About Me
Desoni Cooper
Also known as DESZ
Born and raised in Long Island, NY
Earned a bachelor's degree at Ithaca College
Majored in Documentary Studies and Production with a minor in Economics
Documentarian, poet, and musician
Started making music in November '22 and goes by the stage name "DESZ"
Enjoys watching documentaries, history, political and pop culture commentary, and learning how to enhance my artistry
Favorite food is chocolate chip cookies
Believes in God
Loves traveling, learning, and exploring
My Background
Who Am I?
One of my proudest accomplishments is becoming the first person in my family to graduate high school and attend a private institute.
I was born into an impoverished family and faced adversity from a young age, including homelessness, poverty, and mental health challenges. These experiences were not easy, but they became an important part of my journey and shaped the person I am today.
As time passed, I learned to turn my losses into lessons and my challenges into opportunities for growth. Every obstacle taught me something about resilience, determination, and the power of believing in myself.
Today, I consider myself a BOSS — brave, original, smart, and successful. My journey has taught me that where you come from does not determine where you can go. Regardless of the hardships I have faced, I believe I am capable of achieving my goals and ambitions through faith, perseverance, and a commitment to becoming the best version of myself.
My story is still being written, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come.
Where It All Began
YouTube
As awkward as it may seem, this was the first film I ever produced.
Back in December 2015, I decided to start a YouTube channel because I was curious about filmmaking and wanted to create something of my own. At the time, I had no idea where it would lead me. I simply wanted to make fun, original, and entertaining videos for an audience.
Taking that first step was scary. When I told my friends and family about my idea, some of them looked at me like I was crazy. “YouTube is not a real job,” my dad told me. “Nobody wants to watch your content,” a friend once said. But I ignored the doubt and followed my heart.
What started as a simple YouTube channel eventually became the foundation for my passion for filmmaking. It inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree and ultimately led to an incredible opportunity: I was awarded a full scholarship to attend one of the most prestigious film schools in the country.
Looking back, I realize that taking that first risk changed the direction of my life. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I was willing to try—and that was enough to get me started.
Moral of the story: Shoot your shot. You never know where it might lead you.