We had the good fortune of connecting with Joshua Horsford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joshua, how do you think about risk?
Firstly, I think balance is the most important key to life. However, you have to figure out a way to balance risk and do it consistently just to build the muscle. Because honestly, knowing how to take calculated risk and having consistent work ethic is what separates most people in the artistic, entrepreneurial, or any highly competitive field. Take risks as consistently as possible, if it’s as simple as a more difficult conversation or as complex as tackling societal issues in your art, you must build the muscle. Not to say they all will work out, but you have to be willing to take risks and fail to grow

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I make comedy films. It’s authentic its fresh its new. Its refreshing because its reflective of the culture without trying to comment on it. What ultimately separates my art from my competitors is that I wanted to make something to sell to a studio for the first 85% of my career. I was making everything DIY with the intention of selling. However now, a switch flipped where I have the team and the vision so it turns out I won’t need much production help. My goal is to now approach a studio only needing distribution. We just want help getting it to the world. I got to this place through a lot of not-quitting and a lot of help from friends. I am not at my endpoint but I do have a comfortability in my skill set and I think that took a long time to develop. The journey was difficult because, and I think a lot of artist are experiencing this in this generation; we’ve been inundated with so much media about people’s end points that we think the “journey” is way easier than it is and when you do that, that creates entitlement. I think this is a generation blind-spot, and I have come out on the to come out on the other side of I’m so grateful just to be making art and I think that’s where my separation is going to come from, my work is filled with the joy and gratitude I get from just being able to organize a shoot! I love where I am because it’s not about making tons of money or the career necessarily but about the the fact that I feel better after I have created something.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is not my strong suit. I moved here during the pandemic and I have still only probably visited 15 places so far. Suffice to say, I do a lot of eating and at home and would actually love a tour guide myself. However if I did have friends in town we would probably start out with drinks at my place, We’d have to see the museum (which I still haven’t). We’d get bikes and go on the beltline to see the sights, probably go to get food at First Watch go to Little five points, drive-through Midtown, maybe see the aquarium, even though most aquariums are aquamarine colonialism which I completely don’t support but yeah… probably something like that. I’m pretty chill

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I really just wanna shout out all the people in my community who have supported me and helped me to clear my mental, spiritual and emotional space so that I can think, feel, and create more clearly. I know community is what’s going to get us through whatever it is that we’re going through right now and in the future! Community to me is a place where people feel comfortable sharing vulnerabilities, taking risk, and be open and they in turn create that space for others. So big shout out to the people who have done that for me, so that I may now give it back!

Website: https://blackpopfilms.com

Instagram: joshuahorsfordtv

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-horsford-525471111/

Image Credits
Dominic Pratt Poster and Logo Design – IG: _d0min1ck_

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.