For as long as I could remember I wanted to be a storyteller just like my grandmother. When I was young, she would stay with us on the weekends. Instead of telling me bedtime stories, she would tell stories of her past experiences which always ended in tears of laughter. Her punchlines were legendary and I would say, “Grams, you’re hysterical” and she’d sarcastically reply, “Oh yeah, I’m a scream.” We would then laugh even more. The best part, she had no idea how much those moments would shape my future.

After Grams passed, I decided to attend film school and learn to tell stories through filmmaking. I was fascinated by how actors and actresses could invoke emotion that was felt so deeply by the audience. I wanted so much to be a part of that. At the time, there weren’t many women from my neighborhood pursuing a career in film but I’ve always been one to break from the norm. I earned my BA in Film & Media Arts from Temple University and was hired at the Mary Anne Claro Talent Agency, where I learned the business of acting.

Recognizing my passion for production, Mary Anne referred me to Producer, Diane Kirman and Executive Producer James Bolin. They were in the midst of producing the children’s musical feature film, Standing Ovation and brought me onto the production as an Assistant to Director, Stewart Raffill. Diane and Stewart have opened many doors for me and introduced me to the legendary Barbra Streisand. At the time, Barbra was looking for an Executive Assistant and I landed an interview. I met with her on Thursday and started work on a Friday. I was a part of many exciting projects with Barbra like Paramount’s “The Guilt Trip” and “Back to Brooklyn,” both as part of the international and domestic tours.

I had my directing debut with the comedy “Turkey’s Done,” featuring SNL’s Cheri Oteri. The film not only captivated audiences but also garnered significant recognition, securing top honors such as Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Comedy at esteemed film festivals across the United States and Canada. Among these accolades were prestigious awards from the Just for Laughs Film Festival in Vancouver, the Women’s Film Festival of Philadelphia, and the Burbank International Film Festival.

Recently, I’ve directed my first music video titled “Which Way to Go,” featuring the multi- talented Malek Hanna. The music video is an official selection at the Women’s Film Festival of Philadelphia and will screen opening night on Thursday, September 21st. Currently, I’m immersed in the development of the feature film, “Ready, Set, Christmas” and the series titled “Agency.”