Today we’d like to introduce you to Kedra L.
Hi Kedra L , 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?
My story started long before I became a filmmaker. I was born in Key West, Florida, with deep family roots in Key West and the Bahamas, and I was raised in different places, including Hawaii, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C area. Those experiences shaped how I see culture, history, family, and storytelling.
For years, I worked as a Navy contractor, but creativity was always part of who I was. I have always been a writer and storyteller. Eventually, I realized I could not keep waiting for permission to create the stories I wanted to see.
That led me to filmmaking, writing, directing, and eventually founding Soulful Minds Media LLC. I continued learning through Sundance Collab, industry workshops, and Women in Film while building a team and developing original projects rooted in Black culture, history, spirituality, fantasy, and horror.
One of the projects that changed everything was The Legend of William Boucher: The Blood Curse, created from a story by Walter Curry Jr. and developed with co-writer Jovaun Brown. What began as an independent project grew into an internationally recognized film with festival selections, awards, nominations, and recognition from respected professionals in the horror industry.
The journey has included rejection, growth, and a lot of learning, but every experience has pushed me forward.
Today, I see myself as more than a filmmaker. I am building stories, partnerships, intellectual property, and opportunities through Soulful Minds Media. I did not take the traditional path into this industry, but I believe that is part of what makes my voice different.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges as an independent filmmaker is financing. Filmmaking can be very expensive, so I had to learn how to use the tools and resources that were available to me instead of waiting until I had a large budget.
I took a mobile filmmaking course through Sundance Collab, along with free classes and workshops, and learned how to create with what I already had. I started using my phone as a filmmaking tool and later incorporated AI technology to help build a concept short that could visually communicate the world of The Legend of William Boucher: The Blood Curse.
For me, it has always been about finding a way forward. If I could not afford the traditional route, I looked for another way to tell the story. The goal has never been to replace traditional filmmaking. The goal has been to use these tools to prove the concept, build an audience, and ultimately help us secure funding to make the feature film on a larger scale.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an Afro Latina writer, director, producer, and actress, and the CEO of Soulful Minds Media LLC. Our mission is to tell new, innovative stories and create worlds and characters that audiences have not seen before.
I am currently a four time nominated director at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival, a Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival, and The Legend of William Boucher: The Blood Curse recently won Best Horror at the Airflix Film Festival in London. I am also a member of Women in Film.
What I am most proud of is how far William Boucher has traveled on the international film festival circuit. We were honored to advance at the Dark Matter Film Festival before a jury of horror icons including Rachel Talalay, Jack Sholder, Sara Risher, Kristina Klebe, Greg Sestero, and Final Destination creator Jeffrey Reddick. Our work was also an official selection in France before an esteemed jury that included Kevin McNally and Lee Arenberg of Pirates of the Caribbean, along with Bernard Farcy, Bruno Choël, and Alexandre Gillet.
We have also received encouraging feedback from respected international festivals and were offered an opportunity to participate in a development program through The Palace.
What sets me apart is that I am not afraid to use new tools, explore different genres, or create outside of the traditional system. At the heart of everything, I simply love being a storyteller. I want to create stories that stay with people long after the screen goes dark.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Absolutely. None of this happens alone, and I am fortunate to have an incredible team around me.
Walter Curry Jr., a former Jacksonville Jaguars player, is the President of Soulful Minds Media, my business partner, and the person who originally created the story idea for The Legend of William Boucher. His vision helped start this entire journey.
Jovaun L. Brown of Tenguu Vision is also our business partner, as well as an award-winning writer and cinematographer. He has played a major creative role in helping us build and develop our projects.
I am also surrounded by an amazing producing team that includes two-time Emmy Award winner and PACE Award winner Tamara Yolanda, award-winning filmmaker Valerie Denise Jones, our award-winning Executive Producer Tim Walters, and award-winning producer Victor Edoh.
Each person brings something different to the table, from producing and storytelling to marketing, strategy, and creative development. I am very proud of the award-winning team we have built because everyone believes in the vision and understands that this is bigger than one person. We are building it together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://queencuba27.wixsite.com/soulful-m
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kedrac?utm_source=qr
- Facebook: Kedra L Curry Quintana
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@soulfulmindsfilms
Image Credits
Images are credited to me, Kedra L Curry (Quintana)
