Today we’d like to introduce you to Berk Civano.
Hi Berk, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Some people inherit legacies. Others build them from scraps of light, fleeting moments, and an unrelenting hunger to create. I belong to the latter.
I didn’t start with industry connections, a high-end camera, or a mapped-out career path. I started with an iPhone 4, an obsession with storytelling, and an unshakable belief that my vision was worth sharing. Growing up in Bursa, Turkey, as part of a first-generation family originally from Bulgaria, and high-end branding seemed impossibly far away. My brother and I were the first generation born and raised in Turkey, carrying stories of resilience and reinvention.
I didn’t grow up speaking English at home, but in the middle of lockdowns and global uncertainty during COVID-19, I made the decision to chase something bigger. While the world shut down and borders closed, I locked myself in my room, studying English and preparing for exams. It was a long, solitary marathon, but when everything seemed paused, I moved forward. I earned my acceptance to Fordham University—one of my first victories in a journey built on persistence. I moved to New York City to study New Media and Digital Design at Fordham, carrying with me nothing but hunger and ambition. As an international student, opportunities were limited, but if there was a way to push forward, I found it.
Freshman year, I applied to work at New York Fashion Week and got rejected. That rejection could have been the end of the story, but instead, it became the beginning of something bigger. Instead of waiting, I took action—interning at Braven Films under the mentorship of Academy Award-nominated producer Frida Torresblanco.
At Braven, Frida entrusted me with conducting in-depth research on different cultures, film locations, and traditions to support script development and set design. I also worked on translating scripts from Spanish to English, helping global stories take shape. She taught me to dig deeper, to look beyond surface-level visuals, and to understand how storytelling is constructed from research, meaning, and emotional depth.
Sophomore year, I applied again to New York Fashion Week, this time through CLD PR—and got in. Behind the scenes at NYFW, I saw how storytelling came to life in fashion through production, strategy, and energy. It was there that Miss Circle discovered me.
I took the next step through Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and joined Miss Circle as part-time content creator. Working under Creative Director Isabel Deng became my crash course in creative discipline. Isabel had a sharp eye for detail and pushed me to re-edit, refine, and elevate every project until each frame told a stronger story.
That perfectionist mindset reshaped me. For two years, I helped build Miss Circle’s social media existence, crafting visuals that weren’t just about fashion—they were about energy, movement, and emotion. And then came a personal milestone: seeing my work projected on the big screens at New York Fashion Week, the same event that had once rejected me. As my content began going viral, it caught the attention of Oh Polly and Bo&Tee, who invited me to Los Angeles. After graduation, I transitioned to Optional Practical Training (OPT), making it possible to continue my professional journey in the U.S.
At Oh Polly, after crafting content that fused fashion with narrative storytelling, focusing on brand building through cinematic visuals, my role shifted from student to leader when i finished my first projects in LA with them. I expanded further into the beauty and skincare world, working with Yumi Skincare and celebrity lash artist Eliza Zhadikpur, whose clients include Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and other Hollywood stars. Eliza showed me how beauty lives in the smallest details, teaching me to create visuals that were not just beautiful, but immersive and emotional.
She also left me with advice that became a mantra:
“If you want to be great, you don’t wait. You grow now.”
Then came One Golden Thread, where everything I’d learned converged. As their Content Producer and Strategist, I was sent to Mexico within my first two weeks to craft visuals that aligned with their sustainability-driven ethos. Working under Jeff Scult, the founder and designer, pushed me even further. He showed me that owning your vision is as important as creating it.
“You’re not that kid with an iPhone anymore. If you submit work, put your all into it. Show your vision. And when people comment on it—stand strong, be confident, and present it with conviction.”
Now, at 23 years old, I’m a Content Producer in the heart of Los Angeles, helping brands tell stories that resonate across fashion, beauty, and sustainability. From recording schoolmates on an iPhone 4 in Bursa to producing campaigns that reach global audiences—my journey is proof that borders, rejections, and limitations are no match for persistence.
And I am just getting started.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—but I don’t think creativity ever comes from comfort. One of my first challenges was navigating life as a first-generation student in Turkey, where resources were limited, and creative industries felt so distant. I didn’t grow up surrounded by people in the fashion or media worlds. Instead, I learned to build skills from scratch, starting with my cell phone and free editing apps, piecing together short films and videos with zero formal training.
Then came the challenge of learning English while preparing for international exams during the pandemic. Picture me, locked inside my room in Bursa while the world was shutting down, studying late into the night for exams to make it into Fordham University—all while borders were closed, and the uncertainty of COVID loomed over everything.
When I finally arrived in New York, I realized that being an international student came with work restrictions, limiting when and where I could gain experience. While others could freely intern and take on projects, I had to carefully navigate through CPT and OPT pathways to build my portfolio in most efficient way that my visa allowed me to do, which meant balancing school and every single professional opportunity like it was my only shot.
Then there were the creative challenges. Working under leaders like Isabel Deng at Miss Circle and Jeff Scult at One Golden Thread was challenging—but in the BEST way. They pushed me to break down and rebuild my creative process multiple times, forcing me to rethink what it means to craft something with true impact. Sometimes, I’d edit the same video six or seven times until every detail felt right.
I also faced personal battles: imposter syndrome, language barriers, and moments where I felt like an outsider, especially working in industries that can feel insular at times. But every obstacle forced me to grow—not just as a creator, but as someone who has learned how to advocate for their vision.
I’ve never had a straight path. But looking back, the rejections, the limits, and even the pandemic became part of the story that shaped me. Every struggle became fuel for the next chapter.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create visual worlds. Whether it’s a luxury fashion campaign or a skincare brand, my job is to make people feel something the moment they see an image or video. I specialize in bridging the gap between storytelling and brand identity, helping companies speak to their audience on a deeper, more emotional level.
Right now, I’m working as Content Producer at One Golden Thread, where I help translate the brand’s values—sustainability, mindfulness, and artistry—into content that feels organic yet elevated. Beyond that, I’ve worked across industries, from beauty collaborations with celebrity lash artist Eliza Zhadikpur to fashion powerhouses like Miss Circle and Oh Polly, where I crafted bold, cinematic visuals that brought their collections to life.
I’m known for my ability to take something that could feel like “just another fashion video” and turn it into a narrative-driven piece that resonates, whether it’s for a social media campaign or a large-scale brand activation.
What makes me different is how I pull from unexpected places—architectural composition, old-world Mediterranean aesthetics, cultural history, and a strong emotional undertone that runs through every project. I don’t just think about what looks “cool” or “on-trend,” I think about how a visual can create a sense of mood, nostalgia, or curiosity.
I’m proudest of the fact that I never settled into one niche. From shooting in the wilderness of Mexico, to promoting fashion brands by using New York City elements, to filming beauty content with some of Hollywood’s go-to artists—I’ve learned to adapt my style without losing my voice.
At the core, my work is about intention. Whether I’m filming a product or capturing movement, every frame I create is rooted in a desire to make the viewer stop and feel something real.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My biggest advice? Stay curious and show up—even when no one’s watching.
When I started, I didn’t know anyone in the industry. I was a student from Turkey navigating New York City, with no roadmap but a deep desire to create. What worked for me was letting my work speak first. I wasn’t chasing connections for the sake of networking—I was creating, experimenting, and sharing my work wherever I could.
Eventually, people noticed. My first mentor came when I was interning at Braven Films, under producer Frida Torresblanco. She taught me that mentors aren’t just there to give you advice—they challenge you to think critically, research deeply, and elevate your approach. I met her because I was willing to take on opportunities that didn’t seem glamorous but offered me growth.
Another key factor is being open to feedback and putting yourself in the right rooms, whether that’s volunteering at events like NYFW or saying yes to assisting on small projects. My experience working under Isabel Deng at Miss Circle and later with Jeff Scult at One Golden Thread taught me that mentorship often grows organically when you prove your dedication and creative voice. These relationships were built on trust—they saw that I wasn’t afraid to take notes, rework ideas, and push myself past my comfort zone.
So, my advice is simple:
Be visible—share your work, even if it feels imperfect.
Be reliable—mentors notice when you follow through and go the extra mile.
Seek environments where creatives gather—internships, industry events, even digital communities.
Stay humble, but don’t shrink your voice—mentors want to help people who stand for something and have a clear creative perspective.
For me, mentorship wasn’t just about finding someone to guide me—it was about surrounding myself with people who could make me better, sharper, and more fearless.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://berkcivano.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkcivano/?hl=en
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/civano/
- Other: https://www.backstage.com/u/berkcivano/
Image Credits
Includes photography by Berk Civano for One Golden Thread and Yumi Skin’s Social Media
