Today we’d like to introduce you to Onaji Rouse.
Hi Onaji, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a writer, producer, comic book creator and actor. I’m originally from Raleigh, NC and I am currently working on my independent comic book titles Odina, Kandake and Sista Circle-X which is published through Konkret comics as well as producing my film titled DRAFTED. I’ve always been creative since I was a kid with drawing, making up stories and creating the characters in those stories. I really got into the swing of things when I created my first title Odina and saw the potential behind the character. So I wanted to take it a step further as far as production quality and where I can see this going, which eventually would be film and tv. So after my first issue was published I started taking acting classes cause I wanted to get back into that as well. I used to do theater in high school. Once I started pursuing that, I performed a comedic monologue I wrote. Apparently, it was so good that the class was cracking up and even my instructor at that time questioned if I really wrote it and told me I should look into writing. So I started to take more screenwriting courses and I read a lot of scripts. Which then led to me eventually just creating and producing my own film series called DRAFTED: ORIGINS, which is a somewhat a live adaptation of my book Odina. Except it includes an assembled cast instead of just the lead heroine. Right now we’re in post-production and we’re looking to release early next year in 2023.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Does anything ever go smooth? LOL j/k. If anything, it’s all in how you handle it. You’re definitely going to experience some ups and downs as an entrepreneur and artist. Failure is included in the journey. So you will get knocked down a couple of times but just make sure to get up. I do think that one of the things that I find difficult as a black creator is that sometimes since you’re not part of a bigger machine. You have to work extra hard to fight social media algorithms, companies who want to exploit the culture but not hire the people, and the lack of funding for projects created by POC.
I know like myself. When working on something that is your passion. It can get tough and discouraging and you will have times when you will want to walk away but you have to remember why you started and that your journey and purpose is bigger than you and everything will work out in God’s time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Well, I am a writer, producer, creator and actor. I have four comic books that I am currently publishing independently under Konkret Comics. My books are Odina, Kandake, Sista Circle-x and Drafted. My main flagship book Odina is up to issue 4 and we’re currently getting ready to release issues 5 and 6 early next year. While doing that I am also in post-production for my indie film Drafted in which I am working with OpenGates Studios.
The series follows individuals with superpowers who live in Atlanta. It was originally created to be about Odina, but a conflict of interest had come up with other things and I had to update the series. It’s like CW’s Black lightning meets Heroes. I went through the process of production for that in casting, location scouting, and a lot of other things on the production side of filming. It was a fun learning experience and I am thankful for it. I am definitely proud of myself for how far I’ve come in this journey with books and film.
I think what sets me apart from others is my joy and my resiliency. Life itself is tough but each day, I wake up. I thank God I am here and living my life with purpose.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Along with still publishing my books and traveling. I can see myself getting more into producing more tv and film content for some major streaming platforms as well as cable tv. While creating opportunities for other black creators and artists. Whether it’s screenwriting, directing, and production. I definitely want to be on my Issa Rae and Tyler Perry in the next few years.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/OnajiRouse?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=9a82c1c8-d49c-42d1-bef1-bb6ff2378f8c
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obsoletestudiollc/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Obsolete_studio
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6FjtwzF8qc
- Other: https://konkret-comics.myshopify.com/collections/odina-collection
Image Credits
Odina played Dionna Diane.
