Today we’d like to introduce you to Miasha Coleman.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I got a six figure publishing deal with Simon & Schuster in 2004, my first novel Secret Society was released in 2006, 15 years later I released the movie adaptation on Amazon Prime and it shot to number 3 in the country. I’ve always had a love for writing since I was 9 years old. By the time I got to college I knew I wanted to write books and make movies. After having lived my dream of being a published author, it was time to fulfill my other lifelong dream and turn my books into films. Miami was the city I just knew I would shoot my first movie in. But didn’t realize I would be living there when it happened. I guess I manifested it when I posted in 2017 pics in Miami stating I was location scouting for Secret Society. 3 years later I was shooting my first movie in Miami during a pandemic.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There were definitely challenges transitioning from books to films which is why it took 15 years to get there. The biggest obstacles early on were funding and distribution. Hollywood insiders told me I would need millions of dollars to shoot my script. I then considered optioning my books so that producers could turn them into movies but I realized I wouldn’t have creative control over the projects so if they turned out to be trash, my name would take a hit. So I put movies on the back burner and started a business with my husband and our two sons and focused solely on that for the next 7 years. Lo and behold that business would give me the funds I needed to shoot my movie. And by that time, with so many streaming platforms, distribution opportunities were plentiful.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a writer and executive producer of the hit movies Secret Society, Secret Society 2: Never Enough and Secret Society 3: Til Death. I also styled the wardrobe and sets for all three movies, along with location scouted, co-directed, and edited. I think that’s what sets me apart from other independent filmmakers is that I am so hands on across all aspects of each film. I don’t leave anything in any one person’s hands. It’s because I was very adamant about putting out projects that didn’t look or feel independent. I wanted my work to be able to stand next to big budget studio films, so I had to oversee every aspect.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Before you hire anybody for any role or position make sure you see their work. Don’t just take their word for it. See a reel, portfolio, examples etc. And ask for references too. So many people in entertainment put fluff on their résumés and they seem to be knowledgeable until it’s time to deliver. Hiring unqualified people can be a nightmare. Also hiring overqualified people can be too. Beware of people who know more than you because if they sense you’re a novice they can take advantage of you. Do your own due diligence. And do enough research that you know what’s fair compensation and what’s expected of each position.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Secretsocietymovie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretsocietymovie
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/a67KsoRivhs
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/miashaofficial
