Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayesha Kosaka.
Ayesha, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Since I was a kid, I’ve always been intrigued by the makings of a concert. Yes, the concert itself, too, of course, but there was something about the process that caught my attention. I was eight years old when my mom brought home the Destiny’s Child: Live in Atlanta DVD, and after having a mini-show in my living room, I grabbed the remote and went straight for the bonus features – the making/process of the tour. It was a glamorized, yes, from the private jets to the VIP hotel rooms and whatnot, but it also showed the creative development of stage production and film. It inspired me to mock up storyboards in my notebooks throughout elementary school, and to build stories that aligned with music from different artists. This is what I did for fun. I played sports up until high school, and though it had always been a dream of mine to be a part of a tour, I didn’t think it would actually be a part of my future.
I came into college as a Business Entrepreneurship major, and after sitting through one semester of business pre-requisite courses, I already knew I was not about to spend the next three and a half years doing this, and I went back to the drawing board. In the summer going into my sophomore year, I decided that I would change my major to Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Film Production, Event Management, and Marketing, which was a major stepping stone that led me to where I am today. In my sophomore year, my colleagues and I had some things to say about the political climate and state of black people in America, and specifically one night we had a vision of developing a story around the black woman. Lo and behold, we came across a competition where we had to make a movie in a week, so we went for it. We called ourselves Plugged Productions and released our first short film, Mis(s)Interpreted, the story on the suppression and liberation of the black female voice. Plugged is where I found my voice through film, and my team allowed me to come into my own by allowing me to fully express myself using this platform.
With Plugged becoming more recognized through the greater San Diego community and beyond, I was able to expand my network and become more involved. With my film career breaking ground, I was still looking for a way to connect it to music and concerts. By the end of my sophomore year, I got connected with someone who I am proud to call my mentor, who presented me with the opportunity to get my foot in the door, which was to work in production for a summer concert series at Ironstone Amphitheatre, where I’ve been working for the past two seasons. From there, I have been able to build relationships with people in the industry, and by the fall of my junior year, I was presented with the highlight of my college career (and life to date): I was invited to spend two days with members of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s On The Run II Tour in San Diego. That’s when I started to see my life come full circle, from the time I was a little girl inspired by the flashing lights of the Destiny’s Child DVD, up to that moment in September of 2018. I hope that as I continue this journey I’ll be able to get recognized by more artists to do creative work and tour with them post-college.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like any journey, I’ve definitely had some hiccups on the road. Coming into the first film festival as an amateur, my team and I were not taken seriously by those in the field. They didn’t think that we were capable of creating a compelling piece of work… but we didn’t care. We knew we had something to say, and we believed that our film (Mis(s)Interpreted) would give voice to our community and deliver a message that has been buried for so long. We wanted the liberation of our own voices and for everyone who looked like us… and that’s what the film did. It’s a blessing to say that our first film is still stirring buzz, and has been recognized as Best Short Film in the 2019 Africa World Documentary Film Festival.
As for my direction in concert productions, when I first got into event management, I was told by faculty and staff alike in the department that it would be nearly impossible for me to get into concerts, and that I should probably just be safe and look for something in hotels. I wasn’t satisfied with hotels; I knew where my heart was. So, with every class project and internship, I was very intentional about crafting an experience that would eventually (and hopefully) lead me to where I wanted to go. It led me to my mentor and Ironstone. Whether it be God or the greater stars in the universe, I knew there was a purpose in me being where I am, and I’ll never take it for granted. I am fortunate to have found my way, and I am grateful for the ones who fed so much positive energy and support into my goals.
Please tell us about as a Creative Director– what should we know?
As an aspiring Creative Director, I found it important to really value the process of both film and concert productions from all aspects… whether that be logistical planning, administrating, storyboarding, organizing the crew, actually being behind the camera and filming, editing, ticketing or stage designing, I’ve tried to put myself in different shoes because all of these elements is what makes a show or what makes a film. Everyone plays an important role big or small, and I wanted to actually feel that rather than just being told it’s what they do. My mentors always told me to be flexible and adaptable, so I’ve learned to move in that way the best I can.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Be headstrong and confident in your dreams. Take everything as a lesson learned. There will be times of frustration and anger, but remind yourself of your worth and what you are capable of — everyone that came before us has worked too damn hard for us to hold ourselves back. Sankofa: reach back into the past to understand your present and better move forth in your future. The resources are there, it is up to us to find it. And just know that there is always someone out there rooting for you. It’s a lot easier said than done as I am working on these things myself, but don’t let your core principles and values drift too far away.
Contact Info:
- Website: akosakaprojects.com
- Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/yeeeesha/ - Other: https://www.instagram.
com/we.are.plugged/?hl=en
Image Credit:
Headshot photo (main/first) taken by @flicksbyreem
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