One on One with Newark Native, Ishell Vaughan

We sat down with a professional filmmaker, cinematographer, and founder and wonder of Ishell Vaughan Films, Ishell Vaughan to discuss how he emerged in the film industry, his current works, and his future aspirations. 

Tell us about your background prior to entering the filmmaking industry.

Well, I started as an amateur photographer for a baby shower before I realized my passion for photography. My educational background is a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from DeVry University. I have been able to pair this with the last 9 years of experience to build myself such a successful career. 

What was the hardest part of following your passion?

The biggest challenge when starting a business is finding who your true audience is. When starting a business, it’s easy to believe that you can cater to the needs of everyone. However, that is not scalable, and it compromises your worth as the aim to build. By focusing on your intended audience, you not only narrow your scope but also sharpen the quality of your work to fit that audience’s specific needs.

Can you tell us a little bit about some of the current projects you are working on? 

I am currently running a subsidiary of my company called The Raw Sessions. This allows new stars to earn supremacy in this competitive world by exploring their content. I have also been thinking of releasing a movie named My First Film where I performed as a photography director.

What are your future plans? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

My most sought-after goal at the moment (besides being incredibly wealthy) is to just continue to be in a space of learning. I don’t ever want to feel like I’m the best or the smartest. I want to always be in a position to gain knowledge and continue honing my skills and betting myself. 

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What would you say is your greatest success?

I would say my biggest success is simply being able to wake up every day and do what I Love. There are a lot of people out there that have the freedom or ability to chase their dream. Getting to this level in my career took a lot of hard work and discipline. Without that there wouldn’t even be any accolades. 

However, If I had to choose my most notable award I would say it was back in 2019 when Nimi Hendrix and I won the first place award for our short film “something in the water”.