Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanequa Reed.
Hi Shanequa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all started during my freshman year in high school. We were not fortunate to have a TV and Film Department like we currently have at Lancaster High School (Dallas, TX). There was an elective called Theater Production, and that class sparked my interest in wanting to create my own content. I wrote, directed, and edited my first short film (disclaimer: don’t do this at home kids) taking my parent’s car for a joy ride.
My family was my cast and crew and they have to this day been very supportive of my imagination.
Like most transplants, I moved to LA to be a small fish in a big pond, to stand out in 2009 I created my first “professional” short film, not my grandmother’s VHS recorder with poster boards as the rolling credits. I played sports for the majority of my life and always loved female action-driven films or seeing women in those tough roles; hence a badass detective was in the works. This journey wasn’t to just become an actress but a producer to help change the narrative and also shed light on things we take for granted.
It’s a wonderful feeling to see a thought put on paper transposed into something living and breathing (tangible).
Alright, 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?
If it’s too easy why bother? I’m always up for a challenge. My next biggest obstacle is raising funding for a feature film “College Reunion”. It’s about a retired housewife that finally attempts to attend her 45th college reunion and the walls come tumbling down, reminding her why she didn’t want to go in the first place. It’s a dramedy, and we are in talks with a few recognizable names along with talent Tonea Stewart (“A Time to Kill”, “In the Heat of the Night”, “American Horror Story”, “Rap Sh!t”…) accepting the role of Shirley.
We have partnered with a nonprofit production company to help us raise funds for the movie and also for schools.
We want every child to have a college reunion; it starts with our K-12. The film will also raise awareness of HBCU schools. I attended UAPB (the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) in the field of Computer Science. 120 HBCUs operated in the past and currently, we only have 101, we can’t let them diminish. For more information on how to help go to our website acollegereunion.com.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an actor first and foremost. But when I’m not acting or producing projects, I honestly enjoy being a 1st AD. It’s a great responsibility to help carry out a film from the beginning to the end.
Especially, when the cast and crew are depending on you to get the schedule together, keep great time management, and more importantly get every shot. I pride myself on helping the director move the story along in an efficient way, even though some try to get overly ambitious. At the end of the day, we have to remember why we got into show business and how great it is to be around like-minded individuals.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking.
Without any risk who and where will I be? Seriously. On Hallow’s Eve, I guy tried to rob me at a gunpoint. I risked my safety by removing a long barrel shotgun from my face and voraciously took off in reverse to my safety. Not knowing if my actions created an adverse reaction but the finger pulled the trigger piercing 3 holes inside my headrest, back middle seat, and my roof–spreading over my head resembling a halo. Blessed that my body was leaning more toward the right because there was no way of knowing the alternate outcome. Thankful only a glass fragment was a hair shy from my pupil to keep my eyesight.
Thankful for only a pinched nerve to my left shoulder blade from the spray to my right arm. Thankful to be living to tell the tale. I took a risk. And I truly believe my risk saved my life. We are only given one life. How will you choose it? I choose to live. Living is being in control of your destiny by manifesting things that make you happy, in this short span of life we have on earth. Each day is a blessing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/shanequa363
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/shanequareed
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/shanequa363
