Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leisha LaCarla . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Leisha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I’ll begin with my relocation to Dallas, Texas. In pursuit of taking success to the next level, I moved from upstate NY with only a few hundred dollars in my account. I financed the majority of my expenses with credits cards. I had not been familiar with Dallas prior to coming, so there were no family or friends waiting here to greet me. It was a scary and bold move, however I refused to be controlled by the fear.
My next major risk involved leaving an unhealthy relationship that had me creatively bound. Although I had no continuous income at the time, I left without warning and barely survived on my savings. The average person would have used most of those funds for upcoming rent/mortgage, bills, food, clothing, etc. That sounds like the wisest and safest thing to do. I used the majority of the resources to invest into a film project, something I could “flip”. With a selfless heart, I also invested into the business ventures of others.
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 background and context?
I’m Leisha Lacarla, aside from being a mother and minister, I’m also an actress, producer, and creator. This is not an easy job, but I love it. When the world around me is crumbling, this is what gives me life! I was first introduced to acting and producing at 8 years old in my grandmother’s backyard. My uncle decided to film a homemade movie about the modern day prodigal son (a bible story). My role was the prodigal son! Yep, I dressed like a boy with big baggy jeans, used eyeliner to draw a beard on my face, and wore a cap turned to the back.
I now own a production company called UnLeished productions. It’s name was derived from my name, Leisha. The inspiration behind the name UnLeished represents being free to walk into my calling without fear or regret. I work on my own projects as well as in collaboration with others on their film/tv projects.
As a creator / producer, I conceptualize show ideas and storylines, hire excellent team members to help bring it to life, oversee each phase of the project from beginning to end, and search for the best distribution outlets. As of June 2022, I am working on pitching a show centered around 4 AMAZING chefs to major networks. Be on the lookout for ‘5 Star Chef’, hosted by Claudia Jordan.
A genuine love for people is what sets UnLeished productions apart from others. It is built on the foundation of love for humanity. I see all individuals as precious gifts to this world and they are my inspiration. No one is too big and no one is too small. My desire is that we all experience freedom from the pressures of this world.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I did not understand early on how important having a social media presence was going to be for my business. I recently developed a social media presence and I wish I had taken advantage of those tools a long time ago. I believe that my many years of absence from social media may have served as a disadvantage to advancing the business. This is definitely something I wish I had understood early on. I’m trying to do better in that regard. I recently developed an Instagram account. Please follow @UnLeished Productions and @Leisha Lacarla.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The mission driving my creative journey is a love for people. There are messages and resources that I desire to share with the world. What better way to do that than to use my own passion and talents to accomplish this?
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @UnLeished Productions
- Facebook: @Leisha Lacarla
- Other: Instagram: @Leisha Lacarla
Image Credits
Clarence Morris