This winter, through our Big Picture campaign, we’re raising funds to launch programming in Wide Angle’s new Studios at the Service Center. As we settle into this exciting new chapter, we’re shining a spotlight on three alumni who have grown through their media-making journeys at Wide Angle.

Get to know Favour Ogedengbe (Social Media Intern), August Larson (Program Assistant - Maryland Service Year), and Justice Georgie (Social Media Intern) as they share how they discovered media-making, reflect on their creative process, and explain why they’re excited to help shape the big picture for students in our new home.

I grew up in Nigeria before moving to the United States. The younger me was reserved, observant, and quiet. During the pandemic, I discovered editing and video creation, which allowed me to find my voice. I started a YouTube channel, making random videos and experimenting with storytelling. I also began writing spoken word poetry. I had been feeling insecure and struggled with a stutter. Practicing my writing and making videos helped me move through my stutter and made me more confident in how I speak.

The video class at Wide Angle challenged me in new ways. I can get insecure about my accent, especially if I’m on camera, so having more practice speaking in class and presenting helped me be more confident and change my self-perception. Witnessing the skills of my classmates motivated me to want to learn more and grow my skills. Interviewing people pushed me to get out of my shell and be more outspoken. When creating, I think about the purpose of each project and who it may benefit. What inspires me to keep pushing my work forward is the vision I have for my life and what I know I’d like to achieve, and knowing that I have a lot to learn motivates me to keep going.

I can’t wait to see the new studios become a place where students connect, create, and bring their biggest ideas to life. One day, I dream of creating a film about my life—highlighting the major scenes in my life and childhood to help young people find hope and purpose, no matter what they’re going through. Sharing my story is important because I believe it can show others they’re not alone and that clarity and strength are always within reach.

Younger me was a bit of a mess honestly, I’ve come a long way from who I once was. Arts have always been my outlet. Both of my parents were artists and being a lover of cartoons and comics was probably what sent me most down the path of the arts. I took a lot of photographs in middle school. The school was pretty far from my house and there was a lot of time in the car. I didn’t have anything else to do, so I started photographing.

At Wide Angle, I took my first photography class - I really liked it as a space to be creative without deadlines or strict rules about what I could create. This freedom allowed me to flourish as an artist. When creating, my first step is always establishing a base idea, then I make a series of rough drafts, pick my favorite, and go through a long process of refinement. For photography, I take a lot of photos and then narrow them down to the ones I like. There are probably hundreds of photos that I took at Wide Angle, but there are probably only 5 that have ever been shown.

In the future, I'm interested in leading small workshops or classes at Wide Angle that would focus on types of photography, like taking photos at night or when it’s raining, because the atmosphere will blur the photos or make them kind of abstract, especially with lower-quality cameras (like a phone). I think it can create really interesting and striking images. My dream passion project is to create a trilogy of animated mouse films.

I had a lot of frustration as a kid. Whether it was fighting to get my anger out or just doing the opposite of what I was supposed to do, I was on my way in the wrong direction in life. Despite acting out, the arts always tickled my fancy. I was introduced to poetry in a special literature class in elementary school. Life became easier for me when I learned that I could write down my feelings on paper. In my first poem, I cried because everything I wanted to say was eventually said on that drenched looseleaf sheet of paper, and I got all wet from my tears. As for being on stage in theater, that was an escape for me not to be in my reality because I was portraying someone else. For an hour or two, I got to live in someone else's shoes.

At first, I didn’t believe I could pursue media as a career. I had a lot of self-doubt and felt like I didn’t belong in that space. I wasn’t sure how to overcome my limitations. But Wide Angle gave me a place to feel seen and heard, and I could just create without worrying about how ‘good’ I was. There, I realized that I could push past those self-imposed limitations and that my voice mattered. I found a sense of belonging at Wide Angle, which empowered me to believe in myself as a creator and storyteller. My creative process comes from living life, growing as a person and a Christian, and trusting God’s purpose for me. Challenges and failures teach me to keep going, knowing I’m here for a reason.

Through my experiences at art nonprofits like WombWork Productions and Wide Angle, I learned how important the arts are to the community of Baltimore. My dream passion project is to be a mentor to the students at Wide Angle, to help them with their ideas and turn their dreams into reality through media. Life is a precious thing and I wouldn't trade it for the world. There is a reason I am here, and I am put here to live out God’s purpose. Because if I wont do it, then who will?”

As Justice, August, and Favour have continued their journeys here at Wide Angle, we too are embarking on a new phase. With the opening of our new Studios, we are excited to provide even more opportunities and tools for students to explore, develop, and share their stories. Join us by making a gift today to invest in supporting the next generation of media creators.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Hannah is a multidisciplinary designer, with experience in instructional, graphic, and human-centered design. She is an avid crafter and curious creative. In 2023, Hannah was recognized as one of Technical.ly's RealLIST Connectors for her contributions to Baltimore’s tech and entrepreneurship communities. Hannah holds a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Maryland and an M.A. in Social Design from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Her cat Bashi gets cuter every day.