Creative Feature Friday: Lydia Fiyori

I've had the pleasure of interviewing the radiant Lydia (P.S we even went to the same high school).

I adore seeing artists grow and Lydia spilled the tea on all things art and mental health related!

1. Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Lydia Asmerom-Hall aka Lydia Fiyori and I'm a storyteller. It's a pretty broad term however I feel like it encompasses the many mediums and spaces I indulge in. I was born in New York City, raised in Atlanta, with roots in Eritrea.

2. What inspired you to start directing and shooting?

I've always been in the arts growing up. I was in dance, chorus and church choir, theater, school news, writing, and sewing. These were all considered hobbies to my family so it wasn't until I found out about SCAD that I started to consider my passions as a career. The common thread through everything I loved was storytelling, and filmmaking specifically encompasses it all. It made sense. I didn't have the confidence to be a director at first though. I thought I was going to be an editor. But as I grew personally and professionally, I realized how much I love to move and work with people.

3. How do you balance all of your creative endeavors without getting burnt out or overwhelmed?

Balance is difficult for me so I like to think of it like seasons instead. I get in a true mode when I'm in the thick of my work but there's usually a natural slow down to the inquiries I receive. During that time is when I force myself to only take a job if necessary. Traveling is how I reset myself. It takes me out of my reality and immerses me in another, so my mind can clear and provide new sources of inspiration. My family is also important to me so just spending time with them helps me recenter.

4. What does mental health mean to you?

Mental health means quite literally the status and state of your mind. Just like any other part of your body that needs care and attention, our mind needs that same TLC as well. Our mind is complicated and hard to understand so even more reason for us to be careful with it.

5. How do you practice self care and rest with a busy schedule?

Self care and rest literally is scheduled into my calendar. If not, I would be working nonstop because I truly love being busy. But that downtime is crucial to be operating at your best not only professionally but also personally. That downtime allows room for reflection and enlightenment which I feel is essential for any type of growth or success in your field or even personal relationships.

6. How do you protect your peace of mind when receiving critiques?

Receiving criticism is hard to take sometimes, especially as a writer/director. A lot of what I create has been nurtured and sat with me longer than what the audience sees. So it's easy to take bad reviews personally. However, I always have to remind myself that everyone experiences everything differently and everything is an opinion. That doesn't mean that I should ignore it or think I'm perfect, but instead have discernment to see if the comment is constructive and see how it may help better how my work is received or crafted in the future. Criticism is necessary in a field like this to understand if your message or story was received.

7. What are some of your upcoming goals or things we should look out for?

My mind is always turning with ideas. I'm currently working under Des Gray, an amazing music video director. I'm looking to expand within that space right now. Looking ahead, I'm working on a more long term company with my partner in crime, Sydney Seabron. I can't share too many details yet, but it's been in the works for almost a year now and patience has allowed it to blossom in a way we couldn't have imagined. I'm also working on a nonprofit catered to bridging the gap between creatives and employers. All in due time it will come into fruition, but for now just building my resume and network.