the craft of film making at the most basic level. My teacher had us storyboarding and shot listing and learning how to plan a video out and that inspired me to go to college for film, attending Dillard Univeristy in New Orleans. Since I graduated college I’ve been fixated on the kinds of stories I want to tell as a director and my graduate thesis film “Transparensea” being a breakup film with an all black cast, seems to be a good start. I have never been an admirer of the “black struggle” films that we have all come to embrace as a culture. This is not to disregard or forget the adversity of our ancestors, but perception of who you are in the media has a profound affect on a person whether you know it or not. I want my films to change the way african Americans see themselves, in the light and not the dark.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the “hustle” mentality in my junior year of college. I say that not to knock those who do, but the fact is that scrambling for a dollar on your own time can be just as draining as a 9-5 if you let it be that. Before I knew it, I was looking for work and putting out the same kind of content for everybody. From shooting parties, and event video, to working on sets, I came to realize that I had stepped away from the artistic side of things and had become obsessed with chasing money. Artists can’t chase money because it will rob you of your drive to create and inversely, I am happy that happened to me then and not now. I used to shoot parties for $150 a pop, and those were at least biweekly, then I’d find a photoshoot or event to record and I looked up at work that nobody other than that client would want to see. It was at that point I knew I was wasting time and something had to change, I had to change.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being a creative for me is making a film or short and hearing someone say “I can relate to…” or “at that one part, it made me feel” because then I know I’ve appealed to you. Appealing to someone is touching for me because visual storytelling should be universally understood. Well, how does that work, Jakari? Short answer: If I mute the film and you watch it, you should be able to watch and still understand what’s going on. When I began to make my projects for my grad school classes and I had to do less and less explaining, it felt good getting notes and a classmate explaining back to me my exact intention with a scene and getting their input about how it made them feel or what they received.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jakarilister4.wixsite.com/website
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jylesfrom97/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCicD_m_xkMW3R8wZKsOFdVA?view_as=subscriber

Image Credits
Cydney Boudreaux (IG:cidaknee)