04 Aug Spotlighting Nonso
Meet Nonso Nkeonye, a jack-of-all-trades in the world of content creation. From editing music videos to producing and directing films, Nonso’s creative journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Despite having no formal training in this field, she taught herself the ropes through YouTube tutorials and hands-on experience. It all started with a curious desire to learn about music video production, and from there, she fell in love with the world of content creation.
Her skills evolved from being a personal assistant to a creative director to making her own YouTube content. She mastered video editing, which led to an opportunity with Mavin Records. Now, Nonso dabbles in everything content-related, including marketing plans for brands and artists.
What was that “thing” that made you want to venture into this field?
It was out of curiosity, to be honest. About 5 years ago, when I was working on getting into a master’s program in a science-related course, I had just finished my youth service and didn’t want to stay idle at home, so I asked a friend of mine that worked in the entertainment industry if I could follow them on set. I just wanted to know what it took and how music videos were shot. And that’s how I fell in love with it.
Which of these skills did you start out with, and how did one lead to the other?
I started off as a personal assistant to a creative director, which involved mostly production management. In a bid to find more work, I started making YouTube content. I couldn’t afford to pay people to shoot and edit for me, so I had to learn how to do those things myself. Not long after, Mavin Records saw my page and hired me as an editor.
What helps spark new ideas so consistently?
My friends used to call me an octopus because I have my hands in many different things at once. It can be quite difficult to make sure I am going through different paths when I am working on different projects because, with editing, a lot of the time there’s a template to follow. Bringing that spark or uniqueness to every project can be a bit of a hassle, so what I do is observe the brand or talent I am creating to find out what makes them different, then tailor my work to what I know would best represent them.
What is the best way to map out your ideas as a director?
So for me, I make sure I understand my client as much as possible, picking up on what they identify with and their overall aesthetic. I use Pinterest and apps like Behance to map out what types of shots I want to create. I also have an all-female production company that serves as my go-to team. I consult and work with them during my ideation phase.
As an editor, how do you reconcile your own thoughts with those of the director or customer when working together?
It’s super important that as an editor, you ask your director important questions like, What ideas did you have when shooting this video?’ or What do you want it to look like? This is so their vision is not lost when you are working with your own ideas. In some cases, they send you references, and sometimes you have full creative control, which I prefer.
What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on this year?
I would have to say, so far it has been working on and executing a marketing strategy for Davido’s Timeless album. It was a huge responsibility that I am glad to have been trusted with. It helped strengthen my marketing know-how and opened me up to different experiences.
What’s it like juggling multiple hats in this industry as a woman?
First of all, juggling multiple hats is already stressful, and being a woman is a different ballgame. I can only speak with certainty based on my own experience in this industry because I know how every woman’s experiences differ. So it works both ways. Sometimes people don’t take you as seriously because you are constantly trying to prove yourself, and sometimes people actually respect you because you are a woman trying to do what you are doing. For me, it’s mostly the latter. There is this respect I get when people find out it was a woman who did this. Fortunately, I have gotten to the point where my work speaks for itself. I know it is not the case for most ladies, as they are more often in situations where they have to prove themselves a lot more.
What steps can be taken to increase women’s participation in this field and support their success?
I mentioned earlier that I have a production company solely for this reason. I encourage women to participate in productions in every way possible. From social media managers to director of photography, I try as much as possible to ensure we are working with women. This is my way of leveling the playing field as much as possible.
Nonso’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity and self-driven learning. Her dedication to honing her craft and uplifting fellow women in the industry showcases not only her creativity but also her commitment to creating a more inclusive and diverse landscape for content creators. With each project she undertakes, Nonso leaves a lasting impact, proving that creativity knows no boundaries and that she’s just getting started.
Tolu Johnson
Posted at 16:37h, 04 AugustI know Nonso, she’s literally the best of the best!!!
Everything she said is a 100!
Margie
Posted at 09:04h, 05 AugustNonso is a wonderful creative. Love that for her