Dr. Jones and Etinosa sit down with Xavier Ingram (Sophomore, Radio\/Television\/Film major) to discuss the importance of representation in media, how he created Studio X as a student, and his love for comics. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @TheXman113<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dr. Jones and Etinosa sit down with Xavier Ingram (Sophomore, Radio\/Television\/Film major) to discuss the importance of representation in media, how he created Studio X as a student, and his love for comics. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @TheXman113<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"http:\/\/podcasts.la.utexas.edu\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2022\/02\/2022-02-10_Live-Podcast-mastered-audio.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"72.24M","filesize_raw":"75746128","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":""},"tags":[7,35,20,19,658,662,590,12,659,660,31,6,661],"series":[2],"class_list":{"0":"post-338","1":"podcast","2":"type-podcast","3":"status-publish","5":"tag-austin","6":"tag-career","7":"tag-innovation","8":"tag-leadership","9":"tag-representation","10":"tag-rtf","11":"tag-student-affairs","12":"tag-students","13":"tag-studio-x","14":"tag-superheroes","15":"tag-texas","16":"tag-ut","17":"tag-xavier-ingram","18":"series-live","19":"entry"},"acf":{"related_episodes":"","hosts":[{"ID":68,"post_author":"39","post_date":"2020-07-20 20:29:28","post_date_gmt":"2020-07-20 20:29:28","post_content":"","post_title":"Dr. Brandon Jones","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dr-brandon-jones","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2020-07-20 20:33:17","post_modified_gmt":"2020-07-20 20:33:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/podcasts.la.utexas.edu\/live\/?post_type=speaker&p=68","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":287,"post_author":"52","post_date":"2021-04-29 17:49:47","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-29 17:49:47","post_content":"\n
Etinosa is a charismatic innovative idealist. Her passion and personal mission statement are to help people rise to the next level in all aspects of their lives. Currently, she is a graduate student at the University of Missouri in Kansas City working towards her Masters in Education Administration in Higher Education. Higher education is a field that electrifies her soul. Watching and walking alongside students as they reach their education goals pushes Etinosa to want to provide the best experience possible within residential life.
Etinosa kick-started her career within education by serving as a college adviser to high school students. Then transitioning into residential life at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. She is making more transitions by accepting a position as a community coordinator at The University of Texas at Austin in Housing and Dining. She believes that creativity and innovation will bring the needed change to higher education to provide our students with the best educational experience. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Etinosa Ogbevoen","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"etinosa-ogbevoen","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2021-04-29 20:11:11","post_modified_gmt":"2021-04-29 20:11:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/podcasts.la.utexas.edu\/live\/?post_type=speaker&p=287","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"guests":[{"ID":342,"post_author":"57","post_date":"2022-02-15 22:20:47","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-15 22:20:47","post_content":"\n
Founded Studio X as a student, and has a love for comics and superheroes. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @TheXman113<\/p>\n","post_title":"Xavier Ingram","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"xavier-ingram","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-02-15 22:20:47","post_modified_gmt":"2022-02-15 22:20:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/podcasts.la.utexas.edu\/live\/?post_type=speaker&p=342","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"Transcript":"
Hey, y’all welcome to the leadership, innovation ventures and entrepreneurship podcast. Also known as live. I’m your co-host Etinosa. Beveling a community coordinator with the university housing and Dinning. And I’m Brandon Jones. And I’m your co-host. I’m the associate director for student learning and development.<\/p>\n
Thank you for tuning into today’s episode. We hope you enjoy it. Welcome everybody to live episode 28, the first episode of 2022. Can you believe it? Craziness. We love to hear it. We love it. We made it. We made it listen. Um, we know some of y’all judging us inside. Because you haven’t got to episode drop since October, but life.<\/p>\n
Okay. Life has been lifeing uh, COVID has been coveting and, um, yeah, stuff has happened, but we here and it’s February is black history month and we’re really excited. I’m excited. How you excited? I don’t want to be, listen. I just want to start off saying happy new year. Okay. Let’s not, let’s not forget that.<\/p>\n
Happy new year. We’re back with the podcast. It’s February. Yeah. It’s crazy. Well, first of all, January usually takes forever is sped, sped through it and we are February. So I’m super excited to be back talking to y’all Sharon. What? We’ve got half of black history month. Okay. Happy birthday. To me somebody’s birthday is this month.<\/p>\n
I don’t know if y’all knew that somebody’s birthday deal it’s on Saturday. Anyhow. Um, but yeah, I’m so excited to be here. We have a lot of great things coming up for you, even today’s episode is very exciting. So yeah, let’s just, oh my gosh. I’m excited because y’all we got none other than Xavier Ingram.<\/p>\n
Y’all. Matt. I met Xavier back in August. Wasn’t it? Um, we had, we crossed paths at leadership city limits. Wasn’t that sad. And we started, he started asking me questions about, uh, my favorite superheroes and y’all know you get me talking about comics and superheros. That’s a no, so just leave the room, but other people will lean in.<\/p>\n
And have a great conversation. So he knew how to reach me immediately. And so we’ve been fast friends ever since, and I just really have enjoyed watching, uh, Xavier’s progress on campus and just interacting with other students. And so I had to get you on the show, man, how you doing? I’m doing amazing. This is a good day.<\/p>\n
This is a cool, this is a cool let’s set up is nice. I really like it. You know, we could have done this over zoom, but we were like, man, we’re back on campus. We’re back in person. And I want to be in the studio. I want to be here with my friends and the liberal arts instructional technology studio, and blessed.<\/p>\n
We get a chance to see each other face to face. So real quick, before we get into the questions that we have for you, just tell the audience a little bit about yourself, where are you from your major? Uh, and then you can pick up with why you, why you chose to come to the university of Texas. Okay, bet. Well, uh, again, my name is Xavier Ingram.<\/p>\n
I am a sophomore radio, television and film major here at UT. And, uh, it’s been pretty great so far. I love it here. Honestly, this is like one of the coolest experiences that I’ve ever had. The people here are awesome. Um, and it is a good time. Um, I’m from. Uh, really Plano suburbia, you know, you know, it, you T you gotta be specific, like, what’s your zip code?<\/p>\n
Craziest, because I’ll be walking around and Sam from Dallas, but then people would give me like, Side. I like, are you really from Dallas? And then I gotta be like, nah, but it’s like a cool 20 minute drive is it’s close enough. We’re going to count playing though today. So shout out to Plano, which high school did you go to?<\/p>\n
Plano west Plano west. Okay. Plano west. I thought you, cause if you’d have said Plano east, I’m like from Tyler, we got that historic SP rivalry from 1996. You know, some of us have never lived down. Uh, well, we, we won the game. Don’t get me wrong. We want to SP we won state that year, but Plano east gave us a run for our money.<\/p>\n
Then Plano west is cool playing. No west is cool. Now tell us, oh, just what brought you here? Why are you. Um, I’d say the number one obvious pool has got to be just the moody college of communication. It is one of the top like communication schools, media studies programs in the country world. Something that parents.<\/p>\n
And so, so I, when I was doing my research, I was like, this would be a perfect fit and is still, you know, in Texas or it won’t be too far from home, but it’s far enough. And, uh, yeah, so especially like with the RTF program, I was looking into all the classes and it’s like, you can choose whatever route you want to take, whether you want to focus on film, TV, or radio.<\/p>\n
And that was like perfect for me, because I kind of want to do like a little bit of everything. So I was able to decide, you know, I can major in this, but I still get to do basically everything that I want to do, whether it’s directing, writing, producing, acting all of it. So it. It was a perfect fit. It was a perfect fit.<\/p>\n
And I remember I got accepted and it was almost like a shock, like I wasn’t expecting to get accepted. Uh, I don’t know. I don’t know. I just feel like when you’re in high school, you’re, there’s so much pressure with like, trying to get into college, especially with like big name universities. You’re not always expecting like that you’re going to get accepted and you kind of just send in the application or like, I’m done with the application, whatever happens, happens.<\/p>\n
We’ll just see. Uh, but I got that notification. I was like, dang. Wow. Wow. I’m curious. Let’s take it all the way back to you talked about high school. So what got you interested in RTF radio, television film? Was there something that happened in high school? You were just like, nah, like this is, this is my, so I’ve, I’ve been one of those people who.<\/p>\n
Ever since I was a child, it’s always been movies and writing stuff, acting performance, that whole thing, as anybody who knows me, they will be able to tell you have some kind of story or whatever. I remember, uh, years ago when we would go on. Road trips to Atlanta. And I would be in the back seat, like writing plot outlines to like Scooby-Doo movies that I would come up with.<\/p>\n
And, uh, I was making like little home movies and stuff ever since I was a kid. And, um, I remember I wrote my first script. It was like a feature length script that was like 60 something, 70 pages. And it was, uh, based on. Uh, wizards of Waverly place episode, because that was one of my favorite Disney channel shows.<\/p>\n
I was like, I got to write myself into this show some now. And then I was like, I remember telling my mom, I was like, Hey, can you like follow Selena Gomez on Twitter and at her so she can see the script and then like, I can get on Disney channel, not having any idea. That’s not how it works at all. Uh, but yeah, it’s, it’s, it’s been the long game and ever since high school, you know, when I really solidified my decision and like actually had the opportunities to do stuff right.<\/p>\n
You know, I’ve been doing multiple, uh, short films, like a year, uh, whether it’s with my friends or just other people that I know in like the DFW area, um, you know, I really started getting active in. Dallas, even like national film festivals, I’ve had plenty of short films that I’ve either started in or helped like work on, uh, like win awards at like national film festivals, like the All-American high school film festival.<\/p>\n
Me and my friends would submit to that like every year and we get accepted every year.<\/p>\n
Humblebrag humblebrag. There you go. Um, but yeah. Yeah. And recently I started my own studio where I really wanted to focus on making like my own stuff. So it’s called studio X. Um, and really it’s kind of just like anything that I want to make. It doesn’t really have to be specific thing. I’ll just make it under that name until I come up with like a more professional brand and a, ah, is fire it’s like Malcolm X, but also like X in terms of like a math variable is like infinity it’s kind of flier.<\/p>\n
Okay. Um, I liked it. Right. That’s why I’m sitting here. Like, why not? Let’s go with studio X. I can see that started well, while you were here at UT. So you talk, man, you, you got a lot of cool things that you’re doing. And that was one of the reasons why I was telling you that to know. So I was like, we gotta get Xavier, uh, on the show.<\/p>\n
And so I’m just curious, like, you know, she asked you, when did you know you were going to get into film? Then we got to ask the obvious question. What is your favorite film? Oh, that is the question. Isn’t it. Okay. Got it. So according to my college, uh, application essays, I would say like the first film that I really.<\/p>\n
I fell in love with and came obsessed with was a yard. Remember roll balance. Of course. Yeah. That classic one of my most favorite movies of all time. Okay. So what is it about romance? I feel like, I don’t know. I’m also a huge lover of music and so that’s like almost right up there with film. I don’t like really produce anything like that.<\/p>\n
I’m just a, you know, a casual enjoyer. Specifically, like growing up with my parents, they would always play in like seventies, eighties, music, religiously that Saturday mornings, you wake up, you got to do chores. That’s blasting in the house or in the car rides. And they’re like, that’s my jam. And like, every song is your jam.<\/p>\n
Um, so yeah, I would say. The fact that, that movie, just how it revolved around rollerskating and just like seventies, music, and every song was a hit and just the choreography was awesome. And just the overall story and the characters, like it was funny. The main character’s name was Xavier. What’s not to ask about that.<\/p>\n
I’m like, cause bow, wow. Shout out to bow or chaat, monster, whatever he’s going by these days. Um, yeah. I was wondering whether that that connection was going to happen or not. Cause I’m like I get the seventies music cause I was born in the eighties. So I was like, I get that. And I get the roller skating fascination, especially how roller skating just made its way back onto the scene.<\/p>\n
Back in the nineties. Even just, just as popular now, but I was wondering where that connection was for you. So that that’s interesting. It was there anything like, cause I was, cause I know some people here, you know, film and they hear people that have a fascination with it and they automatically assume, okay, it’s the cinematography that Xavier’s going to talk about.<\/p>\n
It’s the camera work. And you said it was the music. Talk a little bit more about that. As I watched more films, I’ve realized. The soundtrack will make or break a movie. You could have. A really good script with really good acting and stuff like that. But if the music is wack or it doesn’t match, or there’s no music at all, uh, usually is it’s not gonna perform as well, but you have the combination of everything.<\/p>\n
You got the act and you got the script, you got the cinematography and there’s a banger score playing in the background. It’ll take me from just feeling emotional to have like full on bawling in my room. It’s it’s, it’s that big of a difference for me? I feel like when I was watching roll bounce specifically, the music is what took it to the next level, uh, combined with like the cinematography and the editing.<\/p>\n
Being able to like sync with the music, just created the ultimate viewing experience. And I was just like, I’d be looking at the movie. And I was just be thinking to myself, I want to do that. This is what I want to do. And as far as like my favorite movie now, which. Uh, highlights these things would be Spider-Man into the spider verse.<\/p>\n
I feel like it’s one of the best movies to come out. I believe the audience can’t see that, but yes, we were. We were snaring at to gnosis. So pause for the cause we were before the show, we were just kinda talking beforehand and just kind of laughing and getting the, getting a feel for the microphones and sound.<\/p>\n
And that’s a no, sir. And immediately just chooses violence and says, I just want us though. I’ve only seen one Spider-Man and I thought it was trash and Xavier in our life. I’m taking your tears. Right? Let me, let me defend myself. You know what? Let me defend myself. And I did say this to y’all. I said, I’m only saying this.<\/p>\n
I made this disclaimer, I’m only saying this because I’ve literally seen only one Spider-Man movie. We’re not judging you either. It’s black history month. It’s the black Spider-Man. But it wasn’t less opera, Latino to be the last one. I would, I didn’t see Spider-Man into the, into the universe.<\/p>\n
First of all, first of all, I made this claimer. I’m sure it’s really good. If I knew the context of all the strategies. Well, see, I didn’t have it. You don’t even need to know anything to watch that movie. You don’t even to read. You really don’t do that. Please. Do you want to know the redemption tour of SNL?<\/p>\n
So we’ll begin with, uh, into the spider verse. So now pause for the, cause over back to you saying that into the spider versus your favorite movie. Now, what did that film mean to you? This is a conversation I love having come on. Okay. So, uh, if there’s any person in this world who knows how much I love, Spider-Man specifically miles Morales.<\/p>\n
It is my mother. Uh, I’ve been a Spiderman fanatic since I was a child. I was watching, uh, I would watch his movies on DVD and I would look at like the behind the scenes. Um, stuff where they show you like how they made the action sequences and stuff. And I would be thinking I’m like, I want to do that one day.<\/p>\n
I want to be Spiderman. I wish I was Spider-Man. And so lo and behold, in like 2011, uh, Brian, Michael Bendis, who’s like a comic books writer, you know, he. He invented miles Morales essentially base it off of Barack Obama and Donald Glover, AKA childish Gambino for the uncultured. Um, hold up. Okay. Well, watch out, watch out he Donald Glover now, but I came up on Gambino or whatever.<\/p>\n
Go ahead, continue. But it’s like, there’s something about reading a comic book that. Just emphasizes every part of your being. And it’s like, this is me. Like I’m literally reading a story about me. And so when I was growing up, always wanting to be Spider-Man and I finally got a comic book character that was like, I could be this character, especially me being an actor.<\/p>\n
Like I’ve always wanted to play miles Morales in something, they got the MCU coming. I’m like, I know you’re making a miles Miralis movie hit me up. Hit me up. I know you don’t have my number, but I can’t put my number on park and you look me up, look me up. You’ll find me. So that’s, that sounds like that’s something that, um, what did it sound like?<\/p>\n
It is, it sounds like what you’re saying is that representation, uh, is super important. I know we’re hearing that conversation around in console right now. Um, I know that when black Panther came out a few years ago, that was huge. And so then miles Morales. Finally hitting the scene. We got this Afro Latina kid living in New York, wearing Jordans.<\/p>\n
I rock Jordans at the no, sir. Roxy Jordan’s, uh, you know, showing the watch, man, she at least rocks Jays. I’m like I I’m with you. I think that there’s something fascinating about miles Morales, his character, and that there’s a bits and pieces for all of us to identify with. And I think that was the thing that I enjoy most about into the spider verse was just how super relatable it was and just how.<\/p>\n
We’ve all been that teenager, regardless of whether you’re male or female, however you identify, we’ve all been in that space where miles Morales was in that film. And so why do you feel. That, besides the representation. Why do you feel like that touched you in such a special way? Seeing basically yourself, not only in a comic book within a couple of years later, transitioning it to the screen.<\/p>\n
It was just, it was like an out-of-body experience. I remember my mom. Uh, she worked at a radio station will still does. And at the time for this show that she was working for, she got like early screening passes to like see the movie before it came out. And so when I watched that movie for the first time, I cried like four times.<\/p>\n
Uh, I do remember the specific points, but I won’t say them cause spoilers, but like, it’s almost hard to explain because it’s just like you. Pardon me? Couldn’t even believe that I was watching this. Like yes, representation, but I feel like representation can be done incorrectly, you know, like, yes, you have a black Spider-Man, but like, it’s really just Peter Parker and you made them white, like miles Morales has such an authentically Afro Latino character.<\/p>\n
And, you know, even though I’m not Afro-Latino. I still was able to see like my culture in his character and not even just him, but like the environment that he grew up there, you know, the other people in his family. And then just having this heartwarming story, like this coming of age tale of this guy growing into himself and finding his own identity.<\/p>\n
And like, I know he says the end of the movie, like anybody can wear the mask. And I feel like that line specifically was like, It meant so much more than just, oh, anybody can be Spiderman. It’s like anybody can be the hero that they want to be. And I feel like it just hit different and it’s a very like, inspiring and motivating film for me.<\/p>\n
And it’s, I guess it’s really fun. It’s entertaining. It’s funny. But it’s like, there’s so many nuggets in there where it’s like, if you really pay attention to what this story is trying to tell. It’s incredible. Like, I honestly feel like everybody has to watch these movies as well. Not to mention that it’s beautiful.<\/p>\n
I mean, the animation is incredible. It’s a beautiful story. And you know, w w w we’re looking at you, we’re looking at you right now. I want to touch on the aspects of you saying she rolled her eyes for the audience. They need to see that I was thinking that was what it was, and I misinterpreted, um, I really enjoyed the aspect of you talking about.<\/p>\n
The aspect of saying like anyone can wear the mask, you can be your own hero. How do you think you are becoming your own hero for your story? Great question. This is date. Okay. Um, I actually think about this a lot, uh, when I was a kid or just like, can I slam a kid, but just younger? Uh, I would say like elementary school in middle school, you know, I was like one of the only black kids in my school.<\/p>\n
Okay. Typical, uh, And that kind of experience. It’s very like isolating. And I feel like now in recent years, uh, I’ve been becoming like more of my own person. I used to latch onto other people’s identities and try to like figure out like, is this for me? Is that for me? No, it’s not. Now. I’m kind of more confident in the type of person that I am.<\/p>\n
And, uh, I mean, it’s just been trial and error, but I’ve like, The more I think about it. And the more I think of like where I was and where I am now, I can see the growth and how I’m more confident in myself, how I know, you know, what I want to do and like where I’m going. Um, in terms of. My career and my social life and, you know, my spiritual, mental life, all this kind of stuff.<\/p>\n
So I would just say that I almost forgot what the question was, but I’ve just been rambling. I just asked how you were becoming that hero and it just sounds like you’re just becoming more confident in yourself. Right? You’re your own enough to like yeah. This, I like doing this and this is where I’m going.<\/p>\n
And that’s, that is a peaceful place and get unapologetic about it. Talks about how you got to that point. Cause you’re a sophomore. And I know a lot of students when they come to the university specifically here at UT, uh, cause I interact with lots of them every year because that’s my job and I love it.<\/p>\n
But the thing that I constantly notice is that, uh, in that journey to discovering who they want to be, there’s not a lot of confidence this early in the game, it’s usually junior and senior year before I, especially students of color, uh, that I encounter before they finally are starting to. Be okay with, you know what I like Spiderman.<\/p>\n
I’m cool with that. Or these are the kinds of the roll bounces my movie. Right. Some people would be like, yeah. You know, I think I like, but like you were like, no robot. That’s the movie. I put it in my essay. I’m that confident. And you were able to unpack and articulate. The different elements of that movie and into the spider verse as to how, uh, that helped shape you into how you became more confident.<\/p>\n
And so talk to talk to our audience, specifically those, uh, underclassmen that might be listening to this whenever they’re choosing to listen to this episode about, you know, how to get to that point, where they see themselves as that he wrote, or that person that they want to become. I think one of the most interesting things about.<\/p>\n
My journey specifically, is that even in high school, even when I was still like a senior in high school, I wasn’t all the way there yet, specifically my freshman year of college and having it be during a pandemic and in quarantine, I was by myself a lot. I was with my parents. I mean, they both work, everybody’s busy.<\/p>\n
So I spent a lot of time just like in my room, just, you know, thinking about life and reflecting. Being by yourself. I think that is one of the scariest things to do, but it’s also one of the most necessary things to do. It’s very scary to feel alone and be by herself. You know, it kind of be trapped with your own thoughts.<\/p>\n
Um, but you also need to be able to do that because the only thing that’s consistent in your life is yourself. So you have to learn how to deal with that. But also, you know, being by myself helped me figure out, you know, who I am and what I want to do, I kind of would reflect on my life. You know, look back at certain decisions.<\/p>\n
And I would question myself and be like, well, why did I do those certain things? Why did I feel this way? I started, you know, really nitpicking and questioning like everything. And I was able to put the pieces together and finally figure out like, oh, this is why I did those things, right. This is why, you know, this happened that way because I was like this, or, you know, all this kind of stuff.<\/p>\n
And I would just say like, To terms with yourself, you’ll really find peace that will allow you to become confident and just be like, you know what? I don’t care what anybody else says. I’m doing what I want to do. And that’s period, period, that is snaps. I feel like I was just at a spoken word. That was awesome.<\/p>\n
Yeah, I feel that. So you, you said a couple of things in there. You, you referenced the pandemic and I know a lot of I’ve had several conversations today with staff members about the fact that the last of the classes. We’re here, pre pandemic is graduating. So really the next two to three classes, this is that this is the reality of our students.<\/p>\n
What was that like being a creative mind, being a creative, uh, during the pandemic. What was that like for you? Cause I know you hinted on a couple of things about being by yourself a little bit and having to navigate that, but what was the. For you creatively. Uh, cause a lot of our students are wondering, you know, how do I be creative?<\/p>\n
And I was home or I was only in my room and I only went to the dining hall and back to my room. What was that like for you? And how did you maintain a sense of creativity during that time? Cause you started college. I did the pandemic I did, which is crazy to even think about like. I feel like it’s, so we’ve just, everyone’s gotten used to it now, but when you really, out of those words, like I graduated high school and entered my first year of college during a pandemic in quarantine.<\/p>\n
Didn’t really have any social interaction. That’s wild to really even just say in process. Uh, but we move. Um, but I, I. What was the question again? The question was, how did you maintain a sense of creativity in the middle of all of that? Because you’re, you’re clearly a creative person. So I’m just curious, how did you keep that going while dealing with being isolated in a way and starting college like that?<\/p>\n
It was, it was hard. It was very, very difficult, but, um, Like I said, how they were kind of like pros and cons to being alone. There was kind of pros and cons to my creativity. Um, I had a lot more free time to experience new media, find new music, find new artists, uh, wash more movies and TV shows. So in that sense, I gained a lot of like inspiration and was able to create more.<\/p>\n
Uh, projects. I had more time to play games and, uh, one of the video games that I played, the last of us, part two, uh, inspired me to literally create an entire short film based off of like the world of that game. And, uh, that was like in, that was like the summer right after I graduated high school. So that was like, kind of in the beginning.<\/p>\n
Um, but I feel like. I believe it’s different for everyone. Um, at least what worked for me was just having some kind of hope that you’re going to be able to make things in the future in the near future, especially, uh, It motivated me to like continue to make more stuff. And even if I like wasn’t going out in a filming, every single thing, I was like, at least I have ideas and I’m jotting them down and I’m not.<\/p>\n
Blocking off any kind of blessings that I could have. Uh, I made like music videos. I made like little clips with different effects. I made like a recreation of the Jimmy neutron opening, which was, uh, just random stuff like that. Um, but yeah, I, I, it was fun for me too. I be like, that’s also what it was. It was genuine.<\/p>\n
Fun. You know, when I feel like creatives get lost in the pressure of having to be creative. And so when there’s no pressure to be creative, you finally get the chance to be creative. Uh, I had to turn away y’all. Mm mm. It makes sense, because if somebody is telling you, oh, you got to do this and that, and that, and you only have this amount of time to do it.<\/p>\n
You’re like, oh crap. I got to figure out how to do this and that. And the third, but when no one’s telling you, you have to do all this stuff. You’re like, dang. I actually really want to make. And I can, so I’m going to make it and it’s so simple. Yeah. You can just do it. Yeah. I loved just hearing the, almost intersectionality between like this pandemic and isolation and creativity.<\/p>\n
Right. Because like with creatives, like I think. I consider myself a creative anyway. Um, uh, I think there is like an aspect of like you’re overthinking and you’re sitting there and like, sometimes there is that pressure, but it’s like maybe one of the pros of this pandemic was like that piece of isolation.<\/p>\n
That piece of just like, I have to sit with myself and I have to like rethink creativity. Do you think that was something that like, you can see like hindsight that, yeah, that may be one of the pros of the pandemic was if there were, if there was ever to be. Uh, benefits of a pandemic, which is almost blasphemous to say, but I would say like, yes, it helped me creatively.<\/p>\n
Um, especially pre pandemic. I was so busy with my schedule and I was like caught in like a rhythm of things. This pandemic kind of broke that rhythm and I kind of developed, I developed a new rhythm in some unhealthy, but also some other ones that were more healthy. Um, and I do feel. It kind of challenged me to create new things in a new way and just challenge my mind and see what it could do.<\/p>\n
Um, so from that standpoint, yeah, I would see that as a positive, but a very small positive. We’ll still, we’re going to tell you, we’re going to take these winds. Okay. We’re going to take, you gotta take the w. So you, you, you talked about making films and, you know, I had a chance to look at your, uh, film trailer for your Kim possible, uh, remake that you did.<\/p>\n
And we’re going to get that show on. And by the way, on campus, y’all we coming up soon, stay tuned. We gone, we working together right now to get, um, you UHD is working to get. Get Xavier, uh, a screening of two of his short films, because we believe in promoting our students and we believe, and that’s what this podcast is for too.<\/p>\n
Uh, so we believe in promoting the work of our students. And so soon, very soon you will be able to come and see some of Xavier’s work. Talk to us about the, create your creative process, because I’ve seen your stuff. You talked about Kim possible. You talked about Jimmy neutron. So you clearly have a Disney fascination.<\/p>\n
Let’s start with the disc. Let’s let’s start with this question. What is your fascination with Disney? And then we’ll come back to what’s your creative process. So Disney, please. When I grew up, I watched so much television, so much television. It was probably a problem, but that was just like my childhood.<\/p>\n
That’s my life. I feel like everyone’s childhood has a huge effect on who they are when they become an adult. And for me, yeah, I see what your Avengers pin, and you’ll see, it has an effect on this way, but like for me coming home after school, or especially over the summer, I didn’t really have a whole bunch of stuff to do.<\/p>\n
Cause I was a kid I’d be watching TV. So that stuff was just like in my brain all the time, 24 7. So I feel like that definitely became a huge part of my personality. There’s like different sides of my dorky personality and like those childhood shows and stuff are definitely a part of it, which is why, you know, I would like go back and watch those, watch that stuff during quarantine, that’d be like, it’d be funny to make something like this, or like, you know, test my creative skills and see if I can like bring this to life.<\/p>\n
And that’s what I was able to do. And especially with Kim possible, I was literally just bingeing it over Disney plus over the. I don’t even remember when that was, I guess it was winter of last year. Wow. Yeah. Everybody’s eyes got big thinking about winter of last year. You are like the nightmare. Right.<\/p>\n
But, um, that’s also a miles Morales came out actually, and it was Christmas theme. That was a really good time. Those two weeks when I was playing that game. That was great. Anyway. Um, without , didn’t get to do that, but that’s okay. I’m so sorry. Sony, Sony. Get it together. I, I is nothing but the Lord’s work that I was able to get one on one.<\/p>\n
I went with it as soon as they announced the PSB is dropping. I was able to get my pre-order in and Amazon hooked me up. I was like, thank you, Amazon. Best buy Walmart target. None of them were hooking anybody up in 2022. So that’s that? So Jesus salty, builder, whatever, you know, That’s okay. That’s what continue tell your Disney story.<\/p>\n
Um, okay. Yeah. So my childhood I’d be like, that definitely has an impact on the stuff that I do. I have a very silly personality. So whenever I make something it’s always got to be some kind of silliness to it. Not in everything. I do make a lot of serious stuff. Um, but even in the seriousness, there’s also some type of like exciting silliness.<\/p>\n
This isn’t really that realistic, but like, it’s still. It’s like more so entertaining. It’s just overall entertaining. I wouldn’t want something to be completely serious. Cause then I’m like, well, that’s just a bummer to watch. Uh, but then I don’t want them to be too silly, goofy. Cause then you can’t take it seriously.<\/p>\n
Uh, finding the balance, finding the balance. It’s all about balance. And I feel like in my creative process, I honestly just try to make something that I would want to watch. That’s really what it is at the end of the day. Uh, because if I would want to see this, I’m going to want to work hard to make it so I can see this later.<\/p>\n
And then if I want to see this, I know that there’s somebody else who’s going to want to see. So if I can make something for being somebody else to watch, and that’s really all there is to it. I wouldn’t want to make something that I have no interest in which a lot of times you’ll be surprised at how many people put so much time into something that they really don’t care about.<\/p>\n
Or they’re like, I want to try this new thing, or I want to do this, whatever, whatever, because so-and-so said, it’d be cool. Meanwhile, you really don’t care about what you’re doing at all. And you’re kind of wasting your time. Why don’t you read that book that you’ve been wanting to read for the past six months and see what you can make out of that, like do something that you like, if you’re going to do something.<\/p>\n
Cause we don’t know when it’s our time to leave here and I’d rather be satisfied with all the stuff that I’ve done and say that, you know, I had a blast doing the stuff that I love to do. So. I got a, I got a harp on that for a little bit, because you said you said something very powerful that I don’t want our audience to miss because a lot of the times people come to the university or any college experience and it’s, hyper-focusing on a discipline that I may or may not like, uh, hyper-focusing on classes.<\/p>\n
I had to turn away for a second. When you said you got to do what you lack. And I was like, Oh, because I remember being in grad school and running into people and I did papers and projects on things. I’m like I had the option to do what I wanted, but I was like, no, let me branch out and try something new.<\/p>\n
And it just, wasn’t what I was supposed to do. Can you talk a little bit more about. How liberating that felt. Cause I’m watching you talk about it. You looked and seem so free because you’re like, man, this is something I would want to watch. And some people are like, but wait, aren’t you worried about your grades?<\/p>\n
Some people are probably listening to this and saying, but wait, aren’t you worried about, uh, being a 4.0 student or being on the presidential scholars and all of that is doable and all those are good things, but. You are enjoying your college experience. You’ve, you’ve articulated that you’ve maximized even the worst of the moments up to this point.<\/p>\n
And here you are. Can you talk about the liberating feeling that is to be able to just do your thing and passionately pursue it? Um, Early on and not late until junior and senior year to say, you know what, I’m gonna change my major. I’m going to change my mind. I feel like, and I gotta say this before I say anything else.<\/p>\n
The only reason that I’m to this far of a point is because of the support of my parents and my sister. I have pride the best support group that I could ever ask for. Ever since I was a child and I was talking about, I want to make movies and I want to act, they will be doing everything in their power to make sure that I would have some chance at doing that.<\/p>\n
If it were not for them, I would not be here. And I feel like that’s the main thing for me, because I know a lot of people don’t have that support system. And so when you’re struggling to figure out. This is something that you really want to do, and you have other people in your life, like the closest people in your life also questioning you.<\/p>\n
Then you’re probably going to stick with the safe side or have a plan B or whatever, something. Cause you know, it’s. When everyone’s telling, you know, or when everyone’s telling you, I don’t know, then you’re also going to think. Ah, I don’t know. Okay. So for me having a support group to really be like, yes, go for it.<\/p>\n
You know, I’ve really been able to be like, you know what, why not? I’m going to do it because I can, and I want to, but even if you don’t have that support group, I would say. You really see, to take a chance, take a chance on one thing ticket. It doesn’t even have to be the biggest thing ever. Take a chance on one small thing and see what it does for you.<\/p>\n
Something that you really just want to do, and you will be surprised at how much joy it will bring you. I don’t care what it is, even, even if. Acting in a show. And I act in that show and I perform, and I see the people’s faces in the audiences. I’m like, yeah, this is, this was worth it. This was worth those five months of rehearsals.<\/p>\n
It was, it was worth it. You can, you just know when there’s something that you want to do, you love doing it. You’re going to know exactly what that thing is in that moment. And I feel like that moment of clarity is so worth the risk. Like. There’s no reason not to do what you love. Is that true for that senior right now?<\/p>\n
That’s listening to this. Absolutely. Absolutely. I there’s. I know I’m a sophomore year, but like, why is this guy talking? But I’m like, dude, just do it. Just do it. Who’s why? Why not? I mean, stop thinking. The why nots just do it, just do it. Okay. That’s all I can say, because it’s like, you’re going to, if you don’t, then you’re going to look back and be like, dang, I wish I did that.<\/p>\n
Or I had the opportunity to do it and I didn’t do it. And now I don’t have a chance, like take advantage of all the opportunities that come your way when they come your way. If it’s something that you want to do, I cannot stress that enough. Even me, I have opportunities that I’ve missed out on because I was like, Hmm, I don’t want to do that.<\/p>\n
And I wish that I did some of that stuff. So it’s just like, at the end of the day, it’s your life and you have to live it. And. I would hate to have me or somebody else that I love going through their life doing so that they don’t want to do because someone else told them not to. I feel like that’s so stupid.<\/p>\n
Okay. Okay. I got to ask because. I said it earlier that, you know, she, she heard, she believes she’s a creative and you are, uh, my first time I was trying to downplay it. I was like, okay. I was like, don’t, don’t play. We don’t play in this space. We not playing in here. Speaking of which, that was the question.<\/p>\n
Black creatives. We got to talk about that because I know that with tick-tock of which I’m not on. So shout out to those freshmen that tried to get me on tic-tac. I told you I did. I’m not the same look that you gave me for smile. You know, there was the freshmen at orientation. They said they were going to make it, their goal that by.<\/p>\n
The spring semester, I’d be on Tik TOK. You failed it’s over. I’m coming. My commitment is even more solidified, but we got to talk about black creatives, specifically black content creators on the 21st plug. By the way, February 21st, uh, we are doing, uh, Uh, with Dr. Adrian, see bro, um, on black content creators, we’re going to talk about black sitcoms.<\/p>\n
We’re going to talk about insecure. We may talk about euphoria in there. I don’t know yet. Uh, but it’s really going to be, uh, talking about what we’re about to ask you and why is it important that black content creators. Shared their content, despite what you know was going on on social media with algorithms and all that stuff.<\/p>\n
Why is it important that black content creators share their content? That’s a really big thing, actually. And I feel like black creatives. Are kinda told not to really be creative or like that their, that their work isn’t as meaningful as something else or some, some white person will make. I dunno, but I feel like that is so far from the truth.<\/p>\n
This is just facts. Black people run global culture. I don’t care what you say. It’s just the truth. Think of the most popular things in the world is black or it’s inspired by black something. We run the world and it is a disservice to the world. If we keep our creativity to ourselves, the world could be awesome.<\/p>\n
It could be more awesome than what it already is. If you just, you know, share your work. And I mean, like there’s, like I said before, you want to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, because you have no idea what some door could lead to in the future. You know, an opportunity could lead to another opportunity at least to something huge.<\/p>\n
So for you to like close off your work, so nobody sees. Well, no, one’s going to see it. And so it’s like, if this is something that you really want to make happen for yourself, you need to show people, even if it’s like, even if you are nervous and of course you’re nervous because you’re creatively. Cause you know, everyone hates editing and everybody’s going to see your stuff.<\/p>\n
You know that exactly right. The flaws are exposed it’s out, but that’s the thing is out there. Anybody can see it as much as it is. Nerve-wracking. To know that your work is out there for people to judge and criticize and people might not like it is just as a liberating and. Just an amazing feeling when someone likes your work, even if it’s just one person for one person to walk up, let’s say you painted something on a canvas and then it’s on display because you’re like, I’m gonna take a chance and just hope, you know, see what happens happens.<\/p>\n
And you have like 20 people walk by and said that they hated it. And then you have like two people walk up and be like, this is one of the coolest things that I’ve seen in this building. You’re going to forget about those 20 people who said it sucked because those two people are going to make your day and be like, wow, someone enjoyed what I made.<\/p>\n
I feel like it’s, it’s, it’s so sad. I mean, it’s not silly. Cause like, obviously I understand why I feel like I’m talking so confidently, but it’s just because I’m confident. But like I understand the pressure and the nerves because I was there, but. Something that has helped me get to the point where I am is by putting my work out there and getting that reassurance that it’s like, I am a black creative, and I am great at what I do.<\/p>\n
And I know that people want to see what I have to make and people want to see what I have to say. You know, I want to make more stuff Hiva going, I’m actually interested to see what you have to say about this glass. Oh wow. Oh, yay. There we go. Interview the interviewer. As a black, creative, I think for me, like the algorithm sucks.<\/p>\n
Like, you know what I mean? The algorithm will make you question every piece of your creativity. It will make you think like the table is full and there is no room for me to be at this table. Therefore, I’m just going to do this. You know, people say, you know, do your, and this is where I got to. I am creative and I’m putting out this work because I love it.<\/p>\n
And it brings me joy. Sure. I want to monetize and get money. Um, but at the end of the day, like I was just like, I love doing this. I think I wrote a post today and I was just like, I’m doing this because it brings me joy. I see so many black Raiders and I interact with so many black creatives who I’m just like, you’re funny, you’re hilarious.<\/p>\n
You’re bringing a new perspective. This is dope. Your idea is going to go further than I could have ever imagined. And like, how can I help you? And I think I wasn’t even gonna ask. What piece of advice would I give black creatives to get over self doubt? Right. And I think you said it, it was like, almost just do it, like, just do it.<\/p>\n
Like I think, you know, people create for other people, which I don’t necessarily believe because once you start doing that, then you feed into the algorithm. Then you feed into these companies, then you feed into all the stuff. But if you’re doing it for yourself and you’re putting your heart, I mean, maybe not your whole art, but you put in a lot of your heart and your authentic self into the content that you’re creating.<\/p>\n
That should be enough, right? Like it is those two people that you’d be like, yeah, I knew that skirt, like I’m a fashion or I knew the store was cute when I bought it. Yeah. And stuff like that. And you just get hype about it and you just keep wanting to do stuff. And like you talked earlier in this podcast about inspiration, right?<\/p>\n
Like I’m a big person, like working on my boundary. Working on self-love and self-acceptance, and like being in the isolation and finding inspiration, entices creativity, and entices you to think about things in a different way, entices you to learn. I think the biggest thing about being a creative, creative is learning.<\/p>\n
Um, YouTube university is my best friend. Um, just other people, even other creators that I see, I said, I’m in the same space as you, but I’m doing a different, and the one thing that’s different is me and people from. Special on how unique one person is like, no, one’s truly doing it the same way you’re doing it.<\/p>\n
And that should really be a confidence boost. Like. My brand is all about self love, self acceptance, and like living your life and style. So if you can figure out how to do all those things, and I try to send the message, like, love yourself, just figure out what that looks like. Maybe it might be being by yourself.<\/p>\n
Being in a part of community and having that support system, but like doing that work to love yourself and accept yourself, I think is just going to like explode your creativity. So I actually think I have another example. You may, so like I, you said YouTube, my brain just went working, but, um, I watched like a lot of gamers on YouTube and the aha.<\/p>\n
And the funny thing about it is everybody’s playing the same game. It’s the same games. It’s just different people playing them, but everybody loves these gamers all different times. I’m subscribed to like six different gamers. They’re all playing the same games, but I’m like, I want to see how this person plays this game.<\/p>\n
I want to see how this person plays this game. You know, people will ask me like, why are you watching the same game plays over and over again? I’m like, no. It’s a completely different gameplay because this specific person is playing it in their own way. You got to play the game you way you want to play it.<\/p>\n
And I promise you, people will want to see how you play the game. They do. I never thought I would live in a world where. This would be a thing I’m going to be honest. I grew up, you know, I, I hadn’t been said though, I had the superintendent or I had to say good. I had the first PlayStation, the second one, and then I quit buying them after that.<\/p>\n
And then I wanted the five and can’t get it. But I, I have an X-Box and I have a PC, a gaming PC, and I get on YouTube. And I’m like, there is a world where people are watching other people play a game that you. I never thought, I mean, don’t get me wrong. I love online gaming and I’m a big fan. I’m an advocate for it.<\/p>\n
I love e-gaming shout out to Longhorn e-gaming. Um, but I never thought that that world would exist and you’re absolutely right. That you could come in and sit down and see it differently. Like it’s like when I was playing red, dead redemption two, when he came, I love that game. I watched eight different YouTube offers, play that game.<\/p>\n
I beat it once and then I was beating it again. And I was like, the second time through was even better. Cause I was watching YouTube now on it again. And now I’m like, I wonder if I missed anything else or I wonder if there’s anything else out there and that just makes the gaming community that much more vibrant as well.<\/p>\n
Same thing with. Uh, I’m a graphic designer as well. All of the YouTube has helped me do things that I couldn’t even, I can’t remember from college because the technology has changed from 15, 16 years ago. Right. Um, but YouTube has become that place, but if it wasn’t for people willing to put their content out there or just do it, as you’re saying Xavier, um, I would never be able to have the kind of fun that I’m having.<\/p>\n
Just make movies from YouTube. I learned how to edit. I learned like cinematography stuff, like what you should do, what you shouldn’t do, how to get a film started, all that stuff. I learned to do this stuff. And, and I mean, I also,<\/p>\n
I feel left. I’m like, how did y’all come out of high school? You got short stories, you got short films, you got films, you started, you got fields that you’re making like. I think it’d be cool to do this and you do it. My cousin and I were joking on Instagram yesterday about something similar. It’s like, man, what if Instagram or this photo and video editing software existed when we were kids?<\/p>\n
Cause we would always say things like one day, it’ll be cool to, you know, make, have realistic games. And now that world exists or, you know, being able to, man, I want to go and record like what RDC world and Mark Phillips and all those guys are doing, uh, shout out to mark. Um, and what they’re doing. I’m like, we used to do that stuff in the backyard too.<\/p>\n
They just started recording it and now they got millions of followers on YouTube and I get money for it. So it, it, the, the world is like, as you said, it’s, um, it’s incredible. What happens when people put their talents on. So, thank you. Thank you for inspiring us today. Xavier, any final words for the audience today?<\/p>\n
Cause you don’t edit that to no size to get to her birthday celebrations. So, you know, we just, we just, we just tried to live in world today, but any other final words for our audience? Um, I would just say you made it this far. You might as well follow me on my socials. Give it to my Instagram at the X man.<\/p>\n
1, 1, 3, uh, all lower case. And then on Twitter is same thing, but capital T capital X. Show me some love and have a blessed day. That’s all I really got to say. Well, listen, Xavier. Thank you for hanging out with us at the OSA. Happy birthday. Enjoy your birthday. Uh, w whenever you’re listening to us, uh, thank you for listening.<\/p>\n
We really do appreciate it. Make sure you like comment and subscribe on whatever platform you’re listening to this podcast on, and we will see you next time. Take care. Thank y’all for having me. Yes, sir. We hope you enjoy today’s episode. To catch the next installment. Be sure to follow us on Spotify, apple podcasts, Google podcasts, and Stitcher.<\/p>\n
This podcast was recorded and edited in collaboration with the L a I T S development studios. Audio department, more information can be found@liberalartsdotutexas.edu slash L a I T. The interest song was composed by Ian Herrera. And you can find his work@ianherrera.com. The outro song was composed by Noah Keller, and you can find more of his work@noahdkeller.com.<\/p>\n
We’ll see you next time. Sexist podcast network is brought to you by the university of Texas. At Austin. Podcasts are produced by faculty members and staffers at UT Austin who worked with university communications to craft content that adheres to journalistic best practices. The university of Texas at Austin offers these podcasts at no charge podcasts appearing on the network, and this webpage represent the views of the.<\/p>\n
Not of the university of Texas at Austin.<\/p>\n"},"episode_featured_image":false,"episode_player_image":"https:\/\/podcasts.la.utexas.edu\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2022\/03\/LIVE-logo-TPN.png","download_link":"https:\/\/podcasts.la.utexas.edu\/live\/podcast-download\/338\/episode-28-a-little-bit-of-everything.mp3","player_link":"https:\/\/podcasts.la.utexas.edu\/live\/podcast-player\/338\/episode-28-a-little-bit-of-everything.mp3","audio_player":"