Connect
To Top

Life & Work with Maria Taylor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Taylor. 

Hi Maria, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hello, my name is Maria Taylor, and I am the Director of the Non-For-Profit Organization, Creative Media Group mission is to educate underserved youth with interested knowledge of Cinematography for preparedness into the Film & Television industry. I am a documentary filmmaker by trade. As a storyteller, I have been able to capture impactful moments around the world that have long-lasting impressions. I am also a woman of color. I uplift community not only by my trade but also as a CEO and representative of a female-led media company 

Maria Taylor is a change agent and female business owner. She is the CEO of the Media company Crashing Waves Pictures AND the Nonprofit Organization Creative Media Group. She is “Boots on the Ground.” Her team of Industry Professionals host multiple workshops throughout the year for underrepresented youth that have an interest in working in Media. She teaches the technical side of cinematography and is one of the very few women of color with the title “Cinematographer.” Maria’s non-profit provides career exposure to a wider set of job possibilities and the clear Framework to learn media skills so that young people can claim their role in this economy. Her work throughout Media reflects shifting the narrative on how we do business behind the lens and true Social Impact. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We need more cameras for our young creatives. As a nonprofit, we are limited by our reach with lack of funding. We are constantly moving towards our goal to supply our youth with the tools to create digital media for a growing marketplace. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the Director of the Non-For-Profit Organization, Creative Media Group. Our mission is to educate underserved youth with interested knowledge in Cinematography for preparedness into the Film & Television industry. Our goal is to change the Narrative by altering the way we do business behind the lens by providing opportunities to Filmmakers and Directors that are people of color. We’re here to apply the power of arts and culture to strengthen our community. Our program expands access to arts and culture experiences and increases opportunity for artistic expression. 

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Our Festivals & Workshops provide long-lasting change for youth in underserved communities. The underlying barrier continues to be access, resources, and adequate training. Our organization tackles that head-on by creating a hands-on experience so that individuals can accelerate and maximize their potential. We have been successful at hosting countless experiences that enrich the lives of young people. We do this by identifying young creatives and assist them in developing their skills in order to operate at an industry-standard level 

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Tony Delerme

Suggest a Story: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in Local Stories

  • Community Highlights:

    The community highlights series is one that our team is very excited about.  We’ve always wanted to foster certain habits within...

    Local StoriesSeptember 8, 2021
  • Heart to Heart with Whitley: Episode 4

    You are going to love our next episode where Whitley interviews the incredibly successful, articulate and inspiring Monica Stockhausen. If you...

    Whitley PorterSeptember 1, 2021
  • Introverted Entrepreneur Success Stories: Episode 3

    We are thrilled to present Introverted Entrepreneur Success Stories, a show we’ve launched with sales and marketing expert Aleasha Bahr. Aleasha...

    Local StoriesAugust 25, 2021