Meet Keith Nixon | Visual Storyteller & Consummate Reductionist

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

Hi Keith, how do you think about risk?
Having initially been somewhat risk averse, I now recognize my eventual willingness to take risks as a determining factor in establishing my trajectory. I think it worth acknowledging that risk, to some degree, is a privilege & largely dependent on access. Risk looks considerably different circumstantially; however, having had the fortune of taking a life-altering & career-defining risk, I am thankful for the opportunity to have done so.

I think of risk in terms of investment. When presented with a risk, I ultimately decide based on the return on investment. Whenever I have found myself faced with opportunities that require a certain level of risk I ask myself, “What decision will I regret the least?” & I use this as the driving force behind my decision-making.

That being said, risk-taking is an exercise in faith. Risk is an opportunity to put my faith to test. I am grateful for every opportunity to do so.

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 am a visual storyteller passionate about exploring narratives that give space to the marginalized, overlooked, & under-considered. Having initially explored my creative capacities as a photographer, I am now exploring my creativity through filmmaking. As a Black man from the South, I am interested in shedding light on southern, familial dynamics & the rich tapestry of story within this community.

As a former engineer & technical specialist, I apply critical thinking & design thinking to the process of making images. As a former Film MFA student at Howard University, I explored the significance of cultural nuance as it relates to creativity. In continuing my studies as a Cinematography Fellow at the American Film Institute I learned to apply technical & practical know-how to image making. By merging both my analytical & visual acumen, I have developed a visual approach that is representative of my unique perspective. In doing so, I will explore the wealth of untapped stories in the interest of increased representation.

As I transition from academia into industry, I am excited to continue to grow my creative voice. I believe stories have the power to change lives. I am in search of opportunities to contribute to these stories.

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.
Whenever I travel I make most of my plans around food! I would definitely start by gauging my friend’s appetite & planning accordingly. I would put together a list of a few of my favorite eateries in the city:

Two Hommes
Comfort LA
My 2 Cents LA
Post & Beam
Alta Adams
Hilltop
Earle’s

Aside from eating out, I’m kind of a homebody! However, the one thing that gets me out of the house is going to the movie theater. I would definitely take them to the American Cinematheque, Los Feliz & Aero, time permitting. Hopefully we can catch a 35mm print (70mm if we’re lucky!).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutouts will always, always, always go to my family. My family serves as a constant source of inspiration as I navigate not only my career, but my life as a whole. So many of the stories I am passionate about sharing are rooted in my rearing & upbringing. The more I continue to mine my lived experience, I recognize how influential my family has been in shaping who I was, who I am, & who I will be.

Thank you to my parents, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, & friends! You all mean the world to me!

Website: https://keithnixonjr.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnixonjr/