Meet Donte “HDTayfilms” Pipkins: Video Director / Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Donte “HDTayfilms” Pipkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Donte “HDTayfilms”, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Being raised in South Central Los Angeles you learn alot about taking risk. Growing up i took risk daily and didnt realize how that would ultimately shape whom id become as an adult. Walking down the street was a risk. Getting involved in certain activites to make money to survive comes with risk. Being black is a risk within itself. I had to sit back and look over my life and learn to appreciate my journey. God gave me a path that wouldve broken many but i took that pressure and made diamond. The type of risk entering into the film industry was something i was ready for. You have to put yourself in uncomfortable circumstances to yield a profit. Youre goin to have to take the risk of spending 10k on production equipment and sacrifice your social life to get to where you want to be.

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.
One thing that sets me apart from others is my focus on the goal. Ive learned to take small incremental steps towards the big goal instead of rushing and missing steps. Theres nothing wrong with a plan taking a year or two. This allows you the time to Prepare, Plan and Implement. Im currently at a fork in the road in my career path. For the past 10 years i have been heavily concentrated on music videos. Now that ive matured over the years im becoming aware of social respondsiblity. So now its time for me to start creating content that will make positive deposits into the world. This has been a long journey and it hasnt been easy at all. I work for LA County full time and i decided to take this path because my job affords me the money to invest into my business. So i tend to schedule my shoots around my work schedule and also the week i have my kids. So every month im faced with the stress of scheduling, but somehow its working itself out. I feel the short im working on will open up doors to where i may be able to leave my 9-5 and focus so;e;y on creating movies.

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.
Now this is tough because im not the one that has much of a social life. So my frineds know im not the person to call when its “lets go out and have fun time”… LOL

We would hit Samys camera and demo cinema cameras and watch tutorials online…. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My kids. Donte Jr, Sha’Re and Princeton Pipkins are the reason I am the person i am today. Theres so many days i want to quit, but ive come to realize my kids are watching me. And its evident in the things they show interest in. My oldest son Donte is extremely talented in gaming, drawing and video directing. Sha’Re is a super talented artist and Princeton has the natural ability to direct as well. Outside of my kids I have a very effective circle of friends that has molded me in life and Business. Ervin Pope, Topic626, EMacc, Bugz and Christian Sutton from Psycho Films.

Website: www.hdtayfilms.com

Instagram: @hdtayfilms

Linkedin: donte pipkins

Twitter: @hdtayfilms

Facebook: facebook.com/hdtayfilms

Youtube: youtube.com/hdtayfilms

Image Credits
HDTAYFILMS