>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ ♫♫ ♫ COME MOVE YOUR HEADS TO THE BEAT MOVE YOUR FEET ♫ ♫ THE ONLY UNIQUE SHOW THE CITY THAT WE STAY THE TOWN WHERE WE MEET ♫ ♫ ON THE BLOCK THAT WE LIVE WE LIVE GRAFFITI STREET ♫ ♫ OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO REVIEW THE ISSUES THAT GIVE YOU PERSPECTIVE ♫ ♫ MEDIA MENTION WHEREVER WE CENTER WE MOVING THE HEAD MENTALLY WITH CHARISMATIC ENERGY ♫ ♫ FINDING NOBLE FINDS MEETING NEW TRIBES ♫ ♫ TAKING TRIPS BARBADOS MARTINIQUE MOVE YOUR HEADS TO THE BEAT ♫ ♫ GET OFF YOUR FEET THE ONLY UNIQUE SHOW ♫ ♫ COME MOVE YOUR HEAD TO THE BEAT GET OFF YOUR FEET ♫ ♫ MOVE YOUR FEET WHERE WE MEET ♫ ♫ THE ONLY UNIQUE SHOW ♫ >>> HELLO AND WELCOME BACK TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF "GRAFFITI STREET."

I´M YOUR HOST JOSHUA AND TODAY WE ARE GOING TO BE GIVING AN EXCITING WELCOME TO A SPECIAL GUEST, NATAFA ROMAIN, THE FOUNDER AND PRODUCER OF USVI AMBASSADORS AND OWNER OF HIS OWN MEDIA COMPANY, JNR MEDIA SOLUTIONS.

WITH A BACKGROUND IN BROADCAST PRODUCTION, NATAFA WAS NEWS DIRECTOR OF TV 2 AND IS CURRENTLY AN INDEPENDENT BRAND MANAGER AND VIDEOGRAPHER.

SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, NATAFA.

WITH ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE PRODUCTION-WISE AND YOUR CONTINUED WORK, WE WANTED TO ASK YOU FIRST, WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO THIS FIELD?

AND WHAT IS YOUR FIRST MEMORY YOU HAD PICKING UP A CAMERA?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU GUYS FOR INVITING ME TO JOIN THE SHOW TODAY.

VERY EXCITING.

ALMOST LIKE A FULL-CIRCLE SITUATION HERE.

I HAD SOME FRIENDS WHILE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL BACK IN THE ´90s WHO WERE ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF THE "GRAFFITI STREET" CAST AND I USED TO TAG ALONG TO THE STUDIOS WHEN IT WAS LOCATED DOWN BY SUPERIOR COURT.

I THINK DOWN BY -- ACTUALLY IN THE INTERSECTION OF BELGIAN PLACE, CLOSE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL, BACK IN THE DINOSAUR DAYS.

WHAT INSPIRED ME WAS THAT I WAS A TERRIBLE STUDENT.

I DIDN´T HAVE MANY INTERESTS BY WAY OF STUDIES WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

AND I THINK MY MOTHER KIND OF SAW IN ME THAT I WAS MORE OR LESS MORE INTERESTED IN MEDIA, CAMERAS, FILM, AND THAT KIND OF THING.

UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE TIME AND THE ERA, RIGHT, BECOME THEN, GETTING YOUR HANDS ON A CAMERA WASN´T THE EASIEST THING TO DO.

YOU HAD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO STUDIOS, YOU HAD TO HAVE ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE YOU KNEW WHO HAD A CAMERA, WHICH WAS RARE BACK IN THE DAY IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

IT´S NOT LIKE TODAY WHERE EVERYONE HAS A VSR IN THEIR HANDS.

SO, YOU KNOW, LUCKILY MY MOM WORKED AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND AT THE TIME THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAD A SMALL OFFICE WHERE THEY DID COMMUNICATIONS OUT OF.

THEY ACTUALLY PRODUCED SEVERAL SHOWS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

AND I BELIEVE FOR WTJX AS WELL.

IT WAS A SHOW CALLED "VISIONS 2000."

SO, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON WITH EDUCATION.

AND I THINK I WAS IN TENTH GRADE?

NINTH OR TENTH GRADE WHEN I WAS FIRST ABLE TO GET INTO THE STUDIO AS AN INTERN DURING THE SUMMERTIMES.

AND WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH JUNE ARCHIBALD, WHO WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE STUDIO AT THE TIME.

SHE WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN ACTUALLY GETTING ME INTO THE REALITIES OF TV, THE REALITIES OF TV PRODUCTION, BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY PRODUCE SHOWS.

THE GRUNT WORK OF TV, YOU KNOW WIDE RECEIVER YOU COME INTO MOST SITUATIONS IN STUDIOS AND YOU´RE STARTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PILE.

AND YOU´RE LITERALLY GOING TO BE AN INTERN OR A PRODUCTION ASSISTANT.

SO THAT WAS KIND OF LIKE MY ROLE, EDITING -- BACK THEN IT WAS TAPE-TO-TAPE, SO YOU´D HAVE TO HAVE, LIKE -- SAY, FOR INSTANCE, TWO VCRs, RIGHT?

IT WOULD BE PLUGGED INTO A PATCH WHERE YOU WOULD KIND OF LOG THE TAPE, STOP IT, SPLICE IT, ADD IN SOME OTHER VIDEO, SPLICE IT, STOP IT, RECORD IT.

SO IT WAS ALL VERY MANUAL.

IT´S NOT LIKE HOW IT IS TODAY WHERE IT´S VERY NONLINEAR.

BACK THEN IT WAS LINEAR EDITING FOR THE MOST PART.

WE REALLY DIDN´T HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE TOOLS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE THESE DAYS AT OUR DISPOSAL.

BUT FROM THAT TIME ON, I THINK I WAS PRETTY MUCH SOLD.

I KNEW THAT´S SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO DO.

WHAT I WANTED TO STUDY WHEN I WENT TO -- EVENTUALLY GO ON TO COLLEGE.

YOU KNOW, IT´S BEEN A LOVE AFFAIR EVER SINCE.

WITH LOVE AFFAIRS IT´S ALWAYS THE HATE AND THE LOVE FOR WHAT YOU DO.

SO THAT´S HOW I KIND OF GOT INTO IT.

>> THAT´S AMAZING.

YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS HAVE THE GREATEST RESPECT FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE DOING LINEAR EDITING.

EDITING NOW CAN BE A LITTLE TRICKY RIGHT NOW, BUT DEFINITELY NOWHERE AS COMPLICATED AS TO BACK THEN.

>> TRUTHFULLY, YEAH.

>> SO CAST, WHAT ABOUT YOU?

HAVE YOU HAD ANY MOMENTS WHEN YOU REALIZED WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO OR SOMETHING THAT INSPIRED YOU?

>> IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO.

BUT I LIKE STARTED TO LOOK INTO THINGS THAT I FOUND AN INTEREST IN.

SO IN GENERAL, I WOULD SAY LITERATURE WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY ATTRACTED ME.

SO WHAT I ENDED UP DECIDING THAT I´D LIKE TO DO IS PURSUE A FIELD OF JOURNALISM.

MORE SPECIFICALLY, SPORT JOURNALISM.

NOW THAT I´M LIKE GETTING OLDER AND CLOSER TO COLLEGE, I´M STARTING TO LOOK MORE INTO THESE THINGS THAT WOULD HELP ME PURSUE THAT GOAL.

>> I´M NOT 100% SET ON WHAT I WANT TO BE.

BUT I MORE THAN LIKELY WANT TO BE AROUND LIKE THE SPORTS FIELD AND THE THEATER FIELD.

YOU KNOW, I DON´T NECESSARILY WANT TO BE LIKE A PLAYER, NECESSARILY.

YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE KIND OF AMAZING.

BUT LIKE A TRAINER, AS DMITRI SAID, A JOURNALIST.

SO YEAH, LIKE I COULD BE, LIKE THEATER, AN ACTOR, MANAGER, STAGE DIRECTOR, SOMETHING.

I´M NOT SET ON WHAT I WANT TO DO YET.

>> YEAH, I KNOW.

FOR ME, THE FIRST TIME LIKE I PICKED UP A CAMERA, I WENT TO SUMMER CAMP.

AND THEY WERE PLAYING DRUMS.

I WAS LIKE, OKAY, I THINK I LIKE THIS.

AND WE STARTED EDITING.

LIKE, OH!

OKAY.

YEAH.

I´M PROBABLY GOING TO BE DOING THIS FOR A WHILE.

SO WE -- WE MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT ANALOG, LINEAR, REAL EDITING.

SO DO YOU THINK THE FACT THAT EVOLUTION IN RECORDING TECH HAS WATERED DOWN THE CONTENT OR PROVIDED ACCESS TO THE MARKET?

>> I DEFINITELY THINK IT HAS PUSHED A LOT OF THINGS TO THE FOREFRONT THAT YOU PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE SEEN OTHERWISE.

JUST BECAUSE THERE´S SO MUCH MORE ACCESS TO EQUIPMENT THESE DAYS.

I MEAN, LIKE YOU KNOW, WHEN I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, I THINK -- YEAH, I GRADUATED IN 2000.

AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I MEAN, LIKE GETTING MY HANDS ON A CAMERA THAT COST $40,000, IMPOSSIBLE.

EVEN A CAMERA THAT COST $10,000, IMPOSSIBLE.

AGAIN, I HAD TO, LIKE, GO THROUGH THE GRUNT WORK OF GOING TO DIFFERENT STUDIOS, TRYING TO GET JOBS, DOING INTERNSHIPS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

I THINK ACCESS TO EQUIPMENT HAS DEFINITELY WATERED DOWN THE MARKET SIGNIFICANTLY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT´S ALL KIND OF PART OF THE EVOLUTION, RIGHT?

IT ACTUALLY, IN MY OPINION, HELPS THE MARKET AS WELL IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWING WHAT´S NOT, YOU KNOW -- U.S.

CREATORS BEING ABLE TO SEE GOOD WORK FROM BAD WORK.

AND KNOWING WHAT YOU WANT TO REPLICATE, VERSUS NOT.

SO, YOU KNOW.

IT´S KIND OF LIKE A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, I LIKE TO SAY.

BUT, YOU KNOW -- FOR MYSELF PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, IT DEFINITELY CREATED A LANE WHERE I CAN ACTUALLY HAVE MY OWN STUDIO VERSUS HAVING TO GO AND WORK AT SOMEONE´S STUDIO, OR YOU KNOW, BE AN EMPLOYEE FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

YOU KNOW, IT´S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I LEARNED ALONG THE WAY THAT HELPED TO ACTUALLY GET ME TO WHERE I´M AT TODAY.

SO AGAIN, I THINK IT´S A GIFT AND A CURSE.

>> YEAH, I CAN SEE THAT.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR SHOW.

"USVI AMBASSADORS."

WHICH PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON VIRGIN ISLANDERS WHO ARE REALLY ACCOMPLISHING GREAT THINGS.

SO CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SHOW FOR VIEWERS AT HOME?

>> YEAH, SURE.

SO USVI AMBASSADORS WAS KIND OF LIKE A BRAIN CHILD OF MINE THAT I WAS WORKING ON SOFTLY WHEN I WAS LIVING IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

SO DURING THAT COURSE IN TIME, MOST PEOPLE KNOW ME BACK AT HOME FROM BEING ON THE NEWS.

SO I WAS AT THE CBS AFFILIATE FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS, I WANT TO SAY.

SO I WAS, YOU KNOW -- I STARTED OUT THERE KIND OF WORKING AS A P.A.

I ALSO WAS WORKING IN THE PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT WHERE I WAS A PRODUCER FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SHOWS.

THEN I WENT FROM BEING BEHIND THE CAMERA TO ON CAMERA.

SO AT THAT TIME I WAS WORKING IN THE NEWS DEPARTMENT AS A REPORTER.

AND FROM BEING A NEWS REPORTER TO MOVING ON TO NEWS DIRECTOR, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND PRODUCING OTHER SHOWS BESIDES, YOU KNOW, THE DAILY GRIND OF THE NEWS, THERE WOULD BE SO MANY COOL STORIES THAT WOULD COME DOWN, YOU KNOW, ON THE NEWS WIRE, ABOUT VIRGIN ISLANDS -- VIRGIN ISLANDERS LIVING IN THE STATES AND DOING GREAT THINGS.

LOCALLY, PRODUCING NEWS FROM ST. THOMAS, ST. CROIX, ST. JOHN, WE WOULDN´T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE PEOPLE.

AT MAX WE´D BE ABLE TO PICK UP A TELEPHONE, PUT OUR CAMERAS NEXT TO THE TELEPHONE, AND RECORD AN INTERVIEW, RIGHT?

AND THEN AT THE END OF IT PUT UP A PICTURE OF THE PERSON ON SCREEN AND HAVE JUST A RECORDING PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND.

AND THAT USED TO ANNOY ME TO NO END.

AND I WAS ALWAYS SAYING, MAN, IT WOULD BE COOL IF WE COULD ACTUALLY GET TO THE STATES AND, LIKE, GO SEE THESE PEOPLE, LIKE HAVE IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS, KIND OF FOLLOW THEM IN A DAY IN THE LIFE OR WHATEVER IT THAT IS THEY WERE PURSUING, WHATEVER IT THAT IS THEY WERE DOING.

AND SUBSEQUENTLY, IN 2012, I DECIDED TO MOVE TO THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA AFTER LIVING IN THE VI FOR A WHILE.

SOME OPPORTUNITIES CAME ABOUT FOR MY FAMILY.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE DECIDED TO MOVE.

AND REALLY, ABOUT A YEAR IN, I KIND OF DECIDED THAT I WAS GOING TO KIND OF GIVE UP THE BROADCAST GAME, DO SOMETHING ELSE.

AND I GOT INTO CYBERSECURITY FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

AND I GOT BORED.

I LITERALLY GOT BORED OF NOT HAVING THAT DAY-TO-DAY GRIND OF HUNTING DOWN STORIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO WHEN I STARTED PURSUING BROADCASTING AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I´D GOTTEN A COUPLE OF OFFERS AT CNN AND A COUPLE OF OTHER BIG SHOPS.

IT DIDN´T TRANSLATE DIRECTLY TO WHAT I WANTED TO DO, SO I THOUGHT BACK ON THE WHOLE VI AMBASSADORS IDEA.

AND AT THE TIME, I´M FORGETTING THE GUY´S NAME, BUT HE WAS THE FIRST JOCKEY TO RACE FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN.

AND I´M REALLY MAD I´M NOT REMEMBERING RIGHT NOW.

ANYWAY, I ENDED UP GOING TO BALTIMORE TO THE PREAKNESS AND INTERVIEWING HIM.

AND HE WAS SORT OF LIKE THE PILOT EPISODE OF THE SHOW.

AND FROM THERE, ACTUALLY RASHEED CLENNENS WHO IS ON THE RADIO DOWN THERE, HE HAPPENED TO BE AT THE RACES AS WELL.

AND I THINK AT THE TIME HE WAS WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM.

AND I WAS TELLING HIM WHAT I WAS DOING.

HOW I WAS TRYING TO PURSUE THE IDEA OF A SHOW.

AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA AT THE TIME.

AND HE BROUGHT IT TO THE COMMISSIONER OF TOURISM AT THE TIME, DODI.

SHE LOVED THE IDEA.

JUST SO HAPPENED, KIND OF TIMING WAS PERFECT, RIGHT?

THEY WERE ACTUALLY ESTABLISHING THEIR OWN USVI AMBASSADORS PROGRAM WHICH WAS MORE OF A GRASSROOTS MARKETING PROGRAM THAT WE SHOT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, LIVING IN THE STATES TO HELP PROMOTE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

SO IT KIND OF ALL WENT HAND IN HAND.

AND FROM THERE, YOU KNOW, IT JUST KIND OF TOOK OFF.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE´VE BEEN RUNNING WITH THE SHOW NOW FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, ABOUT TO GO INTO OUR SIXTH SEASON.

BUT YEAH, THAT´S HOW IT KIND OF CAME TO LIFE.

SO WE´VE JUST BEEN TRACKING DOWN -- I USE MY BACKGROUND IN JOURNALISM TO KIND OF REALLY TRACK DOWN THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING BIG THINGS, YOU KNOW.

FOLKS ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE, USVI AMBASSADORS.

FOLKS REACH OUT ALL THE TIME, HIT ME UP WITH COOL STOIES OF DIFFERENT FOLKS.

I REMEMBER AT THE BEGINNING, OH, MAYBE THIS WILL LAST A YEAR OR TWO, YOU KNOW.

BUT, LIKE, IT NEVER ENDS.

KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

WE HAVE PEOPLE ALL OVER THAT ARE JUST, LIKE, DOING CRAZY, PHENOMENAL THINGS.

LIKE WE COME FROM LIKE A SMALL COMMUNITY, BUT LIKE WE HAVE THE BIGGEST PEOPLE IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES DOING LIKE AMAZING THINGS.

>> YEAH, THAT IS AN AMAZING START TO A SERIES.

SO DO YOU SEE THE SHOW GROWING LARGER?

AND ALSO, ANOTHER QUESTION TO THAT, IS HOW DID YOU, LIKE, FINANCE THAT -- THIS ENDEAVOR?

>> FINANCING IT -- LITERALLY SAVING A COUPLE BUCKS ON THE SIDE TO BUY MY OWN EQUIPMENT, MAN.

THAT´S JUST HOW IT KIND OF STARTED OUT.

AND THEN LUCKILY FROM THERE, AGAIN, I ENDED UP GETTING A SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY BELIEVED IN THE PRODUCT.

AND THEY, YOU KNOW, WERE ABLE TO SUPPLY MONEY THAT HELPS WITH THE TRAVEL, AND YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF GOOD STUFF, TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE THE SHOW.

SO YEAH I MEAN, THIS IS KIND OF LIKE HOW IT WENT.

DO I GE IT GETTING BETTER?

YEAH, EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AS A CREATIVE, I THINK WE ALL HAVE THAT MINDSET THAT WE WANT IT TO BE BIGGER AND BETTER AND LARGER EVERY SINGLE SWING AT THE FENCE THAT YOU TAKE WITH IT.

AND I DO SEE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY, A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES THAT IT CAN GROW.

AND IT HAS GROWN SINCE ITS INCEPTION.

I REMEMBER LIKE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW, I USED TO RUN AROUND AND DO A STANDUP IN ANY GIVEN PLACE.

LIKE IF I WAS AT MTV STUDIOS, B.E.T., WHATEVER, INTERVIEWING SOMEONE, I WOULD STAND OUTSIDE ON THE CORNER OF THE STREET AND DO A STANDUP.

NOW, YOU KNOW, WE´RE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW -- WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH A STUDIO HERE IN THE VIRGINIA/D.C.

AREA THAT WE SHOT THE SHOW FROM.

SO, YOU KNOW.

IT´S BEEN GROWING STEADILY.

RIGHT NOW WE´RE ACTUALLY SYNDICATED THROUGHOUT THE CARIBBEAN.

AND IN AREAS IN BC, CANADA, NEW YORK, FLORIDA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SO ABOUT 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE GET TO SEE THE SHOW ON PRETTY MUCH A DAILY BASIS.

I MEAN, I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE HOSTS -- SORRY, ONE OF THE GUESTS RECENTLY, T.K.

PETERSEN, WHO´S THE OWNER OF THE GATHERING SPOT.

AND A COLLEAGUE OF HIS SAW HIM AND WAS LIKE, YO, MAN, I SAW YOU IN ST. LUCIA.

HE WAS LIKE, WHAT?

I´VE NEVER BEEN TO ST. LUCIA.

NO, I SAW YOU ON TV IN ST. LUCIA.

HE WAS LIKE, WHAT?

HE WAS LIKE, "AMBASSADORS" OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

HE WAS LIKE, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

IT´S BEEN PRETTY COOL.

IT´S BEEN A GOOD RIDE.

>> THAT´S AMAZING.

WOW.

LIKE 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE VIEW A DAY?

>> YEAH.

>> THAT IS GREAT.

SO WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO KEEP TELLING THE VIRGIN ISLAND STORIES?

>> FRANKLY, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS INSPIRES ME, MAN.

YOU KNOW, TO COME FROM HOME, THAT´S ALL I´VE EVER KNOWN, THAT´S ALL I´VE EVER LOVED.

YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS UP TO ME, YOU KNOW -- THE WIFE IS THE ONE THAT REALLY MADE ME MOVE.

IT WAS UP TO ME, I WOULD HAVE BEEN BACK HOME RIGHT NOW, LIKE IN VIRGIN ISLANDS.

I WAS THERE LAST WEEK, KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

I TOOK MY KIDS THERE FOR THEIR SPRING BREAK.

YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF ENJOYING THE VIBE.

I WAS ACTUALLY BACK ON ISLAND WEDNESDAY FOR SOME WORK.

BUT YEAH, YOU KNOW.

THE VIRGIN ISLANDS INSPIRES ME, OUR PEOPLE INSPIRES ME, OUR VIBE INSPIRES ME, OUR HISTORY INSPIRES ME.

SO IT´S JUST SOMETHING THAT I LIKE TO JUST LOOK TO AND JUST -- AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, IF I CAN, I´M GOING TO TELL THEIR STORY, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

AS A FORMER JOURNALIST, THAT´S ALSO, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO PLOT MY OWN COURSE, IF YOU WILL, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO LISTEN TO A NEWS DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER OR SOMEONE ELSE, YOU KNOW.

I´M GETTING TO TELL THE STORIES I ACTUALLY WANT TO TELL.

SO, YOU KNOW.

THAT´S JUST HOW IT´S BEEN SO FAR.

>> YEAH.

YEAH, IT´S IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR STORIES.

SO CAST, SPEAKING OF TELLING YOUR STORIES, DO YOU HAVE ANY VIRGIN ISLANDERS THAT HAVE INSPIRED YOU?

OF ANY FIELD?

AND PLEASE TELL ME WHY.

DMITRI?

>> TO NAME A COUPLE, JHAREL COTTON, A PITCHER IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES.

AND SETH McFARLAND, A PITCHER IN COLLEGE AT MIAMI.

I JUST -- THEY´RE KIND OF INSPIRATIONAL TO ME BECAUSE THEY´VE HAD TO OVERCOME A LOT, CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIVING HERE.

NOT TOO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO BE DISCOVERED, TO BE ABLE TO, LIKE, ACCOMPLISH A GOAL OR YOUR DREAM DESPITE, LIKE, ALL OF THE CHALLENGES YOU HAVE TO FACE HERE.

I FIND THAT, LIKE, MOTIVATIONAL, ESPECIALLY PERSONALLY.

>> YEAH.

KAMALEE?

>> SOME VIRGIN ISLANDERS WHO INSPIRE ME ARE ROXIE.

TIMOTHY AND TIRON.

THEY INSPIRE ME BECAUSE THEY USED TO LIVE IN GOVERNMENT HOUSING.

NOW THEY WRITE SONGS FOR SOME OF THE BIGGEST ARTISTS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.

AND AT ONE POINT, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THEY HAD ONE OF THE BIGGEST SONGS IN THE COUNTRY.

SO IT INSPIRES ME, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU CAN LITERALLY COME UP FROM NOTHING AND MAKE IT.

>> YEAH.

THAT IS VERY TRUE.

YOU KNOW, THE PERSON WHO INSPIRES ME IS MY GRANDFATHER.

HE WAS ACTUALLY THE FASTEST PERSON IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

AND, LIKE, WHEN I WAS STILL ABLE TO GO ON TRACK -- I CAN´T RUN TRACK NOW BECAUSE OF THE UNFORTUNATE PRACTICE ON THE FIELD.

BUT WHEN I WAS STILL ABLE TO RUN, AS MY GO-TO I WOULD BE LIKE, ALL RIGHT.

SO MY DAD, MY GRANDPA´S RECORD IS THIS, THIS IS MY CURRENT RECORD, I GOT TO BEAT THAT.

SO IT´S -- YEAH.

SO WHEN YOU THINK OF VIRGIN ISLANDERS, DO YOU THINK WE HAVE A LOVE OF WINNING?

MEANING, DO YOU THINK WE OFTEN CELEBRATE OUR OWN ONLY AFTER THEIR SUCCESS IS RECOGNIZED ALSO?

>> I THINK THAT GOES WITH EVERYONE, RIGHT?

YOU KNOW, IT´S NOT ALWAYS -- OKAY.

IT´S NOT HOW I VIEW THINGS, RIGHT?

PEOPLE TEND TO SEE YOUR LIFE, YOUR SUCCESS, YOUR FAILURES, IN TIME-LAPSE, RIGHT?

WE ALL KNOW WHAT TIME-LAPSE IS, WHERE THINGS ARE KIND OF SPED UP TO LIKE SHOW A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND A SHORT, CONDENSED PERIOD OF TIME.

SO I THINK IT´S JUST A HUMAN NATURE, RIGHT?

HUMAN NATURE, WE´RE ALWAYS SEEING THINGS, LIKE OH, MAN.

YEAH, MAN.

LET´S DO THIS, DA DA DA.

WE DON´T KNOW THE AMOUNT OF TIME THIS MAN TOOK TO, LIKE, GET TO WHERE HE GOT TO, KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

LITERALLY IT TOOK ME A GOOD 12 TO 15 YEARS TO LIKE DEVELOP MY OWN PRODUCTION COMPANY, MY OWN CONCEPTS, YOU KNOW, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO, LIKE, IT TAKES TIME TO GET TO WHERE YOU´RE TRYING TO GET TO, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I´M SAYING?

SO LIKE PEOPLE DON´T NECESSARILY SEE EVERYTHING THAT YOU´RE DOING TO GET THERE.

THEY USUALLY JUST SEE THE END RESULT.

SO I THINK THAT´S MORE OF A HUMAN NATURE THING VERSUS IT BEING A VI VERSUS ANYWHERE ELSE THING.

>> RIGHT.

DMITRI?

YOU HAD A QUESTION?

>> OKAY, SO I WAS WONDERING, WHILE YOU WERE, LIKE, IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, BEFORE YOU MOVED UP TO THE STATES, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ONE OF YOUR HARDEST CHALLENGES WERE?

TO YOUR GOAL, YOUR CAREER?

>> HONESTLY, IT WAS JUST MAKING UP MY MIND, MAN.

I JUST HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT INTERESTS.

AND I THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, I COULDN´T PURSUE THEM ALL CONCURRENTLY, RIGHT?

I THOUGHT THAT I HAD TO DO STEP ONE, THEN STEP TWO, THREE, FOUR.

EVENTUALLY KIND OF MOVE ON.

BUT HAD I KNOWN WHAT I KNOW NOW, LIKE I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU, LIKE IF YOU HAVE SIX OR SEVEN, TEN GOALS OR TEN DREAMS TO WANT TO PURSUE, DO IT ALL, MAN.

RIGHT NOW THE SKY´S THE LIMIT, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE TO KIND OF HAVE THE FOCUS TO PUT EVERYTHING IN ITS OWN POCKET SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET TO WHERE YOU´RE TRYING TO GET TO.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT WOULD PROBABLY -- THAT WAS PROBABLY MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS KIND OF, LIKE, ME GETTING OVER MY OWN OCD, IF YOU WILL, TRYING TO, LIKE, PURSUE JUST CERTAIN THINGS IN A, YOU KNOW, IN A CERTAIN ORDER VERSUS JUST GOING FOR IT.

>> OKAY.

SO THEN DID YOU EVER, LIKE -- WHAT HELPED YOU TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND AS TO WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO?

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YOU DO ALL OF THIS THEN WANT TO MOVE INTO SOMETHING ELSE?

>> YEAH, MAN.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF TIMES -- I WON A COUPLE OF AWARDS FOR JOURNALISM, THAT KIND OF THING, WHEN I WAS A JOURNALIST.

TO BE HONEST, I DIDN´T EVEN WANT TO BE A JOURNALIST.

BEING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA WAS THE LAST THEN I WANTED TO DO.

I RAN FROM EVERY SINGLE ACTING CLASS IN COLLEGE.

I RAN FROM EVERY JOURNALISM CLASS IN COLLEGE.

BEING IN FRONT CAMERA -- I WANTED TO BE BEHIND THE CAMERA, I WANTED TO BE THE NEXT SPIKE LEE, THAT´S ALL I WANTED TO DO.

BUT I LEARNED THAT PUTTING YOURSELF IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION CAN LEAD TO SO MANY OTHER DIFFERENT THINGS AND SO MANY DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES.

SO, LIKE, YOU KNOW -- A LOT OF TIMES WE´RE OUR OWN ROADBLOCKS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

YOU HAVE TO KIND OF GET OVER THOSE INSECURITIES AND THOSE LITTLE HUMPS AND JUST KIND OF GO FOR IT.

LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU FAIL, YOU FAIL.

I MEAN, AT LEAST YOU CAN SAY YOU TRIED IT.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU.

WHEN YOU WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT COLLEGE YOU WANTED TO GO TO, DID YOU FEEL AS THOUGH -- LIKE PICKING A COLLEGE WOULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON YOUR CAREER NOW?

>> HONESTLY, AGAIN, I WAS A TERRIBLE STUDENT IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I DIDN´T HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE, MAN.

I DIDN´T HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE.

I HAD TWO COLLEGES THAT I ENDED UP BEING ABLE TO PICK FROM.

THAT WAS UVI AND POINT PARK COLLEGE IN PITTSBURGH.

I WANTED TO GET OFF THE ROCK SO I CHOSE PITTSBURGH.

IT WASN´T EVEN, YOU KNOW, A FIRST CHOICE, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I REMEMBER -- MY COUNSELOR, RIGHT, YEAH MAN, I´M GOING TO APPLY FOR NYU.

SHE LOOKED AT ME LIKE, UM -- SO YEAH, NETFA, I DON´T KNOW IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT NYU, BUT I DON´T THINK YOU NEED TO PUT ALL OF YOUR EGGS INTO THAT BASKET.

I WAS LIKE, OH, MAN, I WAS GOING TO APPLY, SURE ENOUGH, DIDN´T GET IN.

TO BE HONEST, I DIDN´T HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE.

I ENDED UP GOING TO POINT PARK FOR MY FIRST -- MY FRESHMAN YEAR IN COLLEGE, BUCKLED DOWN.

THAT´S WHEN I APPLIED FOR A BUNCH OF OTHER SCHOOLS.

APPLIED FOR CLARK, GOT INTO CLARK.

GOT INTO A COUPLE OF OTHER -- I THINK -- I ACTUALLY GOT INTO NYU AND THEN UNDERSTOOD IT WAS SUPER EXPENSIVE.

AND THEN TEMPLE UNIVERSITY.

SO I ENDED UP GOING TO TEMPLE UNIVERSITY.

>> AND ALL BECAUSE OF -- THE SPECIFIC SCHOOLS WERE LIKE CREAM OF THE CROP WHEN IT CAME TO FILM AND BROADCASTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> YEAH.

WOULD YOU SAY IT WAS, LIKE, A GOOD DECISION THAT YOU CHOSE TO GET OFF THE ISLAND?

OR WOULD YOU HAVE PREFERRED TO STAY HERE?

>> I MEAN, AT THE TIME FOR MY STUDY, YES.

I DON´T THINK UVI AT THE TIME HAD A COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM TO THAT LEVEL.

WHERE I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF GET MY HANDS ONTO THE DIFFERENT TOOLS THAT I DID WHILE I WAS IN COLLEGE.

TEMPLE IS A REALLY GREAT INSTITUTION WHEN IT COMES TO FILM AND TELEVISION.

AND IT KIND OF GAVE ME A BROAD SCOPE.

I WAS ABLE TO STUDY NOT JUST FILM, I WAS ABLE TO STUDY TELEVISION, I WAS ABLE TO STUDY MEDIA MANAGEMENT.

SO IN BETWEEN BEING A DIRECTOR OR BEING A GENERAL MANAGER, THOSE WERE THE TWO THINGS THAT I WAS GOING -- THAT I KNEW FOR SURE THAT I WANTED TO BE, RIGHT?

A BOSS OR A DIRECTOR.

OF COURSE, BOTH ARE BOSSES.

BUT ONE WAS MORE FROM A TRADITIONAL BUSINESS, YOU KNOW -- >> SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU BUT WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

>> OH, OKAY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, MR. NETFA ROMAIN, FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOR BEING SUCH A PART OF AN PAGING DISCUSSION.

TO OUR VIEWERS, STAY TUNED FOR NEXT WEEK´S EPISODE OF "GRAFFITI STREET."

GOOD-BYE.

>> THANKS, GUYS.

GOOD JOB.

♫ COME MOVE YOUR HEADS TO THE BEAT GET OFF YOUR FEET MOVE YOUR FEET ♫ ♫ THE ONLY UNIQUE SHOW WHERE YOU SCHEDULE SPEAK ♫ ♫ THE CITY THAT WE STAY IN THE TOWN WEAR WE MEET ON THE BLOCK THAT WE LIVE GRAFFITI STREET ♫ ♫ OUR OBJECTIVE AS A COLLECTIVE IS REVIEW THE ISSUES AND GIVE YOU HUGE PERSPECTIVE ♫ >> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.