Hey, I’m Abdul-Hakeem. I’m 18 and I’ve wanted to make films for as long as I can remember. I’m drawn to fast-paced movies and shows where story is shown through actions. I’m interested in how behaviour reveals character. My work focuses on movement, framing, and sound to show story through every little detail.
I’m still learning, so this portfolio shows the whole process -ideas, notes, experiments, and the finished projects. I'm still studying working with framing, sound, and editing to create movement and energy, even in simple settings.
Development
Photography
I like the mood here. The reflections and darkness make it feel quiet and thoughtful. It’s the kind of setting where something important could happen, even if nothing is moving. I’m drawn to spaces that feel calm but heavy at the same time.
I like this one because it feels real. It’s not perfect or sharp, but that’s why it works. It feels like I’m moving through something instead of just looking at it. I’m drawn to that in-between feeling — not arriving, not settled, just passing through.
I like the scale of this shot. It makes everything feel connected — the river, the buildings, the people somewhere inside all of it. It reminds me that every small action happens inside a bigger world, and I’m interested in that contrast.
Journalism
Influences
James Gunn’s films show character through action and interaction. In Guardians of the Galaxy, personalities are revealed by how characters behave in situations. His approach to Superman presents heroism through choices and small actions. This influenced me to focus on what characters do, as well as what they say, and to keep stories energetic and human.
Martin Scorsese’s films influenced how I think about perspective. In Goodfellas, camera movement makes ordinary actions feel energetic and important. In Taxi Driver, framing and sound show isolation without heavy dialogue. This made me interested in showing character through behaviour and environment and placing the camera where it reflects a character’s emotional state.
Damien Chazelle made me notice rhythm in filmmaking. In Whiplash, editing and sound create tension even in simple scenes. In La La Land, movement and colour communicate emotion visually. This influenced me to focus on pacing, silence and movement to shape how a scene feels.