Yvette is a writer, director, producer and voice actor based out of Brooklyn,
New York, originally from Wilmington, Delaware. She's worked in the
fashion industry for many years, but film is her passion. Yvette recently
produced, starred, and served as a costume designer for Harlem Love,
which features Sonia Sanchez as the poet and voice for the film. Yvette has studied Acting, Screenwriting and
Directing Actors with The Independent Film School, Fiction writing with
Gotham Writers and Screenwriting with Women on Writing. Yvette is a
member of Women in Film LA and New York Women in Film and Television. Her latest work the script, "DON’T FORGET TO BREATHE," will mark her debut as a screenwriter and director. It is the story of a failed emergency evacuation that leaves two dedicated
research scientists trapped in their laboratory with a deadly airborne
virus that will rapidly deteriorate their brain’s activity. Remembering
one simple thing will determine their survival.
Chief Ayanda is an African American master percussionist, GRAMMY® Award-winning musician, arts educator, and lecturer. He’s been performing professionally since he was five and has performed or shared the stage with some of the world’s most revered percussionists and most loved artists, including the late Randy Weston, George Clinton, Erykah Badu, M’bemba Bangoura, and Somi. A glance at some of his performing credits in the United States include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration at Madison Square Garden, The Late Show with David Letterman, Good Morning America, America’s Got Talent, the U.S. Open, Sesame Street, and many other places. He’s also recorded and licensed music that has been featured on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance. In 2014, Chief Ayanda was a featured percussionist on the title track of Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra’s major work, The Offense of the Drum. The project won a GRAMMY® Award that year: Best Latin Jazz Album. Chief Ayanda’s first public performance was as a small child when he played at the historic Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) with the International African-American Ballet. His father, Chief Baba Neil Clarke, the legendary jazz percussionist, was his first teacher.
Chief Ayanda has toured throughout North America, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Canada, and Europe several times over. His talents have led him to perform or record with Chief Bey, Orlando Rios, Randy Weston, Batoto Yetu, The Amistad Project, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Forces of Nature, Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater, pop artist Jewel, and many others. Clarke’s research of the percussive arts (including a variety of drums and bells, the balafon, and the shekere) is exhaustive. His range spans several musical traditions, including those of Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Angola, Cuba, Brazil, the Caribbean, and of African Americans. After more than thirty years of deep study, immersion, and training, he’s emerged as one of the most highly regarded percussionists of his generation, unique in his ability to cross every musical genre.
As a business owner who is passionate about community wellness and development, Chief Ayanda founded THE FADARA GROUP LLC. Its main offerings are True To Our Native Land, a cultural appreciation program and Integrated Wealth Alliance (IWA), a network of esteemed healers and practitioners from various disciplines. Clarke is also co-founder and musical director of Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater, the Bessie-nominated company of the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation. He is also a partner and musical director of Palms Down, Inc., a percussion ensemble. Through Palms Down, he’s performed and co-produced music that was licensed for Elysium, the feature film starring Matt Damon and Jodi Foster.
Clarke teaches public and private students (children and adults) throughout the New York Tri-State Area. He also lectures regularly on African culture and the percussive arts at national and local institutions, including at the American Museum of Natural History, Hofstra University, Yale University, Princeton University, and many other spaces. In 2016, sponsored by his mentor Chief Agbongbon Fakayode Faniyi, Ayanda Clarke was installed as a chief in Osogbo (Nigeria), presented as Chief Ayanda Ifadara Clarke, Ajibilu Awo of Osogbo. The ancient City of Osogbo is honored globally for its preservation of traditional African arts and culture. In 2005, it became a World Heritage Site landmarked by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Gabrielle Stewart is a 24 year old singer/songwriter from Michigan. She was raised in a small town Clinton Township just off of the Great Lakes about 40 minutes outside of Detroit. Gabrielle started
singing at the age of 3 and started writing her own songs at age 11. Since then, she's been putting all that she has behind her biggest dream to hopefully get discovered, move out of Michigan, and start a new chapter in life. The journey continues with her latest single "7 Seasons." Gabrielle wants to be a star for all seasons.
Women’s business author, 25 year entertainment industry veteran and beauty enthusiast Thembisa S. Mshaka will join us to speak on #LipGame LIVE. An intimate ticketed event where beauty meets business. An evening of net-worthing.The exclusive monthly afterwork experience will provide dynamic career women with a place to connect, get answers to burning beauty questions from professional makeup artists and estheticians, and unwind with unlimited champagne. LipGame LIVE is produced by Royal Life Entities, a music, multimedia an lifestyle event company and Mshaka’s creative content company Mshaka Media, LLC. The host for the kickoff event is Akim Vann, owner of The Bakery on Bergen. This dynamic businesswoman embodies the best of beauty and business.
For 16 years, The Pocono Mountains Film Festival has been exhibiting the
work of up-and-coming screenwriters and filmmakers Film Producers,
Directors, Actor’s & Actresses. The PMFF is based in Tannersville,
Pennsylvania. The film festival is dedicated to creating a beneficial
platform for artists in the film industry and we are driven and
passionate about assisting them with sharing their creative works to a
large audience. The objectives and goals are to increase self-esteem and
positive role models through the vehicle of films. Provide life choices
with a vision on how to secure a viable socioeconomic status via the
“American Dream.” The goals are to remove the uninvited stereotypes that
enter our homes and lives through various media outlets. They offer
film workshops spearheaded by named professionals in the industry. Each
year, the Pocono Mountains Film Festival honors the iconic and creative
genius in the entertainment industry, affording aspiring filmmakers the
opportunity to network with the best of the best in the industry.
Hasan Harris a.k.a
Hocus 45th was born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx. Some would
argue that hip-hop was born in the Bronx; which would explain Hocus’ love
affair that started at the early age of 8. Introduced to the art by his father,
Hocus 45th use to rap to his father who told him that he was going
to make it big one day. Tragically, his father who was his hero, mentor and
best friend died from a heart attack when Hocus was only 12-years-old; leaving
behind 8 sons and 2 daughters. Devastated by his father’s death, but still
dedicated to the art form, Hocus 45th hit the streets looking for
that connection he once shared with his dad. Unfortunately, as
with many fatherless young boys, the streets got to him first. As a young teen,
Hocus 45th started to sell drugs (crack cocaine) in the ‘hood. And
when he was 17, he joined a gang known as SEX
MONEY MURDER, a subset of the Bloods, which would later haunt him in ways
he could not have imagined. While doing his thing in the streets, Hocus 45th
caught a couple of court cases ranging from attempted murder, direct sales and
gun possession. Luckily for him, he either found his way around those charges
or ended up doing little jail time. Through all the hustling and gang banging,
Hocus 45th never gave up his passion for music; the music he once
shared with his best friend, his father. When he wasn’t dealing drugs, he would
join cyphers in the streets and perfect his skills. By know he was getting
noticed for his flow. In 2008, along with his friend P.O., they started a
movement called Bang Bang Boogie which consisted of rappers Cuban Link, Lord
Tariq, Mysonne, his brother S-1 and himself. Heavily cosigned by hip-hop giant
50 cent and promoted by G-Unit, the movement was on its’ way to success! Finally, Hocus 45th
decided to leave the streets alone and focus on his passion for music; he
wanted to make his dad proud. But little did he know his past would catch up
with him. Hocus and his rap crew, Bang Bang Boogie, were featured in the August
26th, 2017 issue of the billboard magazine. Things was seeming on
the up and up but a little over a week later the Bronx district attorney office
would come back with a secret indictment arresting Hocus, 2 of his brothers and
22 others on conspiracy and related charges. Headlines read "Kings
dethroned, castle hill gang busted on drugs and murder". After being
incarcerated for 4 long years on Rikers island, facing life in prison, Hocus 45th
would finally have his day in court. The trial lasted 2 long months but, in the
end, Hocus 45th was acquitted on December 12, 2012 (12/12/12), found
NOT GUILTY on all charges (8) by a jury of his peers. After the acquittal, he
decided to leave the streets behind and once again pursue his passion for music.
While in jail he found a new love. He began to read books on health and
nutrition and decided to become a vegan. Hocus now go to schools and group
homes to talk to kids and troubled youth about health, gang violence and his
life, in hopes that his testimony will be an example to them. His goal is to
encourage them to not make the choices he once made in his past and encourage
them to always strive for greatness and pursue their passion. Hocus 45thover has recorded over 200 songs and has
collaborated with the likes of DMX, Styles P, Fred the Godson, Vado, AR AB and
many more. From being in a jail cell facing life in prison to opening up for
DMX at his concerts, it's safe to say that this man’s father was right, Hocus
45th is going to be big. Hocus 45th’s
debut, full-length album will drop early 2019. Look out for two new mix CD’s to
be released later this year.
