My Directorial Debut with Samsung x Popsugar!

SECRET'S OUT! After keeping it under wraps for about a month, I am thrilled to finally share that I was selected by SAMSUNG and POPSUGAR as one of four upcoming filmmakers to film a 3 minute mini-doc with their brand new phone, the Samsung #GalaxyS20FE 5G!
I also realized this marked my directorial debut.
At the beginning of 2020, I got REAL real with myself and all the things I wanted to accomplish. Eliminate self-doubt and jump full-time in building this tech and filmmaking channel. Continue amplifying marginalized communities and provide visibility and representation both in front and behind the camera. Add my voice and perspective in a White and male-dominated industry. Be more present in my community and my friends' and family's lives. And THEN I would timidly say, "And I'd love to direct a film one day..."
And it just dawned on me that even though we all got dealt a really crappy hand this year, and the thought of accomplishing any of these things seemed impossible, they all happened. I landed the biggest gig of my hosting career in October. I got really intentional and joined a 3-month Vlogger Academy course for full-time content creators and now have 20 new content creator family members and a plan to keep this channel and my new tech channel, @TechNicki Speaking going. I helped produce a few shows this year to raise awareness and combat two different types of cancer in our society - the critical need to increase multi-ethnic bone marrow donors for patients with cancer, and the racism and xenophobia that still exists in this world. And just when I thought my year was done, that "direct a film one day" was TODAY.
If there's anything this global pandemic has taught me, it's that we are all more connected than we think. What we choose to do in our individual and daily lives is interconnected and affects everyone else around us. It's time to think and solve problems with an international and global mindset. The world is SO MUCH BIGGER than ourselves, and it's time we all start thinking this way to build a better world not only for us, but for our future.
Personally, as a filmmaker, the goal has always been to tell authentic stories of real people who not only reflect the world we live in, but who also offer a source of inspiration and hope through the everyday challenges we face. It's never been about who has the most expensive or bigger camera. Or graduating from a prestigious film school. It's always been about the story.
That's why I am absolutely honored to have been selected by Samsung and PopSugar to film a mini-doc with their new phone and it premiered November 20, 2020 alongside three other incredible filmmakers, each telling a different and meaningful story inspired by the world we’re living in 2020.
I chose to tell the love story of my friends Esther Park and Paulo Chun, who met right before COVID and got ENGAGED during COVID. I thank them so much for letting me be a third wheel for three consecutive days and also for having a love that inspired not only me, but the world.
We were incredibly excited to share these stories with you hopefully as a source of encouragement and inspiration, and to prove that you can start telling the stories you want today, with just your phone. After all, you already have the most important part: You.
This was my entire segment during the 1 hour Samsung Virtual Film Festival and I hope you enjoy!
ALSO! POPSUGAR posted an article and behind-the-scenes video of me filming this film too! You can read and watch here: www.popsugar.com/smart-living...
Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @nickisun, where I post daily, and my other RUclips channel, @TechNickiSpeaking. My focus will be more about filmmaking and tech over there! #LoveintheTimeofCOVID #withGalaxy

[@Johnnie5213]

Congratulations 🎉❤️👍👍

[@nixed07]

Yes!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@destwination]

Congrats Nicki! 💜