Today we’d like to introduce you to Lioness Telaine
Hi Lioness, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I got my start in radio, although my main focus for most of my life was film. Over time, I realized that I’m passionate about many entertainment fields and enjoy them all. I attended Columbia College Chicago for film production and when I relocated to Dallas, one of the first industries I got into was radio.
Being a film major, I purchased a DSLR camera and filmed promotional videos for businesses and local artists for a year or two, and then I met the owner of an online radio station while filming for a radio show based in Houston, called 979TheBox.
He asked me if I was ever interested in doing radio. I told him no because I wasn’t. I never thought about doing radio as film and video were my focus.
He told me to think about it and to contact him if I wanted to start my own online show. I left the studio and considered it heavily. Somehow, I became interested and very much excited about the thought. I considered it and a month later, I launched my first online radio show, on December 31, 2015, going into the new year of 2016.
Being in the radio industry, I was able to connect with a multitude of people which helped propel my career and aided me in establishing and developing a media brand.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was never a “smooth” road for me. Some things got easier as I progressed in my career but never easy. I always had to work and earn my space. The space I took up in the field was earned. It took time, trial and error, investment, knowledge, experience, contacts, passion, and a lot of time navigating around snakes and people who don’t have your best interest at heart.
In the industry, there are a lot of people who have the same common goal, and not everyone you experience along your journey will be integral or earn their space. Some people want to overshine, overlook, steal and walk over you to get what they want . Some people want to skip steps and soar to the finish line when they forget that the entire process is a journey.
As a black woman, sometimes you aren’t paid as much, you’re not given the best roles, and you’re overlooked and underappreciated. Sometimes, people want to box you in and categorize you and your talents and honestly, you just have to fight through it and surge past it.
However, not everyone lacks integrity. You will also meet great people along the way. People who will help and support you and back you the entire way. And then you will also meet and experience people who are only there to help for a short period of time. And that’s okay because again, it’s a journey, never a destination. Enjoy every part of it while you can.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a film producer and movie director. I’ve been recently labeled as one of the first to produce a full-feature science-fiction film in Dallas. There have been one or 2 other commercial films that have been filmed in various Dallas-Forth Worth locations but not produced in Dallas.
Dynasty The Movie, my sci-fi franchise is my directorial debut starring renowned American rapper, Lil Flip, a native of Houston, TX.
I’ve done other film and video projects with Apple TV, international recording artist, Gucci Mane, and many more. I’ve also played lead and supporting roles in a few independent movies streaming on Apple TV, Tubi, Vudu, and Prime Video.
I specialize in all things production, visually, audibly, and technically. I was nicknamed “the Queen of locations” because of the never-before-seen and unique locations I find for high-profile projects.
I’m a great writer and currently has a poetry album with music behind it titled “Colouring Outside the Matrix”, streaming all on all music platforms. Be sure to check it out!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
For mentorship, you always wanna find someone who is doing what you’re doing on a higher level. You want to learn their healthy ways and business practices. Learn from them and scale your talents and passions from what you learn. Keep elevating your craft and passions and connect with mentors in those new spaces. Repeat and enjoy.
Networking is always about knowing how to read people and learn from them. This can be considered a short form of mentorship. It’s about exchanging information and gaining information, contacts, potential friendships, and mentorships. You never know who you’ll rub elbows with or who in the room can help aid you in your professional and/or personal journey.
It’s about being yourself and attracting the right individuals to you by being that. It’s about collaboration and partnership.
Make sure to be bold and confident in the room and own your skills. Sale yourself!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://LionessTeLaine.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lionesstelaine/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dynastythemovie9612
Image Credits
@copyrighted by Lioness TeLaine
