Meet Naseed Gifted: Creative Director & Writer

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

Hi Naseed, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking is something that so many people fear because of the unknown. The key to risk taking is to be able to accept that business can be a success or failure. You have to be willing to take failure and do the necessary work to be successful in future attempts. Developing an Entertainment Studio that produces comics and animation without having a background in art or animation is a huge risk and decreases your probability of success. Possessing an Engineering background has made me a “problem solver” with the ability to break down challenges into smaller steps and get training in areas where I am was deficit. I’ve always faced challenges head on and learn how to fail early and often to develop building blocks for future successes.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Naseed Gifted is the Principal of Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark, NJ. He is dedicated to inspiring young people to be science and technology leaders who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community​. His childhood obsession with comics rarely portrayed heroes that resembled him which fueled his desire to inject more diversity in the world of comic books. His mission in his graphic expression is to encompass a distinct balance between unprecedented storytelling and exceptional artwork.

A​ New Jersey native, and New Jersey Institute of Technology graduate, Gifted is also the founder of New Jersey’s Black Comic Book Festival “Khem Fest.” He is also a two-time Glyph Comic Awards, Urban Action Showcase nominee and 2020 Pioneer/LifeTime Achievement Award recipient, an engineer and writer, who regularly travels across the country speaking about diversity and ​using comics to teach S.T.E.M​.

Published works include self-published sci-fi comic book series: P.B.Soldier and Jazen; Short stories: Occupy Renaissance City and Terrorist Act of 2011; and Director/Writer: P.B.Soldier “The Awakening” Short Film and P.B.Soldier Animated Short.

Doing the work is the only way I am where I am today. This involved thousands of hours of research, training, going to conventions and practicing my craft. Even with that, there were a number of failures that I eventually turned into successes.

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.
If my best friend were to come into town we would spent our day in Brooklyn, New York City. Breakfast on Fulton Ave or Flatbush Ave. then off to Coney Island if it’s summer or Brooklyn Musuem.
Later in the evening I’ll stop by the B.A.M. or an outdoor concert (if its the summer). In the evening we will go Fulton Ave or 5th Ave for a bite to eat and enjoy the sights and people.

If we have energy it would be cool to go for a bike around the city to the various locations.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother (Gwen Finney) is foundation of my success. Watching her growing up instilled two things that I carry with me throughout this journey she helped develop my work ethic and perseverance when facing challenges.

Strong belief in the Creator up above gives me the strength and courage to continue push forward.

Website: www.pbsmediastudios.com

Instagram: @pbsoldier @principalgifted @pbsmediastudios @khemfest

Linkedin: Naseed Gifted

Twitter: @pbsoldier @khemfest @pbsmediastudios

Facebook: Naseed Gifted @pbsmediastudios @pbsoldier

Youtube: www.youtube.com/pbsmediastudios

Image Credits
Naseed Gifted