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Where did you grow up? Any Interesting facts about your upbringing? 

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​​I'm a native New Yorker and I was practically born into show business. My mother is actor Sandra Reaves-Phillips - she played Mrs. Powers (the music teacher) on Lean on Me. She also did musicals and theater. She was pregnant with me while she was recording, so folks like to joke and say that I was in a womb of influence. Just watching her process her work intrigued me. Seeing a production go from the first day of rehearsal to opening night was powerful for me. Then, at the age of eight, my mom realized that I could sing, so she started having me udition  at local community theater. At the age of 13, I had my first professional show and I never look back.

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What sparked your interest in becoming a filmmaker? 

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​Well, I’ve been a storyteller and question-asker since I can remember. During my time as an acting coach, students would ask, “Can you coach me?” That would eventually lead to, “Can you direct my short film?” This was great because I always wanted to direct. I had stories of my own to tell, I just didn’t know how it would come to be. So I took a writing class to hone my writing skills. I also took a directing class. Anytime I wanted to learn something new, I took a new class or workshop to help me. I like to learn what I want to know then enhance it with experience. It really all came together pretty organically.

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​I love the filmmaking process; although it definitely has its ups and downs. It's like a battle where you come up against so many obstacles. Sometimes those obstacles are within your own camp. But I absolutely love being on set and the interactions between me and the actors.

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Tell us about your film, 'Melinda.' What was the inspiration behind its launch?

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​It’s a suspense thriller inspired by my performance in Medea (by Euripides) at the National Black Theater. It’s a play that takes place in Greece about a woman who killed her children out of revenge when her husband left her for a younger woman. We did twelve shows and after every show, I was so disturbed by the ending and constantly wished I could change it. It sat on my spirit even after the show was finished.  But my curiosity about Filicide –the deliberate act of a parent killing their own child – was also peaked, so I started researching it more.

Around this time there was also a rash of parents killing their kids. Each time I heard about it, it upset me. I always kept going back to Medea as a reference, so I decided to put this into a modern day story of how it could happen to one woman. The way I’ve written it, there are many lessons in terms of infidelity and holding true to your vows. The film also sheds a light on childhood abuse and the importance of self-love. It's filled with a variety of elements.

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So you've got some pretty phenomenal actors on board your film project. What was that process like? 

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I’m still auditioning, but I do have some incredible actors so far! Lechonce, who plays the lead, Melinda, won the Tony for the first Color Purple on Broadway and she is incredible. She and I have known each other for years. She read it and immediately said yes. I taught Terri Vaughn while in Atlanta, so we already had a relationship. When I started writing the scipt, Terri popped into my head. She read it and loved it. Monifah and I have been working together since 2011. I trust her with this character, Hannah, who is the overseer. Tara Wallace came to me recently as a student. She read the full script and decided she wanted to sign on. I met Lillias White, who starred as Fat Annie on the Netflix series, The Get Down, on the Broadway circuit, When I got to the priestess, I just saw her in the role. I reached out to her and she told me to let her know when I was ready. 

It's blessings like these that make me extremely grateful. To have people of this caliber belive in the story enough, to trust me to direct them, and their willingness to help me bring this story to life. I can't find enough words to express the feeling.  

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