As the end of 2024 draws closer, I want to reflect on my work. My vision is a community that supports the development of original IP. I’ve watched the slow addlement of Hollywood as their development pipeline turned to mush. I’ve seen the cost of developing original IP go through the roof. I’ve seen entertainment companies retreat into the safety of reruns, retreads, and sequels. And I wondered if there is a better way to do all this.
Studio Jijiji is a one-man band with some incredible support from some key people. There are limitations here, as I’ve had to build the infrastructure and create the foundation myself. But there are also advantages to that. I’ve done plenty of work in my career where companies slowed me up or put roadblocks in my way.
My attitude with Jijiji has been keep up with me if you want, but I’m not stopping. It’s been liberating.
My vision is to foster innovation, build community, and produce high-quality original content that inspires and engages. I felt I needed to make a solid platform for this vision, and that’s what I’ve been up to in the last twelve months. I now have the platform to launch the next phase—the production of original IP through an innovative pipeline.
The vision of the website studiojijiji.io is to be a community-focused hub for creators, community, and collaborators to connect and engage. This is forward-thinking and sustainable in the emerging creativity market. Whether anybody agrees with me, we’ll have to see.
My social space is populated with old-school thinkers wary of newer models who can’t see the benefits of supporting a concept like Jijiji. I get it. I also prefer previous models, but they do not work anymore. So, either put the guitar away or devise new ways to develop projects.
I’ve always believed in community to support creativity. My studios on Irving Place in New York were built to foster this idea. They still give off that community vibe, and I enjoy visiting them even though I am no longer an owner.
Doing this in a digital space is more challenging but possible. With advanced digital writers rooms and studios, interactive forums, behind-the-scenes content, project showcases, and creative submission portals, a site can become a living, breathing extension of our mission. Ideas can be shared, collaborations born, and networks supporting creatives with a vital sense of belonging.
I'm seeking an engaged following on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. It takes work in these isolated times. Social media is a marketing tool. Follower counts bring no monetary value to me as a business owner, but awareness of our work is critical to building an audience. Even fund-raising avenues like crowd-sourcing are about awareness and community building. I keep this at the forefront of my mind as I design crowd-funding campaigns—community first.
And then there’s YouTube. Nothing is more critical than a presence and an active YouTube channel. It’s a particular challenge for our audio-driven content. I’m still wrestling with solutions that allow us to have a competitive channel without breaking the bank by producing visual content. My sense is this will involve partnership.
Much of the content on YouTube is teaching. I find most of this stuff unwatchable. It takes me too long to get the information I need. Reading is faster for me, and I never have time to interrupt my workflow waiting for answers. I want the answer fast.
As an artistic medium, YouTube is awesome. I’ve focused on developing video art based on explorations of ambient structures. This approach is growing the channel. Like all my work this year, I focus on understanding and building infrastructure for future success.
My creative output this year includes 50 ambient videos, Echoes of the Everyday, 260 script pages of an audio drama, Song in Space, two podcast prototypes, Short Wave Stories and Wonder Lit. The prototypes are on the studiojijiji.io website.
Jijiji is all about innovative storytelling, immersive sound design, and pushing creative boundaries. Partnering with both emerging and established talent, telling stories that captivate listeners and viewers alike, solidifying our reputation as a leader in the world of audio and short-form storytelling are our next step goals going forward.
I’ve also planted the seeds for Academy Jijiji. This educational platform will be designed to empower aspiring artists, writers, and creators, offering courses, workshops, and masterclasses led by industry experts. We built the foundation for a mentorship program that pairs emerging talent with seasoned professionals, ensuring that the Academy will not just teach skills, but build lasting creative relationships. The Academy will also provide educational support for our audio dramas, a critical factor in our success.
It’s all there.
Finally, I launched the podcast Creativity Jijiji, a thought leadership platform that delves into the intersection of creativity and industry trends. Through conversations with leaders and innovators, we explore topics like the role of technology in creativity, the challenges of modern storytelling, and the opportunities that lie ahead. The podcast is built to inspire creatives and showcase creative workers imbued with a curiosity that defines Studio Jijiji.
All this prep work means we are ready to launch our first Kickstarter to raise funds for Episode 1 of Song in Space.
I will continue exploring other funding methods, including investor funding and brand partnerships. Still, as much as possible, we must self-fund our work with community support. That is the ‘truth’ of where the marketplace is today.
If all this interests you, consider supporting my efforts if you are a creative worker, artist, voice-over, sound designer, writer, composer, producer, or fan of innovative storytelling. Go to studiojijiji.io and join our site. There’s no fee involved, though we gladly take monetary support, our primary goal is to build a community to produce our original IP. It's an evolving innovation. I'm just finding my way, inventing solutions, using the new engagement tools, and, more than anything, having fun. I built the creative projects on Jijiji, but I’d love to hear your versions of your ambiances, songs, and stories. Subscribe to the newsletter, become a site member, and see what we can build together.
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