Check Out Letticia Bissondut’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Letticia Bissondut.

Hi Letticia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Thank you for having me, I am Indian South African and I have lived in California for the last couple of years. I am an Actor, Photographer + Creative Director.

Storytelling has always been my favorite thing in the world, so I somehow convinced my parents to let me go to film school when all my cousins were going to university for medicine, law and economics. Once I found my rhythm in my acting career and living in a new country, I felt the need to serve my local community and picked up a camera to help some of my favorite nonprofits and a love for humanitarian photography was born. I spent about a year shooting almost every day to teach myself as much as I could.

While serving with my local church, I was able to volunteer and shoot in some amazing places around the world. In 2019 I was lucky enough to go to Lilongwe, Malawi to document some of the humanitarian work being done at the time. While in the preparation phase, I really started thinking about how most stories told about Africa come from people who aren’t from there and it made me want to empower the locals to tell their own stories. Out of that desire, “The Ubuntu Initiative” was born. Ubuntu is a South African word that means “I am because we are”.  It’s one of our favorite sayings.

This program not only teaches kids how to take photographs, but it also gives them a creative outlet to express themselves and their unique perspectives. It’s a beautiful reminder that no matter where we come from, we all have something special to share with the world. My goal is that one day, Natgeo and other prestigious publications would be hiring these kids/young adults to tell their stories and share the anthropology of their homes. Who better to tell the stories of their home than the people of the land.

The goal is to partner with nonprofits, and local communities to find candidates who have a passion for visual storytelling. Our program will guide young adults and kids by teaching them the following: How to use a camera, composition, lighting, framing and post-production. Once our students complete the program, they will receive their own camera, which will provide the opportunity to build their skill set, get real field experience by assisting as a second shooter on a professional project, and receive guidance from our team and partners on building their very own portfolio.

I am hopeful that this program will continue to grow and touch the lives of more children in need of a creative outlet.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
You know, I don’t think anything that is worth it is ever without challenge. Challenges that come usually offer a chance to grow and learn, from being an immigrant to finding sponsors for the Ubuntu Initiative to just being human. I’ve learned that the best way to deal with it all is by being adaptable and never losing the joy in why we do what we do.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have done a bunch of projects that I am really proud of. I love acting and storytelling and have been so lucky over the last few years to do a number of films and tv shows including Shameless, Strangers Never Again, Beyond the Dark, as well as some commercials for some of my favorite brands.

I  had my first solo art show here in LA called “Light of the World” . The work was shot in Malawi, East Africa. One of the most beautiful places in the world with the best people I’ve met. The show consists of portraits, a video and audio installation, of young children from three villages that I volunteered in over that summer. It was an honor to share their stories visually with a completely different part of the world.

I also debuted one of my favorite photo series I’ve shot so far ” The beautiful savages” – A skateboarding series shot at the Venice Beach Skatepark, at Art Women Art Week in West Hollywood.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Sure, the ocean, it’s my favorite place to be. Feel like it’s where I go to work out whatever I have on my mind and being there just brings so much joy and peace. I also started surfing recently and it makes me so happy, kinda bad at it still but at least I get to be in the ocean while I learn. My faith in God. My family and friends. The ability to share my gifts to empower others. The ability to travel, I’ve started a little love affair with the Northshore of Oahu in Hawaii, Cape Town in South Africa and San Clemente, here in California over the last few years.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.letticiabissondut.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letticiabissondut/?hl=en
• Other: https://www.letticiabissondut.com/theubuntuinitiative

Image Credits
Hayley Samartin. Letticia Bissondut.