We recently connected with Ali Hopson and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ali thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

“Fake it until you make it” is how everyone starts. Right? I find peace and encouragement from one of my favorite productions, Rocky Horror Picture Show. “Don’t Dream it. Be It!” For me, the value of the message has been in the lessons of growth, failing, and recreation over the years. I have been in the film industry for over a decade and an artist my entire life. Over time, I have learned: a good work flow; lots of hacks for working on the go; and a community of artists & professionals who have become family.

My family has been in various forms of media & art for generations. My great grandfather had a community newspaper he ran out of Beaumont Texas in 1944, as an immigrant to this country from Guiana, now Guyana, in the late 1800s. Servicing the Beaumont Texas area in a time when owning a black community newspaper was dangerous. His mission for our family is to always be a voice for the people’s advancement of the quality of black life in America. This has been a guide to my career’s journey, even before I discovered it was a part of my destiny.

Between the production paperwork, project management, and deadlines for completion, there has been plenty of learning room. My film family has shown love in helping me grow, always something I remind myself about.

Ali, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My formal education in sociology and community peaked my interest in documenting family events that lead to weddings, to band, and finally to film sets. I have used this organic progression as a way of moving my career forward. I believe that all connections with people are relevant. This is my way of manufacturing creative and organic projects, using the unique pieces to connect the targeted audience. MAWU PHOTOGRAPHY MEDIA & Cut & Deliver Solutions are collaborative think tanks that provide directional guidance for story tellers, crews, artists and more. Our creatives translate media and art as a collaborative vision of creativity. I keep in mind that a group is only as strong as a leader who listens to the council of others. With collaborations and community as my mantra, my future accomplishments as an artist, director, and producer keep the creative fires burning.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I will have to say the fact that I am still working in an industry I love for over a decade is the journey that illustrates my resilience. The adventures in my career and barriers I will face I believe shape my business practices today.
I have been told many things about my dreams and goals are great ideas but out of reach. Teaching me to surround myself with opinions of those who care enough to speak the truth but want to see you fly.

I have been told I am not strong enough for the job or that motherhood should keep me from advancing up the department ladder.

All that to say, it’s hard to learn to know who you are in this world with negativity. That drive makes me stronger.

Understand, this whole thing is trial and error. What makes us stand out is out ability to rise and recreate from those mistakes. My trick, pivot, adjust, adapt until you see your vision for yourself again.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

MAWU has been a grant recipient for over several years. We encourage people to look up city and state community arts grants. We used these cultural artist grants to form Cut & Deliver. Cut & Deliver aims to increase financial opportunities for people of color, women, LGBTQ+ , and other underrepresented productions, screenplays, and creative projects. Cut & Deliver uses grant funding and other community resources to champion our voices in narrative films, documentaries, and creative media projects.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mawuphotography.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mawuphotographymedia/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ali-d-hopson
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/mawuphotography
• Other: www.cutdeliversolutions.com www.facebook.com/cutanddeliver https://m.imdb.com/name/nm6061608/

Image Credits
Images by Ali D. Hopson / MAWU PHOTOGRAPHY MEDIA