Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali D. Hopson.
Hi Ali D., thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I come from a family of media professionals, photographers, and activists. I have been writing, filming and snapping photos since she was a child. Having never lost the creative bug, I left her career in social services and politics and made a career out of creating art and have never looked back.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This has not always been a smooth road. What I will say is that the struggles have helped toughen me in this industry as well as given me new perspective about my personal goals. I was struggling to fit in as a POC in an industry where representation is represented in tokenism. I was always the “only black or POC” on set. I decided that these spaces and jobs created in our industry should and must include our input and our labor. I have made it a mission to find ways to include my community and be a presence in the room. So much work needs to be done and I can not wait.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
MAWU Photography Media is a multi-faceted production company operating on three basic levels. The Film Division of MAWU Photography Media (MPM) is centered on producing creative and stunning media/ content. Backed by a creative staff; in-house editing and scoring department (MAWU MUSIC via BMI); access to premium locations; and our connections to film resources, our company can provide production consulting and resources to individuals or companies that need media or marketing content. Customers are given a free consultation to review the processes, budgets, and scoring. MAWU Photography Media prepares content for distribution or production.
CUT & Deliver Solutions (CDS) acts as a consultation firm and handles various projects which may present themselves to our production company in need of financing via grants and sponsorships. This division is not primarily a revenue generator but is vital to the growth of the company. Projects will be handpicked based upon a referral system. By minimizing the number of projects, we control quality and reputation as a production company which specializes, rather than an all-encompassing production facility which forsakes quality for quantity of projects. This division is responsible every year for producing one project for the City of Austin.
MAWU Photography is our heart and soul and kickstart for the vision or creating creative and unique media. It is a photography service producing creative content unique to our clients.
MAWU Photography Media (MPM) is a privately held LLC owned by founder and president Ali D. Hopson. There is one other Executive Producer, Evon J. Bradford, Hopson’s Co-Founder of the Cut & Deliver division.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Listen to the inner voice inside you that holds your dreams and goals. The more you listen, the bigger that voice will grow, and you will learn to drown out the noise and doubt.
For those starting out, it sounds cliché but, believe in your dream and surround yourself with people who will help you move you forward. Now that does not mean surround yourself with “yes” people. Someone once told me Iron sharpens Iron when I was young. I am happy for the support and love of my community, mentors, and fellow artists. For encouraging me when others told me to switch career paths or departments. Glad I did not listen.
Contact Info:
- Email: mawuphotograph@gmail.com
- Website: www.mawuphotography.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mawuphotographymedia
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mawuphotography
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6061608/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm
Image Credits
IMAGES BY ALI D HOPSON/ MAWU PHOTOGRAPHY MEDIA
