OTV has wanted to build capacity and expand the team for years, but we believe in slow intentional growth and setting folks up for success. We’re thrilled to support that we finally have the resources and space to do so.

Meet our newest hires, Marketing Coordinator Mac Do, and Artist Development Coordinator Rasheed Peters. As one of their first projects, they interviewed each other. The following is the transcript of Mac’s interview led by Rasheed. Look out for our next post featuring Mac’s interview of Rasheed.

Photo credit: Paul Octavious

If a book were to be written about you, what would it be about and what would the short summary be?

It would basically start off with how I was born and raised in a suburb in Virginia and that it was just not it for me and that when I was applying to schools, I chose the school that was the furthest away from Virginia which is how I ended up at SAIC in Chicago. It would be one of those classic stories of how I went to school there and then stayed in Chicago. I can already see this YA novel about me exploring Chicago and loving it.

When I was in school, I had a really strong sculpture background. After about a year, I started taking film classes like film, video, new media, moving image, stuff like that. I feel like that really expanded my world because I was always really into movies. You know, staying up late watching a movie and then falling asleep in class the next day. By the time I graduated, my practice sort of became this hybrid: sculpture sort of became set design, props, and special effects makeup. I think where I'm at in life right now I'm able to be pickier about the projects that I take on and do things that really align with my interests and my passions, while also getting to work here at OTV.

Having been in Chicago for the last few years, what does community look like and mean to you?

When I graduated school, I was talking a lot about how I really feel like my worldview expanded. I really felt that after I finished my undergrad because in school you only see the people you go to school with all the time. It wasn't until after that I really got to know Chicago and know people who are here. With COVID and everything being online, I really had to think about how I could support the people that I care about and the larger community in tangible ways while being isolated. Rather than reaching out and being like, “hey, is there anything you need?” I usually am like, “hey, can I give you a ride or would you want to come over for a meal? Like I just made a big pot of soup”. I've been thinking a lot about my future and how I want to build a beautiful future for myself and the people I care about. I noticed that a lot of that is just kind of breaking down the typical nuclear family structure. It's about caring about your friends and then your friend's friends. From there it becomes a larger community.

What drew you to OTV and what is your biggest dream being in the MC role?

I first heard of OTV back in 2019. I was in this filmmaking collective and we had just written a script and wanted to submit the script to an early version of OTV’s fellowship program. We didn't get it but from then it definitely felt like I was plugged in to the things OTV was doing. There's this other film I had worked on (AI Mama) that OTV had screened at a showcase and it was amazing. Before the screening even started, they asked us to turn to a person next to us that we didn’t know and introduce ourselves and I was like “oh my God”. But it actually ended up being amazing because from there I was able to meet someone and stay connected.

As soon as I saw that they were hiring, I was like, “get me in there”. I wanted to apply for the Marketing Coordinator position because I have a background in marketing. I also had a little brief stint where I was trying to be an influencer. The reason why I was like, okay, this influencer thing isn't working out for me is because I didn't really like how the spotlight was just on me. I really enjoy connecting with people and staying updated with what people are doing. I'm always that person who's trying to connect people. So I think what I'm really excited about for this role at OTV is being able to do that in the filmmaking sphere which is a place that I love to be.

Outside of the MC role, do you have any creative or artistic practices that you could tell us a bit about?

For a while, I was really heavily into doing makeup that sort of spans editorial and special effects. My personal makeup practice especially was a lot like character design. It was almost as if I was cosplaying my own original characters in a way because ultimately I love dressing up every day! I love a themed party. I was really interested in using makeup to explore myths from my own culture, but also other people's cultures like mythical beasts, spirits, and stuff like that. I don't want to say putting a queer lens on it because I think a lot of queerness has existed in so many cultures but imperialism has really swept it away. But basically, I'm just trying to make some gay little monsters!

I've since deviated from that because I got kind of tired of dressing up and at the end of the day having to take it all off. I wanted something that lasted a little bit longer and something that I could do on my own. So I've started picking up drawing again! I want to work towards a comic or a graphic novel. Right now I don't have a set story that I'm working on, but I have really crazy vivid dreams. I've been writing down all my dreams and then making drawings inspired from that. So that's sort of what I'm doing right now.

Two part-er!! Tell us about:

Your favorite movie/tv genre
Your favorite internet trend

My favorite movie is Tampopo by Juzo Itami. It's described as a ‘ramen western’ and it follows the story of this woman named Tampopo who has a ramen shop that's really unsuccessful. This truck driver comes and stops by and he vows to make her ramen shop successful.What I really enjoy about it is that it'll follow Tampopo in a park and then from the distance you see a person walking by and the camera will start to follow that person. So it takes you on to these side stories and some of them are really sad, some of them are really funny. All of the side stories relate to food and people's relationship to food and how we relate to each other through food. But for other media that I'm really drawn to, I love a good fantasy. I'm a big gamer nerd so I play a lot of games like Final Fantasy as well. I love a little bit of escapism.

I think my favorite internet trend might be more food related. I really love watching Mukbang, which is watching someone eat. I love ASMR as well. My favorite ASMR account right now is this person who makes these like slimes, but they look like food. They'll present what looks like a burger and then stretch it out to reveal it’s actually slime. For me it’s art. Like, you're taking slime and making it look like food. That's sculpture! It's something that is so satisfying. It's a perfect intersection of the trends I like, which is slime and then just like food content.

How can folks stay in touch or learn more about you?

You can follow me on Instagram @gdragons_caviar!

Now Presenting: OTV's new Marketing Coordinator - Mac Do