We recently had the chance to connect with Dylan Toomer and have shared our conversation below.
Dylan, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: When have you felt most loved—and did you believe you deserved it?
Recently I’ve had to make a decision that will affect my future and it was weighing on my mind for months. But I finally called someone I trust and love and Im glad I did because I haven’t felt that loved and supported in a while, and If Im being honest I didn’t believe I deserved it. I don’t know I guess Im just not used to it
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dylan Toomer and I’m a Director and photographer from Inglewood California. I run the ILLicit collective, which focuses on just putting out art with a purpose.With every project getting bigger and hopefully more impactful and inspiring.Currently Im drafting scripts and planning out the next big project, but all of it will have to wait till next year.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was unapologetically me, I was free from the plight of my existence and the patriarchal norms set for me. I would love to say I broke free from hegemonic masculinity but I would be lying if I said that some aspects of it weren’t still instilled in me. But ya know it’s something that takes time to fully overcome.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, I would tell him that there’s nothing wrong with him. That it’s ok to be quiet, I wouldn’t want him to second guess himself or put on a mask for anyone.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Uhhh I would say so, for the most part. In public Im just more quiet, but that really depends on who Im with because if Im comfortable it doesn’t really matter how I act in the moment. Ya know because you could judge me from afar but you don’t know me.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would never second guess myself again and that’s not just with my art but with how I feel.Because if I had 10 years left I would want everyone in my life to know how I feel about them. Im not the best at showing my love for people but it’s something that Im getting better at.
