Meet Uhoman April Moltok | Writer, Director, Artist & Film Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Uhoman April Moltok and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Uhoman April, what inspires you?
African creatives who have gone ahead of me. One of which is my mom who is a writer. She made sure I grew up around a lot of books and art. These are the things that fueled my love for storytelling and film.

I have drawn inspiration from books like “Half of a Yellow Sun” and “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and from films like “La Noire de” and “Mandabi” by Ousmane Sembène. I find their styles of storytelling particularly interesting. The way they are able to capture simple moments that carry heavy emotional undertones while staying true to their unique African experiences is freeing to me.

The films and paintings I have made can be described as a perspective on those unique African experiences. I grew up around a lot of women, specifically northern Nigerian women. So my stories are always from a woman’s point of view. The subtle ways that they contribute to society and how they often do so without seeking anything in return.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am yet to discover what I love more than filmmaking, maybe boba but even boba is not something that I am constantly thinking about. From a young age I knew I wanted to tell stories. I wrote a lot of essays and even won a scholarship once because of it. Essay writing progressed into script writing when I got into the university and even though I found the rules of storytelling slightly frustrating, I learnt to use them to my advantage. Limitations spark more creative ideas no?

I got to know more about directing and editing for film much later while studying for my MFA in Film & Television Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. An experience I never fully envisioned for myself while growing up. I have always had big dreams but actually living those dreams is nothing short of a blessing. Now I can comfortably perform any role on set, well all except sound recording (insert chuckle). But I have USC to thank for my ever growing skills.

Some lessons I have learnt along the way? Hmm. I have learnt that pride is useless in this industry. I have learnt that approaching everything with humility is the quickest way to finding joy in filmmaking because it is a stressful process. I would be lying if I said it was not.
Filmmaking is also all about communication and collaboration. Two things I was not particularly strong at when I first started making films.

The thing that excites me the most is being able to track my growth. Who I was as a filmmaker 6 months ago is not who I am today and that is how it will always be. I am constantly changing, developing and learning new ways to tell stories. My hope is to one day share an elevated version of myself and my work with the world. And you can bet that at the core of the story will be a woman’s emotions, her thoughts, opinions and point of view.

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.
If Chelsea came to LA I would take her to Little Tokyo and Koreatown. They have the best food spots in LA. For drinks we would stop at my favorite African store on MLK to buy some Vimto and Maltina, then head to Larchmont for dessert and window shopping. I know she would love that.

I think a good show featuring an indie artist who makes exceptional music is something we would both enjoy. We could also visit the Arts District and see what is up for display at the art galleries. We both like art and photography a lot. I could also see us going to the beach to take pictures of the sunset on our film cameras.

The bookstore next to Loz Feliz Theatre always has exciting reads and we could easily pop out to see a movie after. Right now I have my eyes set on Mickey 17 and On Becoming a Guinea Fowl.

As the trip draws to a close, I would take her with me to service at church in Koreatown. We could talk after that over brunch before we cry and hug goodbye. I have not seen my best friend in years so I imagine that her departure will be emotional.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My success can be attributed to family, friends and faith. All of which I take very seriously. They directly affect the way I see things and my approach to life. I have a community of wonderful people who serve as my support system. I am frail without them and they are frail without me. We love and look after one another wholeheartedly.
If I had to dedicate my shoutout to a specific person though, it would be my uncle Jordan who has been a mentor and father to me since I moved to California. I am grateful for our friendship and deep conversations about life.

Website: https://www.blondedbaby.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uhoman-april-moltok-722980196/

Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm15652108/

Image Credits
Personal Photo: Cynthia Vyle