Today we’d like to introduce you to Khadijah Louis Fanaka.
Khadijah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m originally from the greater Los Angeles area and I left to attend school at Howard University. I was there four years, got a degree in business and allowed that place to pour into me everything I didn’t know I needed. Then I came back home a more well-rounded and driven person, motivated by all the experiences and in awe of all the inspiration that place embodied.
I was ready to pursue a career in entertainment marketing, but I couldn’t find a job for what felt like forever. There was odd job after odd job, interview after interview, and no after no. Then one day a fellow alumna told me she couldn’t help me with a marketing job, but I could help her with the stage plays she writes. That was it, that was the catalyst, from then on production was my new passion. Started off as a PA, then I built a rapport and made more connections which led to more jobs and more responsibility on sets. Four years later and I’m an all-around creator going after the dreams I was too afraid to embrace at one point.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Nothing about pursuing this path has been smooth or easy. For one, LA is the entertainment capital of the world, so the market is beyond saturated. I had to learn that if you don’t know someone who knows someone, you’re basically a needle in a haystack. When I first got back to LA. I was convinced that I had to get back into a big studio. I was on a lot interviewing every other day, but nothing stuck.
Secondly, LA is also expensive, very expensive, so you have to have some type of hustle/income to survive here. Once I was able to finally get work, I took roles at companies that weren’t aligned with my true goals, so they didn’t serve me. A lot of days, I was either miserable or complacent. I had to go out of my way to stay afloat and still feed my soul. Hindsight is 2020 though, so now I see that it’s all been worth it. The trials have definitely built my patience.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Produced By Khadijah – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Produced by Khadijah started as a hashtag that my cousin commented on one of my Facebook posts and it’s become my brand. I’ve been fortunate enough to work alongside talented visionaries who have trusted me to help produce their babies. I produce short films, tv shows, live events and interviews. I am proud of the growth I’ve experienced and the community I’ve built and continue to build. I’ve worked with all different types of people, but what I love most is that black people, specifically black women have always been at the forefront. I love us, creating with us, the voices we have and I never plan to stop.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Moving forward, I’m going to get bigger and better. Bigger ideas, bigger projects, and bigger budgets. I’m ready to be in new rooms. I plan to start producing my own content and bringing my own thoughts to life. I also have other arms of my business in the works that’ll feed into the community of daydreamers, dreamchasers and way-makers that I work with, admire and aspire to be like.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khadijahfanaka/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/producedbykhadijah
Image Credit:
Dawn Marie @dawniemarie
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