We recently connected with Chelsea Nwasike and have shared our conversation below.

Chelsea, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

Oh, absolutely! As a writer I tend to find myself working on several freelance work and I’m thrilled to share the incredible journey behind my most recent one titled, “The Ones Before.” For a while, especially after covid and experiencing a very traumatic season in my life. What I had done for many many years— writing —became my lifeline and I knew the next project I was going to write had to be the one that got me out of that dark place. So I collaborated with my writing partner, Oluwaseun Olowo-Ake. As two Nigerian women, one Igbo and one Yoruba, we wanted to infuse our authentic voices into this narrative. We knew that telling our stories with pride and passion would empower and captivate audiences, while shedding light on the depth of our heritage.

Growing up in Nigeria, we faced the challenges of a society that sometimes valued appearing more ‘foreign’ than ‘local,’ impacting our self-perception. As Africans, our identities and voices have often been reduced, and even the name “Africa” and “Nigeria” was given to us by a foreigner. Determined to embrace our culture and history, we set out to create “The Ones Before” as an ode to our culture.

My vision was to reimagine African stories in an epic fantasy series, drawing inspiration from our rich Nigerian heritage and mythology. We wanted to showcase a different perspective, one that embraces pre-colonial realism, cultural superstitions, and mythological fantasy. A celebration of our culture and traditions in a way that the world has never seen before.

The journey to bring “The Ones Before” to life has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Countless hours of research, creating an expansive fictional world with intricate maps and characters, and crafting a captivating story – we were finally ready to present our creation to the world. We believed it was meant for television, but as we pitched it, we faced numerous rejections. The industry was hesitant to take a chance on an unestablished IP, particularly due to the high costs associated with fantasy TV series.

However, we refused to give up on our vision. Turning to social media for visibility, we received an overwhelming response from audiences who resonated deeply with “The Ones Before.” We noticed people began asking for a book and that’s when we had an epiphany. We decided to explore a new path and adapt our screenplay into prose, and that’s when the magic truly happened.

In the form of prose, “The Ones Before” blossomed even more beautifully and vividly. It was as if we discovered a limitless world within our own narrative. This newfound storytelling canvas allowed us to dive deeper into the details and nuances of our characters and their innermost desires.

I think the beautiful thing about being a creative is your ability to adapt and pivot when necessary. The ability to be introspective and think about not what is best for me, but what is best for this project first, or idea or business venture. And when you know a project is worthwhile, you automatically throw yourself into the work for hours, and days and months and years, without ever losing that “giddy” feeling one gets when they are doing what they absolutely love. One thing’s for sure, it’s gotten me out of that dark place and I’m excited to continue the journey to see “The Ones Before” reach its full potential.

Chelsea, 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?

Certainly! My name is Chelsea Nwasike, and I am an award-winning filmmaker with a passion for storytelling. I hold a B.A. degree in Media Production from Bournemouth University, England, and a Master’s degree in Filmmaking from New York Film Academy in Los Angeles.

My journey into filmmaking began in England, where I wrote a 45-minute film titled “Twisted.” Upon moving to LA, I expanded my body of work as a writer for films and commercials, earning recognition and awards at various film festivals. Some of my accolades include the Best Original Story, Best Narrative Film, and Best Thriller awards at Top Shorts Film Festival for “Written Words,” and the Best Sci-Fi Short Gold Award at Independent Shorts Awards for my film “Reaction.” Additionally, my short film “False” received the Best Experimental Film award at CKF International Film Festival.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of designing work for global brands like Bosch, TCL Electronics, and Talia Di Napoli, earning recognition for my strong understanding of brand identities and creative innovation. I was honored to receive the American Advertising Awards for Talia Yankees Campaign and the Shorty Award for Bosch’s ‘All You Need In A Bag’ Campaign.

One common theme that resonates in my works, regardless of the genre, is the exploration of loneliness. This theme is deeply inspired by my personal experience of living independently from the young age of 10, shaping my perspective on the human experience.

As a filmmaker, I am committed to sparking discussions about our place in the world, challenging assumptions, and inspiring reflection on the mysteries of our existence. Through emotional characters and powerful moods, my films aim to connect with audiences on a profound level.

I take pride in my work as a writer and director, and I am dedicated to continuing to build my body of work, crafting stories that leave a lasting impact on those who experience them.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the ability to connect with people on a deeply emotional level through my work. I get to be vulnerable in my writing and observe how that vulnerability uniquely speaks to each reader or viewer.

When someone tells me that my film or written work made them reflect, inspired them in some way, or spoke to them on levels that I hadn’t even intended, it reaffirms the purpose of my art.

Moreover, the creative process itself is a source of immense satisfaction. Bringing ideas to life, seeing characters evolve, and painting narratives with words and images that transport people to different worlds are all deeply gratifying experiences. It allows me to express myself authentically and explore the depths of human emotions and experiences.

But more than anything, the most rewarding aspect for me is the sense of fulfillment I get when I’m working. I feel the most at peace when I write, even when I face numerous road-blocks, I’m certain that I’m walking in my purpose, and nothing gives me greater joy than knowing that.

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

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn was the fear of failure and the belief that everything I create has to be perfect from the start. In the past, I would often hold back from taking creative risks or pursuing new ideas because I was afraid of making mistakes and would often hide-away works that I believed to be subpar work.

The backstory to this lesson goes back to my early days as a writer and filmmaker. I used to put immense pressure on myself to always deliver flawless work, and if I encountered any challenges or setbacks, I would get discouraged or bury my work for no one to see. This fear of failure often held me back from exploring new creative territories and experimenting with different storytelling techniques.

However, over time, I came to realize that failure is an inherent part of the creative process. Poor writing is part of the process. Bad films are part of the process. Failing is part of the process. Just do it and be ready to ride the storm all the way, cause it’s inevitably going to come- be it in work, or life. There is never a perfect time to start, so don’t wait for it. Don’t be scared to let the world see you fail, it builds resilience and at times, you will be shocked about the thing you considered not good, others may see it as a piece of inspiration.

I had to embrace the idea that creativity is a process, and it’s okay to stumble along the way. Instead of viewing failures as dead-ends, I started to see them as valuable learning opportunities. Each mistake or setback became a chance to refine my skills, challenge my assumptions, and discover new possibilities. I learned to trust my instincts and intuition, even if it led me down unconventional paths.

Now, I approach my creative endeavors with a sense of curiosity and openness. I welcome the imperfections and uncertainties that come with the creative process because I know that it’s all part of the journey towards creating something meaningful and impactful. Granted, it’s not easy at times but it works.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chelseanwasike.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthechelsea/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-nwasike-568b35116/
• Other: IMDB- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7441070/ TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@iamthechelsea

Image Credits
Phillip Faraone & Pavel Poboruev