Meet Kosiba Oshodi-Glover | Filmmaker & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kosiba Oshodi-Glover and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kosiba, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
For me, I believe the most important factor behind my success is inspiration. Inspiration fuels dreams. As a human first, then filmmaker, I work hard to make sure my work leaves an imprint on people. Folks should know that they can live the lives they imagine for themselves. That’s why I’ve made it a mission to create within my very own community, so that people feel seen. People want to see themselves in others, because it makes them feel less alone in this world. And when you see yourself in the main character, who goes from losing to winning, you feel like it’s possible for you to win too, and you get out there and start doing and winning too. So if someone watches one of my films or projects, and afterwards it sparks up a conversation about their own dreams, that’s a win! I always say, “dreams do come true, and they will.”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m an IT professional with a passion for storytelling. I love telling stories that reflect my friends, family, and AZ community. My current medium is filmmaking, and I’m dedicated to turning it into a career. I was a weird kid growing up, I used to talk to myself a lot. And I do mean a lot. I would sit in class or walk around the house painting these vivid imaginative stories in my head. I loved my childhood, but it wasn’t always easy. Growing up in a household where my mother was always stressed out about money and bills, lead me to choose a career path that provided good pay and job security. After I graduated college and landed my first IT job and moved to Florida, I thought I’d be happy and satisfied in life, but I wasn’t. I always felt like something was still missing, like I wasn’t living the life the younger me always dreamed of. That’s when I decided to flirt with the idea of pursuing my dream of becoming a filmmaker. Fast forward to 2020, I moved back to AZ, bought my first video camera and paid a visit to my friends back in Florida to shoot my first ever music video (shoutout Kale!). I had a lot of fun shooting and editing music videos, but deep down I knew I wanted to write and turn my own stories into movies, but thought of leaving my 9 to 5 to attend film school full time overwhelmed me. Then something happened a year later in the summer of 2021 that changed my life forever. My mom passed away. Suddenly life felt larger. It was as if I was no longer living for just myself anymore. I now had a duty to live the life my mom imagined for me too. That same year in the fall I enrolled myself into a community college level screenwriting course, and by September my friends and I were on our way to making our first short film (shoutout Wisco, Leewater, J, and the crew!). It wasn’t easy at all, but we managed to write, cast, shoot, edit, and premiere “Merry Litmas: an AZ Christmas Movie” by December 22nd 2021. Being able to watch our work on the big screen with family and community was truly inspirational. What makes Merry Litmas so special is the fact that were able to create this film solely with the help of our friends and loved ones. It was a team of talented individuals with zero film production experience and practically no budget; just heart, a shared vision, and a supportive community. And I’m proud to say that this year we hosted a second round of community screenings, not only in AZ but in Florida as well! Like I said before, it wasn’t easy, but we stuck to it and produced an amazing the short film we’re all very proud of! So if anyone receives anything from this story, I hope it’s the message that life is too short to not dream big, and to live life exactly the way you imagine it for yourself. I’m a witness that if you share your vision with others, folks will really stand beside you to see it through. It’s not always going to be easy, but it’ll always be worth it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I love this question, because I love my city! Whenever any of my friends come to visit me in Phoenix, I always have an itinerary planned. First stop, always, is for tacos. And the first taco stop, ALWAYS, is AZ Taco Boys on Roosevelt. The food and ambience is always on point. You can tell the boys really love what they do there, which makes the tacos even more delicious! Next, we’re off to hike somewhere. One thing I’m most proud of as an Arizonian is our beautiful, complex nature. I love how people assume it wouldn’t snow in the desert, but then if you drive them just 2 hours or so outside of Phoenix, their jaws drop in awe of the snow capped Saguaro cacti. Sedona is my favorite place to take my guests, it’s just such a unique natural scene filled with lots of cool history. Once we get back down to Phoenix, I’d drive them around downtown Phoenix and show them all the dope street art and art galleries. I’d take them to El Charro Hipster bar and cafe for a delicious cocktail drink, then next door to Zucca’s studio, and then visit Otro cafe for brunch the next day, and would point out the Zucca piece hanging proudly in the restaurant’s entry-way. I’d do all that to show them how interconnected the art community really is here in Phoenix. The last few spots we’d check out are Poetic Soul on Wednesday nights, and First Friday if they’re lucky enough to visit at the beginning of the month. My friends definitely return home satisfied and newly educated on AZ culture.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people and places that have made me who I am today. Firstly, I’d like to shoutout God, the master storyteller. He’s dope. Secondly I would like to shoutout my family. My mom fought fiercely her entire life, until the end, to make sure my siblings and I grew up with the opportunity to be the very best versions of ourselves. That is why I vow to live the very best “me” everyday, because of her persevering love. I’d like to shoutout my dad for being my #1 fan. He’s the first person to invest in my filmmaking career by upgrading my laptop for me. Love you baba. And shoutout my twin sister, Abike. She’s my #1 fan too, she never hesitates to find out how she can be of help, even when she’s thousands of miles away. Love you Kehinde. Lastly shoutout my friends and communities. I’m a true believer that it takes a village. My friends have always had my back, and without them, my first film would have never been possible. SHOUTOUT PHX!!! And shoutout my FL community too. I’m blessed to find love and support everywhere I go.

Website:  kosiogproductions.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kosiogproductions

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kokothadreamer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kosiba.oshodiglover

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kosiogtv8470

Image Credits
Anna Wellington