A groundbreaking series in our own backyard
As the sun rises over the city of Tampa Bay, the audience is introduced to a group of ambitious and motivated black, lesbian women attempting to change the face of television.
Earlier this week LaJoi Media debuted the premiere episode of My Beautiful Pain, a YouTube series about the relationships and careers within a group of entrepreneurial lesbians of color determined to make it as the “first black LGBT network.”
The series has gone through many changes over the years, including being replaced by an earlier project titled Crucial Moves, but somehow always managed to come full circle, back to the enticing storyline of My Beautiful Pain. Production began back in April.
The majority of the actors were selected through existing relationships and outreach on social media. Each dedicates at least 10-20 hours per week of personal time filming the series.
For series creator Ashley Wooten, the drive behind the show runs much deeper than a want for fame. Growing up she always questioned why she didn’t see black directors, especially black female directors, making films and television shows.
While Wooten’s end goal is to be picked up by a network, she has expressed in interviews that her cast always comes first.
The majority of funding from the show comes from Wooten and her co-producer/girlfriend Jessica Lindsey, who plays Kira Matthews in the series. Lindsey has taken time out from pursuing her nursing career at Hillsborough Community College to help with the show.
Wooten has a GoFundMe page, but says more help is needed to take this film to the next level.
The series is shot on DSLR cameras, and Wooten hopes to get better equipment as the series progresses.
He believes the children are our future
ALSO Youth announced Nathan Bruemmer as the organization’s new Executive Director. Bruemmer is a Florida native, more specifically from right here in the Tampa Bay area. A former public school teacher and advocate for LGBTQ rights, Bruemmer was able to put a greater focus on his passion for advocacy when he attended Stetson University College of Law, which he just graduated from this past May.
ALSO Youth began 18 years ago as a group of volunteers with a goal of reaching out to LGBTQ teens in crisis. ALSO Youth is now one of the largest and most successful support groups for LGBTQ youths. They provide safe places for youths to feel accepted and can be treated with respect from others going through the same issues. ALSO Youth has seen success by providing services such as consultation and advocacy for those needing assistance.
Bruemmer has been working on the frontlines of LGBTQ rights for some time. He serves on the board for St. Pete Pride, the LGBT Bar Association of Tampa Bay and TransAction Florida. His work with the latter led to the first ever Trans March during St. Pete Pride this year.
