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I want to give a special thanks to Earnest Winborne, Amalie Jahn, Daresha Kyi, Desiree Sterling, Adrienne Ashby, Melody Centeno, Anthony Barrows, Shivawn Adrienne Mitchell, Tamika Lamison, Ronnikka "RJ" Williams, Melissa A. Dixon, Tivia Lynnell, Jan Reeseman, Amy Adrion, Rachel Goldberg, Marlene Rhein, Shanice Williamson, Hanelle M. Culpepper, Lou Simon, Tina Mabry, Toy Lei, Gladys Edeh and Diana Lesmez for sharing their stories on TEA TALKS WITH TOMEKA Podcast during Season One. I especially thank each and everyone who subscribed and listened to Season 1. Tomeka M. Winborne is a writer/director that passionately loves to create stories that will invoke conversations. “My mission as an African American female filmmaker is to bring stories to the screen that embody the experiences and voices of people of color that are devoid in television and film,” says Tomeka. In 2005, Tomeka published her first novel, "Where My Strength Comes From." She later desired to see that novel on the screen. Initially, she planned to go to film school but it was too expensive. So she started volunteering on other people's film projects. In 2009, she wrote, directed her first short film, "PASS ME BY." A few years, later she wrote, directed and produced her second short, "TOO LATE." From there she continued to write, produce and direct other short films. As a filmmaker, Tomeka centers many of her stories around social issues. Her most recent short film that is in post production is entitled, “WE’RE LEFT BEHIND.” With this film she hopes to inspire people to think about the children who are left behind when their parents are deported. The movie doesn’t give solutions but she hopes it will bring about empathy to this tragic situation. She’s also created a short film, “AGED OUT” that has been officially selected into the “CineOdyssey Film Festival” and the “BronzeLens Film Festival.” She is currently adapting into her first feature film. AGED OUT brings awareness to youth aging out of the foster care system. Recently, the Newport News Department of Human Services screened "AGED OUT" to a group of over 100 people along with a panel discussion as a educational event. Tomeka has also created movies about HIV and sex trafficking. Tomeka has plans of writing and directing movies with light-hearted subjects as well. Recently, Tomeka started a podcast, “TEA TALKS WITH TOMEKA.” "A podcast about women filmmakers, their journeys and their projects,” says Tomeka. Additionally, Tomeka is also the host and interviewer for Jaro Podcast. She enjoys using various mediums to tell stories. In addition to making movies and podcasts, she’s also produced television segments, commercials, wrote a couple of novels, worked as a field reporter and has been commissioned to produce documentaries. Tomeka is a founding member and on the leadership committee of the ALLIANCE OF WOMEN DIRECTORS - Atlanta Branch . Previously, Tomeka served as board member on the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Virginia Production Alliance board in 2015. She has volunteered as a film reviewer for SOUTHERN ARTS and THE MID-ATLANTIC FILM FESTIVAL. In 2014, Winborne developed LAVENDER REEL MEDIA GROUP, a production and media services company producing commercials, documentaries and other film projects. Tomeka was commissioned to co-produce a documentary entitled, “IN PLAIN SIGHT: HUMAN www.tomekawinborne.com TRAFFICKING,” for Cox Creative which aired on Cox Channel 11 and its affiliate stations. She has also served as a field reporter for Cox Communications. In 2016, Tomeka received the African American Cinematic Series Norfolk Public Library Award. Tomeka is thankful for the ability to combine her creative passion with her entrepreneurial spirit and believes wholeheartedly that her gifts make room for her. Tomeka has been featured in Shadow and Act Black Women Filmmakers Speak Series by Tambay A. Obenson and the Virginia Pilot Newspaper by Pamela Nichols. She's also been interviewed on "The Creative Outsiders Podcast, Directing Magic Podcast, The Dreammakers Show and Cox 11 - Cox Connections television show.
TOY LEI shares her journey of acting that led her to becoming a filmmaker. Toy was tired of being offered roles as a masseuse or nail technician. She took her career in her own hands by writing, directing and producing action films. TOY LEI has had a fascination with action films ever since her parents took her to Chinatown as a kid. They watched kung-fu movies every Saturday afternoon. After lamenting the lack of roles for Asian females over 30, she began writing, directing and producing her own projects. Her directorial debut, THE WEDDING, won her the Top 5 Women Filmmakers award from the Asian-American Film Lab and New York Women in Film and Television. BOXER, won not only Best Actress, Best Action and the Grand Prize at the 2015 Asian-American Film Lab 72-hr Shootout, but also won Awards of Merit from the highly competitive Accolade Global Competition for Short Film, Women Filmmakers and Leading Actress. It also won the Maverick Movie Award for Special Achievement in Stunts and a nomination from the Connect Film Fest for Best Drama. The film opened its fest run at the coveted Etheria Film Night and won Best Action. She has now expanded BOXER into a feature and has signed on Kristina Reed, a two-time Oscar winner, as Consulting Producer. BOXER was a finalist in the PGA Diversity Program. Her latest short she directed, TRANSITION, won the Jury Runner-up Prize in the Collaboration Filmmaker Contest.
July 17, 2016. 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time Join Restita and Bob as they welcome actress Toy Lei. We will be discussing the difference between Stage combat and Real combat. TOY LEI has had a fascination with action films ever since her parents took her to Chinatown as a kid to watch kung-fu movies every Saturday afternoon. After lamenting the lack of roles for Asian females over 30, she began writing, directing, and producing her own projects. Her directorial debut, THE WEDDING, won her the Top 5 Women Filmmakers award from the Asian-American Film Lab and New York Women in Film and Television. Her latest, BOXER, won not only Best Actress, Best Action and the Grand Prize at the 2015 Asian-American Film Lab 72-hr Shootout, but also won Awards of Merit from the highly competitive Accolade Competition for Short Film, Women Filmmakers and Leading Actress. The film opened its fest run at the coveted Etheria Film Night and winning Best Action. It continued strong into the 2016 San Diego Comic-con. Toy, one of the handful of female fight choreographers out there, is currently under a directing mentorship with Grace Moss at NBC/Universal and a stunt/action filmmaking mentorship with Lane Leavitt.
Toy Lei is a native New Yorker who is a California transplant. She’s had a fascination with action movies since her parents took her to Chinatown to watch kung fu movies and her in-depth participation in THE HURRICANE FIST (which was an homage to that genre) debuted at Comic-con. She has been seen in episodic television such as PARENTHOOD, HAPPY ENDINGS and WEIRD LONERS. ROAD WARS is one of the several independent features, shorts and web series you can also find her in. Her directorial, writing and producing debut, THE WEDDING, won her the Top 5 Women Filmmakers award from the Asian-American Film Lab and New York Women in Film and Television. Director: Toy Lei What most people don’t know is that while TOY LEI is in front of the camera a lot, she also has several credits as action director and fight choreographer including The Hurricane Fist, a 2009 Comic-con Film Festival Selection. Her directorial debut, The Wedding, won her the Top 5 Women Filmmakers award from the Asian-American Film Lab and New York Women in Film and Television. Her latest, BOXER, won not only Best Actress, but also Best Action and the big enchilada, the Grand Prize at the 2015 AAFilmlab Shootout. Writer: Toy Lei TOY LEI began writing because of the lack of roles in Hollywood for Asian females over 30. She has had a fascination with action films ever since her parents took her to Chinatown as a kid to watch straight-from-the-motherland kung fu movies every Saturday afternoon. And now, she spends her days dreaming up guns, blood and all kinds of ass-kicking for mature, smart, sexy women. When she’s not making movies, you can find her slinging her swords, snowboarding or playing punk rock versions of Motown tunes.