MEET THE AUTHOR

Isabella Akilo, a Wide Angle alum who participated in the high school animation class, is passionate about art, film, media, and languages. Fluent in Mandarin, with plans to study international studies and filmmaking, Isabella aims to become a filmmaker, diplomat, or both.

As a second-generation Nigerian American, I have always loved everything involving art, film, media, writing, and languages. My journey has not always been easy, but through creativity, I have found the courage to connect with others and grow my self-confidence.

I consider myself to be extroverted, but it was a challenging journey overcoming insecurities that developed at a young age. I used to make it a point to stick to what’s comfortable and stay to myself. When I began using my yellow Polaroid and my camcorder (both gifted to me by relatives) to take pictures of the people around me, it allowed me to come out of my shell and form deeper connections with others. When I joined Wide Angle in the spring of my sophomore year, I didn’t know what to expect at first. I had trouble believing such an opportunity existed and no one seemed to be jumping at it. All these thoughts soon dissipated, and I fell in love with the entire film process, from being on sound to lights to being director, to being behind the camera, to being the subject of what was filmed. Wide Angle became my favorite thing to look forward to in my mundane and stressful school week and has given me more media experience than I could’ve hoped for in my high school career.

I’m currently involved in various extracurricular activities, such as being a member of the Baltimore Youth Arts Advocacy Team, president of the Guitar Club, Junior President of my school's Black Student Union, and soon to be a writing intern at “Writers in Baltimore Schools.” I also run a photography page called “ThePolar,” where I upload photos from my Polaroid weekly. This year, I decided to branch out and take the animation class at Wide Angle. Being able to express myself creatively, whether it’s through the lens of a camera or molding polymer clay, has helped me greatly in finding the courage to connect with others, build self-confidence, and grow my skills in media and film.

My goals currently consist of procuring a higher-quality camera so that I can film and direct my own short film. I’m currently fluent in Mandarin and English, and I’m studying Spanish so that when I graduate and go to college, I can major in international studies and minor in filmmaking. I am a published poet and have been commissioned for performances. In the future, I hope to have enough poetry pieces to publish a book. I also recently testified at the State House in Annapolis so that more money would be allocated towards arts education in Baltimore City schools that are less economically developed. I want to be a diplomat in the future, a filmmaker, or both. I wear many hats, so I’m always creating new goals for myself. It’s not an easy feat to accomplish the goals I set for myself; I practice constantly, whether it be taking my camera to school and getting shots of students in between classes or working on a new poem when I have free time.

I also like to surround myself with people who have the same interests as me or who can give me constructive feedback on how to improve upon a skill that will help me reach my goal. Which is one of the reasons I enjoy attending Wide Angle - completing the goals I set for myself is always accomplished, whether directly or indirectly, with the help of others.

Whether working on a video or animation at Wide Angle, I’ve learned there are a bunch of steps. First, you have to plan everything out to make sure you get the right shots. Then comes editing, which takes a lot of patience to get it just right. You also have to learn how to work with others and effectively communicate with everyone you are working with. Lastly, once you have your final product, you have to learn how to put yourself out there so that everyone may enjoy the art that you have spent so much time creating.

Wide Angle is one of the reasons I continue capturing and posting pictures from my Polaroid even today. I was taught that art, regardless of the medium, can be enjoyed and created by anyone.

Photos from my yellow Polaroid

Animation film: Consent Bakery

This video was created in Wide Angle's high school animation program in the spring of 2024. Youth producers: Isabella Akilo & Cairyn Leftwich