‘I just randomly picked up a camera and started shooting videos, just recording and documenting life.’

Torrel October, Roosevelt

“I was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn. My mom moved us to Long Island for me and my sisters to have a better life. Brownsville wasn’t the best place to be, especially for a black male. A lot of my friends back in Brooklyn are not doing too well. I could thank my mom for moving us to Long Island because I would probably be in the same predicament as them.

“When I was younger, during summer, my parents used to take us away to different countries and spots like amusement parks, just so we won’t be home all the time and to keep us active. My parents sparked my interest of doing different activities in different places when I do have free time. I like to travel a lot, but the times I can’t travel, I like to go out and do different things – which led me to being a tourist in my own city. I’m pretty good at taking videos. I just randomly picked up a camera and started shooting videos, just recording and documenting life. Every place I would go, I would record different things to reflect on.

Every place I would go, I would record different things to reflect on.

“I started @nycsneakylinks during the pandemic, when a lot of restaurants and businesses were closed. On my regular page, @rellysmacks, I would be outside every day doing different things and posting on my story. I was overwhelmed at the amount of people who were interested in the things I would do on my regular page. So, I’m like, ‘Let me just make another page to let people know what’s open and what’s not open’ — basically a New York update. At the time, Long Island was very strict, so they didn’t have many places that were open. But Manhattan and Brooklyn had less rules. So I would go outside and explore New York City. My first video I did blew up. That probably got a hundred thousand views in one day. It originally started with me doing art galleries. Then I soon ventured off into doing restaurants.

“I’m trying to get more corporate things going. I’ve worked with Google and Samsung. I am the filmer, editor and voiceover artist. I’m really into technology, cameras and gadgets. Social media has grown a lot and is new to a lot of people. With these Instagrams and TikToks bringing out different platforms and subdivisions in the app, it makes creating more fun.”

Interviewed by Victoria Bell