Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Ocasio Holmes
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I am confident that I will be a writer and director for the rest of my life. Prior to coming to LA, I didn’t have that same mindset. I was a young Black kid from Virginia with an Ivy League degree, living in New York City, and carrying the massive weight of expectations from family and friends back home.
During my time in college, I played football as a D1 Athlete at Columbia University. However, I spent so much time focusing on sports that I didn’t properly explore my passions when it came to a career. As a result, I decided to do what everyone else around me was doing, and I went into finance. Even though it wasn’t my passion, I could at least make everyone back home proud. I worked on Wall Street as a paralegal with expectations of going to both law and business school. After a couple of years working in finance, I realized how much of a soul sucker it really was, to work 12-14 hours a day, investing all my time and energy for a paycheck. Unfortunately, this sentiment read all over my face and I ended up being let go. I was devastated. I felt like I let my family, my friends, and even myself down. I wasn’t sure where to go next.
A friend of mine was a photographer in NYC and introduced me to the camera to take my mind off of things, and I immediately fell in love. I used my Wall Street money to invest in a camera of my own. Then the pandemic hit. I was unemployed and stuck in the house, but I took advantage of it and worked on my skills as a photographer through practice and youtube university. I also discovered a lot of firsts in my life: it was the first time that I didn’t have a set schedule, no school, no 9 to 5, or in my case on Wall Street, 9am to 11pm; it was the first time I invested in my dreams rather than someone else’s, and it was the first time in my life I felt free from the pressures of success. Ironically, it was also the first time I didn’t have constant income after college, and I had to figure it out.
I worked various types of part time and full-time jobs: an assistant to a Political Consultant where we fought for Women’s Surrogacy rights and fought to elect a Muslim woman for Manhattan District Attorney; an elementary school teacher in the Bronx teaching math, English and science, and a teacher at an Alternative to Incarceration Non-Profit Program in Brooklyn for teenagers involved in the criminal justice system.
Through all of this, I continued to work on my camera skills and people started to notice. I gained clients for photography and videography and built my own production company that paid half of my Manhattan apartment rent. A friend of mine who was a graduate of Columbia University Film School invited me to act in his thesis film, because I acted in the church growing up. Once on the film set, I fell in love with the camera all over again; but this time through a different medium – filmmaking. My friend encouraged me to make my first short film, and I did. I used it to apply to various film schools, and I was accepted into my top 3: USC, NYU, and Chapman. I realized after almost a decade in NYC, it was time for a change. I decided to challenge myself once more and I moved across the country to Los Angeles.
Now two years later, I am currently in my last year at USC Film School receiving my MFA in Film and Television Production and working on numerous projects outside of school as I prepare for graduation. Since being here, I have had the opportunity to meet amazing people, do exciting work, and discover the beauty of art for myself. And now, I can say art is all I think about, and it makes me happy. My hustle and drive from working in the streets of NYC have transferred over to my drive for filmmaking in LA; the extraordinary experiences of my life being from the south and living in NYC are being written, and I am excited for what the future has in store because even though it feels like I’ve lived a full life, my story has just begun.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in portrait and event photography. I also specialize in directing film, music videos and commercials. I write as well and consult on scripts and stories. My work can be found on my website and instagram.
My experience from the south and NYC give me a certain approach to art and film making, always trying to challenge myself and progress in my career. Being a southerner of both Black and Puerto Rican decent while refining my identity in NYC and now LA has given me a unique perspective on life and how I approach it.
I have had the opportunity to learn at some of the top universities in the world and have been mentored by professors and industry professionals who are well accomplished in their fields.
I am most proud of how quickly I have learned and progressed when it comes to my art and film making. Every new film I make or photograph I take is always significantly better than my last.
I look forward to the the various projects I have in the pipeline and those in pre production. I’m confident that they will turn some heads within the industry.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Everyone always asked me now that I lived in both NYC or LA, which is better? My honest answer is that they are both great in different ways. LA is amazing for its gorgeous views, love of art, beautiful weather, and proximity to the film industry. Driving in the summer sun and blasting music always feels like you’re in a movie, unless you are stuck in traffic. Some things that I miss about NYC that LA lacks in certain ways are the authenticity of the people, amount of food choices, and central locations for nights out. Don’t get me wrong… LA has good people, good food and fun outings, it just takes a long time to find them as compared to a city like NYC. I think because of Hollywood and what that brings, it’s difficult sometimes to find real LA natives who are authentic and who ultimately make LA great. Once you find your tribe, however, there is nothing like living in Southern California.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tyholmes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bytyholmes
Image Credits
Tyler Holmes
