I have lived at the center of digital storytelling, ethnography, global lifestyle and youth marketing for the last 15 years. I founded and now film, write and edit My Small Story, a blog/vlog that features 100s of unscripted conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, small businesses and everyday people (www.mysmallstory.wordpress.com) (in NYC and around the world). A number of the stories have been sited in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Gawker and AnimalNY.

I started out with a pretty keen eye spotting international urban cultural trends (I was actually engaged as trend spotter/videographer for major brands, travelling to Japan and Europe with my camera, a New York sensibility and the ability to commune with almost anyone, in hand. I have a library of over 3,000 hours of conversations).

The late Guru/Gang Starr (Keith Elam) personally gave me my first film producer project, hiring me to document the making and launch of the seminal Jazzmatazz albums (featuring Erykah Badu, Isaac Hayes, The Roots, Pharrell, etc.).  I have filmed on behalf of and conducted marketing research on 4 continents for Nissan, Virgin Records, Robert Graham Clothing,  TBWA, Prescient Research (UK) , GURU, NOKIA, Trace TV (France), TRUE Agency, Coca Cola and Universal Music (Japan), among others.

The story behind My Small Story…

In February 2010, I was informed that my mom had only weeks left to live. Sitting by her hospital bed for the last 3 weeks of her life in Detroit, I began filming hospital moments, then email them to family members as updates on her state of being.  I was documenting and sharing the love and support displayed towards my Mom.

At some point, maybe day 10, I began filming conversations with some of her visitors about Detroit’s urgent need of recovering from its present-day economic and social dire state. How can we move Detroit FWD?  And so it happened: One day, a conversation I had with Pat, a certified Urban Farmer and a longtime friend of my Mom, inspired me to film our conversation. During that conversation with Pat, I realized I couldn’t save my Mother, but I may be able to revitalize or breath some life into  Detroit, New York City and other places I lived or visited – London, Paris, Johannesburg, Tokyo, Ibiza, Moscow, New Delhi, Barcelona, Los Angeles, Florence, Zurich, Amsterdam, etc. –  by disseminating  my library of filmed conversations with artists, musicians, DJs, actors, designers, snowboarders, politicians, poets, teachers, entrepreneurs, creative people, strategist, hippies, photographers, creative directors, architects, night lifers, managers, street people, restauranteurs, students, parents, children….filming, editing and sharing stories from yesterday, today and tomorrow…MY SMALL STORY was born.

My Mother demonstrated leadership as the President of  the  College Park Community Block Club, member of the Women’s Justice Center, March of Dimes, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office and was recognized at her funeral by the Governor of Michigan via a letter read by Council Person JoaAnn Watson for her passion and service to her community. And her friends are similar. My Mom’s friend Pat began talking about the 100,000 vacant lots in Detroit and how urban farming can be “a solution.” During this filmed conversation I knew “I want to film,  share people’s stories and see if I can be a part of a solution.” Film.People.Conversations.

Like in Detroit and during my travels, I had the intuition, without knowing why, to film what was going on around me when with friends, strangers, artists, business owners, restaurateurs and entrepreneurs I met along the way. These conversations always encompassed good times,culture, questions,  nothing, work, advice, randomness. But ultimately, what I understand now is that I was filming people’s stories -Unscripted Life Conversations – from Lilliput Kids to Eminem. I have filmed some amazing conversations, b-roll and expressions that I will continue to share.

The entrepreneurial spirit and launch pad for me began in New York City in the 90s. I began sharing the NYC SMALL STORIES on Facebook about 4 weeks ago, which I filmed and edited using Flip video/software ( my experience is with professional cameras and avid/final cut editing).  And it is great to know people connect with them. It has spilled over into my off-line life as I walk around New York City:  “I liked that story about…,”, “Looks good, nice flow to the stories, interesting subjects…tight!”; “I love watching and learning from people who are doing what they want and how they want”; “This Series is fantastic, Batch!”;  “Like the zoot suit story! When i visited NYC I fell in love with my experiences and really knew its someplace I need to spend more time! I love seeing your documentation of the small businesses surviving and the stories behind them, I am all for supporting these.”; “I want to visit that store” and the text from my aunt, “I must say u r articulate, intelligent, worldly, I can go on – your mom’s legacy lives on – Thank u – I am truly proud of u:)”.

So here we are: more than 10 years of entreprenuerial experience and 2,000 hours of video conversations later and counting.  This V-log is a precursor to www.mysmallstory.com. The goal is to share “glocal” stories from yesterday, today and tomorrow serving as a passport to life experiences beyond one’s borders. A comment I received summed it up this way, “I really love the idea – it makes me see the world from a wider angle.”  There is a small business story everywhere and an entrepreneur behind it. If you have or know of a compelling story that needs an audience, please send me a message cvtrust@gmail.com and thank you many times over for viewing and supporting  My Small Story.

I dedicate  My Small Story to my mom and grandmother ( my Dad’s mom) who inspired me to be me.  I always visited them before I left the country for a project. I also dedicate it to artist GURU. GURU gave me my first film producer project 10 years ago –  filming the making of Jazzmatazz, which featured Isaac Hayes, Erykah Badu, The Roots, The Neptunes, etc. Priceless footage and experience.  He also trusted me to put together a Japan tour performing Gang Starr, Jazzmatazz and Ill Kid songs in 5 cities across Japan, which gave me the opportunity to film Japanese youth culture, architecture,  unscripted conversations and visit almost 10 times. Japan accounts for at least 300 hours of my content library. Honestly, without  my Mother, Grandmother and GURU, I would not be the person I am today. Its true. Its true. Its true.

That’s MY SMALL STORY.

April  26, 2010