About the Filmmakers
DIRECTOR
Nisa Ahmad is a Veteran Producer, with over 20 years experience. Nisa started as a SAG Franchised Talent Agent in San Francisco, California. Nisa negotiated Union Contracts for Commercials, Television and Film, working on Popular Projects such as Nash Bridges, Starring Don Johnson and the hit Disney Film, Blubber.
While working as an Agent, Nisa was also Co-Founder of the Original Oakland Slam Team of 1999 and coached the first group of poets from Oakland to the 1999 National Poetry Slam Finals, at the Chicago Theater, in Chicago. Nisa also worked with at risk and incarcerated teens, promoting literacy through poetry.
In 2001 Nisa moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career, landing a position at MTV on the acclaimed hit series, The Osbournes. After the success of the Osbournes which created a new a new genre of television production, “Celebrity Docuseries” Nisa continued to find exciting projects. Nisa has held producer roles with some of today’s most popular television programs such as American Idol, Project Runway, The Real World, The Wayne Brady Show, Fantaisa For Real, and Morgan Spurlock’s Documentary Series, 30 Days.
Having worked with acclaimed Documentarians such as R.J. Cutler, Morgan Spurlock and Jeremy Simmons, Nisa has decided to make her entry in Feature Documentary Films with “Generation Soweto”. Inspired by Nisa’s travels to South Africa, “this is the story that I could not, not tell. “
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY / PRODUCER
Ben Chaves brings fifteen years of experience, and has worked around the Globe shooting many Docu-Series, such as “XO Betsy Johnson”, “Flipping Out” and more. He and Nisa met when they both worked in entertainment news, on a Carsey-Warner/Dick Clark Production.
PRODUCER / PR / MARKETING
Tamu Curtis has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry working under the guidance of entertainment powerhouses such as Judd Apatow, Morgan Freeman, Codeblack Entertainment and Handprint Entertainment, among other notable entertainment media properties.
Tamu has since established Trademarked PR, a marketing, branding and PR consulting firm that specializes in supporting creative development and marketing strategies for brands, entertainment properties, public figures, and executive clients to improve visibility, recognition and profitability in multiple industries.
EDITOR
Ishmail Saluddin is a native of Chicago, IL. He currently reside in Los Angeles, CA. After graduating from The Savannah Colege of Art and Design with a B.F.A. in Film & Art History he started his career in New York, NY. After a short time in NYC working for MTV, Law & Order SVU and Bunim-Murray led him to the West coast. Since moving to Los Angeles Salahuddin has worked for countles entertainment media compaies; NFL Nework, KMArT, NBC, MTV, and E! He continues his work as a freelance commercial and television editor.
STORY PRODUCER
Trizonna is an Emmy award winning producer. Her decade plus television experience varies from daytime talk shows, celebrity driven docu-soaps and competition themed programs. Trizonna has worked on hit shows such as 'Design Star', 'Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane' and the two time Emmy award winning 'Steve Harvey' daytime talk show.
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Jade Branion was born and raised in Chicago but currently resides in Los Angeles. After graduating from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, she worked with some of the largest broadcasters in the world; NBC Universal, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. She currently is a freelance promo producer, producing spots for the groundbreaking drama, The Fosters, airing on ABC Family.