ENGLISH - QUESTIONS TO: SCILLA OWUSU Content Creator x Social Entrepreneur

SCILLA” OWUSU IS A MULTIFACED MILLENIAL CONTENT CREATOR WITH DEEP GHANAIAN ROOTS

WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WITH THE STUNNING AND TALENTED FOUNDER OF YOUNGTREPRENEURS, WHO DIRECTED THE LATEST M.ANIFEST VIDEO ‘‘TOMORROW’’.

BISA KDEI, JULS, BURNA BOY, DAVIDO ( AND MANY MORE) HAVE ALREADY CHOSEN HER TO NARRATE THE VISUALS OF THEIR HIT SONGS.

LESHYPERCONSCIENTS SAT WITH THE MIND BEHIND MUSIC VIDEOS, THAT MILLIONS OF US HAVE SEEN.

HERE’S A QUICK GLIMPSE OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH THIS INSPIRING AFRICAN QUEEN WHO IS NOT ONLY A CONTENT CREATOR, BUT A MID 20’S MILLENIAL MAKING HER ACTIONS BACKUP HER AMBITION.

“Aspiring content creators should CREATE MORE VISUALS and start by collaborating with likeminded individuals”

IN A FEW WORDS, CAN YOU TELL US WHO ‘‘SCILLA’’ IS?

My name is Priscilla Owusu, I am 22 years old Ghanaian, based in London.

I started started off writing after college, then got into video producing for music videos (which i still do) and naturally transitioned into music videos directing in 2018.

HOW DID YOU START YOUR CAREER AS A PRODUCER?

I was writing, as a hobby and came up with an idea for an online series called ‘‘A lesson learnt’’. At that time, I couldn’t afford a producer, so I invested in some producer books and started learning on the go, studying more and more in order for me to perfect my craft. At the beginning I made a few mistakes ( as we all do) but learnt from them, which ultimately lead me to the position where I am today.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TIPS TO YOUNG CREATORS SEEKING FOR A WAY TO MAXIMISE THEIR EXPOSURE AND CREATE USEFUL CONTENT FOCUSING ON CONTEMPORARY ISSUES ?

I would definitely recommend them to CREATE MORE VISUALS, collaborating with likeminded film-makers/photographers will definitely help in that sense. Creators and aspiring creators, should maximize their collaboration opportunities by using Facebook film pages, engaging on Twitter, utilizing Instagram hashtags or simply register on websites like mandy.com. Visuals are a great way to keep people engaged and effectively bring your message across a wider audience.

A LOT OF YOUNG MILLENIALS SEEM TO BE RESERVED TO THE IDEA OF PUTTING THEIR WORK OUT, FEARING NEGATIVE BACKLASH AND THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE EXPOSITION OF THEIR VUNERABILITIES
WHAT CAN YOU SUGGEST IN ORDER TO HELP THEM, KNOWING THAT YOU OVERCAME THAT STAGE ?

I would sugggest they ask themselves the following questions ‘‘The people around you, have they taken the advice they've given you and has it worked out for them? if the answer is no, then don't listen and go with your heart.” I personally believe, we only have one life and time isn't something we can't get back. We can always make money again, but time is the only thing we can’t get back. Time should be used efficiently. For instance I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I achieved as of today, if I had gone to University and only now started to pursue my career, I just managed my time the best way possible from the moment I knew what I wanted for my life.
Everything is entirely up to us.

GIVEN YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR BEST ADVICE TO COMBINE A 9-5 PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY WITH PERSONAL PROJECTS, WITHOUT ONE TAKING OVER THE OTHER?

Depending on your circumstances, e.g if you live with your parents, if you have a child, if you're in a committed relationship planning for a future, in university debt or just have a lot of things to pay for. It's always better to have a job.

I wouldn't probably suggest a 9-5 per say as it's too time consuming and wouldn't really give you enough time to work on what you're really passionate about. My recommendation for creatives would be to find a flexible job that pays well or a job you can work from home and to keep it, until the job you're passionate about forces you to leave.

At 18, I actually got fired from work and although I was living within my means things got tiring and had no money (due to poor management). I decided to get a part time job again after the “A lesson learnt” series was finished in order to maintain myself. I left my part time gig when I was getting an influx in video shoots to produce and couldn't really be physically available for work during the summer. I managed to make even more money than I had made during the period of working so I learnt from my previous mistakes and saved for rainy days.

It's impossible to give 100% to both of them so you're gonna have to organize yourself. My video shoots were always spontaneous I never really knew unless 48 hours notice when they will come but when I was in the middle of my online series (season 2, writing the script) I would give myself limits. e.g write 10 pages a day, a week. Write for 2 hours. Those things were much more helpful.

On a personal level, I’ve been a Video Music Producer, Film Producer and Screenwriter for almost the past two years now so it's quite flexible for me. At the moment, when I write content its mainly for my personal projects so it gives me flexibility. In terms of video producing and directing, when people reach out to me it's just a matter of checking if i'm available. That’s basically how I manage my time.

YOU ARE THE FOUNDER OF A VERY INSPIRING ORGANISATION FOCUSING ON GHANA AND IT’S YOUTH, YOUNGTREPRENEURS, WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE MISSIONS OF THE ORGANISATION AND HOW DO YOU INTEGRATE IT IN YOUR DAILY PROCESS?

I frequently visit Ghana to do work for the organization I recently created a Non profit called the @Youngtrepreneurs Organisation (www.theyoungtrepreneurs.com) which usually requires me to stay 6-8 weeks in the motherland, so I just like to plan ahead of time in order to get as many jobs as possible before that period.

Youngtrepreneurs is a social impact educational organisation. The core goals are to provide youth led workshops in different creative sectors. Infusing professional expertise from Ghanaian experts to improve knowledge, gain job experience and providing jobs in the medium to long term for young creative talents in Ghana. Especially to also support our priority of progressing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Fortunately for me, my job can also be done in Ghana too. As for me personally, I'm kind of an introvert. I'm not really someone who goes out much, hangs out with friends every weekend. In fact, most of my enjoyment is in my own company. I would even consider myself to be a workaholic. Some may consider it to be a good thing, some may say its a bad thing but that's what makes me happy.

For people who would love to witness Scilla’s next moves you can follow her on instagram and twitter @Scillaowusu, or catch up with her, Kelvin ‘‘PJ Kev’’ Mensah and other acts, in the upcoming ‘‘This is Ghana’’ documentary, produced by @Danny Wonders film-maker/photographer in which the country is showcased in a modern way but where they also insist on the impact the country could have if more individuals from the diaspora came back home.

M.anifest feat Burna Boy - Directed by Scilla Owusu