ATFT is back! On the thirty- ninth episode of All the Film Things, I talked with Black female filmmaker Shanita Brown!
Shanita Brown is an award- winning Daytona-based filmmaker who has written and directed nine films so far. She has had quite a journey getting to where she is today. For one thing, she initially pursued a career in law with her passion being to help people. Even though she earned both Bachelor’s and Masters law degrees, Shanita’s life took a different route, and she found herself helping people through film instead. Before making her own films, Shanita worked in various roles on and off camera for ten years. In 2022, she released her first short film “Mine Since Birth” which had a successful film festival run. Ever since, she has continued to make her own short films, star and/ or work behind the scenes. In March 2023, Shanita was one of eight women honored at the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum in New Smyrna Beach for their reception centered on "Young Women to Set Your Sight On". She is also the Content Manager for the streaming service Gen X TV and was recently named the manager of the Cinematique theater in Daytona.
Shanita’s latest project is the drama short, “Tha Bone Collecta”. The short, inspired by real life, is focused around a group of close, longtime friends. One friend in the group, Shanita’s character Laura Queen, learns the secrets of individuals within the group and causes drama by revealing it to other friends, making her “the bone collecta”. For this project, Shanita directed, wrote, starred in, and produced the film. While the film stars a great ensemble of women, this is the first time Shanita has starred as the lead in one of her own films! “Tha Bone Collecta” has just begun its film festival run and is expected to release on Gen X TV once the festival run is finished! The film will be having a premiere on Saturday, April 12 at the AMC Altamonte near Orlando, Florida, so if you’re in the area or want to make the trip, go to the premiere! While you’re waiting for “Tha Bone Collecta” to be available on streaming, check out some of Shanita’s past work on Gen X TV and the Shanita Brown Films Youtube channel by clicking this link!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC92QB5m4bFUYvj4IEHMuqJw Shanita loves connecting with filmmakers so if you want to work with her, reach out to her on Instagram @ShanitaABrown on Instagram or follow her on Facebook under her name Shanita A. Brown!
This is Shanita’s first appearance on ATFT! We met working together on the set of the short film "Time Will Tell" (alongside past ATFT guests Vesta Millard and Manny Plaza- Fernandez)! From our first conversation, I gained so much from talking with her. Aside from one, admittedly, hilarious prank she pulled on me, she was so kind and I always looked forward to coming to set just to converse with her. We instantly connected and Shanita is without a doubt one of the best people I’ve been fortunate enough to meet on set. I had been wanting to interview her ever since I met her but I waited until the very end of the shoot to ask her which made for a funny moment at dinner after word got out about my podcast. There were a few technical difficulties in regard to the audio so I apologize that it is not the same quality as usual. This episode was recorded on March 20, 2025.
In this episode, Shanita shares her journey from initially aspiring to become a lawyer to working in the industry to making her own films. Filmmakers will especially benefit from Shanita’s stories and mindset navigating the industry. Shanita also talks about her love of Halle Berry, having no fear when it comes to the horror genre, working with Brad Pitt on his new film F1, and her biggest- and perhaps surprising- career goal. All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
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