NYWIFT Blog

By Lily Della Pietra

Welcome to NYWIFT, Laci Joseph!

Laci Joseph is a graduating senior at Temple University, earning her B.A. in Film and Media Arts in Spring 2025. She is passionate about production design and visual storytelling, with a focus on African American culture, history, and uplifting marginalized communities. Her creative interests include themes of love, romance, identity, and global exploration. 

Laci aspires to design for music videos, short films, and documentaries, while also bringing her own passion projects to life. Through her work, she aims to build immersive visual worlds that inspire connection, celebrate culture, and reflect powerful, underrepresented stories.

Laci discusses what brought her to film, projects she is currently working on, and the themes she conveys through her work!

NYWIFT Member Laci Joseph

Welcome to NYWIFT! Please introduce yourself briefly to our readers.

My name is Laci Joseph, and I am a graduating senior in the Temple University Film and Media Arts Program. I look forward to obtaining my Bachelor of Arts degree in May. I am passionate about visual storytelling, and I love using my hands, heart, and mind to immerse viewers in the world of the story. 

One of my main goals is to learn as much as I can in the area of production design and to utilize and apply those skills when opportunities to work on film projects arise. I also want to create music videos, short films, and documentaries that inspire positive thought and meaningful change in the world.

What brought you to NYWIFT?

As a young Black woman who is navigating the transition from academia to a professional career, I knew that becoming part of a supportive and empowering community like New York Women in Film & Television was essential. 

I value connecting with other filmmakers and creatives, specifically women in the arts and entertainment industries, sharing knowledge, uplifting each other, and working together to create change through art.

NYWIFT’s mission to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion deeply resonates with me, especially as I pursue my career in film. I’m excited to expand my network along the East Coast, gain new experiences, and continue learning as I grow within this field.

What initially drew you to film, production design, and directing, and how did your journey begin?

I’ve always been drawn to various art forms, including visual art, music, photography, and storytelling. Film allows me to bring all of these elements together powerfully and creatively in the form of a story or a message that reaches many people at once.

My artistic journey formally began at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, where I concentrated in Technical Design and Production. This is when I discovered my interest in working with my hands and the set design process of building, painting, and placing. After working on my first film set in my junior year of college and observing the art team, I realized how much I enjoyed world-building and contributing in this way to the visual storytelling process. 

In January of 2024, I took a leap of faith and participated in Temple University’s Los Angeles Study Away program. I was living in LA for my Spring semester, and during this time, I had the opportunity to work on several film sets in various capacities: as an art PA, a set dresser, and an assistant production designer. These experiences gave me a strong foundation, expanding my knowledge, sharpening my skills, and deepening my passion for production design and directing.

Since returning to the East Coast, I’ve continued collaborating on student films, I’ve taken on production design crew positions, and started developing my own passion projects. I’m excited to keep growing as an artist and to contribute meaningful, visually-driven work.

Laci Joseph BTS of “Abandoned Flowers” music video

Can you tell us more about your experience as a production designer for the short film, The Village It Took?

Working as the production designer on The Village It Took was a magical experience. In September of 2024, student director Victoria Wilcox reached out to me about this crew position, and I happily accepted. We filmed a pivotal scene that October for her class review, with full production taking place in January 2025. 

Tori and I had multiple planning meetings and brainstorming sessions for the world of the story and how the ideas would manifest visually. With every meeting, I became more inspired by the project and my role in it. 

The story follows Ozanna Parks, a young Black woman at a predominantly white academic institution, as she tries to build community in an inequitable environment. I immediately connected with the narrative because I love films that highlight community, culture, and activism. 

There was a lot of prep that went into this project. I went to antique and thrift stores to source props and set decoration pieces. I rummaged through my parents’ basement. I painted a large banner that would hang in the imaginary “BSU headquarters.” I commissioned a student woodworker at Temple to create a historical plaque. I also used graphic design to produce key documents for the set; everything from a financial misconduct letter and resignation note, to flyers for open mic night and study abroad programs. Each layer of detail helped make Ozanna’s world feel real. 

Being on set, curating and decorating the space, and watching the story unfold in real time was incredibly rewarding. Victoria fostered a warm and professional environment throughout the process. I truly enjoyed working with her and the rest of the crew. By the end of the production, it genuinely felt like we had become a family. Everyone’s dedication, passion, and collaborative spirit created a supportive and inspiring environment that made the entire process unforgettable.

Laci Joseph with the crew of The Village It Took

As a film student at Temple University, how do you see your career evolving in the next few years, and what goals do you hope to achieve?

I’m currently preparing to graduate from Temple University this spring 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts. My career has already begun to take off. I’ve been applying to apprenticeships, jobs, and internships recently, as well as continuing to freelance as a production designer, filmmaker, and photographer. 

I see myself continuing to connect and network with industry professionals and filmmakers along the East Coast and in California as well, accepting opportunities to work in the industry, all while increasing my cinematic knowledge and skill level. I am prepared to travel to different cities and countries if and when opportunities present themselves. 

I do have passion projects of my own that I am currently working on: music videos, documentaries, etc. Although my focus is on production design, I would like to create and direct some films of my own. I’m excited to venture out into the real world post-grad, with more time to travel, explore, and meet people.

Some of my goals include diving deeper into production design, learning the industry standard software for set design, solidifying my production design process, becoming more confident in my directing skills, and continuing to, of course, experience not only the world of film but the world itself. 

The world is so big, and I am planning to travel to different countries and experience various cultures. I would like to use my creative skills to help solve world issues. My overall goal is to live a fulfilled and joyous life, doing what I love, utilizing my creativity in everything that I do.

Laci Joseph BTS of Toy Soldier

Are there any themes or messages you strive to convey through your work?

I aim to highlight the beauty and complexity of underrepresented communities, with a strong focus on uplifting Black voices and experiences. As a Black creative, I naturally resonate with stories rooted in Black culture, but I am passionate about amplifying all marginalized communities. 

I’m drawn to stories that celebrate love in all its forms—romantic, self, cultural, and communal. Joy, unity, and music are recurring themes in my work, and I’m especially inspired by music as a vessel for storytelling. I aspire to create visual narratives, especially through music videos, that are emotionally moving, culturally rich, and socially impactful.

What has been the most fulfilling project you’ve worked on so far, and what made it special for you?

The most fulfilling project I’ve worked on so far would have to be the news project I produced recently for my television class called “The Temp,” which is Temple University Television’s news show based on social, lifestyle, and political issues. 

As a producer on the show this semester, I came up with the idea of casting the spotlight on FICA Philadelphia, the Capoeira group I have been training with for the past 8 months. Capoeira is a Brazilian Martial Art that is multi-faceted. We practice movement, which blends martial arts and dance, play Brazilian instruments, and sing in Brazilian Portuguese.

Capoeira has been extremely fulfilling in my life; it isn’t just a simple activity; it has provided me with a supportive and loving community that I can be vulnerable with, all while improving my physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

I wanted to take “The Temp” audience on a journey with me as I participate in my weekly class, informing people about the art and its many benefits, specifically how it has contributed so much to my well-being as a person. I produced, directed, and edited the news package, and the process and product were very meaningful to me because it made me realize how much I have fallen in love with this community and culture. It was also fulfilling because I didn’t just go in and record from an outside perspective. I’ve been heavily involved, so it was a passion project for me as well as an assignment.

Laci Joseph BTS of The Temp

Are there any projects you are currently working on or would like to explore in the future?

I am currently working on a tribute documentary for Robert Crowder, a legendary African drummer of Philadelphia and founder of Kulumele, the first African drum and dance troupe in the United States. I was hired through a friend and filmmaker in my capoeira community to create a piece in honor of Baba Crowder and Kulumele. 

I’m excited about this project because, as I mentioned, themes of African and African American culture, history, and community deeply resonate with me. I have a big vision for this documentary; from the research and storytelling to the visuals and music, I am confident that this piece will be informative, emotionally moving, and visually stunning. Meanwhile, I have some ideas for possible music videos. 

I am also working collaboratively on a docu-series as well. The docu-series is about the history, culture, and future of Washington, DC. I was born and raised in DC, and my city is very special to me. I often reflect on the memories of growing up in my neighborhood, how strong the community was, and how unified everyone was. 

Gentrification has and continues to profoundly impact Washington, DC; as housing prices increase, white people move in as Black low-income families are forced to leave their homes and the city, fragmenting already fragile communities even more. I want to bring attention to this issue while encouraging Washingtonians to advocate for positive change and reform.

Connect with Laci Joseph on LinkedIn or on Facebook @LaciJoseph, and follow her on Instagram at @laciniani.

(All images courtesy of Laci Joseph)