Today we’d like to introduce you to Lakisha Ginyard Louissaint.
Hi Lakisha, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Film by Faith Productions began after I decided to operate in faith to write, direct, and executive produce my first film No Perfect Love. That labor of love, patience, and faith birthed what would later become my production company.
As I sat and pondered the biggest lie ever told, “but I don’t have brick and mortar (Own a Building),” I decided to do what so many are afraid to do and start from the bottom with my own production company. I refused to allow one of the biggest lies ever told to keep me from my destiny. So, I made it official, and there you have it, a dream birthed out of trials, tribulations, and limited funds. “Film By Faith Productions LLC”.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No dream comes with a smooth road. Our dreams come with ups, downs, confusion, regrets, and lessons to help us along the way. They even come with moments of almost losing hope (Giving Up). There are times when our faith just isn’t enough, but we have to be intentional by doing our part, and that many times comes with isolated hard work. When I say isolated work, I mean not having help, not having the funds, not having the wisdom, knowledge, or understanding of what to do or even how to do it. Well, at least, that was my story.
We must all understand that God isn’t going to just wave a wand and make it happen for us. We have to dig deep, pray, and ask God to help us figure it out. Nothing comes easy, and there are absolutely no smooth roads when pursuing our dreams; however, our faith still wins. Perseverance still wins. And throwing away excuses and doing the work still wins. Even if we have to do it alone because the race is not given to the swift, but to those who will endure to the end. And most importantly, faith without works is dead. That’s why we have to throw away all excuses and put in the work.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
So, a few years ago, I wrote my 1st novella that I later decided to make a novel. I had no clue about marketing or how to reach the millions of people on social media. So, I stopped sharing it. Sadly, in a world filled with the “Now Syndrome,” I gave up because I assumed that if it hadn’t happened yet, then it was over. However, one day as I sat fumbling through my thoughts, it hit me.
Well, if it’s not a book, then it’s a movie. As I walked into a bookstore in the airport while traveling to California, I saw so many books that were now movies, and that was all the confirmation that I needed. So, I sat and dissected my novel trying to figure out how to tell this almost 400-page story in one hour. Of course, it took time, but it was worth it. So, I called up my friend Kevin Jamaal Jordan who plays Brian in the film, and he assisted me in keeping the parts needed to tell the visual story that would later be titled No Perfect Love.
The thing is that I was too connected and invested in the entire book, and not wanting to let parts of it go was holding up my dream. You see, we all need someone who will help us to let go of the parts that we don’t need in one season to see the vision that God has given us come to pass in the next season. Not long after, Kevin encouraged me to do a casting call.
So, I finally submitted to my faith in God and proceeded with fear steadily trying to make me give up. I guess you can say, “My Faith Won.” So, be on the lookout for No Perfect Love to be on television screens soon.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I would say pray and allow God to lead you to who you need because sometimes we mess things up when we try to do it on our own or when we choose people that aren’t assigned to help us with what God is using us to do. Remember, man makes plans, but God orders our steps (Proverbs 16:9).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.IamLakisha.com
- Instagram: @IamLakishaL
