Today we’d like to introduce you to the @OriginalWhirl, Miranda.
Hi Miranda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I never know what to say when someone asks me about my story. It always feels like such a huge undertaking, and I don’t mean that in a bad way! I mean it in a way that begs the question of the asker ‘how much time do you have?’ I crack up laughing, because, I wonder, where do I start?! I feel like I have lived nine lives yet I remain such an open vessel to new experiences… I am an eternal Optimist, an Actor, Screenwriter, Director, fiercely loyal friend, lover of food, fun, and a true creative at heart. A top Executive at STARZ! coined me “a true multi-hyphenate,” but for my part, I refer to myself as a true “Whirl,” in every sense of the word.
So, what’s a Whirl?
What’s a Whirl? A word I made up to describe myself. When I came up with the phrase, I was sitting in my car feeling defeated after having done everything “right” and still feeling like I had failed at what I didn’t want to do! I knew I was no longer a girl, having studied Theatre and Directing at the University of Evansville, Harlaxton College in Grantham, England, spent almost a year studying Spanish Language and Culture at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina, and even studying with iconic drama teachers of Stanislavsky Method Acting at Harvard ART’s sister school MXAT in Moscow, Russia. I’d graduated with a BA in Spanish from Methodist University too, but I didn’t quite feel like I could fully embrace the phrase “woman,” either. My idea of a fully self-realized woman was someone who had their life so much more together than I felt at the time. Thus, I coined the term “Whirl.” It was an amalgamation of the two words (woman + girl) and it fit me perfectly.
Does the word Whirl still fit you now?
These days. I have embraced a new acronym for the term Whirl and it stands for a (W)oman (H)olding Space (I)n (R)eel (L)ife. I turned the phrase on a dime because these days I write, produce, and direct the reels like the ones that I used to clamor to be in. I look at it like that because with my business Georgia Whirl Productions LLC, I’m changing the game on how stories about BIPOC people, particularly women, are told. I co-founded Georgia Whirl because as an Actor, I got tired of the lack of representation in stories about people like me and deeply desired to create projects that helped Black and Brown women heal our pain through laughter. I wanted to create art that helped people in general understand the transformative nature of everyday choices. My mission is to create a body of work that will entertain, educate, surprise, and refresh the spirit of true independent filmmaking through provocative story-telling.
To make certain I understood precisely how to do it, I surrounded myself with some of the most talented people in the industry and enrolled myself in Graduate School at Harvard University (ES) to obtain my Masters in Creative Writing and Literature… Trust me, having to spend 10 hours a week writing in class on top of a 40 plus hour work week spent in the writer’s room, in the office, and on set will prepare you!
Since then, I have strengthened my skill set as a Writer and Producer… In 2020, I directed my first Feature Documentary, “The Word.” I’d already directed my first self-penned Off-Broadway play, “3 Days In Savannah,”that premiered at the Manhattan Repertory Theater and other educational theatrical shows for schools around Cobb and Cherokee County when I returned to Georgia. I directed a short documentary called “Mina Means Love,” as well. I’ve truly found my stride in writing and directing, but of course I still love to act! I currently have multiple projects in various stages of production and my company, Georgia Whirl Productions LLC, will have a featured commercial as a part of the Comcast RISE program which will air in 2022.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The last few years have just been hard, right? I feel like they tested everything — from our patience to the elasticity of our sweatpants (well, mine anyway)! But thanks to some amazing workouts available online from Dwight with Club DYPO (Dance Your Pounds Off), I’ve gotten into the best shape of my life! But seriously, I feel like the atmosphere that was created with everything surrounding COVID-19 really tested (no pun intended) everything from our values, faith, our community, and, at some points, even God. Not being one to let hard questions lie, I set out to see if I was alone in feeling tested. That is what birthed the project “The Word.” What I discovered by conducting interviews and hosting honest conversations, ones that most only whisper about, was that times have changed, faith can be disruptive, and ya mama’s Bible Study might not cut it anymore!
As you know, we’re big fans of Georgia Whirl Productions LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Georgia Whirl Productions LLC is the fastest growing women and BIPOC owned production company in the Southeast United States. Most recently, we Associate Produced a horror film directed by Nicole Carlson entitled “Maternally Damned,” that premiered at Comic Con in San Diego as a part of the “Sinphony Anthology,” trilogy series and I was showcased on a panel representing WIFTA at the Southern Horror Film Festival to chat about it.
We can help create any project on any budget from start to finish. We create everything in house from conceptualizing, writing a script, filming, photography, costuming, editing, etc.
Genres we cover: Comedy, Family, Faith, Suspense, Thriller, Horror, Romance, Sci-Fi, Educational, Industrial.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think the aspect that makes myself and my team stand out is our creativity and inalienable desire to create high-quality, original, relevant, and timely content. We also take on outside projects as well and the results can be ascertained from our amazing client testimonials. People who choose to work with Georgia Whirl appreciate our timeliness, clear expectations, and passion for our work. My company has a broad client base. We work with organizations like Fulton County Senior Services and local community organizations, businesses, schools, and groups. Most recently, I was able to create a stellar short tributary video for a member of a local Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Chapter.
One of the main qualities that attributes to my success is the quality of people that I work with. I work with some of the most amazingly talented people. From Sara, the head of my Writer’s Room to Grayson, one of our best Script Editors, to such wonderful talents on projects like “The Word,” such as Davida Roach, Kristian A. Smith, and Tiffany Breon among many others and amazing people on the crew and behind the scenes. Some super talented men have helped along the journey too, but I like to focus on the women who work tirelessly to get me to a place of success. There are too many to name but I’ll highlight Mary Manring who recently created some of the most amazing art for a project that completely elevated our concept. The list goes on and on. I am surrounded by greatness, especially by great women.
Contact Info:
- Email: Office@georgiawhirlproductions.com
- Website: www.georgiawhirlproductions.com
- Instagram: http://Instagram.com/georgiawhirl
- Facebook: http://Facebook.com/georgiawhirl
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgiawhirl
- Other: http://instagram.com/Originalwhirl
Image Credits:
Main Image: Stephanie Crump Photography Hair: Chauna Payne Makeup: Riska Johnson (Two Scoops of Beauty) Other images: Georgia Whirl Productions LLC Staff
