How We Branded Creativity: A Reflection on the Success of the Film, Fashion, and Fine Arts Workshop
- Island Rebel
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
By Akley Olton
Over the past week days, I’ve been floating on a creative high — the kind that only comes from seeing potential unlocked, voices amplified, and visions transformed into reality. The “Imaginative Branding : A Film, Fashion, and Fine Arts Entrepreneurship Workshop” at UWI Global Campus was more than just a workshop. It was another push in movement to develop the creative sector.
Fifteen bold, curious, and passionate participants from all over St. Vincent and the Grenadines came together, bringing with them raw talent, hungry minds, and dreams ready to stretch. What we gave them was structure — a framework to channel that creative energy into purposeful branding and storytelling. But what they gave us? That was pure fire. Energy. Insight. A glimpse into the powerful future of our creative industries.
Together with my fellow facilitators, Shawnte Brown and Colin Browne, we built a space that blended film, fashion, and fine arts — not as separate silos but as interconnected tools in the digital branding ecosystem. We weren’t just teaching “how to make a film” or “how to style a piece.” We were asking: How do we tell our stories in a way that captivates, connects, and converts attention into impact?
I was especially proud of how our participants embraced the cinematic language we introduced — experimenting with composition, rhythm, light, and camera movement. One memorable moment was when we explored the down shot: a high-angle frame that shrinks the subject, shifts perspective, and evokes emotion. That single angle, when used intentionally, tells a story of vulnerability, reflection, or transformation. And our participants nailed it. Not just technically — but emotionally. They understood the why, not just the how. That’s when you know growth is happening.
What made this workshop a success wasn’t just the knowledge shared — it was the ownership the participants took. They weren’t waiting for permission to be great. They came ready. We simply provided the stage, and they performed.
The real magic lies ahead. Because this wasn’t a one-off. This was the planting of seeds. I see in these creatives a network of future entrepreneurs, digital storytellers, brand visionaries — people who will shape the identity of this country through art and commerce.
The vision is big. And it has to be. As Caribbean people, our stories are rich, our culture is deep, and our voices matter on a global scale. This workshop reminded me that when we invest in ourselves and our people, transformation is inevitable.
So what’s next? More of this. More training. More community. More collaboration. We’ll keep building. We’ll keep dreaming. And we’ll keep creating spaces where imagination meets intention.
To everyone who participated, supported, and believed in this workshop — thank you. You’ve reminded me that our creativity isn’t just alive. It’s thriving.
Let’s keep branding boldly. The future is ours to design.
Here's a peak of the some of the work created but the participants.
@illusetteato
—Akley
Comments