writer + director

Larry is a Detroit-born writer, director, and producer whose storytelling lives at the intersection of sports, culture, history, and Black life. His relationship with basketball journalism began long before filmmaking: at 13, he earned his first byline covering the Detroit Pistons for the Detroit Free Press.

A Howard graduate and Michigan MPP, Larry has built a career spanning journalism, public policy, political communications, and executive speechwriting. His work has earned national recognition, including a FOLIO: Eddie & Ozzie Award.

In 2016, he founded WHATSUITSHIM, an independent multimedia platform for journalism, photography, podcasts, and film. Now an MFA Film thesis candidate at Howard, Larry returns home with SHOCKWAVE — a film about the Detroit Shock, but also about memory, women’s basketball, civic identity, and what a city chooses to carry forward.

director of photography

Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, LaDawn is an artist with a profound educational background, earning degrees from Ohio University (BFA) and Howard University (MFA). She also proudly carries the prestigious distinction of being a 2023 WIF Cinematography Fellow. Through this evolution, she intends to further her artistic exploration of self-discovery while also placing a strong emphasis on youth empowerment and healing through the dynamic mediums of film and television.

Art has always guided LaDawn’s life journey. Her creative voyage began in childhood with a passion for drawing, eventually leading her to explore painting, photography, and the captivating world of film. Her artistic inspirations are drawn from a diverse array of masters, including Carrie Mae Weems, Larry Clark, Nan Goldin, Bradford Young, Ernie Barnes, and many others.

b camera operator

Erica is an artist and advocate dedicated to ensuring people with marginalized identities see themselves reflected in every space. Through photography, she uses storytelling as resistance and celebration.

Erica is the founder of Black at PWI, a multimedia project amplifying the honest, unfiltered experiences of Black students, staff, and faculty at predominantly white institutions.

In DC, Erica serves as Director of Events for BeGreatDC, advancing community-building and resource access; and at the American Advertising Federation (AAF), she leads academic programs that prepare a diverse next generation of advertising professionals.

producer

Rachael is the founder and executive strategist of Rachael Payton Studios, a creative home for revolutionary artists, advocates, and world-builders advancing community-centered storytelling. She has directed documentary series for Dream.Org and serves as public relations lead and host for CHOCOLATE, a 2026 DC/DOX and DC International Film Festival selection.

Rachael also founded BeGreatDC, a nonprofit that has invested more than $100,000 in Washington, D.C. communities through health, education, and youth initiatives. A recognized community changemaker, she holds a Bachelor of Science in corporate communications from Old Dominion University and is a Washington Media Institute alumna.

associate producer (detroit unit)

Bria is a Detroit-born producer and journalist with a track record in local news, brand campaigns, and live event production. She’s led projects for automotive, nonprofit, and creative clients, shaping stories from newsroom headlines to stage lights. Her work spans digital strategy, content creation, and on-the-ground production, always anchored in clarity and authenticity.

As founder of Piedmont Narrative, Bria partners with organizations to craft media strategies and experiences that resonate. Known for her precision and collaborative style, she brings a creative edge and operational excellence to every project, ensuring stories connect and leave a lasting impression.

associate producer (detroit unit)

Coach Nuk is a Detroit native, former pro basketball player, certified athletic trainer, coach, and founder of WhereTheRunAt, a platform supporting girls and women in basketball.

She led Detroit Renaissance to the 2005 state championship before continuing her career at Wright State University, where she made the Horizon League All-Defensive Team. She spent 10 years as a Detroit Shock ball girl and completed an athletic training internship with the New York Liberty in 2013.

Today, she serves as head junior varsity and assistant varsity girls’ basketball coach at Renaissance, where she mentors and strengthens Detroit’s girls’ pipeline. As an associate producer, she brings community relationships, basketball expertise, and a multigenerational connection to the story.

advisor

Maha is an award-winning filmmaker with over 25 years of experience in editing, directing, and writing narrative and documentary films in the United States, Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. 

She has co-directed and edited The Last Battlefront: Quest for the Vote in Washington, D.C., a feature documentary that aired on WHUT and WETA in prime time. She also edited On the Road in America, a twelve-part documentary-reality series that aired on the Sundance Channel.

Maha wrote, directed, and edited numerous other projects focusing on identity and women, and has finished her feature narrative screenplay The Great American Experiment. She is featured in the books Arab Filmmakers of the Middle East and Encyclopedia of Arab Women Filmmakers.

advisor

Jami is an Emmy and International Award-winning filmmaker and educator. She is an associate professor in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, Department of Media, Journalism, and Film, where she also serves as the department’s assistant chair.

Jami holds an MFA in film production from Howard University and an MA in media studies from The New School.

Jami has worked professionally as a filmmaker, writing, directing, and producing narrative, experimental, and documentary film, music videos, and commercials. Her works have been screened at film festivals globally and on streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime. Having a passion for working with young people, she also serves on the advisory board for the Global Institute for Black Girls in Film & Media. 

advisor

Shahriar is an award-winning filmmaker, scholar, and educator. He serves as an Assistant Professor of Film at the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, Department of Media, Journalism, and Film, where he is also the coordinator of the graduate film program. He specializes in Film Directing and Editing.

Originally from Iran, Shahriar launched his career as an independent filmmaker in the Middle East. He later pursued his filmmaking and academic career in the U.S., earning a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Arts and an MFA in Film from Ohio University.