EP 130: Shared Spaces with Cinematographer Jabari Canada

Jabari Canada brings an architect’s eye and a documentarian’s heart to the Visual Intonation Podcast. Studying at MIT by day and telling human stories through a lens by night, Canada traces his path from interning for Congressman Elijah Cummings to filming JPEGMAFIA for MoMA PS1. His work spans political campaigns, Les Blank, experimental art, and commercial sets, but always returns to one core principle: people over policy, and the stories they carry.

In this conversation, Canada talks about burning out in the commercial industry, reigniting his creative drive on the campaign trail, and the intimacy that cinematography makes possible. You’ll hear how Canada moves between shooting for Nike and filming in America’s most polluted zip code without losing his grounding or his voice. For Canada, the medium isn't the message—it’s the bridge.

Social media plays both tool and obstacle in his work. Canada reflects on how algorithms silence the voices of those most affected by injustice and how, as a filmmaker, he codes his visuals to bypass digital gatekeepers. In a world where rage and virality often win, he chooses intention, care, and community. This episode digs into how digital platforms shape political reality, and how we might reclaim that narrative frame by frame.

From riding a lift with Cai Guo-Qiang in a Frank Gehry–renovated barn to filming grassroots voters in Flint, Michigan, Canada’s practice is shaped by proximity and trust. Whether teaching at MIT, DP'ing a queer skateboarding documentary, or simply sitting with someone long enough for them to feel seen, Canada doesn’t just record life. He lives in it—and brings us closer to the truth along the way.

Jabari Canada's Website: https://www.jabaricanada.com

Jabari Canada's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jabari.mov