Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Howell.
Hi Jesse, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Origin: Seeing the World Differently My journey began with a simple need to connect. Under the name “Brofiki,” I picked up a camera not just to take pictures, but to bridge the gap between people. I wasn’t interested in the perfect, polished pose; I wanted the split-second of truth—the laugh, the grit, the quiet moment between the noise. Photography taught me that if you look closely enough, everyone has a story worth telling.
The Forge: Service and Resilience My path hasn’t been a straight line. As a U.S. Army Veteran, I learned that discipline and adaptability are just as important in art as they are in the field. Navigating life after service, and overcoming the challenges that come with it, gave me a “ferocious grace.” I realized that creativity isn’t just a hobby; for me, it was a survival tool. It was how I rebuilt my world, piece by piece.
The Evolution: The Troxler Effect As my vision expanded, I moved from still photography into filmmaking with Black Mirror Productions. This transition birthed my current philosophy and company: The Troxler Effect. Named after a visual phenomenon where focusing on one point causes the distractions around it to fade away, this concept defines my life today. I learned to fixate on what truly matters—my family, my craft, and my legacy—and let the chaos of the periphery disappear.
The Current Chapter: The House of Howell Today, I am finishing my degree at the University of Utah, turning my life’s work into a Senior Thesis that bridges education and entrepreneurship. I am no longer just a photographer; I am building “The House of Howell.” This is a sovereign creative ecosystem designed to produce films, support local artists, and secure a future for my family.
I am a father, a husband, and an artist who believes that we are all the architects of our own reality. My story is proof that you can take broken pieces and build a fortress.
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?
The Crucible of the Reset It has been anything but smooth. In fact, the road had to completely crumble before I could pave a new one. My biggest struggle wasn’t just one event; it was a total systemic collapse. A few years ago, I faced a “hard reset” that cost me my freedom, my financial stability, and for a time, my creative voice.
The Sacrifice of the Tools There is a specific pain known only to artists who have to dismantle their own studio to survive. While navigating the long, bureaucratic process of stabilizing my status as a 100% Disabled Veteran, I hit a financial rock bottom. I was forced to sell my cameras, my lenses, and the very tools I used to define my identity, just to keep the lights on and a roof over my head. That was the darkest moment—looking at the world with a photographer’s eye but having no camera to capture it.
The Physical Battle Simultaneously, I was fighting a war with my own body. Transitioning from the high-tempo demands of the Army to managing significant service-connected disabilities required a complete lifestyle overhaul. I had to learn that “pushing through the pain” wasn’t bravery anymore; it was negligence. I had to learn a new kind of strength: patience.
The Lesson But this “stripping away” was necessary. It removed the ego. It forced me to rely on my vision, not just my gear. It taught me that I am the architect, not the equipment. I rebuilt “The House of Howell” from zero, and because of that, the foundation is now unshakable.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The Structure: Art Meets Architecture I view creativity through the lens of a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). My work is not just about making “content”; it is about building a sovereign infrastructure for storytelling. I operate The Troxler Effect LLC (DBA Black Mirror Productions), which serves as the legal and strategic vessel for my artistic output.
The Identity: BROFIKI & The Evolution Locally, I am known by the moniker BROFIKI, a brand I built around high-impact photography and visual storytelling. For years, Brofiki was the “eye”—capturing the raw, unposed truth of the human experience. But as I evolved from a photographer into a filmmaker and strategist, I realized I needed a larger canvas to hold the full scope of my vision.
The Current Mission: The Troxler Effect (Film & Franchise) Right now, I am synthesizing my entire history—my military service, my background in competitive Esports (StarCraft 2/Heroes of the Storm), and my life as a disabled veteran—into a single, ambitious project. I am currently a Senior at the University of Utah, where I am using my Senior Capstone Project to produce a feature film titled The Troxler Effect.
The Concept: The film explores the psychological phenomenon of fading perception—where focusing on one thing causes the periphery to disappear.
The Goal: This isn’t just a student film; it is the pilot for a larger franchise. I am using this academic platform to launch a “Novum Opus” (New Work)—a multimedia universe that blends narrative film with real-world business strategy.
The Reality: Creation as Survival As a 100% disabled veteran, my path to this point has been a fight for restoration. I don’t have the luxury of wasted motion. Every scene I write and every business decision I make is designed to prove one thing: that a soldier can lay down his rifle and pick up a camera, and in doing so, become the architect of a new reality.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
The Intellect Behind the Image Most people look at the tattoos, the bodybuilding background, and the combat boots and assume my military experience was purely physical. The surprising truth is that my primary weapon was never a rifle—it was Language.
The Cryptologic Linguist I served as a Cryptologic Linguist and Language Analyst in the U.S. Army. My job wasn’t just to “speak” another language; it was to intercept, analyze, and decode complex signals in real-time. I was trained to listen to the noise of the world and find the hidden patterns that others missed. Later, I became one of the top Recruiters in my battalion. That role taught me the ultimate lesson in human engineering: how to identify talent, understand motivation, and align a person’s destiny with a mission.
The Howell Legacy: Pathfinders This analytical skillset is deeply rooted in my bloodline—the Howell name is synonymous with “Pathfinders.” Today, I use those exact same skills for The House of Howell. I am still a Linguist; I just translate different signals now. Instead of decoding enemy comms, I am decoding the visual language of cinema and the legal frameworks of business. I don’t just “make movies”; I engineer signals that cut through the static.
Pricing:
- Brofiki Visuals (Photography/Cinematography): Accepting limited commissions for Commercial, Editorial, and Brand Narrative projects. (Custom Quote).
- Strategic Consulting: “Sovereign Systems” Architecture for creative entrepreneurs and veteran-owned businesses. (Project or Retainer Basis).
- The Troxler Effect (Film): Currently accepting strategic partners and sponsors for the upcoming feature film and franchise expansion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brofikiphotography.pixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brofiki
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brofikivibesyou
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brofiki
- Twitter: https://x.com/brofikivibes
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@brofiki
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14741140/ and https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm14741140
