As the director and executive producer on our @nike Black History Month project, I felt an immense responsibility to @hailethomas @keithxtaylor @ea_golightly @maiyakarin — and to viewers who would see themselves represented. I got to know each of them over the phone, across time zones, and sketch out the creative elements of bringing their stories to life. I wanted to highlight the timeless, universal elements of their movements while honoring their individual contexts. That means making Jamaican porridge with Haile, following Sharrod through Southwest Dekalb High School, running drills with Maiya at Cheney Stadium and shooting Keith on Nostrand Ave—while we talked about blackness, immigration, solidarity and multihyphenate creativity. We spent full, 12-hour days shooting with each of them—then had to edit each story under 60 seconds. All I can say is, they each deserve a feature-length doc and all of our continued support! As a director, when you’re dealing with this organic brilliance, you take a seat and take notes. —@alexjbledsoe
The Breaktide dream team. When we got the call for the @nike #UntilWeAllWin Black History Month project, we all cut short our holidays and flew in from Hawaii, Spain, and London to bring this project to life. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The campaign required our biggest crew (~40 people), and most intense multi-city activation (sleeping 2-5 hours each night), for our largest client to date. We’re still grateful to have been entrusted with this powerful project as a 1-year-old production company. The power of manifestation is real, y’all. Little-known fact about @alexjbledsoe @reaapuri & @jalenakeanelee : we all have very different personalities, but work really well together because we trust and respect one other. The nature of filmmaking is inherently collaborative, so finding a tight network of trusted collaborators with different skill sets is key. And it also helps if you genuinely love them, because best believe you’ll be working long hours under the sun together, or in our case here, in the freezing cold 🖤
Today, Haile is a certified Integrative nutrition health coach, youth health activist, international motivational speaker, and teen vegan chef. @hailethomas @amandalasponsored @nike @thehappyorg #untilweallwin #bhm #futurevarsity photo by @flongala
At age 12, Haile founded her own nonprofit, Healthy Active Positive Purposeful Youth (HAPPY), which equips young people with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to take their health in their hands, and gain the confidence to demand & embrace better quality nutritious food in their schools, homes, and communities. @hailethomas @amandalasponsored @nike @thehappyorg #untilweallwin #bhm #futurevarsity photo by @flongala
Maiya has a slight frame and a gentle presence, but exudes power that makes you wonder what drives her. When asked what she’s say to anyone underestimating a quiet force, she says: “Less talk, more action.” @maiyakarin @mooremaya @nike #untilweallwin #bhm #futurevarsity @prettygirlssweat @georgiastateuniversity Photo Credit: @flongala