We were lucky to catch up with Tamika Lamison recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tamika, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

Without a doubt the best investment I have made in terms of both time and money is myself. There is an old saying in Hollywood: “Never use your own money. ” Well, I’d like to debunk that myth. The most impact I have ever had in my career is via personal investment with time and money. I will give you two examples. In 2019 just before Covid, I decided to shift my focus to my own creative career. I had spent much of the past few years, buildig my non-profit: Make A Film Foundation (www.makeafilmfoundation.org) and helping to create & develop Inclusion programs for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – like the Academy Gold Program & the CDDP-Commercial Directors Diversity Program (www.cddprogram.org) where I got to help women and historically under-represented communites, break into the commercial & advertising industry. I loved what I was doing but still felt the pull to focus on my own writing and filmmaking endeavors. Several of my showrunner friends whom I asked for advice, said: “Write an original Pilot- that’s what you need to do to breathe life into your writing career again.” So, that’s what I did. I invested about $1000 in a workshop that helped me work out the kinks, develop the pilot and come out with a great draft. And that Pilot: “B.E.E.S.- Black Excellence Experiencing Success” is the source of my newly emerging career success. It helped to get me my agents, my manager and several important meetings that have led to a writing assignment with a studio among other things. The 2nd example began about 10 months ago. I received a personal settlement from a company that behaved rather badly- and paid for their ‘sins’ (smile) with a settlement that included monetary compensation. I not only turned lemons into lemonade during my tenure at the company by getting several projects set up, sold into develpment at studios, funded and/or produced- but in addition- I used the money from that settlement- (which I found rather triggering)- to start my own production company- Maktub Media Entertainment. And I used the rest of the money to fund a personal passion project- “Superman Doesn’t Steal”- an award winnng short script that I wrote, directed and produced – based on true events. That short film- is already beginning to pay off and given me clear indicators that it will be a defining pivot in my career trajectory. So- I really can’t underscore the importance of investing in yourself. The money and the time that I have invested in myself, has already recouped my investment many times over. I encourage everyone to have their own skin in their game. If you want others to invest in you and believe in you- you must invest in and believe in yourself first.

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?

I have a long and winding road both as a creative and as an executive. I got into the industry initially as an actor- even though I was always writing. I studied journalism at Ameican U and then secretly switched my major to creative writing and performing arts while studying at Howard U as well. This led to me performing all over the country in regional theatre. I was always writing during this time. Finally I wrote my first script, “The Jar By the Door” which won several screenplay contests and was a Sundance Finalist. I was lucky to get that type of validation right off the bat. One of the contests that I won had a pretty large monetary sum attached and I used it to move to LA. Then I got into a few other high profile programs like the ABC/Disney Screenwriting Program, The CBS Directors Initiative, AFI’s Directing Workshop For Women and others. There didn’t seem to be a real mentorship component or space created for women or creatives of color at that time. So I continued to write several scripts and create independently- by writing/directing/producing short films. Then a friend asked me if I could do anything what would it be? I said aside from filmmaking- I would grant film wishes to kids in the Make-a-wish foundation. I felt like if that’s what I wanted to do- I should be doing it then. So I combined those two passions and Make A Film Foundation was born. Make A Film Foundation grants film wishes to children who have serious or terminal illnesses by teaming them with noted writers, directors, producers and actors- who help them to create short film legacies. The truth is being of service and supporting others is my default way of being. Creating something like this was an inevitability for me. This is how I cut my teeth as a producer. I had to put together major short film projects on a large scale with A-List talent in front of and behind the camera. Above the line talent included: Directors; Sam Raimi, Ted Melfi, Catherine Hardwick & Rodrigo Garcia. And Actors: Johnny Depp, Laura Dern, David Lynch, Kerry Washington, J,K. Simmons and so many more. Producing became second nature to me. And that’s how I began my corporate creative path with AMPAS, the DGA & the AICP. And eventually how I ended up as a Development Executive as well. Even while committing to these jobs I still worked creatively as a writer & director and served in my foundation. I was- and am- the ultimate multi-hyphenate. I can say without a doubt that I am most proud of the work I do with Make A Film Foundation. But I am also proud of the work I have done in support of other directors via the CDDP-Commercial Directors Diversity Program. Most recently- I am exceedingly proud- of the film I wrote, directed, produced and star in “Superman Doesn’t Steal”. I have always been able to take a little bit of money and a whole lot of magic to make miracles happen – for others- but I shined some of that alchemy on myself and it was incredible to experience the Universe respondeding- in the most extraordinary way.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In order to highlight my resilience, I will reflect back on two things I touched upon previously: Make A Film Foundation and my time at a production company in which I was forced to stand up for myself amidst some rather unsavory conditions. Both examples reveal how I turned lemons into lemonade. My very first script that I sold, “The Jar By the Door” was sold for 6 figures. I was ecstatic when I received the check. Shortly thereafter it was discovered that the check was bad. Devastated was an understatement. That is when I decided I didn’t want to ever let anything or anyone have control of my emotional state in that way. I wanted to use my talent and gifts for something more than just selling a script or making a movie- I mean, I wanted those things too- lol- don’t get me wrong- but I didn’t just want those things. I started to volunteer all around Los Angeles at various non-profits- many of them where I would teach filmmaking, theatre, screenwriting- I even taught chess to middle schoolers. I really loved giving back in this way. And that is when my friend asked me if I could do anything what would it be.? And I said- Filmmaking & Granting wishes to kids in the Make-A-Wish foundation. I created Make A FIilm Foundation a few months later. And I wouldn’t change a thing. It has helped me grow, expand and serve in ways I can never fully explain. It has transformed me- and my life. And it is the catalyst for so many things in my journey as a creative, producer, Exec., filmmaker & entertainment professional. The other really important incident is the more recent one where I was at a production company that had so much potential on the surface, but underneath was just virulent. The leadership was deeply flawed, creating an unhealthy environment. Ultimately I was given a settlement and I used those lemon flavored dollars (lol) to create sweet lemonade in the form of my production company and passion project film. And I haven’t looked back. These episodes allowed me to be reminded of my own courage & strength. Of my personal inner power & the power of my voice. And also that I had the most amazing manifestation skills when I allowed myself to trust, believe and have faith; in tandem with doing the work (mentally, emotionally and physically) to achieve my desires.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

What’s driving my creative journey is the hunger to tell unique stories- authentically. Especially stories that I have yet to see. And also to help, guide, support and mentor other filmmakers who have interesting stories with singular vision. I create out of a necessity to share my voice & my vision. And to do so in a genuine way- untethered if you will.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tamikalamison.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baobabt/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamika.lamison
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamikalamison/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alchemist26
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tamika+lamison+you+youtube+channel+
• Other: https://youtu.be/jKyTmTLI8tQ?si=19Ro9422L4BTzAyc https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/my-creative-careers/id1595686643

Image Credits
Arnold Turner Jenna Hagel Tiffany Ade Howard Franklin