bronx-bred vision: finding your creative calling

Overcoming the Camera and Post-Production Passions

Adi: I definitely never wanted to be a videographer. I hated the camera. I went to school for production, but I hated being on set. I hated lighting and camera work where you have to stand around and deal with all those logistics. I was just like, "I don't want to touch it, I hate technology," which doesn't fully make sense, but I wanted to do video editing. I wanted to be entirely behind the scenes. I didn't want to be a part of pre-production or production; I wanted to be only in post-production and say, "Listen, you deal with all the outside stuff, give me everything, and I'll make a final product."

But then I met Javi and Joe, @TheBXBarista, and Javi noticed that I had a camera. He told me I was going to start using it. I was so upset that I had to use my camera, but I'm so grateful I did. With video editing, since you are behind the scenes even more so than anyone else, you don't naturally get to meet people or be directly involved. When I picked up the camera, I had to learn how to assert myself, project my voice, and tell people I needed the shot to get them to move.

A2: That's just how we do it in New York.

Adi: Yeah, pretty much. Especially being from the Bronx, you have to have that "get out of my way" mentality.

A2: So, it wasn't until you started filming in the specialty coffee scene that you really started videoing people? Prior to that, were you able to secure editing-only projects? Were you in that specific space for a bit?

Adi: Yes, it was mostly just internships. My first internship out of college was video editing, and that's when I purchased the Adobe Creative Cloud to focus heavily on After Effects and Premiere. Every internship after that was strictly video editing, and I thought it was perfect. But the more I did it, the more I wanted to edit on my own terms for my own projects. I realized I needed footage to edit, and I couldn't keep waiting around for someone else to provide it. That's when I purchased the camera, though I didn't touch it initially because I was too scared. Once I actually started capturing footage, it made me appreciate both sides of the process and made me fall in love with video editing even more.

A2: Because you worked hard to get that footage yourself. When I started video editing heavily, my core idea for delivering a final product was making sure I was physically there to understand and capture the energy to begin with. Is that what you try to achieve, or are you digging even deeper into different artistic aspects? Videographers and editors approach their work in many ways, whether they appeal strictly to visuals, minimalism, or deep emotion. What is your personal approach?

Adi: I am definitely always trying to tell a story. Even if it's just a standard event, I want you to feel like you were there and understand the entire experience from A to Z. I absolutely want to play with emotions. Projects like Bronx Boys or I Am Every Woman were created primarily for emotion—getting to know these individuals and making the audience feel something deeply. If I'm filming an event, I want you to be excited, follow the progression, and feel like you experienced it from beginning to end.

Redefining Narratives: I Am Every Woman and Bronx Boys

A2: Talk more about these specific projects you've done, namely Bronx Boys and I Am Every Woman. I'm not as familiar with the second one, so let's dive into that first because I'm curious.

Adi: I created I Am Every Woman as an expression piece. Gerany, who runs the art events at Boogie Down Grind, hit me up and said, "Listen, you represent Bronx women. I have this idea where I want your photos up, and I want you to create a video." She didn't give me any strict guidelines; she just noted that since I'm a videographer and editor, it was something I should do.

The concept was simple. I gathered a bunch of Bronx women, completely last minute, and it was amazing how they immediately showed up to help. We met up individually, and I asked them to write three "I am" statements that truly represented them. I put it all together by filming b-roll, recording their voiceovers, and bringing it together to represent not just them, but every woman out there.

A2: Let's talk about the male counterpart to that, the Bronx Boys series. How did that come about? Was it a spontaneous project, or did you have more time to map out the process?

Adi:Bronx Boys focuses on four males who grew up in the Bronx and currently still reside here. Each has a very specific passion that helped them navigate the borough, giving them a unique perspective on their environment. I definitely had more time to sit with that idea. I wanted to create something meaningful that represents and helps the Bronx.

I thought about my brother. Both genders can be put in a bad light, but if you look at my brother from the outside, you might just see an aggressive Bronx male. If you actually get to know these guys, you realize they are some of the sweetest, smartest, and most creative people in the world. I wanted people to see that reality.

I was eventually approached by Miguel and Cat, a creative team launching a television channel called The Tele Channel. I pitched the documentary series concept to them, and they provided the structure I needed. As a creative, ideas can easily stay scattered in my head, but they gave me strict guidelines: they wanted eight episodes, a set premiere schedule, and clear deadlines. They also asked foundational questions about my goals for the project, which really helped bring the idea to life and execute it properly.

What the Bronx Means

A2: Throughout this interview, you keep referencing the Bronx—mentioning your brother, your workspace, and your projects. What does the Bronx mean to you personally? I've heard incredible stories from other local creatives, and I want to keep adding to that narrative.

Adi: The Bronx means everything to me. I grew up on Kingsbridge in a one-bedroom apartment my entire life. There was no moving away; it was me and four other family members in that single bedroom. It was the time of my life. As a kid, you don't know any different, but I got to play on the roof—that was my backyard. I ran around the streets and experienced every single culture right at my fingertips.

When I visit other boroughs, I sometimes feel out of place. Manhattan feels fancy and centered on money. Brooklyn has its own set of rules with shifting neighborhoods and changing demographics. The Bronx consistently feels like a genuine neighborhood and a tight-knit community. It has done so much for my family. There is immense potential here, and the people are incredibly valuable. I just want to be an active part of the community and help the Bronx get to where it deserves to be.

A2: It really feels like it's getting there, especially through the work of movements like The Bronx Native, yourself, and the people behind spaces like Empanology. It's inspiring to see this happening because I grew up in certain neighborhoods of the Bronx and didn't see this exact type of centralized creative community back then. The Bronx has always been diverse, but it's highly noticeable when a collective movement addresses all the distinct twists and turns of New York culture. Talk about collaborating with these like-minded individuals and how that drives you as a Bronx creative.

Adi: Regarding collaborations, I worked with Amaurys from The Bronx Native. He had filmed a project very similar to Bronx Boys where he interviewed a bunch of Bronx natives, including a local wrestler and a rapper. He had a massive amount of beautiful footage, but he was incredibly busy running a physical retail store and constantly throwing events. He knew I was an editor, so he handed the footage over to see if I could help. I edited a series of one-minute documentary clips for him.

I also collaborated heavily with Alex for Bronx Boys. He is a photographer and videographer whose work is very similar to mine. What I love about the Bronx is that instead of viewing me as competition, Alex looks at me as a fellow creator. His entire mission is to provide a platform for artists, which is why I loved capturing his story.

I also worked with Christian Montero, a florist from the Bronx. He is currently trying to establish a nonprofit community garden in the borough, which comes with a lot of challenges. His story was incredibly compelling because he is truly a flower growing through concrete. Hearing about his childhood, navigating tough times, and watching his mom battle cancer showed how he went through so much adversity yet bloomed into a beautiful person. Documenting these stories for Bronx Boys and having people let me into their lives so personally has made me feel incredibly blessed in my artistic journey.

Creative Roots and the Solo Exhibit

Adi: Speaking as a Bronx woman, whenever I push myself hard in my craft, I think about my mom. She is wildly creative—she can draw and paint anything she sees—but she never got the traditional chance to pursue it. Growing up in a strict Hispanic household, she wasn't allowed to leave the house until she was married, moving directly from one family home to another. She became a mother immediately and couldn't pursue an artistic career or travel independently. When I edit or take photos, I feel like I'm living out the independent, creative life she always wished she could have experienced in her twenties.

My dad would also be upset if I didn't mention him! He was a photographer and a writer. He often talks about how his own family dynamics hindered his artistic path; he wanted to go to school for English, but they insisted he learn a practical trade. He ended up going to an underfunded school in the South Bronx to become an electrician. Either way, both of my parents are deeply creative people who didn't get the opportunity to fully express it, which drives my work.

A2: You recently hosted a solo exhibit. Given everything that has unfolded for you over the past year or two regarding your film and editing talent, what were the moments along the way that led to that milestone? Was a solo show your original concept?

Adi: It wasn't even my original idea. Being surrounded by peers who were constantly displaying their work and throwing massive events made me realize I wanted to put my work out there too. It was never about clout; I simply wanted people to see my photos because I have something meaningful to say about the Bronx. My identity is entirely attached to what my work has to say.

Charlene was actually the one who reached out to pitch the solo show. It happened almost exactly a year to the day after I met Joe and Javi at the Bronx Blogger Social. Meeting the right people at the right events completely changed the trajectory of my life and set the ball rolling straight toward that solo exhibit.