Today we’d like to introduce you to Rae Lashea

Hi Rae, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

I’m a Brooklyn- born and raised eighties baby of Trinidadian, Native American and African American descent. I have always loved learning and took my education very seriously, crediting my love for reading and writing to my elementary school teachers. I actually aspired to become a teacher and did so through the NYC teaching fellows after graduating from Alfred University with a BA in sociology/anthropology and a minor in pre med. Fast forward ten years of teaching students with special needs in both New York and Los Angeles, including one year as the vice principal of an all girls’ high school, I decided to leave the classroom and travel the world, visiting places like Belize, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Italy, France, England, Egypt and Dubai- to name a few. I learned so much about the different cultures and customs around the world that I had a burning desire to tell the stories that linked the commonalities of people in different regions. So I began writing novels and then screenplays and became a published author and now film producer.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

Writing is a God-given gift so that comes pretty easy to me. The business aspect of publishing, marketing and promoting books is more of a skill, and that took some navigating around the learning curve, which was not always smooth. During the pandemic, the publishing companies of two of my books, Black Geisha and Fifty-Two Weeks of MIRACLES went out of business, and all the resources I had in it went too. That was pretty devastating for me at the time but sometimes you win, sometimes you learn; and that was a major learning experience.
Film production is a whole other beast in and of itself. As a brand new producer, that’s where I faced the most struggles. Not only learning about the industry, but also all of the challenges that filming comes with, including permits and payroll and the various parts of production. SAG AFTRA went on strike right as we were casting, which threw another wrench in the situation. The most challenging struggle I faced was running out of money after an investor pulled out during the principal photography of “We’re Not Married?” which required me to quickly pivot numerous times and make some crucial decisions for the project. I had to executive produce while simultaneously battling the depression that comes with feeling overwhelmed and defeated. There were lots of naysayers at the time, which didn’t help, and I was in massive debt! But with struggle comes strength. I am forever grateful and indebted to those who helped me get over the hump and see this project through, including Cynthia Garcia Williams and her husband, Rodney, Miriam Holder Jacobs, Ryan Gee, Donald Gill, Damon and Derek Cody, Geno Taylor, James and Tanya Mackey, Tom and Leslie Nelson, Stephanie Monroe, Victoria Ficklin, Charles Becco, Jerone Glasford, Mariscela Mendez, Miguel Duran, Mike Knowlan, Henry Jacobs, Eliza Roberts, Sean Holifield, and David McCovy. I am eternally grateful to my mother, Mary, who has always believed in me and encouraged me in all of my endeavors, but who definitely held down the fort while I fought these battles. Also, some of the vendors who extended the production undeserved patience and grace, such as Becine, Illuminar, Cinelease, and Point 360. The loyal cast and crew who stuck with us ‘til the end and beyond make me smile when I think about them. I appreciate every dollar that came in from friends, family members and supporters through our Support Out Story campaign run by Nelson and Fanny Grande.
Langston Hughes’ poem ‘Mother to Son’ notes that life ain’t always gonna be a crystal staircase, but as long as we keep climbing, and turning corners, and sometimes going in the dark, we’ll keep reaching landings. I’m grateful for the landings!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I am a lover of life and I do not get bogged down by career choices and professional titles. I don’t believe one always has to make the right decision, just make a decision and then make it right. I know this is not a path everyone can take but I have been blessed in this lifetime to be fluid in my experiences. I started off as a teacher, then began my own online tutoring and editing service so that I could work remote from anywhere in the world. I returned to the classroom numerous times as I worked on books and becoming a published author, which is where the inspiration for my children’s book “You Are a Star” came from. I began a media consulting company Rae Lashea, Inc since people began reaching out to me for help navigating the book writing and publishing world, which then led me to writing and producing the script for the feature RomCom “We’re Not Married?” with the help of Tom Nelson and Cynthia Garcia Williams who are also both phenomenal writers and brilliant creatives. Since then, Rae Lashea, Inc has become instrumental in the development of upcoming productions, including the writing of scripts, finding of funds, and the all encompassing components of production. On occasion, when I’m in between productions, I will happily babysit, housesit, cat or dog sit, while negotiating the sale and distribution of a film.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?

Mentors have to have already done what you are trying to do. You need someone who can guide you and who isn’t envious of your goals, actions or accomplishments. A good mentor should be willing and able to save you time, money, headache and heartache. They should celebrate your successes and achievements, and help you learn from your mistakes. They should help mitigate your setbacks, if they can, and should want you to surpass them. Mentors can be friends or become friends, and they don’t have to remain mentors in the same capacity forever. Neither you nor them should feel bad about graduating, because you should always be growing. This is what one should look for in a mentor, and one shouldn’t be afraid to move on if a person proves not to be the mentor they thought or hoped they would be.
For networking, you have to put yourself out there. You have to attend events strategically, and be willing to talk to people. It’s not all about seeing what you can get from someone, but figuring out ways to align with people that can be mutually beneficial.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.raelashea.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raelashea/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@raelashea7?si=cYlui_kZ3oN4SNXX