Mr. KOA
director, photographer, graphic designer and creative strategist
bio
Director & Visual Artist Ryan Malcolm-Campbell, out of Toronto, Canada, experienced what life was like moving over 10 times during his childhood. Continuously forced to adapt to various environments, he evolved into a well-rounded socialite with the gift of athleticism. With a Bachelor of Commerce degree and NBA dreams, his path was drastically derailed due to injury which catapulted him into a path of visual creation. Since embarking on his entrepreneurial path in 2018, his story continues to write itself. Whether it's documenting history capturing the Toronto Raptors NBA Championship, curating content for brand activations with Nike, directing artistic visual pieces, producing a day-in-the-life series for a professional athlete, or building a dating card game community, there is very little that can steer Ryan off his path of creation.
The Hustle
There is no real barrier to entry when becoming an entrepreneur or starting a business - but what are you willing to sacrifice to stay there? Whatever you thought you were prepared for - prepare for more. There are no shortcuts, cheat codes, or free passes on the road to success as an entrepreneur. There are also no guarantees. If you put everything into your dreams and they don't come true - how do you handle that? Will you quit? Or will you find another way? The quitters don't last on this side, but the hustlers rise to the occasion every time.
Be Great
"BE GREAT" is a mantra used by my childhood friend Ashley Knafo. She is a female Muay Thai fighter with big dreams to break barriers in her industry. She reached out to me with a concept in mind and I felt making something powerful for her was the direction this needed to go. I assisted her with writing her voiceover, walked her through how to emphasize certain words for emotion, and filmed/produced a Nike-esque type reel for her. We started around 5:30 am to get the sunrise, and worked into the morning for a complete workout feel. There is a certain level of discipline required to "BE GREAT."
Black Foodie Guide to Los Angeles
This was a lot of food, a lot of work, a lot of heat, and a lot of culture. Black Foodie Guide to Los Angeles was a 3-day project filmed, curated, and produced by Ryan Malcolm-Campbell. Partnering with Black Foodie & Discover LA, this project was intended to highlight and support local Black-owned restaurants throughout Los Angeles. For both residents and visitors, this mini food documentary shows some hidden gems in the city and it was worth every bite.
