Help Ukairo Continue at USC Film School

My name is Ukairo Ukairo, and I’m an MFA candidate at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. My focus is Film & TV Production and I’m pursuing a career as a director and cinematographer.

I was born and raised in Nigeria, and I grew up with every intention of being a lawyer. I wanted to go into politics through the human rights law track and maybe get into government and change my community. But then I learned about a school called The African Leadership Academy (ALA) which was a pre-university program based in Johannesburg whose mission is to develop the next generation of African leaders. It was here that I first held a camera, and I realized that maybe there was another way to change my community - using film.

After ALA, I was awarded a full scholarship from a US-based non-profit The African Leadership Bridge to study film at The University of Texas at Austin.

At UT Austin, I immersed myself in capturing the stories and experiences of students in the African community and the black community. Fully stepping into the role of a griot, I captured film work and photography work that got UT Austin featured on multiple news publications including BET. Most notable of these works were my photography and cinematography work in the viral sensation “If Arthur Was A Teenage Drama ” series, and my film production work with “UT Durag Day .”

I got featured on UT Austin's premiere campus publication Daily Texan for work I was doing in the community to amplify stories from black voices. I was also featured as part of a Daily Texan series "The 5%" which featured black students and alumni.

Years later, looking back, I can only refer to these as community service films. It was just a passion that spilled out from a place of love deep within me.

Additionally, I have done work with Bachelor In Paradise Star Connor Saeli, and world-renowned Youtuber David Dobrik for Bumble. I got the chance to star in a film called “Lovebites ” which caught the attention of InsecureHBO creator Issa Rae. I also was an Associate Producer on the psycho-horror thriller, “The House Invictus ” which is on Amazon Video.

Most recently, I shot the opener for the 2021 Oscars pre-show campaign tagged “The Big Screen Is Back ” with Matthew McConaughey.

I am a recipient of the George Lucas Family Foundation Endowed Support Fund For Diversity which gives me $25,000 per year as long as I maintain full-time status and a strong GPA. This has gone a long way in making USC feasible. But the remaining funds still weigh heavily on me and my family.

I really want to dive into fiction at USC. This is the whole point of attending, even as I know I will not be abandoning my interest in non-fiction. I believe USC’s mission is to equip storytellers with the tools, direction, and a community that would provide the ideal playground for them to experiment. I will most specifically benefit from the collaborative environment that it will foster given that most of my experience has been with work I shot, directed, and edited by myself. Within the last year alone, I have made great connections with my colleagues who I look forward to seeing in the fall.

By telling the stories of ordinary people experiencing everyday things, but capturing them in a cinematic way, thereby “theatricizing the mundane,” I believe I will make a valuable contribution to film discourse and art conversations in general as it regards providing not just entertainment, but healing and empowerment. I expand on some of my ambitions with filmmaking in this interview with my alma mater, The African Leadership Academy which was part of its recent newsletter.

While I intend to learn every part of filmmaking that is offered, from preproduction to postproduction, I am particularly interested in the Directing and Cinematography tracks. I am also interested in exploring how I may integrate interactive media into my interest in documentary filmmaking.

My second year at USC starts this fall on August 23rd. I am looking to raise $48,000 for the entire year.

Fall 2021 Fees

• $6,700 (with George Lucas Foundation Scholarship deducted)

Spring 2021 Fees

• $11,600 (with George Lucas Foundation Scholarship deducted)

Accommodation for the year

• $18,000

Living Expenses for the year

• $9,000

Miscellaneous (Textbooks, Mandatory Fees, etc.)

• $2,700.

I have only come this far thanks to community support. This is why I am leaning on community again in my time of dire need. I am so thankful for words of encouragement and those who have pledged to support me. I feel held, and I feel seen.

Thank you so so much to everyone who has shown up to donate. Thank you to everyone who is sharing the link. Thank you for your prayers as well.

It means the world to me.