I like to write a bit of everything but below are my favorites.
Film has always been a big part of my life. I remember as a child, that was the one thing we did as a family consistently. No matter what was going on, I knew I could look forward to our movie nights and as a child of the 90’s we did indeed watch some questionable films.
The very first film I wrote, directed, and starred in was in 2001, just shy of 11 years old. Essentially the story was about some young criminals (played by me and my sister Kris), a mob boss? (played by my Dad), and detectives (my sister, Amani and Mom) who are tangled up in thievery and jewelry lifting. I think. The clip below is of me directing my sister Amani, while my dad acts as a “cinematographer.”
I didn’t do much writing after that besides journaling because life had me down bad. I eventually found myself at Ohio State University, graduating with a degree in Social Work in 2012 (I know, I’m getting old). Right after graduating, I felt intense pressure to pursue my master’s in social work at Case Western (0/10 do not recommend doing something you don’t want to do). While working as a school social worker, I was desperate for an outlet as things were incredibly difficult. This is when I found writing again – I started with poetry, then short stories, and eventually a novel, but I quickly realized that I wanted to write a script (and to not be in school anymore, so I left).
I went to YouTube University to learn the ins and outs of how to write a script and finally got enough confidence to write, direct, and again act in my first second film, “In Our Bed,” in 2018, based on a poem I wrote called Slumber. I worked with the very talented Kyle Meeks, who I’m also working with on “Frank, the Racist Ghost,” and Philleano Kennard, who has been my film bud since then. I also had the pleasure of premiering at Gateway Film Center. This, coincidentally, was the year that I met my biggest cheerleader and greatest love, my wife Jasmine (awww).
My next film was “Immunity,” released on YouTube in 2019, which allowed me to work with a larger cast and crew. Since then, I’ve been privileged enough to work with several talented, Black filmmakers in Columbus.
Community has always been important to me, mainly because I’ve always been searching for one that was safe for a Black, queer, creative woman. I learned that this was not a unique experience to just me, so I created the Black Ohio Film Group to connect Black filmmakers in Ohio to make more Black films with Black people on and off-screen. I’m currently attending OSU’s Fisher College of Business for my MBA to learn how to best run my non-profit and how to uplift other business owners who have been marginalized. If you want to learn more about that part of my life, check out my LinkedIn.
I invite you to come along or continue this journey with me to make art that shows how amazingly human we are.