By Stephanie Woods-McKinney
Ready for a new type of storytelling featuring unfamiliar faces with an entertainment giant, then the film “The Lady Makers” is for you, and be ‘privileged’ not everyone will get it.
The New York Association of Black Journalists in Harlem, and young women from ‘Marian Hall’ a community group residence that houses young girls- were recently invited to a private screening and Q&A for his latest independent film titled “The Lady Makers” in New York City.
The screening was an opportunity for these young girls from Marian Hall to have a private moment to not only see the film but to have the opportunity to meet the cast.
During the Q&A, Jasmine Guy took the opportunity to give the young ladies a lesson. Mrs. Guy advised them to think about careers in film, not to simply watch, but to learn about careers in film.
Jasmine took the time to advise them “don’t just focus on acting think about other opportunities such as writing, photography, wardrobe, sound, editing (don’t block the industry) because the movie industry needs you, and now is the time to shape your life.”
TV/Film producer, writer, and editor Tony Tite is a one-man cinematic and entertainment beast who has made his own star mark in entertainment.
“What makes a woman, Everything that doesn’t break her” – Jasmine Guy
His massive list of work includes print, music, screenplays and teleplays, and over 170 musical compositions which include a deal with Sony Music.
Tony’s latest featured film titled “The Lady Makers” is a narrative full of lessons where every sentence is an inspiring quote or reminds you of summers spent in the South.
The story moves slowly like a soft breeze, but the film peaks while taking you on a ride of hardships, despair, and glory.
Watch the transition as three Jewish women mold three rough young girls from unpolished jewels to precious refined women and witness their transition from pens to swans.
The story is holistically based on Tony’s memories from his childhood growing up in Mississippi. Tite recalls a group of Black women forming an organization called’ The Mothers of Pearl’ and it was there where a young Tite was able to watch young women being mentored and groomed into respectable, dignified, and honorable women.
The Film guest starred NAACP Image Award-winning actress Jasmine Guy, famously known for her southern charming and loved snood Whitley-in ‘A Different World’ while showcasing new talent and seasoned actors such as Penelope Grover, Sallye Hooks, Amber Reign Smith, Danielle Madison, Lupe Leon, Isa Goldberg, and E. Warren Davis and a host of other wonderful talents.
One would wonder how or why a ‘Black’ man would inspire to write and direct a film about young girls coming of age, or rites of passage for women, but Tony will tell you directly “I am a Black Man who lived in New York, I was raised in Mississippi and my mother was a maid for a Jewish family for 42 years” I watched my mother send 3 of my sisters to college and I watched my five sisters deal with men and the adversities of what they went through in my community as a young boy and I have a story to tell.
“Does a rose have thorns or do thorns have a rose?”- The Lady Maker
Tony’s other films have included ‘Confessions of a White Girl, My Parents, My Sister & Me, Hu’s The Man,’ and a host of other films, and animations under his very own streaming network titled “Global Star Media Television.”
Tite Creations, LLC is souring, and Tony is getting better and bigger in his movie making and leading actress Jasmine Guy was listening.
Tite told the young ladies, that his job as a writer, director, and producer was easy-he allowed the cast to do what they do best by staying out of their way.
He didn’t overshadow the actors-he enjoyed being able to watch the process of the moviemaking without interfering-and according to Tony he trusted them as professionals.
And Mrs. Guy and the rest of the cast appreciated that-and that allowed them to work even better.
Stephanie Woods-McKinney
Stephanie Woods-McKinney is a Bronx native who graduated Magna Cum Laude from The College of New Rochelle with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts. She is a vocal community activist who sits on Community Board #10 in the Bronx; is a Co-chair of the Youth & Education Committee and holds a deep love for ‘Hip Hop and community activism.
Stephanie writes throughout NYC, and Harlem, she has also received countless awards and letters of recognition for her hip-hop photojournalism and the most recent ‘Citation of Merit’ from then Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-w-2637a229/
Photo credit: 1) Jasmine Guy. 2) Tony Tite, Jasmine Guy and NYABJ Member: Kenneth Miles. 3) Jasmine Guy and Marian Hall invitees. 4) The Lady Maker Casts( left-right) Isa Goldberg; Jasmine Guy; Penelope Grover; Sallye McDougald Hooks and far-right Director Tony Tite. by Stephanie Woods-McKinney.
