Meet Lakeisha Jackson | Screenwriter | Director | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lakeisha Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lakeisha, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I think the key to figuring out whether you should keep pushing forward with a dream or give it up is based on your gut instinct. If something has your stomach in knots and it is holding fast to you and not letting you go….then you need to see it through. No matter how difficult the road ahead may be. I think sometimes people miss out on their dreams because they throw in the towel too soon. If what you are trying to do is hard and makes you uncomfortable, then it’s probably exactly what you need to be doing in order to grow and thrive.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a filmmaker that started off afraid, timid, shy, and unsure of myself. These traits were not inherent in me but rather deposited by people I encountered in life whose influence sought to keep me small. It worked for a while and manifested in unhealthy habits, but when the lockdown happened I was forced to deal internally with what held me back. Sure those past actions and words, wounded me but I had carried them for far too long and let them limit me. They were weights both literally and figuratively, but I finally understood that I could control what I took into my future. Dragging the baggage of broken trust, dreams, and low self-esteem and I was bringing that into a place where I wanted to create TV and films that inspired others but was not going to work. So I had to change A LOT. I want to make entertainment that inspires, but I also had to pull from an honest place. How can I tell someone they can do and be anything in this world if I didn’t believe it of myself? Today, I feel a hell of a lot more comfortable telling young girls and women to stand proud, speak up and make their presence known. No longer will I hide in the shadows of my own life. I’ll step out in the sun and hold my head high. That is who I am, what I want people to feel when they watch something I create, and what the foundation of my production company Golden Hour Films is all about. The warm comforting glow of standing in your truth and purpose and being damn proud of who you are.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite spot in the city is near the Davie Pier in Davie Florida. Sitting on the sand, watching the waves slap the shore and the sun disappear on the horizon. It’s the only place I feel like myself most days.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to dedicate this to my amazing cast and crew. Without them, none of what we were able to accomplish would have happened. In no particular order these people are: -My amazing family supporting and inspiring me daily to never give up -Christopher Martell my first A.D as well as a ton of other responsibilities -Maro Molina -Ronald Reyes and his amazing parents the owners of Reyes Landscaping. -Saf Ahmad -Hugo Fuentes and his family, Isabelle and Luigi -Rachel Espendez her father Alex and her extended family -Bobby Tinoco -Jason Menz -Barbara Ryan and her family and friends -Annette and Ralph Farkas -Melanie Tonkin -Hayley Meagher -Charisma Adore

Website: www.shinynewthingstv.com

Instagram: instagraham: @writerljackson

Twitter: @gldnhourfilms

Facebook: facebook.com/shinynewthingstv