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@liaetomi

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Hi, I’m Lolia, and I’m reintroducing myself.

I’m a Nigerian, American and UK-raised actor, writer, director, producer and lawyer. Being a multi-hyphenate and a perfectionist means I often hold back from sharing my work, my accomplishments and all that I’ve been up to. 🎭🎬🎥🎞️🎤✨

But being all these things also means that there are a lot of adventures, shenanigans, wins and woes along the way, and that’s not a journey anyone should have to go alone.

So hey, Friends, hey! Come along for the ride with me, starting with this 30-day #ComeToTheFront challenge. I’m shy o, please be nice.😄

What have you been holding back from? ❤️ taken in Los Angeles, California by @liaetomi

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6 days ago

Let’s gooooo Oscars! For Your Consideration ✨

Best Live Action Short Film, 96th Academy Awards!

You can watch the film in @theacademy screening room now!

@bienvenidosfilm
www.BALAfilm.com

Written & Directed by: @thelisacole

Produced by: @vivianjohnsonrogowski @cindyluphoto @benjaminokeefe @liaetomi @jolenemendes @thelisacole

Executive Producers: @lagralane @adamwescott @nicholascphillips @selena_moon_cat @mckenna.marsh

D.P.: @dark_wing_duck
Casting Director: @itscarolineliem
Editor: @zukibeans
Composer: @chiarakickdrum
Costumes: @sarahcogandesigns
Fiscal Sponsorship: @creativevisionsfoundation
Production Design: @kassandra.deangelis #jayncoburn @dezignarob
HMU: @asha_smith_creative
Locations/Prodn coord: @swebbysnaps
1st AD: @marissavonn

Starring: @imdestinyfaith @staceypatino @therashmirustagi @yvonnehufflee @jdelanelee

#fyc #foryourconsideration #awardwinning #diversityincannes #winner #shortfilm #lax #laxinternationalairport #immigration #moviesthatmatter #inspiredbyatruestory taken in Hollywood, California by @liaetomi

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3 years ago

THE DRAMA (REEL)! 🎭🎥🎞️🎬🍿

#leadactor #actorreel #demoreel #drama
#strongblacklead #leadinglady #blacktress by @liaetomi

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4 years ago

Travel diaries: the life of an actor ✈️🎭

When I’m not working, I love to travel (I also love travelling for work 😉). But what happens when a last-minute audition comes in while you’re travelling?

As an actor, I sometimes find myself in the most ridiculous scenarios. At this point, I’ve learned to embrace the chaos, have fun, and laugh at myself along the way!

I see auditions as an opportunity to play, be resourceful, practise rejection therapy, and get creative. Sometimes, that means dancing like a cartoon villain in a Paris hotel luggage room, one hour before your airport taxi arrives. 💀

For Day 5 of the #ComeToTheFront challenge, we’re talking about “More Than the Work”. Because there’s a whole lot that happens behind the scenes, and sometimes the shenanigans are half the fun. ❤️

Let me know if you’d like to see some more behind-the-scenes actor’s life shenanigans! 😂

#ActorLife #AuditionStories #BehindTheScenes #LoliaEtomi taken in Paris, France by @liaetomi

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an hour ago

Quick Contract Tip for Artists / Non-Lawyers 🎬⚖️

As artists and independent professionals, we work our butts off to create opportunities for ourselves. And when the big brands, studios and companies finally come calling, you want to be ready to make the most of them.

The reality? Early in our careers, most of us don’t have a lawyer or legal team in our back pocket to review every agreement that comes our way.

I’m fortunate to be both an artist and a lawyer, so I’m sharing some of the things I’ve learned in bite-sized, easy-to-understand ways, to help my fellow artists feel a little more confident navigating their opportunities and, of course, get that bag. 💰

For Day 3 of the #ComeToTheFront challenge, I’m sharing a useful tip for those creatives who may find themselves in this position: one important thing to look out for when you’re reading a contract in short, sweet & simple terms.

If you’d like more of these or have any questions, let me know. May the right opportunities find us all, and when they do, we’ll be ready! 💖📑🫱🏾‍🫲🏿

#Lawyartist #ContractTips #IndependentArtists #LoliaEtomi by @liaetomi

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4 days ago

Made with Love 🥧❤️🎬

Comedy/Psychological Thriller.
Written, directed, produced by and starring Yours Truly.

I made this 6 minute short in one day, with no budget and a bunch of friends/volunteer collaborators for a competition.

I was an actor, writer and producer who hadn’t yet given myself permission to call myself a director… So I started small. Low stakes. No budget. One day. Just make something with friends for shits & giggles.

And, naturally, shenanigans ensued in the shoot day 😂. Some highlights:

1. 🏠 We had to sneak onto a neighbour’s rooftop to get that perfect window shot.
2. 🪜 We sweet-talked the lovely folks at Home Depot into waiving their policies and letting us return the ladder we used to get up on said roof.
3. 🚗 We shot guerrilla-style in a grocery store parking lot, dodging moving cars to quickly get the shots, under the watchful gaze of curious employees.
4. 🎥 We were shooting with a defective camera that couldn’t be moved or zoom on when recording. Static shots ftw 😅.
5. 🎙️No sound professional on set meant recording with questionable iPhone microphones as a solution, despite having sourced professional sound equipment. 😂

And somehow, we did it! We made a FILM, we had so much FUN, and built some wonderful, lasting relationships along the way.

High AF standards meant that I never shared it publicly after the competition, aside from a few clips on IG here and there. I saw it as practice and was already focused on what I could do better next time. Yet, over the years, I saw similar films making waves at festivals, and wondered why I held back?

I shared it with a few people I trust, and they were genuinely thrilled and entertained by it, asking why I’d never shared it before.

Sometimes we’re so focused on what isn’t perfect that we miss what’s already there.

So for Day 2 of #ComeToTheFront, I’m bringing this one back to the front.

I’m proud of this little film and how much I’ve grown in my craft (significantly! 😊) since then. It truly was ‘Made With Love’. ❤️

Do you appreciate or cringe at your earlier work when you look back? 👀

#MadeWithLove #LoliaEtomi #Filmmaker PsychologicalThriller taken in Los Angeles, California by @liaetomi

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5 days ago

There’s enough room on this planet for us all to shine.

Meet me with your brightest. ✨🤎🐆🍃 taken in California by @liaetomi

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

Find me in the light, where the sky touches the sea 🌊✨

📸: @yvel_love
💄: @ally.cahee taken in San Pedro, California by @liaetomi

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3 months ago

Returning to @cambridgeuniversity as a speaker at the @cambridgeunion for the Africa Together Conference (@camafricaday ) was a pretty special start to the summer. ✨

It was wonderful connecting with brilliant leaders, students, and innovators while discussing AI governance, privacy, digital sovereignty, and our duty to humanity as technology continues to evolve, on the continent and in the world.

What made the day even better was getting to share it with some of the people I love in one of my favourite places in the world. A city that holds so many memories and played such an important role in my journey.

Sometimes, you’re blessed to return to places where ideas flourished, ambitions grew, and new possibilities revealed themselves, to fulfil a few of the dreams that took root there. 🍃

Once again, I left Cambridge deeply inspired & excited for everything still ahead, with more dreams to fulfil on the horizon. 🤍 taken in University of Cambridge by @liaetomi

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4 months ago

Nights in the Sun. 🌞✨

#ToniMeetsEtomi 💚 taken in Parklands Quendon Hall by @liaetomi

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4 months ago

Still in La La Lollipop Land… 🍭🥂✨🪩💋 taken in Hollywood Hills by @liaetomi

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5 months ago