We had the good fortune of connecting with Wi-Moto Nyoka and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wi-Moto, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I used to think I had to do everything, work all the time, and that my ability to be as busy as possible and keep all these spinning plates in the air was how to measure my dedication. However, slowing down, focusing on going deep and not wide, has not only improved my work but has improved my quality of life. I’ve found that my projects have more support, financial and otherwise, simply because I’ve prioritized rest, joy, and pleasure.

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’m the founder of Dusky Projects, we produce horror and sci-fi works in audio, immersive theater, and new media for adult and young adult audiences. Our work and services focus on inclusive storytelling and equity through the production and celebration of BIPOC artists. I’m also a horror writer and am currently in pre-production for a short horror comedy I wrote, “Affordable Housing,” about two women who fight a creature for their cheap apartment. I always loved horror but never thought it could be anything more than a hobby. I started out in music theater, then moved to being a full time musician which took me abroad. I didn’t even consider myself a writer until 2017, despite the fact that I had two short plays that had been produced by then. Those plays were both horror/sci-fi stories and I finally embraced my spookiness a few years after that. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to trust yourself and step out on faith. It’s worth it and you’re worth it.

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.
Philadelphia is such a gem. We would check out South Philly and the incredible restaurants they have there (Vietnamese, Mexica, Indonesian, and Italian). Asian Arts Initiative and the Mutter Museum are worth a look. We’d also go see some theater and check out the smaller music venues as Philly is a great music town.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to shout out some folks who have supported me and my work in a variety of ways: Pano Network, a community of women and femme filmmakers, Black Girl Nerds and Graveyard Sisters, the first reviewers that ever wrote anything about my work, Official Latino Short Film Festival, who are great supporters of Latinx storytellers, Theater Mitu, one of the dopest interdisciplinary theater companies around who are always in my corner, Hartbeat Ensemble, who have given me an artistic home, Velocity Fund, Independence Public Media, and Scribe Video Center, who support local Philadelphia artists on the regular.

Website: wi-motonyoka.com

Instagram: @duskyprojects

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wi-moto-nyoka/

Other: https://anchor.fm/blackwomenarescary

Image Credits
Dusky Projects logo by Madelyn Hernandez, Black Women Are Scary logo by Vicki Be Wicked

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.