Today we’d like to introduce you to Princess Usanga.
Hi Princess, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started directing in high school at Killian Sr. High after one of my teachers, Mr. Fred Green, created a Star Wars spoof as a yearbook commercial for the morning announcements that aired on the school’s TV station. Seeing that inspired me to create my own humorous yearbook commercials, which Mr. Green let me direct when I asked him if I could. That experience ignited my passion for filmmaking and made me realize I wanted to pursue directing instead of acting.
I went on to attend St. John’s University, where I studied Television and Film Production. During college, I interned at Focus Features. After graduating, I began my career in entertainment working at Fox Cable Networks and Miramax. Alongside my corporate jobs, I continued making short films independently, and those projects played a major role in where I am today.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Two years after graduating college, I suffered nerve damage following a wisdom tooth extraction, which completely changed my life. After seeing numerous doctors, I was eventually diagnosed with fibromyalgia stemming from the injury.
I had to relearn how to navigate everyday tasks and adjust my lifestyle to accommodate my disability. When I was finally ready to return to a traditional 9-to-5 job, I struggled to find employment because of the gaps in my resume. That period was incredibly difficult and emotionally challenging, as I struggled with uncertainty about whether I would be given another opportunity to rebuild my career. After a 10-year hiatus, I found my way back to filmmaking. Re-entering the film industry was not easy without funding or local connections, as my previous films had been based in New York, but I kept applying to grants and fellowships, utilized crowdfunding, and attended networking events hosted by local Miami arts organizations, which helped me find my filmmaking “tribe.” I kept pushing even when it felt insane to do so. Things eventually aligned, enabling me to film Hooky, which is now available on the PBS app.
Although it was one of the most challenging chapters of my life, it gave me resilience and perseverance, qualities that continue to shape my life and film career.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a film director and screenwriter. I’m currently best known for my most recent short film, Hooky.
What I’m most proud of right now are my two upcoming films, Missed Connections and The Poacher Assassin. Missed Connections is a surrealistic romantic dramedy led by a protagonist with fibromyalgia, while The Poacher Assassin is a revenge-driven environmental action film. I’m proud that both projects are pushing me creatively in ways I have never explored before and allows me to tell stories with greater depth and complexity. Inspired by my multicultural Haitian and Nigerian upbringing, I am also extremely proud to highlight different cultures, including multifaceted Haitian American characters who express joy rather than being stereotypically reduced to trauma, and having those characters also speak Haitian Creole, which remains all too rare in film.
What sets me apart is my versatility, humanistic storytelling, and commitment to authentic, culturally rich films. I write and direct across genres, including dramedy, action, surreal, and historical films. The center of all my work is the humanity of my characters. It is both a joy and an honor to create films that uplift diverse stories.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I love the Talk Easy podcast, it’s my go-to for hearing inspiring experiences from filmmakers and actors. I also regularly attend webinars hosted by film organizations such as Film Fatales, Antigravity Academy, and The Gotham, along with other industry groups, to continue learning more about the film industry and the resources available to independent filmmakers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://princessusanga.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/princessusanga
- Other: https://vimeo.com/princessusanga/hookytrailer
