MEET THE TEAM
Writer & Director
Kyra Jones (she/her) is a Chicago-based Black feminist screenwriter, filmmaker, and actor whose work focuses on Black women experiences with intimate relationships, sex, and liberation. She received her degree in Theatre and Gender Studies from Northwestern University. Kyra is a script reader for Janelle Monae's production company, Wondaland Pictures. Most recently, she was staffed as a writer on Woke (Hulu) and Queens (ABC).
As a creator, she's known for her award-winning web series The Right Swipe (OTV) which she co-wrote, executive produced, and starred in. The Right Swipe was an official selection at Austin Film Festival, Urbanworld Film Festival, and several others. Her comedy script, Good Vibes Only, won Best Pilot at the 2020 Nashville Film Festival and was a finalist for Shore Scripts. Her upcoming feature, Go to the Body, won The Pitch at the 2020 Chicago International Film Festival and Screencraft's virtual pitch competition. As an actor, she’s appeared on the series finale of Empire (Fox), Chicago Justice (NBC), Kappa Force (Revry), and Seeds (OTV).
In addition to being an artist, Kyra is a professional sex educator and survivor advocate. She currently serves as the assistant director of Northwestern University's sexual health and violence resource center, CARE. She has given lectures and workshops around the United States on consent, healthy relationships, transformative justice, sexual violence in the Black community, prison abolition, intimacy coordination, and more. She has worked with Tarana Burke of 'me too.', Mariama Kaba, A Long Walk Home, and other Black women anti-sexual violence organizers.
Raised in Milwaukee, Angellic Ross (she/her) attended Northwestern University where she studied Performance Studies and Film & Media Studies. Her first short film was revoLUZion which won first place at the My Hero Festival. Following that, she produced the short film Down the Rabbit Hole which was nominated for Best Picture at the Single Take Film Festival.
Her most recent project is a multimedia feature-length documentary piece, A Journey Through Time, for her sorority's 100 year anniversary. She is an Advisory Board Member of Sisters in Cinema and a part of the inaugural class of Full Spectrum Features and the Chicago Film Office's Chicago Independent Producers Lab. In addition to her film work, Angellic is an Associate Director of Media Strategy at an advertising agency. Check out her work here.
Producer
Producer
Aimy Tien (she/they) is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist. As a performer, writer, and producer, Aimy is driven by narrative plenitude, bringing the stories of people of color and marginalized groups to the page, stage, and screen.
As a producer, she has worked on commercials, industrials, a number of web series, live events, and films. Selected credits include the award-winning short film Scutly, web series THOTless (OTV), and a national multimedia tour, Jefferson PInder’s The Red Summer Road Trip, sponsored by the Guggenheim and featured on PBS, in remembrance of the violence against Black lives in 1919. They were recently a department head on South Side Season 2 (HBOMax / CBSViacom).
She is a Luminarts Cultural Foundation Creative Writing Fellow, a company member of 2nd Story, a board member of Women of The Now, a film collective, and works with many other Chicago and national arts organizations. They are a founder of tinheart productions where they are developing multiple narrative projects centered on the intersections of race, healing, and sexuality. Outside of her film and stage work, Aimy facilitates conversations and workshops around the country on storytelling, queer advocacy, and equity, diversity, and inclusion. They are continuing work on The Queer Joy Project, a collection of essays and poetry celebrating the queer experience. Learn more about Aimy here.
Sarah Minnie is a Digital Artist that operates on the belief that filmmakers have the privilege of changing the world through the age-old magical practice of story sharing. Sarah’s magic as a Producer and Director has led her in creating content such as; commercials, fashion films, music videos, web series, pilots, short films, features and more. Her work has been published in VOGUE, The Chicago Tribune, Hyperlink Magazine, Women & Hollywood, and in film festivals such as DC Black Film Festival, NYC Web Fest, Austin Film Festival .
Sarah's devotion to continuously serve the marginalized community she represents and loves, has led her to partnering with organizations that align with her missions to support the Chicago intersectional filmmaking community. Sarah is the CEO and founder of Minnie Productions, a boutique production house, conjured nearly 10 year ago. Most recently, Sarah partnered with Open Television (OTV), as the first ever Development Officer in 2020. And, in 2021, OTV’s Head of Artist Development and Production. Sarah’s work illuminates the power of being authentic - creating bold and unapologetic content.
Producer
Producing Associate
Otito Greg-Obi is a Washington D.C.-based writer who believes in the power of storytelling and making people feel seen and heard on screen. She’s currently writing a feature called Cherry Blossoms. Her passion for film, tv, media and pop culture led her to be a content contributor at Unpopcultr, a media publication and platform dedicated to amplifying the voices and work of BIPOC creatives. Her poetry appears in "small poems for the masses," a quarterly zine by Post Ghost Press. When she’s not writing, Otito is a Production Coordinator in the Development Department at Pixar, where she provides creative research and production support to 3 unannounced features films. She also supports Minnie Productions, as a Producing Associate and mentee. In 2017, Otito graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations focusing on gender and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Producing Associate
Alison Townson graduated with a degree in Elementary Education - after one year of teaching, she decided to stop finding every excuse in the book to watch films in the classroom and pursue a career in the film industry instead. Since then, Alison has dedicated most of her spare time to studying the art of filmmaking, and has loved each moment of the learning process.
Alison’s time spent as an educator has helped her flourish creatively in unexpected ways. Years of creating diversified lesson plans for her students has helped Alison learn to format scripts. Establishing and maintaining an open discussion forum for students and their family members has made Alison a great communicator. More than anything else, Alison believes that her sheer determination and desire for growth will continue to propel her forward.
Alison is currently putting her newfound creative skills to good use primarily through photography, videography and screenwriting. Alison recently finished writing a script for a television pilot, which she hopes to submit to various competitions later this year.
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There's no question that we need more Black stories in film and TV, especially stories created by Black women. We need stories that are more than trauma porn, stories that feature Black people in front of and behind the camera. Those stories belong in the hands of the people who have lived and been touched by them.
We are committed to making sure that 75% of crew members are Black. We will continue working with and investing in local Chicago Black and Brown cast and crew.
OUR PROOF OF CONCEPT CREW WAS OVER 75% BLACK, OVER 95% BIPOC, AND OVER 85% WOMXN & GENDERQUEER.
SPECIAL THANKS
OUR GOFUNDME DONORS
Anonymous (50)
Aaron Quick
Aary Gariss
Abby Dryden
Abby Lemen
Abby Pajakowski
Ada Cheng
Adam Barnett
Addison Heimann
Adia Ivey
Adrian Nuno
Agnotti Cowie
Aisha Allen
Alex Fallgren
Alex M
Alexandra Ashworth
Alexandra Fisher
Alexias Williams
Alexis Ward
Alicia Rodis
Alyssa Ramos
Amalie Vega
Amanda C Delaney
Amber Eswani
Amelia Hefferon
Ammon Lyle
Amy Catania
Amy Daroszeski
Amy Powell
Amy Young
Ana Christian
Andrea Alhadeff
Andrew Nuno
Angela Flemister
Ángela Munguía
Angie Gaffney
Anna Paez
Anne Martin
Anne Olson
Anthony Gibson
April Clincy
Aquarius Ester
Ariana Jordan
Ariana Vidana
Ash Sears
Asha Sawhney
Ashley Albert
Ashley Lackinger
Ashley Mills
Ashley Nickell
Ashlyn Hughes
Audrey Hosford
Audrey Kleine
Aymar Jean
B Colleen Keefe
Barbara Dageforde
Becca Ayers
Becca Greenstein
BeeBee Browne
Ben Kemper
Ben Levenson
Betsy Stewart
Bianca Beyrouti
Brandi Lee
Brendan Yukins
Brennan Suen
Bria Royal
Brianna Paige
Brittani Ward
Brittany Devon
Brittany Parks
Brooke Obie
C c
Caitlin Joseph
Carolyn Minor
Casey Janney
Charles Kessler
Charlie Hano
Chase Williams
Chelsea DeBaise
Cheryl Smith
Christabel Donkor
Christina Burchette
Christina El Gamal
Christina Harris
Christine Pascual
Christopher Swann
Chynna Ladage
Clair Fuller
Claire Favret
Colette Ghunim
Colin Clayton
Colin Croom
Colleen Firzgerrell
Colleen Werle
Collin Quinn Rice
Cori Woods
Corinne Hastings
Cory Borgman
Coty Weathersby
Courtney Green
courtney morrison
Coya Paz
Cristina Munoz Pandya
Damien Allen
Dani Wieder
Daniel Rosenberg
Darcelle Pluviose
Darlene Reyes
David Boeck
David Goodman-Edberg
David Holcombe
David Kinnard
David Merten
Dawn Scotland
DeAngelo Ross
Deanna Myers
Derek Blair
Derek McPhatter
Derrick Clifton
Desiree Staples
Destiny Strothers
Devika Basu
Dina Monk
Dionne Addai
Domineik Durham
Dominique Collins
Duke Tien
Dyllan Miller
Dyllan Rodrigues-Miller
Edwin Baker
Eileen OBrien
Elenna Sindler
Eli Sulkowski
Elizabeth Blondel
Elizabeth Hanley
Ella Pennington
Ellen Beard
Ellen DeSitter
Emilie Modaff
Emily Zolkower
Emily Alves
Emily Baldwin
Emily Kron
Emily Rochester
Emma Cadd
Emma Sinai-Yunker
Eric Zinn
Erica Hart
Erin Elizabeth
Erma Standley
Farrah Sklar
Gabriela Martineau
Geneva Wrona
George Ellzey
Gioia Mapp
Grace Burdick
Grace Pisula
Greer B DuBois
Haley Padilla
Hannah Beehler
Hannah Brown
Hannah Campbell
Hannah Fisher
Hannah Hull
Hannah Ii-Epstein
Hannah Loek
Hannah Welever
Hayley Gleeson
Heather Cummings
Heather Preston
Helen Li
Hilary Flynn
Hillary Hafke
Hunter Bryant
Imani Davis
Isabel Thompson
Jack Olin
Jaclyn Hoffmann
Jacob Rickle-Degler
Jacob Watson
Jacoby Cochran
Jalyn Greene
Jamie Tee
Jana McLain
Jaquilla Ross
Jared Swain
Jasmine Traylor
Jasmine Dubauskas
Jasmine Williams
Jassira Vardak
Jay Rymer
Jeff Chapman
Jeff Wright
Jeffrey Fleming
Jeffrey A Wexler
Jemina Bouma
Jemina Bouma Perez
Jena Snelling
Jenna Anast
Jenna Gartz
Jennifer Mohr
Jennifer Amalidosan
Jennifer Pagan
Jessica & Erica Kadish-Hernandez
Jessica Stahmer
Jill R. Sandmire
John Iannuzzi
Jon Silver
Jorie Goins
Joseph Tufte
Joy Messinger
Jozelle Anderson
Juanita Andersen
Judy Febles
Judy Giovannetti
Julia Smith
Julia McDermott
Julia Smith
Julie Mayer
Justin Casselle
Kaitlyn Andrews
Kanika Wadhwa
Kara Miller
Karla Estela Rivera
Kate Hopkins
Katharine McDermott Swanson
Katie Dreas
Katy Vogt
Keely Brennan
Keisha Champagne
Keisha Hooks
Kel O'Hara
Kellen Lowe
Kelsey Shipley
Kendra Cato
Kenya Hall
Kenyetta Johnson
Kiayla Jackson
Kiko Cuellar
Kira Shaffir-Lupo
Kira Silverstein
Kristen Blandford
Kristen Hanson
Kristen Patino
Kristen Tepper
Kristy Welch
Kyra Elmore
Lara Johnson
LaTisha Curtiss
Laura
Laura Day
Laura Winters
Lauren Dacy
Lauren Farrell
Lauren Fields
Laurence Stepney
Layne Marie Williams
Leah Bellini
Leo Jones
Leslie Thompson
Lisa Currie
Liz Rice
Logan Jones
Lohen Parchment
Londen Shannon
Lowell Thomas
Lucas Garcia
Lucinda Harstrick
Lucy Blumberg
Mac Anderson-Cooper
Maddy and Alex Van Atta
Madeleine Low
Madeline Esterhammer-Fic
Madeline Hsia
Madeline Weinstein
Malia Hu
Mallory Mattimore-Malan
Marcus Moore
Margaret Doyle
Maria Gonzalez
Mariam Gomaa
Mariame Kaba
Mariana Ramirez
Martin Thompson
Martin Zebari
Marva Moody
Mary Cecere
Mary Lumley
Mary Tilden
Mattia Alysen
Max Kostrach
Max Mooney
Max Thomas
McKenzie Chinn
Megan Kaminsky
Megan Patterson
Meghan McCarter
Melanie Vitaterna
Melisa Stephen
Metri Mareno
Mia McCullough
Micahela Mobley
Michael O?Sullivan
Michelle Szot
Michelle Szot
Mickey Sheridan
Mickie Paskal
Mikey Cappuccilli
Miller Scoggins
Miller Scoggins
Molly Abbattista
Molly Donahue
Mykele Callicutt
Naeema Torres
Najee-Zaid Searcy
Nakia Avila
Natalie Houchins
Nate Marshall
Nicholas Ward
Nathaniel
Nebula
Nicholas Ward
Nicole Schneider
Nikki Hassinger
Nina Hu
Olivia Gahan
Olivia Pearson
Olivia Stovicek
Ona Wang
Patrick Smith
Patrick Wimp
Phoebe Fox
Phoebe Gonzalez
Pollyanna Macchiano
Priya Mohanty
Qiddist Ashe
Quenna Barrett
Quinn Hegarty
Rachel Borgo
Rachel Flesher
Rachel Weinsteim
Radhika Sharma
Raeghn Draper
Remsy Atassi
Renae DeLucia
Rives Collins
Robert Cunningham
Rodrigo Arreola
Rosalyn Wells
Rukmini Girish
Ryan Bernsten
S Grier
Sam Thomas
Samantha Conway
Samantha George
Samantha Ho
Samantha Jones
Samantha L Aviana
Samuel Bell-Gurwitz
Samuel Jones
Samuel Zeisel
Santiago Molina
Sara Murphy
Sarah Carthen Watson
Sarah Conley
Sarah Minnie
Sarah Muller
Sean Brennan
Sean Kelly
Seonjae Kim
Seth Coveyou
Shae Spence
Shailah Maynard
Shakana Kirksey-Miller
Shannon Desmond
Shariba W Rivers
Sharlyn Grace
Shatara Cleveland
Shelbie Bostedt
Shervin Bain
Sheyda Tribble
Sian Shin
Siobhan Goree
Sonja Lynn Mata
Sophie Neff
Spencer Colton
Spencer Diedrick
Stacey Buckner
Stacy Joyce
Stephanie Knezz
Stephanie N Mattos
Steven Serikaku
Svetlana Binshtok
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Tarik Endale
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Thrisa Hodits
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Tim W Maupin
Tina Smothers
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Tonantzin Carmona
Tracy Cooper
Trevor Osmond
Tyler Pistorius
Victor Musoni
Victoria Ellis
Wes Robinson
Whitman Johnson
Will Sonheim
William Fenhouse
Yessmeen Moharram
Yvonne Welbon
Zerihun Elizabeth
Zoe Maltby