Today we’d like to introduce you to Keith Powell.
Hi Keith, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Keith Lakean Powell’s start in the film industry appears to be rooted in a hands-on, independent approach, primarily in Virginia. Rather than a traditional film school background, his career is built on self-taught skills and relentless passion for storytelling.
Key aspects of his start include:
Independent Filmmaking: Powell established his own independent film company, Lakean Entertainment, based in South Boston, Virginia.
Self-Taught Skills: He is noted for writing, filming, and editing his projects all on his own, demonstrating a complete immersion in the filmmaking process from the ground up.
Practical Experience: He provides himself and other local talent with real-life, on-the-spot acting and filming opportunities, using innovative techniques like heavy improvisation to help actors embody their characters (similar to theater but for film).
Local Focus: His early work primarily involved actors and hip hop artists from around the state of Virginia, cultivating local talent and focusing on regional stories.
Web Series as a Platform: He created online
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Keith Lakean Powell’s primary struggles as an independent filmmaker in the industry revolve around the inherent challenges of being an artist who defies conventional categories, along with the typical difficulties faced by independent creators in a competitive market.
Core Struggles
Fighting Perception/Pigeonholing: Powell’s main struggle is convincing people that he is a versatile artist who works in many roles (writer, director, actor, producer) and genres (comedy/drama). He mentions the difficulty of people putting him “in a box” (e.g., “Oh, he’s just an actor,” or “You only do comedy, right?”), and he constantly works to remind people of his diversified capabilities.
Rejection and Inactivity: Like most artists, Powell deals with the stress, anxiety, and periods of inactivity that come with rejection in the industry. His coping mechanism is to proactively “make work for yourself” rather than wait for others to give him opportunities.
Navigating the Independent Market: As an independent filmmaker based in Virginia, he faces common industry challenges such as:
Limited Funding: Independent filmmaker
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Keith Lakean Powell is a prolific, multi-award-winning independent filmmaker, actor, director, writer, and producer from Virginia. He is known for his hands-on, entrepreneurial approach to creating numerous films and series, many of which are available on streaming platforms like Tubi and Amazon Prime.
Career Overview
Multiple Roles: Powell is a versatile artist who writes, directs, acts, produces, and even handles editing and cinematography for his projects.
Independent Spirit: He is the founder of Lakean Entertainment Production (L.E.P.), an independent film company based in South Boston, Virginia, that focuses on nurturing local talent.
Proactive Filmmaking: Rather than waiting for opportunities, Powell creates his own work, often using innovative techniques like heavy improvisation during filming to help actors develop their characters.
Extensive Credits: He has over 200 movie credits, with more than 10 of his projects streaming on various platforms.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can work with and support Keith Lakean Powell by engaging directly with him on social media, seeking out specific services he offers, and watching his films on various streaming platforms.
How to Work with Keith Lakean Powell
Powell is very active in the filmmaking community and often posts opportunities on social media.
For Actors/Actresses:
Networking and Submissions: Powell often uses his personal and company Facebook pages and groups to post casting calls and opportunities for actors and actresses in the Virginia area. He values dependability and a proactive attitude in the talent he works with.
Training: He offers assistance with acting, bringing out emotions, and learning directive cues, leveraging his unique style of heavy improvisation to help talent grow. Contacting him directly through his social media might be the best route for these services.
How to Support Him
Watch His Films: The most direct way to support his work is by watching his movies. Over 10 of his projects are available on various streaming services, including Tubi, Amazon Prime, and Xumo. Watching, reviewing, and sharing his films helps increase his visibility and success on these platforms.
Engage on Social Media: Follow him on his Instagram and Facebook pages. Liking, commenting on, and sharing his posts helps promote his work to a wider audience.
Spread the Word: Mention his films and independent filmmaking approach to others who enjoy indie cinema, especially those interested in local, regional talent and unique storytelling methods.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://keanmotionpictures.vhx.tv
- Instagram: Source: Instagram https://share.google/WawyGY1QNUHvHiuwT
- Facebook: Source: Facebook https://share.google/Nn31qmoXe81nbWp3b
- Youtube: Source: YouTube https://share.google/MZlwXpQxGY4T99c3X
