We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lakrishi Kindred a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lakrishi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

I’ve always loved writing. The first story I wrote was on my first computer. The internet wasn’t big then and there was no iCloud. When the computer shut down, my life story got destroyed. I started writing again after I ended a verbally abusive relationship in 2007. I learned how to make movies from the guy I was seeing. He was tough but I learned how to create movies from pre production to post. It was a great experience other than the abuse. I worked with a lot of well known people. The skills came so easily, I felt like I was born to produce. I shot over 50 music videos and worked on at least 5 movies. The last movie I did with his company won an award at the Pan African Film Festival. By then I had left him and didn’t get to get in because my ex husband was about to fight him because he spit in my face after throwing me out his studio. Before the breakup he asked me to write a short so we can shoot it but I broke up before it could it could be shot. I couldn’t take the abuse anymore. It was getting out of hand. About a year or so later, one of his clients reached out to me that I had worked for on a movie. She wanted me to teach her how to make a movie, she promised to shoot my movie if I taught her how to produce. I gave her all my books and mentored her as she produced her first movie. She did an awesome job. After she was done, she kept her promise and produced my short. We ended up falling out for a short time over creative control so the movie was scrapped after it won an award at a film festival and she pulled it out. One of the actors convinced me that I could shoot the movie myself. I trusted her and gave it a shot. I rewrote the script and tuned it into a feature then started casting. The movie was shot in 8 days. It was distributed by Maverick entertainment. It’s now available on TUBI TV and a host of other online streaming services.

Lakrishi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I got into this business by working with an ex boyfriend. He taught me how to gorilla film, make music videos, and movies. He bought me my first camera and taught me about business.. I am proud of my accomplishments that’s I’ve made and how many awesome connections and friendships that I’ve established in the indie community. Whenever I have advice or need help, I can call one of them. Readers can learn more about me by searching Lakrishi Kindred on Google. All my works will pop up on the feed. I work hard at what I do and the type of movies and books I like to put out are ones that can inspire and help others.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn how to say no and stop being a people pleaser. People will try to use you to get where you are. If they see they can’t get anything out of you, they will move on. I am very careful who I call my friends because I’m genuine with people but in the industry, some people put celebrities on a pedestal and I don’t. I treat everyone the same.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to create movies and write books to help people in toxic relationships. I’ve been in 3 relationships where I was manipulated and/ or verbally abused. I like to help people get mentally prepared to leave those types of relationships. That’s what my two movies and books are about.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @deshonelon
• Facebook: Deshon Elon
• Twitter: @lakrishiw
• Youtube: lakrishiw
• Other: TikTok @lakrishaqueen

Image Credits

I own the images