Allison Bonner Shillingford – Writer/Director/Producer/Editor
After watching Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It” she knew
she wanted to be a filmmaker. So the summer after her junior
year in high school Allison got her first job as a waitress and
gave her mother every dime she made so that she could
attend New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Her
parents seeing how committed and passionate she was about
becoming a filmmaker made sure she got the education she
would need on their modest income.
After receiving her BFA in Dramatic Writing from Tisch she did
what a lot of artists do – work a series of 9-to-5s to pay her
bills as she pursued her art. Allison has done everything from
loading trucks at UPS, to being a plumber for Roto-Rooter
(one of three women in the country at the time), to being an
administrative assistant at British Telecom, where she worked
her way up to Bid Manager. Along the way she worked as a
Production Coordinator at MSNBC and VH1.
Allison Bonner Shillingford is a storyteller. Whether she is
using her words, images or other peoples, she creates
compelling worlds that draw you in.
She is a playwright whose play "Can We Dance," which takes
a historical look at the role of women, has been performed in
New York, Portland and North Carolina. Her award winning
screenplay "Behind God's Back" is a disturbing parable of
redemption. Her short film “Pieces of a Puzzle,” a poignant
story of forgiving self, played in New York.
She has now completed her first documentary “In Our
Lifetime," a documentation of this historic election through the
eyes of Seven African-American Elders. They reflect on what
they’ve seen, and what they thought they would never see, in
their lifetime. In Our Lifetime has played in California,
Washington D.C., and New York
She's currently producing a short animation entitled the ride
where while on the ride one experiences the aftermath of a
lynching through the eyes of an African American 8 year old
girl.
Her biggest accomplishment is being a wife to an amazing
man and mother to two incredible children.
C. Kenneth Shillingford - Executive Producer
Ken Shillingford is a lifelong Brooklynite who has always
wondered how personal achievement is shaped by what
someone sees in the neighborhoods where they live, work,
and travel. He has pursued his interests in education and
community development in his professional and personal
endeavors. Seeing how this project could educate and
inspire his community he wanted to be a part of it.
Mr. Shillingford is currently Director of Finance and Operations
for the New York City Department of City Planning. He
indulges his passion for compelling, yet unnoticed images
through Shillingford Photography, specializing in the fine art of
everyday life. He was an Assistant Director at the 1199SEIU
Training & Employment Funds managing and analyzing
education programs for homecare workers. He spent
numerous years serving on the Board of Trustees of the
Central Brooklyn Federal Credit Union while serving in New
York City’s Office of the Mayor handling budgeting and
procurement. Formerly, he was Director of Specialized Foster
Care for Miracle Makers of Brooklyn, Leadership Program
Director for The Mega-Cities Project, and Recruitment
Coordinator with Teach for America. Mr. Shillingford has a BA
from the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters of Public
Administration from Columbia University after starting his
education at P. S. 268 in East Flatbush.
Patrick Ulysse - Director of Photography
Patrick Ulysse is the Founder, President, and CEO of UniMix
Films, LLC. Filmmaker, Director, Producer and DP Patrick
Ulysse was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He
resided in his native country until the age of 16, when he then
migrated to Brooklyn, New York. As a descendent of his
native land, familiarizing himself with his new home, America,
was at times difficult. There was an obvious cultural disparity.
In order to gain acceptance among his peers he would
entertain them by creating and cultivating fictional stories,
which was an extension of his passion to produce exceptional
and thought-provoking story lines. When Patrick realized he
had a knack for what was soon to be his future career, he took
his storytelling a step further. At the age of 17 a firm decision
was made, and a filmmaker was born. At 19, as he honed his
skills, Patrick produced and directed “VOTE” a short
documentary whose sole purpose was to educate teenagers
such as him on the importance of utilizing one’s voting power.
Patrick went on to produce and direct films, short stories,
documentaries, and music videos.
Mr. Ulysse is credited for the award-winning independent film
“Amour Infinity” and worked on award-winning shows like
“Law and Order”, “Secrets of New York” and “Sex and the
City”. He is able to wear many hats. Mr. Ulysse penned,
produced, directed and edited “One More Try” a short movie
that he will use to gain financing for his upcoming feature
“Forever & A Day.”
Brigitte Bonner Lindsay – Associate Producer/Sound Recordist
Brigitte Bonner Lindsay is from Fayetteville, North Carolina.
She graduated from Fayetteville State University with a
degree in Speech and Theater with a concentration in
Communication. After graduation she worked for WKFT –
TV40. She started off as a video tape, audio and chyron
operator. She later moved on to directing news programs and
commercials for the independent Fayetteville station. After TV-
40 she went back to Fayetteville State as the Coordinator of
Media Services.
This is the second project that she has worked on with her
sister Allison. Brigitte was the DP for Allison’s first short film
“Pieces of a Puzzle.”
Photographers
Ken Shillingford www.ShillingfordPhotography.com
Raymond Fudge
Andrea L. Korda
Katya L. Horner www.slightclutter.com
Justin Goode www.justingoodephotography.com
Luke Vargas www.flickr.com/photos/lukevargas/
Greg Frieden www.gregfrieden.com
Jan Landis www.JanLandisPhotography.com
