Rising Stars: Meet Doman Nelson of Raleigh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Doman Nelson

Hi Doman, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I produced a joke music video in 2010 or something for a college class. I rapped my presentation in a music video instead of a PowerPoint like the class required. The video featured a rap, rapped at double speed and recorded in double speed (so when it was slowed to 24fps, I would be rapping on time) while ghost-riding a friend’s classic Mercedes. Someone in that class saw it, said it was professional, and would pay me to shoot something for his rapper friend.

I quit school a few weeks later and started producing, directing, and editing music videos for a few years.

I recently reached back out to that teacher — they still show that video about Edgar Allen Poe, and my rap about him.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The struggle started when everything started to feel like a race to the bottom. I’d take less and less money, and try to cut more and more corners to produce music videos for clients that had practically no money, in this wild hope that someone would see it like they saw my first video and offer me fair pay for my services.

They did not.

I promptly gave up doing music videos and began pursuing other avenues, like Reality TV, and commercial work all the while dreaming of being able to shoot a feature film, or just write and direct more narrative-focused works. I did eventually land a reality TV show as a PA, C-Camera Operator+ DIT. But the hours were insane, and my home life struggled.

Luck would have it that my music videos and demo reels comprised of the work I had done for very little paid off when I was offered a chance to move to Raleigh and work as a Producer and Editor for a production studio.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in Writing, Directing and Editing commercial content — and the last few years I’ve been shooting and creating docu-series more. I’m known for my writing style, and crazy ideas — that *mostly* pan out, but I’m not afraid to try them. I’m also known to keep a light-hearted set, that’s fun and engaging with chances to grow outside your role because it’s what I wanted when I entered the industry.

I’m most proud of trying to give people a chance to impress, help others grow, and to give opportunities when I am able. I think this sets me apart from my peers also.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Kirk Wray, mentor – Owner of Motion Adrenaline
Mike Scaletta, the best Writer I’ve worked with.
Ross Pierson, Art Director, and taught me a ton when traveling on the road.
Jan Balster for letting me leech information about the Camera Department, I wouldn’t be as good without him.
Collin Scouten for showing me that being creative could be a job in the first place and being my best friend, and best man!
Nick Iway, my team mate, my go to producer, and he’s damn good at what he does.

Pricing:

• I price per project and rentals required.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://domannelson.com
• Instagram: @nelsondoman
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doman-nelson/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@myapproachgolf