Name: Olatunde Ola
Year: senior
Major: theatre arts
Hometown: Queens Village, NY
HCSB: What are the actives you are involved with on campus?
Ola: “I am a photographer for USG and I am a member of Pocket Theatre.”
HCSB: Can you tell us about Ola Does Stuff?
Ola: “Ola Does Stuff is a at the moment, a standalone media company dedicated to bringing people’s dreams and visions alive. It all started out as a discomfort. I was looking over the pictures and video for my mother’s birthday celebration and realized that it wasn’t the best quality possible. It was then and there that I believed that I had to at least do something to capture the moments that will forever be remembered. I immersed myself into the life of media, learning the many different aspects of it. From motion graphics to photography, I developed the skills needed to make any event, portrait and idea last forever.”
HCSB: What are some recent projects you have released or been a part of?
Ola: “I have worked with a number of clubs on campus, as well as the University Student Government (USG) events. Although I work with others to make their projects memorable, I pride myself with making my own passion projects. My latest project recently released is a short film I wrote and directed called Mirrors (link below). It’s about a two individuals who find love through an unexpected medium. I got the idea after hearing Justin Timberlake’s song, ‘Mirrors.’ I became obsessed with the song, as well as the video and thought that it would be a great concept to create in a storyline format. I got some actors, a cinematographer and put the whole thing together.”
HCSB: Anything new you are working on that you can tell us about?
Ola: “I recently started a new project, my seasonal spring shoot called ‘Blooming Till June.’ It’s a photo shoot that’s intended to capture several individuals’ ideas of spring. It’s an interesting concept inspired by one of my high school friends to divulge many different perspective of what it means to “Bloom.” You can find more about it by following the hash tag #BloomingTillJune on multiple social media platforms.”
HCSB: How have all these activities and projects changed your Stony Brook experience?
Ola: “These projects changed my Stony Brook experience by a lot. They made me see people through new lenses, given me a brand new perspective on life and an innovative way to change how we treat each other as a community.”
HCSB: Who has helped you along the way in the most substantial way?
Ola: “A couple of people have certainly helped me along the way. One of the most prominent people that have been my benefactor is Richard Gatteau, the Associate Provost for Academic Success. He has gone out of his way to make sure that I become the best person I can be. Another person I credit my success to has got to be my fellow students. Among all the times that I’ve wanted to quit and give up, they constantly encourage me that I could do better, that I could be better. The Stony Brook community, in my opinion, has to be some of the most supportive group of people that I’ve come across in all of my years of undergrad.”
HCSB: What do you want your legacy to be when you leave Stony Brook?
Ola: “I want to leave a legacy of perseverance and determination. I want those who come after me to know that they could pursue anything that they could dream of.”
Head to OlaDoesStuff for all your media needs!