Help Me Kickstart My Career as a Film & TV Producer!

Hi, I’m Shaye, and after years of working behind the scenes in education, building creative communities online, and reviewing movies and TV shows, I’m finally taking a step into the spotlight and making a bold leap to pursue a dream of mine, becoming a Film and TV producer. Can you help me make this dream come true? If so, please donate today and share this with everyone you know! Especially, those looking to see more joy-filled, diverse stories on the big screen. Not convinced? Keep reading ...

After months of second-guessing this dream and a whole lot of what-ifs, I did it! I closed my eyes, swallowed my fears, and submitted my application! And I'm proud to say that I've been accepted into the New York Film Academy's Producing Workshop—a hands-on 12-week intensive program in NYC that will give me the skills and network to finally start producing films and shows that reflect the stories we don’t get to see enough of on screen.

But being a single mom to a teen means I can't go after my dreams, without putting my pride aside, and doing the thing I hate the most, asking for help!

Why I Need Your Help

While the opportunity to step out into the world and finally do something for myself is powerful, it's also a bit expensive. Between tuition, supplies, software, and transportation, the costs of going back to school can quickly add up. And if I want to start this Fall, I’m going to have to raise $8,000 by August to cover:

Tuition & Fees: $4,590

Required Software & Equipment: $400

Transportation (3 months of commuting): $750

Meals, coffee, & class networking expenses: $350

Supplies, books, and other creative tools: $250

Emergency/Support fund for my daughter while I’m in class: $1,000

Contingency for any surprises or extra costs: $660

Yup, the Producer in me couldn't help but create a budget.

This workshop is more than just a class—it’s the first step toward building a career I’ve dreamed of for years. A chance to take all of my passion for storytelling and turn it into real-world experience. And while it is expensive, it will be worth it in the long run!

But as someone who's already living paycheck to paycheck, and making their daughter's dreams come true as a competition dancer, there aren't any extra funds left over to help this mama make her own dreams come true! So I need YOUR help!

Why This Workshop Matters

You’re not just helping me go back to school—you’re investing in:

A Black Female Producer who wants to center joy, representation, and magic in her work

A single mom who’s showing her daughter what it means to dream big and chase that dream hard, even if that means asking for help (and)

A creative voice committed to building community, uplifting untold stories, and creating spaces for more of us to escape, dream, and be seen

This workshop is only the beginning of my career!

But I'm hoping that after getting some hands-on experience, I'll be able to confidently help other Black creatives produce their projects, enter film festivals, and tell more joy-filled stories that uplift us, inspire us, and make us laugh. Because my job as a Producer will be to help create more stories of Black joy! Not Black trauma.

So Here's How You Can Help

Any amount—$5, $25, $100—gets me closer to the classroom and to the career I’m currently building. So please donate what you can.

If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this campaign with your network, your friends, and family members, because every bit helps.

And if you’d like to follow my journey, I’ll be sharing updates from class, behind-the-scenes content, and sneak peeks at my first produced project via my newsletter, Instagram, and TikTok.

For those of you who are reading this and have pushed me over the years to follow my dreams, thank you for believing in me! It's because of you, I was confident enough to take this next step. And to those of you who may not have known me before, but are rooting for me to win. I appreciate you more than you'll ever know! So thank you as well!

It means the world to me that you're here and that you're interested in seeing more diverse stories on screen!

Thank you for helping me make this dream come true!

With love,

Shaye