Private Project

What Somalia Wants

In this gentrified Harlem dramedy series, Somalia LaMine, a Black deaf fashion designer, pop-up store owner, and TikTok influencer experiences new challenges and hilarious situations associated with the pressures and demands of a Gen Z era.

  • Jade Bryan
    Director
    The Two Essences, The Shattered Mind
  • Jade Bryan
    Writer
    The Two Essences, The Shattered Mind
  • Jade Bryan
    Producer
    The Two Essences, The Shattered Mind
  • Katrina Nicole Parker
    Key Cast
    "Somalia La'Mine"
  • Gabriel Silva
    Key Cast
    "Hennessy "Honey" Taino"
  • Juana Aguilar
    Key Cast
    "Sarita Pagen"
  • Artimes Salazar
    Key Cast
    "Camille"
  • Julian Henderson
    Key Cast
    "Jovan Andre"
  • Tasia Jacobs
    Key Cast
    "Lesbian Lover"
  • Monie Gwaltney
    Key Cast
    "Fatima Grace"
  • Gabrielle Cajas
    Key Cast
    "Mara Mendez"
  • Shanika Hewitt
    Key Cast
    "Stormi Wesley"
  • D'bora Ware
    Key Cast
    "Petra Wentworth"
  • Kevin Way, Jr.
    Key Cast
    "Bill Harvey"
  • Tyson Love
    Key Cast
    "Brandon Gambi"
  • Lanetra Williams
    Key Cast
    "Mona La'Mine"
  • Ambrosia Ferguson
    Key Cast
    "Sudan La'Mine"
  • Palmer Ashe, III
    Key Cast
    "Haywood Moore"
  • Josue Ledesma
    Key Cast
    "Carlito Taino"
  • Project Type:
    Other
  • Runtime:
    43 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 2, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    60,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    American Sign Language
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital Arri Alexa (4K)
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jade Bryan

Jade Bryan is an award-winning filmmaker and activist. She is the first Black Deaf woman filmmaker in America. Jade has been producing, directing, and writing films for over 25 years. She is a member of the ARRAYCrew, New York Women in Film and Television, and Women of Color United.
Jade is a multi-hyphenated artist and entrepreneur with a BFA degree in film production from one of the world's top film schools at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Jade founded DeafVision Filmworks, Inc. and Jade Films and Entertainment, LLC in 1991 to produce her own work. In 2021, she founded Deaf Talent® Media & Entertainment Consulting (DTMEC) with the goal of collaborating with producers, writers, directors, and executives to ensure that our cultural representations with Deaf and Disabled characters, that their cultural representations, unique insights, storylines, and distinct points of view are multi-dimensional and authentic.
On July 1, 2021, Jade launched Deaf Talent Casting (DTC), a database and talent resources for industry and casting professionals. As of today, the list has more than 150 deaf actors/creatives. DTC also manages deaf actors. The goal of DTC is “to push for more BIPOC Deaf actors cast in roles in Hollywood film and TV and amplify Black Deaf Stories.”
Jade has produced over 30 projects such as feature films, documentaries, shorts, music videos, and TV pilots. ”The Shattered Mind” is a feature film she completed in 2014 and toured 47 film festivals around the globe from 2015-2017. “The Shattered Mind” won 17 awards; included Best Sound, Audience Award, Special Jury Prize, Best Exhibition Film and Best Narrative Feature and Short. Her production company is working on an eight- part documentary series, “Black and Deaf in America”, about various issues regarding deaf (African-Americans) who were impacted by police brutality, racism, black erasure, rape, immigration and deportation, and oppression in the educational system. Jade has a TV series in the works with Hollywood executives, which is a coming-of-age story loosely based on her life. This year in 2023, Jade produced a new TV pilot, “What Somalia Wants” which she wrote, produced, and directed.
Jade believes in promoting inclusion and representation of BIPOC Deaf Talent® in front of and behind the camera. She is the creator of the #DeafTalent® Movement, to amplify BIPOC voices and creators.

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