Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to LaRae Wilson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

LaRae, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My mission is to bring the film industry to my hometown Indianapolis, Indiana. My goal is to build a movie studio and film upcoming projects and hire local talent in Indianapolis.

I was always a little odd egg, I found myself in my room most nights drawing and creating art that no one would ever see. I used to make perfume out of flowers and water, melt my mother’s lipsticks to make one large lipstick multi-colored lipstick and I would sleep with leaves in my bed. Flash forward 35 years, no wonder I ended up in the movie industry. Luckily for me, I was accepted into the magnet program at Shortridge Junior High for music and language. This is where I met “MY PEOPLE! Shortridge was filled with the most talented and creative students in Indianapolis and I was proud to be considered one of them!

I moved to Los Angeles at 19 years old. This is where my creative career began. I found the fashion and movie industry, or maybe it found me. Either way, I found my path.

While in Los Angeles, I took my love of creating and to the next level. I taught myself to sew and became a celebrated Fashion Designer. With my design experience on my resume, I decided spread my creative wings. I went into Costume Designing for feature films, I become a member costume design union, a writer, and Director.

My mission to bring the film industry can open several doors for artists and other creatives in the mid-west. I want to pave a path for kids in Indianapolis to use their creativity without leaving the state. I remember being a kid and telling my mother that I was going to make jobs for my community. I am a few steps closer to making my childhood dream a reality.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My brand is now a business and it’s ever evolving with me. The final destination is still unknown, but the journey is where the beauty and artistry is.

My first career was in the education industry. I did everything from teaching students, training principals to building schools and supporting over 100 schools as an education specialist. I found success in the education industry but uninspired with my career. I knew there was more to my life, so I prayed to God. I asked, “Where my life was going and why I was dreading my daily grind”? I listened for a response and immediately, I had visions of a clothing line. I didn’t sew or have a sewing machine at the time, that was just a little unsettling. But, I have faith that my prayer was answered and I needed to just be obedient. I spent several months on youtube learning to sew.

I found my voice as a designer, I produced a ready to wear line that got noticed during LA Fashion Week. I won a reality competition fashion show, and was featured designer on runways across the United States. My success with fashion, brought me to make the leap into Costume Design. I designed a small short film, “Awful Pretty” for $250. I WAS IN MY HEAVEN!!! The pace is wild on a movie set, but my problem solving, sewing skills and creativity makes me a perfect fit for the industry. I have been a costume designer on over 50 projects, including international projects in Lima, Peru.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, I wrote and produced a feature film, “Social Disturbance” a psychological thriller. It was a labor of love from me and the entire team. We had a premiere for “Social Disturbance”, Summer 2022 in Indianapolis.

My art and business is ever changing and growing, and I thank God for that! Currently, I am in development on our 3rd project, “House of Illusions”, where I am the writer and director. In the meantime our series, Fire is scheduled for release fall of 2023.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I love being from Indianapolis, even though I live in Los Angeles. It is time for me to give back to the place that shaped my creativity in the first place.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I love being able to express myself through my art, tell stories about people who look like me while enlightening others. I write female led stories, that explore the complex lives of women, without exploiting or sexualizing them. My scripts delve into mental health, social and economic issues with a strong dose of humor. I bring light to issues that need to be explored while still being entertained.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mainstagecostumes.com
• Instagram: laraemycheldesigns
• Facebook: LaRae Mychel White
• Linkedin: LaRae Wilson
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6693172/