Into the World of a Creative: Victoria Gabriella Wilcox
Victoria on set during one of her shoots. | Photo by Rec Philly
The art of storytelling always had a grip on Victoria Wilcox, even as a young girl, which followed her into womanhood. Although Polly-Pockets were marketed as the toy to have as a child, they weren’t safety approved in the Wilcox household. Instead, her American Girl Doll’s took the role of a theoretical character made up in her mind who could be named Sarah- who works part-time at a restaurant during her high school years who had a complicated romance with her freshman year crush Dave who was in love with Sarah’s older sister. The bedroom walls of Victoria’s room turned into a New York penthouse from Disney Channel’s Jessie, but instead of a classic fish-out-of-water scenario, there would be a dramatic twist in the rolls the doll’s played in her mind.
“I would make nonstop stories. I would watch Disney Channel. And I'm like that plotline was so cool. And I just get my toys in like literally all night. That's all I would do,” said Victoria.
Stuffed animals would become monsters who eat children’s toys, rather than comforting a child’s head from the creatures that lurk under the bed. Occasionally the camera would turn on, and these characters would come to life through the narration of younger Victoria. Often a child goes through phases of these obscure out-of-the-box plotlines, however before Victoria even knew, these obscure plotlines would fuel her creative abilities later in her career path.
“I love storytelling and that's why I kind of lean towards the directing concentration because cameras are cool. Lenses are cool, but I want to work with actors,” said Victoria.
Victoria Wilcox is a sophomore film major at Temple University, with a director concentration. She grew up in Cherry Hill, a city located in South New Jersey. This large conventional, lucrative city is well known for its creation of the first enclosed shopping malls such as the well-known Cherry Hill Mall. However, Cherry Hill is the home of many interests- whether it is from the shopping scene, its rich industrial history, or creative outlets such as film and photography- a home that Victoria fostered.
She had many aspirations as her collegiate years were approaching, such as learning the art of creating delicious food plates that pleased the eye or piecing together scraps of clothing to fit one's personality as a successful fashion designer would do. Though, her inner childhood has not abandoned her yet and peaked through a last-minute decision of majoring in film and more recently, choosing a directing concentration.
“I love character development. I love creating characters from nothing,” Victoria said.“When you're on a legitimate set, a lot of the time you're really just having conversations with actors, and you just get to be free in that sense… So that's what I love to do”, said Victoria.
After her years of storytelling through her toys, she began to take these stories to several well beaten and processed spiral notebooks. Through the duct tape spines, Victoria wrote down anything that inspired her. If it were passing a beautiful landmark or place and jotting down a music video idea of which the place inspired her and although they’re a bit torn up, it’s a testimony to the very beginning of her creative journey.
Before film took hold of Victoria’s world, photography had its place first. In 2019, right before the pandemic overtook the world, Victoria began with a Nikon D 3500- a suggestion a Best Buy worker made where Victoria soon learned her actions refutedBest Buy workers do not necessarily know much about cameras. From taking photos with her friends on the hill, indulging in the greenery environment, taking one on one’s during COVID-19, to undertaking the industry professionally- photography had found a way to her heart.
“I think, as a person, she's very open and very willing to hear everybody out and just see kind of like, the nuances of people, even when like others wouldn't, you know, she's very much willing to explore,” said Joshua Peeler, a jazz musician and close friend of Victoria's. “I think Victoria is very determined in her field, very creative. That a lot of people don't see at first but when you really start getting to know her, you're like, wow, these are like some really deep dope ideas.”
Photography has opened many paths for her such as an internship at Rec Philly where her composition soon developed for the better. Rec Philly is a physical space, digital applications, and community where creatives can use their space so their work can thrive, as well as use their professional \resources. She went from learning from others to mentoring and teaching others the craftsmanship of photography. Victoria grew an audience of friends, colleagues, and fans.
“I really can't stress enough how much she's just inspired me or like, you know, how to do something in ways that I just never would have thought of because it's so, out of the box type of thinking. I think that has even helped me with my career,” said Blair Winston, a freshman film major at Temple University.
Victoria's passion is fueled by her support group, her hardworking nature, and goodwill- which fueled others as well to be the best version of themselves- creatively and professionally.
“Working with Victoria is always super fun. So, it's always just vibes whenever we're working on a set together. Like whenever she invites me to one of her shoots. It's always just super fun to be in her area. She always has such a positive energy,” said Winston.
Before coming to Temple University, Victoria was involved in a broadcasting class which was the closest opportunity to film she could get her hands on. Although people didn’t know what she did and often looked askance when it came to her ideas, it made her self-determination blossom and curated confidence in doing what was considered not the norm. Any hardship that may come Victoria’s way, she abides by her professional stature, giving off sanguine energy to those who she comes across.
Today, this level of comfortability is shown in her published work in Torian Studios- her small videography and photography business. Victoria hopes for a smooth transition into her post-graduate career as a creative film director, with a little less photography.
"So, humans are like onions, and she definitely is like the embodiment of peeling back every layer of a person and analyzing it, trying to say like anything out of it. She really tries to understand the nuances of everything in life and find ways to incorporate that into her passion”, said Peeler.
