We recently connected with Tobi Edward and have shared our conversation below.
Tobi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my most recent short film, “KINGPIN”. Not only is this my first real major project but, the short film is based on the hit TV series, “Snowfall” which was a show that got me into acting. Being able to tell a story through my own version was very fun and gave me more confidence in terms of my acting ability.
Tobi, 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?
I got into acting around the time the pandemic started. It was one of those things that happened organically. During that time I watched a lot of TV and films which naturally sparked my interest in the industry. As it pertains to what sets me apart from the rest, my desire to be the best is what makes me stand out. Nowadays especially in the entertainment industry, people just want to be noticed or benefit from fame and money and attention etc. What people don’t realize is, this is also a very competitive industry and space. With that being said, if you’re not honing your craft consistently, you leave room for others to catch up and I can’t allow that. I want my work that I put out to be a testament to the hours I put in trying to be the best actor I can be. I want to create moments. Everyone knows where they were when Infinity War dropped. People remember the feeling of walking out of theaters and feeling demoralized after that film. I want people to feel things when I perform. Whether it’s happiness, sadness, confusion, laughter, or just anything in between, when I do something I want people to have something they can take away from it.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
One of the biggest ways to support today’s artists is to back them financially. Streaming has skewed what it means to actually watch or listen to something. Now when movies or TV shows release, they come out on streaming platforms rather than releasing first in movie theaters or TV networks. I feel like that takes away from the experience I grew up on. I remember the days you primarily had to go to stores and buy albums. My first album that I bought was “Graduation” by Kanye West. It’s something about organically supporting artist and creatives that we lost as a space that we have to get back to. Whether is subscribing to a YouTube channel, or actually buying music instead of streaming, or even the simple art of going to movie theaters. This is what really supporting a artist in my opinion.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding thing about being a creative is being able to bring the ideas you have in your head into fruition. With the short film I just released, a lot of what I pictured it to be came out in that way. Being able to writing down what I visualize in my head and ultimately bring it out through film is very satisfying. It’s more rewarding knowing what it took to make it. Creating art is more difficult and people make it out to be so to see the finished product of something is very rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Oluprojects_
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@OLUP
Image Credits
Josef Wilkins https://instagram.com/josef.wilkins_?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==