Meet Anthony & Lindsay Diann Applewhite of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony & Lindsay Diann Applewhite.

Hi Anthony & Lindsay Diann, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Anthony and I both attended Clark Atlanta University during the same years, shared mutual friends, and somehow never met. Looking back, we are certain that God was preserving the timing.

We met at CAU Homecoming 2022 through one of our close friends. At the time, I was living in Los Angeles, where I spent 12 years building my career while also caring for my mother after her dementia diagnosis in 2020. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and during that visit to Atlanta I was exploring additional income streams such as ATMs and vending machines. Anthony Applewhite, who is known as “Applewhite”, owned several machines and was doing well with them, so our friend thought it would make sense to introduce us.

Ironically, we never talked about ATMs. We had an instant spark from the moment we met and the last thing on our minds were ATMs. We talked about life, purpose, and vision. The one time we revisited the subject, Anthony told me, “Why are you interested in ATMs? You’re an actress. I think you should focus on your dreams and stick with that.” We never talked about atm’s again.

In early 2023, I visited Atlanta again in February, then March. By April, I came back and never left. Leaving Los Angeles was not a light decision. I built a life there. Moving across the country felt risky and overwhelming, but our love was undeniable, and neither of us could ignore what we felt.

I remember worrying about how everything would work, especially with my mother. But then without hesitation Anthony said, “bring ya momma too”.
So I did.

On the drive from Los Angeles to Atlanta, I received the audition for Tyler Perry’s Zatima, which I later booked. That felt like the final confirmation that I was moving in the right direction.

Creativity had always been a part of both of us. Anthony built his foundation in music and theater, writing for major productions including P-Valley and contributing to large stage plays. I grew up professionally dancing, joined a successful girl group, built a career in acting, and wrote music that charted on Billboard’s Top 100. Yet neither of us had ever written a movie script.

In 2023, I felt called to try. I was terrified I wouldn’t be good enough, but it was something about Atlanta that made me want to dream big again. Anthony began reading my work, and what started as support quickly became collaboration. Scene by scene, we realized our instincts were aligned. It felt natural. That is when LA Elite Productions was born.

We wrote relentlessly and pitched to anyone that would listen. In 2024, we invested in four feature films as executive producers, guided by our mentor working alongside major companies like Lionsgate and CAA. We were learning in real time planting as many seeds as possible.

Then 2025 changed everything.

In January, Zatima’s new season aired.
In February, we got engaged.
In March and April, we filmed three feature films back to back.
That same April, we found out we were expecting our daughter.
By the end of the year, our films were being released. On December 5th, I gave birth naturally to our baby girl,
Dani Diann Applewhite.
On December 30th, we were married.

In one year, we filmed three movies, starred in them, built a company, got engaged, got married, welcomed our daughter, and we continue to watch our projects rise.

What once felt like separate paths was really preparation. When timing met purpose, we didn’t just fall in love. We built something.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing about our journey was conventional. We did not come from film school. We did not have generational Hollywood connections. We are just two creatives with vision, faith, and relentless work ethic. We heard “no” often. We were underestimated. As a Black couple building independently, we quickly learned we would have to create opportunities instead of waiting for them.

Writing our first scripts was intimidating. Investing our own resources into projects was risky. Filming three movies back to back while navigating pregnancy and major life transitions required endurance we did not even know we had.

There were moments of exhaustion. Moments of doubt. Moments when the odds felt heavy. But every obstacle strengthened our partnership. Every closed door pushed us to build our own. We have learned that resilience is simply faith in motion.

We may not have inherited a blueprint, but we are determined to leave one behind.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At LA Elite Productions, we develop, write, produce, executive produce, and star in television/films that center culture, connection, and compelling storytelling. Our focus is creating commercially viable projects that resonate with wide audiences while remaining authentic to who we are.

In 2024, stepping into the side of producing gave us a hands-on education in distribution, and the business side of filmmaking.

In 2025, we expanded into full-scale creation. We executive produced, produced, wrote, and starred in three feature films: Girls Night, Curious, and The Perfect Proposal. All three projects reached the Top Most Popular category on Tubi, where they are currently streaming.

What sets our work apart is that we are true multi-hyphenates. We do not just finance or oversee projects. We build them from concept to screen. Our backgrounds in music, acting, and performance influence the rhythm and emotional pacing of our films. We understand story from the inside out.
We are most proud of the fact that we built our slate independently and quickly.

In one year, we moved from learning the industry to creating content that competes at the top of major streaming platforms.

Our goal moving forward is to scale intentionally. We plan to expand our slate, strengthen strategic partnerships, and continue sharpening our craft so that every project raises the bar creatively and commercially.

What makes you happy?
Our happiness is simple. It’s our family.
Success is beautiful. Accomplishments are fulfilling. But nothing compares to building a life we once prayed for. The greatest moments of 2025 were not just premieres or rankings. They were quiet ones. Editing scenes while I was pregnant. Anthony praying over me before filming. Holding our daughter for the first time while watching our films stream across the country.

In the same season that we welcomed our baby girl, we also blended our family. When I married Anthony, I gained three incredible children. They are grown and an important part of our lives. Dani is our only child together, but we are one family, fully and intentionally.

We built a company and a marriage in the same season. I became a wife and a mother within weeks of each other. That kind of alignment does not feel accidental. It feels ordained.

In a world that often underestimates Black love, we choose to make ours visible, intentional, and generational. We are not just building credits. We are building a foundation our children can stand on.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://LAEliteProductions.com
• Instagram: @Laeliteproductions
• Youtube: LAEliteProductions
• Other: IMDb/laeliteproductions