Her Story
About Lakeisha
Lakeisha Hayes is a film director based in Dallas, Texas. She has been in the field for about 10 years, having started in high school after winning a competition to make a PSA for safe driving for teenagers. She began with documentary filmmaking before transitioning into narrative work, with her main area of expertise being creative directing and storytelling through various formats including PSAs and shorts. Hayes earned her master's in motion pictures and television, during which she served as a production assistant on the documentary Tribal Strands focused on African American women's hair freedom in professional settings. Her educational background also includes a bachelor's in math communications and an associate's in art. In 2023, her first documentary was selected into four different film festivals, which she considers her most notable achievement. She has been a member of the T. Howard Foundation for three years, an organization promoting diversity in media. Hayes attributes her success to her family and emphasizes values such as teamwork on set, not allowing projects to consume those involved, and maintaining mental health in her personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lakeisha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my family. They are always motivating me, they are always encouraging me, and they're always making sure I keep moving forward.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice would be Have a plan on top of a plan. But don't allow yourself to be discouraged. Nobody could ever take your ideas away from you.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is distributing projects because the industry is regurgitating films that are already out, and studios want to know if new ideas will sell. The opportunity is sticking to creative fresh ideas and pushing new opportunities for other filmmakers.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In work, teamwork is key because it takes a team to make a film, and don't let the project consume you. Never let things stop the project. In personal life, always do right by others and yourself, treat yourself with respect, take breaks for mental health.
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