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

Hi Omar, how do you think about risk?
The reward needs to be big enough and line up with my goals. Once it does, I go all in! Even if it doesn’t work out exactly, I’m still gaining something along the loss.

Moving to Atlanta at the beginning of 2020 was a major risk. I’ve never lived here or had family and friends here. But I knew it was the place to be as an aspiring Black filmmaker and director. Despite the pandemic, I was able to build a whole new network of talented creatives and rebuild my portfolio.

I’ve also taken risks in the kind of projects I produce. So far, I’ve managed to get hired by desired clients and even have a short film of mine licensed to a popular streaming service. I invested a lot of effort and money into the projects but gained more reputable clients and a wider audience for my work.

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’m a filmmaker and director. I’m most proud of always challenging myself with every project as I refine my skills. I’m a Jamaican immigrant who grew up in New York City where I started directing music videos and short films. After a short break, I returned to filmmaking in 2020 after moving to Atlanta.

The toughest part is there is no career path for a filmmaker – you just have to keep creating and then promoting. That can get exhausting and costly. I handle that challenge by figuring out ways to monetize my skills by doing things like commercials and promotional content.

The main thing I’d want people to know about me is that I’m a Jamaican immigrant and a filmmaker.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The Beltline is my favorite place in Atlanta. Plenty of restaurants and things to do.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Triny Beaty (Producer) Andre Wynter (Cinematographer)
Marcus Carey

Website: www.omarderby.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omar_derby/

Image Credits
Suraj Savkoor Jesús Fuentes

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