Today we’d like to introduce you to Alana Marie.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Alana. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Let’s see. I’ll try to keep it engaging but concise. I always had an interest in working in the creative space but didn’t see it as a revenue-generating opportunity. I’ve worked in academia since graduating from undergrad in 2012 and would do creative work on the side. I started with blogging and eventually getting picked up on national publications like xoNecole, Blavity, The Root and Delux Mag. I went back to school in 2015 to get my Masters Degree in Social Work because of my passion for working within the Black community – specifically within college access and social & economic development in low-income areas. I hit a wall because I knew I wanted to do this work but I didn’t have an interest in being a traditional social worker – not just because the pay sucks but also because it didn’t leave room for my creative passions to roam free. It was in my graduate program, where I activated my passion for storytelling (even more). I continued to write, launched my own personal blog and began pre-production work on my very first documentary.
The documentary is titled The Kinloch Doc and it’s about the rise and demise of Missouri’s First Black City: Kinloch, MO. My father’s side of the family is from this community and through this process, I learned so much about the art of filmmaking and storytelling but also about my bloodline and why I am the way that I am.
As of now, I was able to finish the rough cut of the documentary pre-COVID and hosted a sold-out community screening at a local history museum this past February. In April, I launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise post-production funds for the documentary and I successfully raised over $25K IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC! Now my team and I are working to bring this film to a close and discussing broadcast/distribution opportunities.
In the meantime, I’ve been keeping my camera in my hand via photography/videography, as well as moving into the consulting/coaching space. None of us knows what the economy is going to look like once all of this is over, nor do we know when all of this will be over but bills still need to be paid. I am taking all of my natural gifts, passions, and interests and turning it into a service-based business to help other content creators.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Tuh! I wish. I am: A first-gen college student, first-gen entrepreneur, was a single mom until my daughter was nine, novice filmmaker with no film degree or previous film experience immersing herself in a white-male saturated industry, going to an expensive ass school for social work only to learn I didn’t want to practice social work mid-program.
But God’s grace is sufficient and He has sustained me throughout this entire journey. A lot of YouTube University, Linkedin Courses, on the job training, informational interviews, etc. I was open to learning and had to learn how to be open to criticism since I was getting into an industry I knew nothing about.
Please tell us about iAM Productions.
iAM prod, LLC is a video production and digital content company. I offer natural light/portrait photography, videography, video editing services, and content consulting. I help novice documentary filmmakers and digital content creators move their content from ideation to execution. People often regard me as a superb storyteller and I integrate that on all of my platforms from my blog, to my social media captions, to my documentary films.
I am most proud of how much I’ve been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time and without any formal education. To create my first documentary and raise $25K as a first-time filmmaker, pull in 4-figure contracts with non-profit agencies to produce, shoot, and edit video content for their organizations, and be sought out by brands to help them develop and execute their content is a blessing. I enjoy getting paid to do things that I naturally am good at and enjoy doing. What sets me apart is I actively integrate my social work training in my creative work. What drives me is my desire to want to know the “why.” I carry that empathy with all of my clients and it helps make our interactions fun, engaging and purposeful. I care about people’s stories and I convey that in work I produce.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I am the middle child and the only girl between two brothers. My brothers and I used to take blankets and covers and make forts in our bedrooms by tucking one end of the covers into the bunk bed and the other end into the drawers. We would make a claim on our specific sections of the fort and get our favorite snacks and hide out there all night either watching WWE Monday Night Raw, Cartoon Network, or something on the Disney Channel.
Pricing:
- Photography (contact for pricing)
- 60 Min Content Clarity Sessions $97
- Documentary Consultations $125
Contact Info:
- Website: www.iamalanamarie.com
- Email: iamalanamarie@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamalanamarie
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/iam_alanamarie
- Other: www.thekinlochdoc.com
Image Credit:
Main photo is taken by Jasmyn Renee
Images of Me were captured by Erica Jones, Nyara Williams, and Lindy Drew.
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