Today we’d like to introduce you to Chiquita Lockley.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In first grade, I won my first award for storytelling. The prize was a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut for writing a Mother’s Day poem in a citywide competition. I knew then that storytelling would take me places! Over the years, I’ve used many mediums to tell stories. As a Writer, I’ve authored a children’s book, Maggie Tales: Mommy, Where’s Heaven? to help kids understand the circle of life. As a Playwright, I’ve written plays, including “A Mother’s Love” with Kandi Burruss, which showed to a sold-out crowd nightly and aired throughout season 8 on Real Housewives of Atlanta. As a Creative Director and Live Event Producer, I’ve served churches and gospel artists ranging from Impact Church to William Murphy and Tasha Cobbs Leonard. All of these opportunities and avenues by which I’ve been able to touch lives have culminated into my current work, which is Producing and Directing a documentary entitled “Eggs Over Easy: Black Women & Fertility”. This film discusses topics ranging from a woman’s choice to be childfree to a woman’s path to motherhood (miscarriages, egg freezing, surrogacy, fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, etc.).
It has always been important to me to tell my story and to help facilitate an environment where others feel safe sharing their stories, whether through film, music, fine arts, or their faith. To that end, I serve in an advisory capacity to the Atlanta-Dekalb based organization, “How Big Is Your Dream”, which is an after-school and summer arts program for youths. Additionally, I recently joined the Board of AIR Serenbe; an artist-in-residence program, which provides extended stays for artists to create in an unencumbered environment. When I pause, as I often do, to assess whether or not I’m in alignment with my purpose, I’m reminded of the little first grader who found her voice through writing. Yes… I am right where I’m supposed to be.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Having graduated from Spelman College and Emory University, I’m undaunted by most challenges, but that doesn’t mean that challenges don’t exist. Internally, I deal with finding patience when it seems to take an unreasonable amount of time to bring a project to fruition. Externally, I deal with the realities of finding funding for media projects in Atlanta. Even though film and television have been a great boost to our local and state economy, films and TV shows are not sold in Atlanta, for the most part. Selling content requires a trip to LA, where Silicon Valley invests heavily in media content, or to NYC where Wallstreet invests in entertainment.
For this reason, TV shows and films are booked out of LA, even when they’re shot in Georgia. This means that the top Producer/Director/ Writer/Actor roles (above the line) are already taken by the time a project lands in Georgia. This reality is a challenge for most of my peers. Because there’s no major financial industry here, media investments are few and far between. So if I had to list the biggest challenge that I face daily, it would be this disconnect between art and financial backing.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Lady Lock Productions story. Tell us more about the business.
As a company, we focus on telling stories from a marginalized perspective. The voices that aren’t heard as often or as loudly are the ones that we seek to amplify. One of my proudest moments was producing the award-winning documentary, “Kunta Kinteh Island: Coming Home Without Shackles” (e.ross studios). Chronicling the renaming of James Island, where enslaved African, Kunta Kinteh, was captured and held, was a monumental moment in my life. A follow-up to the mini-series, “Roots”, the documentary highlighted the 6th and 7th removed generations, a direct link to the atrocities of slavery that took place between Africa and the US.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe in prayers and the Grace, Mercy, and Favor of Jesus Christ. Without God’s hand on my life, I wouldn’t even have a story to tell.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.EggsOverEasyFilm.com
- Email: eggsovereasyfilm@gmail.com
- Instagram: @EggsOverEasyFilm
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/eggsovereasyfilm
- Other: www.chiquitalockley.com
Image Credit:
Kirk Franklin @ Superbowl Gospel on BET; Tasha Cobbs Leonard @ Stellar Awards; Chiquita, Stacii Jae & Phylicia Fant @ Essence Fest; Chiquita @ Cade Foundation Interviews
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