NEWARK ARTIST DIRECTORY
Joya "Angola" Thompson 01 02 03 04 05


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Joya’s love for film began after learning of Spike Lee, a door opener for young African American filmmakers. Her gift of creating images in her mind found a place where they can be view by the world.
Joya (known as Angola to her close creative friends) started on her journey toward this goal. This path led to many low budget films, ranging from a production assistant to working as a boom person. Joya further cemented her education by attending Pratt Institute and the University of Miami at Coral Gables.
In Newark, NJ’s Quest Youth Services, Joya Thompson was able to refine her love of film by engaging in the Quest Television and Radio Program. There, she interviewed many community leaders, hosted radio segments, and provided technical assistance from Seton Hall’s Pirate Radio Station and Newark Cablevision’s Cable Access Channel.
Through the years Joya has seen many technologies develop for the film industry, but none fascinated her as much as the digital revolution. She quickly adapted and began making short films.
Joya’s goal is to show people of color in ways not familiar to the world. When people see themselves in a new light, it can propel them to desire something more than what they are taught or see everyday. Joya also believes in superheroes, which can be in our presence everyday. With her love of popular culture, subcultures, mythology, science, and magic realism, Joya plans to create visual images inspiring to all. All who feel they are worth much more than what circumstances in life have thus far given.
 
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