Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lisamarie Thomas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lisamarie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?
Since stepping away from my job shortly after COVID began, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the journey of building my own business, Lisamarie Thomas Publishing, into what I hope will become an empire. Today, I am not only an ordained minister but also the CEO and owner of multiple ventures, each dedicated to making a positive impact and fostering growth in various fields:
– **God’s Plan Pictures (LMP Film Co)**
– **Lisamarie Distribution and Film Production Company**
– **LMP Financial Services**
– **LMP Media Group**
– **Lisamarie Thomas Publishing LLC**
– **Lisamarie Thomas National Alliance of Social Justice**
– **The Church of Spiritual Growth**
– **The Purpose Project (Non-Profit)**
– **Lisamarie Thomas LLC**
– **Turned Out The Movie LLC**
– **The ME Doll Corporation**
I encourage everyone to consider the value of building generational wealth through business ownership, intellectual property, and the pursuit of financial freedom. Creating a legacy and gaining financial independence isn’t just rewarding—it’s life-changing.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Transitioning from corporate and customer service roles to becoming a business owner has been incredibly fulfilling for me. My career journey has taken me through over a dozen jobs, from my early days at Chuck E. Cheese to roles with TurboTax, Apple, Owlet, Walmart, Ford, Hyundai, and Chevrolet. These experiences in customer service and technical support taught me invaluable skills in business management, leadership, time management, sales, and human resources.
Throughout my twenties, I also freelanced in graphic design, website development, and business setup, which honed my creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. Although I never planned to become an author, screenwriter, or film producer, each job helped me develop the skills necessary to start and operate my own companies. I began by publishing books, leaning on Google as a resource, and soon found myself immersed in building a successful business, acquiring skills like ISBN ownership, grant and loan applications (winning two in my first year!), and eventually, film production.
The decision to produce a movie brought its own challenges. Initially, we aimed for a feature film, but budget constraints led us to pivot to a short film that ran the festival circuit. Despite setbacks, including technical mishaps and going over budget, our prequel, *Turned Out*, completed filming in June 2023. After editing, we submitted it to festivals and were thrilled with the results: *Turned Out* premiered at 28 festivals worldwide and took home nine awards, including Best Child Actress in London, Best Short Film, and Best Women’s Film.
Now, as we prepare for the production of our first limited series and feature film, *#TurnedOutTheMovie*, we’re also launching unique merchandise: *The ME Doll*. This lifelike, highly interactive doll is designed in the likeness of our characters and offers 35+ features, from age progression and lace installations to Bluetooth connectivity and a personalized life plan. The doll also includes wearable tech with a *Guardian Alert System* that uses predictive analysis to track activities, health, and emotional well-being—a tool designed to promote safety and wellness.
With a patent pending on this innovation, I’m proud to announce that pre-orders for *The ME Doll* will be available soon. It’s rewarding to look back and see how these career experiences have shaped not only my business journey but also these unique projects I’m excited to bring to life.
Have you ever had to pivot?
When I first embarked on making a film, I hadn’t grasped just how much it would really cost. With about $80,000 set aside, I initially thought this would be enough for a full feature film. As I began connecting with seasoned industry professionals—including the cinematographer of the hit series *911*—I learned that $80,000 would only scratch the surface of what I needed. With minimal knowledge of production, I quickly realized that success would require me to absorb everything I could from my team.
Taking their advice, I decided to create a short film first to learn the ins and outs of filmmaking, from budgeting to overcoming the unexpected hurdles. This prequel was a significant investment, costing me a self-funded $56,000. Despite the inevitable mistakes along the way, I was thrilled with the outcome. By embracing this “trial run” approach, I now feel much more prepared for my next production.
The most rewarding part of building and actively running my companies is the constant learning experience. Every day, I’m becoming more knowledgeable and more capable, and I’m excited to see how both I and these ventures will grow over the next five years.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
This is a pretty incredible story. After creating a plan for the feature film, I was looking for soundtrack artists.
One of our new cast members was driving for Uber and had a customer. He had just got cast for our film and was excited, so he spread the word to a few people.
One of his customers, a girl named Velma Rae was interested. She was a rap recording artist and had been wondering/praying on how to get her music into movies!!
After her referral, I LOVED her music and wanted her to feature on the soundtrack album.
Additionally, I found out later that she, and both of her kids could act.
They all auditioned and got the parts honestly!
Following, about a week of the casting;
I gathered the cast, crew and soundtrack for a welcome meeting.
After the meeting for about 2-3 hours, Velma and I stayed on video chat, organizing and developing ideas.
Moving on to the short film, Velma took the reigns and handled almost every part of the production and directing alongside myself.
After the filming and awards, our crew started planning the next production. That’s when I realized that Velma had been the brains behind our Best Selling Short Film.
Concluding. VELMA RAE went from Soundtrack Artist, to Associate Producer to Executive Produce and will be one of the FILM DIRECTORS of our next feature film/limited series productions.
#TURNEDOUTTHEMOVIE
Contact Info:
- Website: https://turnedoutthemovie.wixsite.com/turnedoutthemovie
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnedoutthemov/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamarie-thomas-295142217
- Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/explore/search/keyword/?q=%23turnedoutthemovie
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@turnedoutthemov?si=9ULLz3fm01zUveSI
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tags/turnedoutthemovie/popular-tracks
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27733438/
