Ozioma Ihesiene
Ozioma Ihesiene is a Storyteller in the disciplines of writing, acting, and director, based in London. Her writing is emotion-driven and comical, engaging readers with varied life experiences. She has participated in several competitions and residencies. She was chosen as a finalist for the DYSPLA Storymakers Residency Project, which supports neurodivergent creatives. Ozioma discusses how living with dyslexia has enriched her storylines, how she balances difficult truths with humour in her comedy writing, and how producing work for the 5Lenses exhibition has influenced her to pick up her unfinished writing projects.
How were you introduced to the art world?
My parents enrolled me in a Drama school Helen O’Grady at the age of seven, and Art became something that I connected with deeply. The COVID-19 lockdown invoked strong, difficult
emotions in me that I needed to process through writing. I would read my words back to myself. It was fascinating to see how my words can take people on a journey.
How did you hone your craft?
I took part in competitions. I sat through free online courses on comedy writing. Hackney Empire, a performing arts theatre here in London, is guiding me to produce my first play. Little Wing Festival helped me to develop and direct my first short film, "Stairway To Heaven," ultimately boosting my confidence to produce my written work. It is a Comedy Drama film that explores traditional African family disciplines and pride. Currently, it is in post-production and is planned on being released this year.
What is the most important element to you in your writing?
My work takes people on an emotional journey without providing context. Not everyone has shared experiences, but we have gone through similar emotions.
How do you carry out research for your work?
I actively listen to other people's experiences and reflect on my own. Most of the time, I struggle with conveying messages in my Art in one sentence. As a visual learner, watching documentaries and films give me an idea of how to formulate my message.
What are your favourite comedians and comedy shows?
I watch "The Office," "Afterlife," "Chewing Gum," and "Some Girls." I like comedian and actor Ricky Gervais for his dark humour, "Chewing Gum" screenwriter Michaela Coel for her wit, and comedian Dave Chapelle for being unfiltered. When we filter comedy, we lose the essence of how we typically use humour as a coping mechanism in unfavourable situations. When comes at you hard, you either laugh or you cry. I choose to laugh every time.
Have you ever felt the need to tone down your writing to be more palatable to your audience?
Yes. I send my writing to my mentors, who tell me if I have crossed a boundary. All I know is, I will only be completely unfiltered if I fund the project myself. Interestingly, companies fund
well-received projects to protect their brands, but we aren’t going to lie and say that they don’t appreciate it when a controversial piece goes viral. It is a matter of knowing how far I should push the envelope.
How is it like being a dyslexic writer?
I think I process the world and information differently. My mind does not recognize the obvious. For instance, I ask people to rephrase sentences because I may have a slightly different idea of what it is they are trying to tell me.
Dyslexia hasn’t affected me as much. I taught myself how to spell when I was young. I often worked extra hard when I was younger cause I thought I was just dumb. So it wasn't really identifiable since I got top grades. It also gives me the ability to see things from different perspectives and to come up with nuances, ideas, and connections that many people may not see. It can only be mentally overwhelming when fleshing out a story. I need to write my endings first for a more dynamic, surprising storyline. Then I work backwards to find how we end up here.
What are the risks that a comedy writer faces?
In and of itself, comedy is a risk. A comedian will always hear someone else’s alternative opinion. What is happening now is that many comedians are developing likeable personalities that are hard to stop giving support to. When it comes to writing or performing comedy, it's all about striking a balance between being likeable so when you end up saying something that isn't people struggle to be offended. I always end up hearing “You’re lucky I like you” Nah I’m just strategic.
Do you have a network of artists that you rely on, and how do you support each other?
Yes, I’m part of an online community of creatives that shares information, shows up for premieres and other projects, and just stays in contact. It is a valuable community to me because it fully grasps the challenges of being creative and doesn’t hesitate to offer support. One of my collaborators is Joy Adienge, an amazing actor, writer, and director.
Describe your dream project.
My long-term ambition is to write a black British family sitcom akin to My Wife and Kids or The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. The two shows portrayed black families in a fun, positive way. The end of every episode had a relatable message. I want to educate people through comedy.
How would you define success for you as an artist?
My father was watching the premiere of the BFI Comedy Short Film that I was the lead in, laughing till tears came out. Making my family happy through my work is a success for me. To me, success is fulfilling God's plan for my life. I feel whole with God and the family and friends that He has surrounded me with.
How do you determine how to price your art?
My agents negotiate my acting contracts with production companies. In my writing jobs, I would have conversations with a company that wants to commission my work. I also enter writing contests that offer prizes.
How do you see your market going in the next few years?
In 2023, I hope to be the winner of a fully funded residency program that will allow me to train and write a TV series or film as a launch pad for my writing career.
What are your favourite parts of being a professional artist?
I enjoy the editing process. I love the spark of inspiration; going through the emotions instantly motivates me to write.
5Lenses exhibition; Opening night
What challenges do you face as a professional artist, and how do you address them?
A lot of the time, I experience writer’s block when I’m happy. I’m ready to write when I’m sad or upset. I can sit down for hours and stare at my work, asking, "What do you want from me?" It is such a difficult battle; should I trigger sad emotions in myself to overcome writer’s block? I now play sad music to imagine myself in that state and connect with the story. But I want to get to a point where writing is no longer therapy but a hobby.
How has your work deepened a sense of personal growth or awareness?
As an emotional person and a deep thinker, I’m grateful to God for giving me this talent that has helped me become better at communicating my feelings, even when I'm overwhelmed.
Tell us about your experience working on the 5Lenses exhibition.
It required us to produce work exploring five themes within specific timelines. What that instilled in me was the discipline to meet deadlines. I can't even begin to tell you how many incomplete projects I have, but being part of the 5Lenses has helped me find healthier practices to finish them whilst balancing other commitments.
What do you hope the audience will receive from this exhibition?
My intention has always been to get people to connect with and reflect on the emotions that come from my work. I hope that they read my work and find a deeper relationship with themselves.
How do you spend your free time?
I indulge in self-care activities such as swimming, gymnastics and gym. I love different forms of expression like dancing and drawing. I regularly enjoy going to church to connect with God and find more ways to strengthen our relationship. One of my favourite things is checking in and creating new memories with family and friends. One of my favourite things is
What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
Writing is a difficult task. Discover what motivates you to tell a story and why. These answers will help you find the uniqueness of your own story and get through writer’s block when it
creeps in. Then get it all out on the page as a rough draft for a loose structure. From this edit until you're happy to release it. It can always be improved but edit it to the point where you are happy for it to be showcased.
