Today we’d like to introduce you to Noah Navarro (Nova Time).
Hi Noah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Growing up I was always involved in sports and entertainment. I used to host football and basketball tournaments in my Jr/Sr year of high school. I would edit simple highlight clips on iMovie and post them on Instagram under “travbowl” which is now deactivated. This is what got me interested in editing. Shortly after that run was over, my best friend/collabortor (DUUBFR) started to take music pretty seriously and he needed someone to direct music videos. I had no experience in that area and only had an iPhone 11 to film with at the time. But we decided something was better than nothing (our first video was terrible). After a few iPhone music videos we decided it was time to bring out a very old canon t2i from his mom’s closet. That was the best decision we ever made. We shot a plethora of music videos, vlogs, and whatever content we thought sounded fun. After a year of trials, errors, lost gear and upgrades. I met a basketball Influencer named Gio Wise, this is when I started to get my name out there. I met Gio playing pick-up basketball against him at Monterey park in Mesa. After we played a few games together I figured I should introduce myself and let him know that if he needs a cameraman, I’m his guy. Luckily that conversation was successful for me and the next day im filming a celebrity basketball game for his youth channel. That game had multiple athletes and influencers such as Odell Beckham Jr., BDOT, and more. For the next 2 years Gio and I would continue to build our relationship and we filmed so many great videos together. At the same time I was filming with Gio, I was also building up my music video portfolio as well. The first known artist I worked with was Chris King (RIP) in 2023, Chris trusted me to direct his music video without ever seeing my work. The video was so fun to shoot and he posted it within a week of completion. That video got cosigns from Trippie Redd, Teezo Touchdown, and more. That video is what really made me want to put my all into my craft. This is when I became “NOVA TIME”. Also in 2023 would be the time I met Flightreacts. I went to LA with Gio so he could play Flight 1v1 in basketball for a YouTube video. Flight is an influencer that I have been watching since middle school, so the fact I was in the same room as him was super crazy to me. After their game I got Flights phone # because I had to send him footage. Over the next 2 years we would stay in contact every now and then checking in on each other. He eventually made trip to Phx in 2025 and I Directed a music video for him. Throughout the year we would go on to do vlogs anytime he would visit the valley. Flight is someone I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for and I am forever greatful to call him a brother. Also during 2025 is when I built up my photography portfolio, capturing photos of some of the most popular artists in the underground scene such as Lucy Bedroque, Jane Remover, Subiibaii, BriBandz, Autumn!, EastBayTae, Molly Santana, Show Joe, Lil Tecca, Hardrock, babychiefdoit, BigXThaPlug, Dom Corleo, Fenix Darko, DaBoii, OhGeesy, 2Slimey, Percaso, 2facedlon, SosoCamo, and DJ Scheme. I am very proud of the work I’ve done and the names that are attached to my work. It is truly an honor to be in these spaces with extremely talented individuals. I hope to inspire the generations both above and below me. Each day is a new opportunity to prove yourself wrong. I want to thank my parents for always having my best interest and being supportive when there was nothing to support.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road at all. There were so many instances where I was counted out and pushed to the side. I’ve lost gear, spent money I didn’t have, burnt bridges, hated my own work, and compared my work to others. The biggest enemy of a creative is their own thought. Another challenge I faced is lack of support. When you don’t have any big name cosigns it is very hard for people to support regardless of how good the work might be. You truly have to be blind to that lack of support and be your own biggest fan.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a photographer, videographer, creative director, editor, strategist, and manager. I specialize in all of those areas, as I feel I should not limit myself to one hat when I have so much to give creatively. However, I am best known for my photography and videography. I am most proud of my versatility within the creative scene, I’m a Swiss army knife, I can do everything at a high level. I think that is what sets me apart.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
To anyone reading this no matter what stage you are in your career. Don’t let anyones opinion stop you from putting out art that you love. The world is cruel to those who chase dreams and small minded individuals will never understand what you’re trying to accomplish. Always show up ready to work, be patient, be a student of the game, talk to everyone, and push thru any negativity that comes your way. As someone who is self taught, you don’t need the best equipment or the biggest budget. Just love what you do and work like your life depends on it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novatime_
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@novatime_
Image Credits
ALL PGOTOS TAKEN BY: @novatime_
(me)
