Brief
OVERTIME was an original docuseries and platform created to spotlight DMV-based artists balancing day jobs or full-time study while pursuing creative careers. Developed and co-directed with creative partner Nabil Abdulkadir, the project set out to document the emotional and logistical realities of making art under pressure — while amplifying local talent before they reached mainstream recognition. Season one featured four artists, including singer-songwriter Alex Vaughn, who later signed with Love Renaissance (LVRN), and Julia Chon (Kimchi Juice), whose work has since been acquired by the Smithsonian and exhibited internationally.

Approach
Each episode was designed to feel raw and authentic, in deliberate contrast to glossy music documentaries. Shot in artists’ homes and workspaces, the films blended intimate interviews, performance footage, and scenes of daily life, with an aesthetic grounded in lo-fi texture and sonic rhythm. The goal was to let each artist’s voice drive the visual narrative while embedding the series in place, community, and process.

Role

• Co-created concept and selected featured artists

• Wrote interview structures and directed all shoots with cinematographer Nabil Abdulkadir

• Oversaw production logistics, crew coordination, and on-set creative direction

• Produced a launch event at the John F. Kennedy Center’s REACH campus, including screenings, live performances, and a student showcase

Impact

• Elevated four emerging DMV artists at pivotal early career stages, including Alex Vaughn (signed to LVRN) and Julia Chon (Kimchi Juice), now an internationally exhibited artist with institutional acquisitions (Smithsonian) and high-profile commissions (NASA, Apple, Phillips Collection)

• Drew 100+ attendees to the Kennedy Center launch event, co-hosted by the institution, and created a platform for artist performance and student engagement

• Built institutional trust with the Kennedy Center, leading to deeper collaboration on future projects

• Positioned as a cultural platform as much as a film series, bridging documentation, live experience, and community activation