In this week’s episode, Jennifer chats with Diana Gonzalez-Morett & Akilah ‘AK’ Walker about all things making a short film – from writing and directing to producing and fundraising to casting and shooting to everything in between! They unpack resources and give insight to anyone hoping to embark on the creative undertaking and endeavor of short filmmaking.
About Diana: Diana Gonzalez-Morett is a creative producer, writer, actress, and caregiver. Diana finds creative strength in her fluidity as a multi-hyphenate and is passionate about supporting creative visions. In 2020 Diana and partner Akilah ‘AK’ Walker co-founded Good Mother Films a BIPOC women-led creative company that specializes in producing personal stories told with emotional depth, bold artistry and always considering its social impact. The company produced its first award-winning short film, ‘Ivar Tunnel: Shook Ones’ in 2021. When she is not filmmaking Diana works as a teaching artist/director for Bergen Performing Arts Center and administratively for Lotus Arts Management, one of the country's premier dance agencies. Diana is currently based in New Jersey where she is a caregiver for her mother living with Frontotemporal dementia (FTD). It would be unfair to not acknowledge that she does all of this with the help of her loyal chihuahua, Lupita.
About Akilah: Akilah “AK” Walker is an actress, writer/director, and creative producer fascinated by the performative, the magical and the absurd--especially as it relates to people of the Black diaspora. Akilah is one out of the 16 actors chosen to be a part of the 2020 ABC Discovers Talent Digital Showcase. Chosen out of 25,000 submissions and 2,500 auditions! This is ABC's first-ever digital showcase! Akilah holds an MFA in acting from American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco as well as a BA in Acting from Fordham University. Akilah has previously performed with Classical Theatre of Harlem, New York Stage & Film, and Berkeley Repertory Theatre, just to name a few. On film, she can be seen in 'Under The Lantern Lit Sky' from Emmy-nominated director Jaclyn Bethany and 'Sorry To Bother You' helmed by the legendary Boots Riley. Originally from Atlanta, Akilah A. Walker is now proud to call Los Angeles home. Akilah A. Walker is also a muse, as she posed as the basis of renowned contemporary artist Kehinde Wiley's sculpture 'Bound' which opened at the Brooklyn Museum in 2015. Akilah A. Walker is what you might call "Quad-Coastal", splitting her time between Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Atlanta.
Diana IG: @dianalaurengm
Akilah IG: @akthewayy
ITSO IG: @itsofilm
All things “Ivar Tunnel Shook Ones”: https://linktr.ee/IvarTunnelShookOnesFilm
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