• The King of the Sun, Episode 1
• Bogui’s YouTube channel: MindControlFilms
For me, the point of filmmaking is to tell stories that relate to people on a deeper level than pure entertainment. I live and breathe filmmaking. It is not simply a hobby, but a passion of mine that keeps me up at night, and ignites a fire within me that only grows with each passing day.
Bogui Adjorlolo, the 2015 JDogg scholar, continues making his positive impact on the world, working as the Post-Production Coordinator and Vault Manager for Partizan. “Fun note,” he says, “I was recently put in charge of creating the thumbnails and GIFs for their website, so if you click that link, all of those were done by me!”
Reflecting on this past (pandemic-slowed) year, Bogui has settled into a mature sense that “learning never ends, and meaningful growth takes time and commitment.” He paraphrases Werner Herzog — “If there’s something that’s really worth doing in life, do it on foot” — to explain his current life philosophy. “Meaning to me,” he explains, “that there’s tremendous value in working slow, in taking things in, in listening, and in not rushing ahead just because that’s the thing to do.” Bogui continues: “I’m very happy to have a full-time job that’s directly related to my degree and the thing I love to do, and to have time to work on my own projects, but I make a point to keep in mind that I’m trying to build a fulfilling life as well as a career.”
“I’m happy to report that I’m doing very well, all things considered. For the first time in my life I feel like a functioning member of society. I’ve been working on a book for the past year+ that I consider my main project right now, and although it won’t be finished for a while, I’ve found the most joy and creative freedom in that. For my job, I had the pleasure to work on the music video for Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” (among others), which has been pretty high on the pop charts since its release. Hearing that song makes me think of late nights in front of my computer, but overall I’m pretty happy to have been a part—even a small part—of something that people are talking about. And I have a feeling that I’m set up for a great life with many more things to come.”
Bogui walked in the graduation ceremony at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts in May 2019, and finished his studies that August, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
“And what did I learn? I believe I’ve learned quite a lot about self-doubt and how I can move beyond it. The professors in my junior thesis class—where I made ‘William Tell’s Goin’ to Hell’—especially the directing professor, Phil Casnoff, made it apparent to me that the most important thing about making movies was to tell stories that resonated with audiences because they resonated with me, as writer and director. While I may be scared of the work, scared that I’m not good enough, scared that progress is impossible, I must feel confident in myself in order to continue into this career that I’ve chosen, a career that consists of doing something I’ve loved doing for my entire life. For me, there is no other life without filmmaking.”
Bogui’s junior thesis class film, William Tell’s Goin’ to Hell, was screened at the 2018 Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) in May 2018, the National Film Festival for Talented Youth in October 2018, the Greenbay Film Festival in March 2019, and the Gig Harbor Film Festival in September 2019.
“Bogui was an exceptional student in the 310 Film Production class in which I participated as directing faculty. As a director/writer, his project 'William Tell's Goin To Hell’, was a terrific success on many levels. It was audacious and imaginative both visually and narratively — in other words, risky — but with attention to detail and thoughtful use of input from the class and professors, he achieved a wonderful result in the final version of the film. Also, Bogui was an excellent collaborator on the other two projects he worked on, willing to learn on the fly what was required of him.”
— Philip L. Casnoff
Adjunct Professor Cinema, Directing Faculty
University of California School of Cinematic Arts
Bogui graduated from Shorecrest High school in 2015. During his high school career, Bogui received seven Northwest High School Film Festival Awards. In 2015 his film, Goldfish, was an Official Selection of the National Film Festival for Talented Youth.
What his high school teachers say:
Bogui is, without a doubt, the most talented video student I've ever had the pleasure to teach at Shorecrest. Most students excel at one part of the video making process. However, Bogui excels at writing, directing, acting, and editing…Bogui is a team leader and helps to pull other students up to his level. Bogui’s storytelling ability, technical knowledge, and calm demeanor are just a few of the many assets that will help him become an excellent producer and director. His body of work speaks for itself, but he is also a caring individual who keeps improving his craft without the need of outside motivation.
— Trent Mitchell, Video Production Teacher
Shorecrest High School
Bogui’s work ranges from art film through dramatic narrative to documentary, and often grapples with subjects that challenge seasoned filmmakers. His 2013 short film, Tennis Ball, tells the story of a young man reflecting on the loss of a close friend and finishes with the young man visiting his friend's gravesite at the cemetery. The story is powerful, emotional, and very mature in subject matter. The cinematography is gorgeous and the editing choices are spot on. In Sable Mire, a 2015 film, Bogui hired and directed professional and student actors to tell the story of a family that struggles to stay together after losing a loved one.
Bogui enjoyed several years of school music, playing the tenor saxophone and performing in two High School drama productions in his senior year. He enjoys traveling, skateboarding, and sleeping (when he can find the time).
