Berkeley, California

Joshua
Olawuyi

Visual Storyteller, Documentary Filmmaker,
Journalist & Development Communicator

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About

Professional Summary

I am a visual storyteller and media professional with a strong foundation in documentary filmmaking, multimedia journalism, and development communication. Currently pursuing a Master of Journalism (Documentary Track) at the University of California, Berkeley, I bring experience working across newsrooms, production environments, and social impact organizations — translating complex human experiences into compelling, purposeful narratives. As a Mastercard Foundation Scholar with international film festival selections, I am driven by stories that illuminate communities, challenge assumptions, and create lasting impact.

Career

Work Experience

2025 — Present

Berkeley, CA

Social Media Consultant

Berkeley Global Access Program — UC Berkeley

  • Develop and execute multimedia storytelling campaigns that spotlight the experiences of international students at UC Berkeley.
  • Produce short-form video and written content for institutional social media platforms.
  • Collaborate with program staff to translate academic programming into engaging public-facing narratives.

2025 — Present

Oakland, CA

Reporter

Oakland North — UC Berkeley Journalism

  • Cover community-centered stories on education, youth engagement, and public policy for Oakland North.
  • Conduct field reporting and in-depth interviews with community leaders, policymakers, and residents.
  • Translate complex policy topics into accessible, narrative-driven stories for general audiences.
  • Published: "California opened college savings accounts for millions of kids. Why do so few know about it?"

2025 — Present

Berkeley, CA

Documentary Filmmaker & Story Developer

UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism

  • Develop documentary concepts, loglines, and treatments through field reporting and character-driven research.
  • Produce short documentary films examining social issues, community experiences, and public policy.
  • Conduct in-depth interviews and narrative research to identify compelling documentary subjects.
  • Currently in development on Where Do We Go? — a documentary examining homelessness, disability rights, and city policy in Berkeley.

2021 — 2023

Nigeria

Media & Production Coordinator

LEAP Africa

  • Produced documentary-style video stories highlighting youth leadership and social innovation across Nigeria.
  • Directed and produced visual storytelling projects documenting programs reaching 4,000+ students across 400 institutions.
  • Conducted interviews with educators, program participants, and development leaders to capture authentic narratives.
  • Led story development from concept through filming and post-production delivery.

Prior Experience

Nigeria

Director / Producer

Royalord Productions / Joshua Olawuyi Films

  • Directed and produced independent documentary and narrative short films, including internationally selected works.
  • Oversaw all phases of production — development, pre-production, on-set direction, and post-production editorial.
  • Built a body of work recognized at international film festivals.
Academic

Education

2025 — 2027

M.A. Journalism — Documentary Track

University of California, Berkeley · Graduate School of Journalism

Relevant coursework: Documentary Storytelling, Narrative Journalism, Visual Storytelling, Investigative Research, Multimedia Reporting · Mastercard Foundation Scholar

B.Sc. Mass Communication

Nigeria

Foundation in media, journalism, and communication theory.

Expertise

Skills

Storytelling & Production

Documentary filmmaking Field production Character research Interview development Shot planning Story treatments Observational filming Narrative structuring

Journalism & Research

Field reporting Investigative research Source development Policy reporting Community journalism Multimedia reporting Development communication

Creative Tools

Adobe Premiere Pro Frame.io Google Workspace Slack Social media content Post-production editing
Selected Work

Projects

2025

Bounce Back

Documentary

Portrait documentary following an adaptive athlete's recovery and return to competitive sport. Co-Producer & Director. Uses interview-driven and observational filmmaking to explore resilience and identity. UC Berkeley GSJ.

In Development

Where Do We Go?

Documentary

Feature documentary examining homelessness, disability rights, and municipal policy in Berkeley, CA. Director. Currently in active development at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.

2023

The Story of African Social Innovators

Documentary · Festival Selection

Documentary spotlighting grassroots innovators across Africa addressing systemic social challenges. Director & Producer. International film festival selection.

2024

Man Up

Film · Festival Selection

International film festival selection. Director. An exploration of masculinity and expectation told through layered documentary and narrative techniques.

2024

Shadows Within

Short Film · Festival Selection

Psychological short drama exploring internal conflict and suppressed experience. Writer & Director. International film festival selection.

2025

Journalism & Reporting

Published Work

Community-centered reporting for Oakland North covering education, youth policy, and public affairs. Published: "California opened college savings accounts for millions of kids. Why do so few know about it?"

Connect

Contact

Email jolawuyi@berkeley.edu LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/proffjoshua Portfolio joshuaolawuyi.com Phone 510-542-3546

Open to documentary commissions, journalism collaborations, development communication projects, and professional opportunities in film and media. Based in Berkeley — available for remote and travel-based work.

Get in Touch