Franka Philip
“One of the things I’ve learnt over the years is not that it’s bad to quit, but sometimes you need to know when to quit.”
In this episode of We Are Crayons - The Podcast we speak with journalist Franka Philip. She shares how she found her creative path, what walking that path looks like and where she wants to go.
Listen and enjoy. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show, in your podcast app of choice.
Listening time: 34 mins.
Franka has more than 20 years experience across radio, print and online. Franka counts sport, culture and entertainment among her key interests and believes in their transformative power within the society.
Franka has worked both internationally at the BBC as a senior producer at the BBC World Service where she worked closely with BBC Sport to create special content for events like the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and the Africa Cup of Nations. Incidentally, she loves sports, her favourites to watch are rugby and football. She also loves the stories behind the stories in sport!
Locally, she worked at the Trinidad Express and latterly as the Features editor of the T&T Guardian. Being someone who loves to cook, Franka is also known for her food writing which she is very passionate about. She’s the resident food columnist for Caribbean Beat Magazine. She recently founded GoatoberTT, a movement that promotes the local goat sector by championing the eating and cooking of goat meat.
In January 2018, she formed the company Trini Good Media with broadcaster Ardene Sirjoo. They produce the culture and society podcast Talk Bout Us, and work on specially commissioned audio work for a number of organisations. Their latest project was running the online radio station Festival Radio for Carifesta XIV which totally allowed them to engage their love for radio.
“I always have ideas, but having the right people around to help execute the ideas is vital.”
How do you define creativity and what does it mean to you?
Creativity has become a buzz word and the term "a creative" is somewhat abused these days. I feel that creativity is what comes from inspiration, motivation or sheer necessity. It's about finding ways to live life and adapt to the journey of life - for example, in hard times people must be creative in order to adapt to the changes that are in front of them every day. This might not be expressed in art or on Instagram, it's just part of life. Of course, there's obvious creativity - fantastic art, writing, music, marketing campaigns, architecture etc, things that prompt us to think and evolve.
How much of your creative ability do you think is innate? Or is your creativity a skill that you have developed?
I think some of it is innate. But I'm definitely helped by environments and people. I always have ideas, but having the right people around to help execute the ideas is vital. I read a lot of articles and listen to a lot about the areas I'm involved in and that sparks creative thought for me. I definitely can't be fully creative in a vacuum.
Did you consider yourself as creative as a child? When did you know for sure expressing yourself creatively was your life path?
I went to Holy Name Prep and Holy Name Convent and those schools are known for encouraging well-roundedness. Back in those days, creativity meant the kids who did art. I didn't realise I could write well until I picked up Literature in 6th form. I mean, I read voraciously before then but as I did science subjects, I never had to think in the way you do for Literature. That served me will and I think that I now fully appreciate my creative abilities.
Was your choice to pursue a life of creativity encouraged by others (e.g., parents)?
Yes, being a writer means you're always being encouraged to be more thoughtful about how you'd pursue an idea or examine different angles of a subject. There've been lots of people who have encouraged me to be obviously creative and some who are able to just prompt me to think differently and therefore creatively.
What is your standard for evaluating your creative work and the works of other people?
I reject mediocrity. That's it.
Do you think the views of other people, or the culture that you live in influence your perception and evaluation of your creative endeavours?
Of course, Trinidad and Tobago is home to many brilliant people but unfortunately, many of the less talented, but more vocal people get ahead. That can be frustrating because sometimes you get overlooked because you aren't "out there". It's important to press on.
I look to those people who are masters in their craft and I'm guided accordingly.
Having worked at the BBC where excellence is the rule, I have come to have high expectations for myself and that informs the way I work and execute.
Do you think that monetary rewards can be compatible with creativity in general? Are financial rewards relevant to your projects?
Yes. Don't we pay doctors and engineers for their skills? So why not pay creative similarly? Money matters. You can't take goodwill to Hilo. There are times when you do things for little or no money but one has to live. I reject the starving artist trope.
Does your creative work come easily or do you struggle with your ideas? What obstacles (if any) do you experience when you are creating? If you do face obstacles, how do you get past them?
Sometimes it's easy, but other times it's not. Having things to do, practical elements for running a business and living life take away some of the time I would love to use to create. But also - being human - needing to rest, recover, change environment help when I have a challenge.
Is there something that you do to put yourself into a creative state of mind? If so, what? How do you make the leap from a "Spark" in your head to the action you produce?
Wow, that's a lot to think about. I'm a just get on with it person. To me it's about just getting the ideas down and working backward from the vision, no obvious spark is needed.
What has been the most significant sacrifice you have made for your craft?
The stability of a steady income.
Which creative people do you admire? Why?
So many! Many of my peers for example - Laura Dowrich-Phillips of Loop for example. We go way back to UWI days and I admire her persistence and devotion to her journalism. Laura loves culture and she thinks about how the culture has an impact on our lives. This is obvious in her work, the topics she pursues etc. Judy Raymond - the best newspaper editor in T&T today. My partner Ardene, she's young and has loads of ideas but she has the rare gift of great joined-up thinking that a lot of people take for granted. I've seen how that helps us in our projects.
Chefs Bianca Bianco, Nina Compton, Debbie Sardinha, Damian Leach and Khalid Mohammed - just look at their work and there's nothing else to ask. For sheer work ethic - Robin Fenty, Beyonce Knowles and Serena Williams. For bringing me joy Lyndon Livingstone aka Razorshop Productions - his remixes are off the chain and Louie Vega, another DJ icon that I stan for his creativity.
Who or what has helped you to persevere and not quit?
The values my parents brought me up with - particularly my mother. She just got on with it. My Buddhist faith - I'm a Nichiren Buddhist.
At the end of 2018, I was introduced to an Australian man called Joe Duncan who is behind a movement called, Before 5AM. His tool, The Blueprint, has helped me to see my ways more clearly and I've gotten better at sticking to things. I'm not good at keeping up with necessary things that can get boring - like exercise - and that's going to change. On the creative side, I believe in my vision and I simply know I have to see it through. Support and people come - the universe does a great job of sending them. On the flip side, knowing when to quit can be a valuable skill sometimes.
Do you believe that it is essential to be accepted by others as being creative or is just doing what you love to do enough to justify your work? Explain.
Who doesn't want recognition? I think part of putting your work out there is hoping for recognition and acceptance. The key is understanding the difference between acceptance and mamaguy. Also it's important to know how to take criticism.
“Rejection is par for the course.”
Has rejection ever affected your creative process? Explain.
Yes. As a writer - especially in daily journalism. Rejection is par for the course. When you work with strong editors who tell you - nope, that isn't good enough. It forces me to go and look again, do it better. That has made me better at thinking my ideas through at the start.
Have you ever doubted your talent? If so, how did you work through your doubt?
Yes. We all have impostor syndrome at some point. It's most so when I've stepped out of my comfort zone to do something, but I just get on with it and give my best.
What piece of work are you most proud? Why?
My last piece of work - Festival Radio. I'm proud because of the amount of work we put into it and the kind of output we were able to produce. We basically ran for ten days of Carifesta, a version of what you'd hear on a BBC station. Our output was QUALITY. It was what people are yearning for in the region. We had a diverse range of subjects, fantastic interviews, very good hosts, great technical team and a positive attitude to what we were doing.
If the overwhelmingly positive response is anything to go by, we clearly are onto something and we aim to repeat it in a way that is sustainable in the future.
What is your ultimate creative goal and how attainable do you think it is?
I'd love to have an online radio station that reflects the culture of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. It must be a vehicle for positivity and pride in oursleves. As part of that I want to promote training and development not just for young people but people who want to learn and use audio as a platform for their own creativity. It is entirely attainable.
“While it’s good to have tunnel vision, don’t tune out so much that you become inflexible and unable to make change where necessary.”
What is the best advice you've received that helped you move forward on your creative journey?
Many people have said the same thing to me in so many ways, I'll sum it up as be clear about what you want, take time to evaluate to to get it and go for it. While it's good to have tunnel vision, don't tune out so much that you become inflexible and unable to make change where necessary. Be your best.
To a young Creative emerging in your field, what advice would you give them?
1. Learn as much as you can about your field.
2. Get your hands dirty and pay your dues - nothing comes overnight.
3. Seek out the real stars in your field, not necessarily the most popular people.
4. Be clear about what you want and grab your opportunities with both hands.
5. Failure is always an opportunity to learn something.
For what would you like to be most remembered?
Doing good work that made a difference and made people think, smile and act.
If you were a crayon, what would be the name of your colour?
Titilating Terracotta.
Thanks to Franka for stopping by and sharing with us. You can keep up with Franka’s thoughts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Visit trinigoodmedia.com, and follow trinigoodmedia on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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