About Us

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Carla M. McCullough, Ed.D is a filmmaker and educational leader who hails from Chicago, Illinois.  After completing her undergraduate education at Spelman College where she majored in Drama and Political Science, Carla moved to Los Angeles and began a career in education.  She served the Gompers community for nearly a decade before joining the staff of PBS-Health Services as the Assistant Principal and later Principal, and beginning drama teacher. In addition to her K-12 educational career, Carla worked as an adjunct professor for Masters Level educational candidates and currently serves on the boards of several local charter schools and nonprofit organizations. Throughout her career in education, Carla continued to pursue her creative passions and is excited to direct her first feature film, College Reunion, which pays tribute to the HBCU experience. 

Shanequa received her B.S. degree in Computer information Systems.  After working in her degree plan she realized that she was still missing her passion for film and tv.  Shanequa became a member  Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc while attending an HBCU and finished her degree at UTA (Arlington).  She has been featured in several commercial and commercial print jobs, starred in an infomercial along with several indie feature films.  Realizing if she wanted a fair chance at pursuing her dreams she needed to make a move to Los Angeles CA.  She has worked as a producer and 1st AD on several projects combined with the multiplicity of being an actor to feed the creative mind.  Shanequa is currently in different phases of production for several feature films in 2022, including College Reunion and look out for her nationwide theatrical debut as an actress in John Wynn's "One Hour." 

Tony Bracy; a writer, producer, director born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. He is the Executive Director of Brace Yourself, Inc. (BYS) a nonprofit Media Arts company. Brace Yourself! films have won National and International Film Festivals, and produced works which were integrated into College and University courses as well as featured in National and Worldwide Television Broadcasts.

BYS partners with production companies and talented skilled entertainment professionals to produce the best films and theatrical productions. We use personnel and facilities that has a vision consistent with the objective of the company and work with the very best the industry has to offer to help to support our programs: 

Bracy ‘s personal goal is to produce 'slice of life' movies which touch the soul and uplift the spirit. He considers his mission is 3-fold: to Edify, to Educate and to Entertain. Most importantly he is a benevolent spirit, an excellent writer and production junkie who is a team player with a winning attitude! 

 Carole Copeland is a retired educator from Washington, DC who is grateful to now be living her life-long dream in film and television. She has B.S. in Social Work, M. ED in Special Education; and Ed. S in Educational Leadership. After serving over 20 years in public schools as classroom teacher and administrator she transitioned to her current career in Entertainment. 

Her credits include various projects both in front of and behind the camera, as Producer, Locations Manager, Assistant Director and Casting. She has completed coursework in the Film and Television Production Program at both UCLA and Santa Monica College. In 2020, she was selected as one of 6 producers from hundreds of applicants to produce a Womens’ Weekend Film Challenge short with an entirely female crew and the comedic short film, I PheltaThi has won several awards.

The most recent feature film projects produced by Carole, #BlackSkin, You Married Dat, Survival, and Another Love Story have won awards at several film festivals. 

She is the Founder of Recovery Media, a nonprofit organization that is teaches filmmaking to survivors of trauma.

Her motto, If you have a dream inside, God did not put it there to say, “Sike”… Go make it happen!

A triple graduate from Loyola Marymount University (BA 85’, MA in School Administration 91’ and EdD in Leadership for Social Justice in 07’) Dr. Pawinski was born in Indiana but moved to California at a very young age. She has spent her entire educational career serving the youth of Los Angeles. She began her career as a teacher and coach.  She successfully opened Animo Jackie Robinson Charter High School and led the school for 7 years. This school is still a nationally recognized Title I school serving the community of South Los Angeles. In 2010, she became a foster parent to a teen and her infant daughter. She went on to adopt this teen and one of her sisters and today is a proud grandmother of 5. Her youngest daughter, Reggiona will attend Texas Southern University in the spring. Dr. Pawinski was also one of the many coaches who supported Sanaa Lathan as she prepared for her role in Love and Basketball. More recently, she has become involved in Carla McCullough’s work with College Reunion. She is compelled to be a part of this film and movement to promote HBCUs to the many students across the country who have been and will be part of the HBCU family.  

Thomas H. Stewart, is an 2017 Emmy Awarded film producer, for his powerful short, Protect and Serve. Stewart is a graduate of The Penn State University Film & Video Department and recipient of the Donald P. Bellisario Scholarship. He also received a B.A. at Alabama State University in Visual and Performing Arts. His independent films earned him an internship at Tyler Perry Studios, followed by a position as a camera operator on the hit series Deserving Design with Vern Yip.  Stewart is a film producer for The Los Angeles Unified School District in the Art Education Branch, developing original programs to promote the arts in education. Earning a 2018 Emmy Nomination with the hit show "Spotlight Arts", created by Rory Pullens on behalf of The Los Angeles Unified School District.

Elizabeth Lind is a seasoned entertainment professional who’s worn a variety of hats while on set. She worked behind the scenes prior to and during the height of the pandemic and her experience has taught just how multifaceted and delicate the nature of production and development truly is. She’s mastered a variety of roles.  Making things happen and seeing a project come together through collaboration with her team keeps her inspired and enthusiastic about the industry. She attended the New School University in New York studying International Affairs and Global studies before transferring to Mount Saint Mary’s In Los Angeles where she obtained a BA in Film and Media. 

Ithan Payne is a full-service creative/art direction and brand identity development professional specializing in consulting small companies, entrepreneurs, civic organizations & non-profits in building dynamic brand identities.  Through collaboration and in-depth consultation, Ithan delivers expert branding, design and creative strategy services to help businesses stand out in a very crowded market.His expertise is guided by best practice and driven by an intelligent, intuitive, and  creative mindset. This not only defines Ithan's strategic approach to every brief and the high quality of work produced, but ensures the success of every project and partnership. Whether a business requires subtle changes to positioning, wording, logos and styling, or wants to breathe new life into a tired brand identity, he has the skills and perspective to make the branding/rebranding process inspiring, energizing & commercially successful.

Baron Ojogho is an associate in DWT's entertainment group. He assists with development, acquisition, and production issues, for scripted and unscripted media, and provides counsel to entertainment professionals involved in television, film, and streaming.

Baron has well-rounded experience within the entertainment industry. He can offer legal advice in real time directly to production teams to ensure compliance on set. Behind the scenes, he secures complex distribution deals, IP licensing, and rights agreements that are crucial to getting creative projects off the ground and to consumers. Baron is also a key player in multimillion-dollar mergers, acquisitions, spinoffs, and reorganizations. He has provided in-house legal representation for one of the world's largest mass media multinationals, as well as outside consulting on standards and practices for major studios.

Tonya Fewell, J.D. is a strategist at Bridge Every Gap where she and her team build optimal systems and strategies for success among individuals, teams, and organizations. Tonya is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a family law mediator and qualified arbitrator. She is also certified by the University of South Florida Muma College of Business in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace. As a graduate of Spelman College and The University of Florida Levin College of Law she is well trained and passionate about systems development and strategic implementation.  She is sensitive to the plight of others and has to her benefit a composed, insightful, and creative approach when responding to challenges. Her greatest honor is serving as the mother to three (Briana, Evan, and Grace).