AYANA
O'SHUN
STORYTELLER | PRODUCER | DIRECTOR
TV COLUMNIST AND MULTILINGUAL ACTRESS
“ Ready, fire, aim.”
Ayana O’Shun is a multilingual artist, speaker, host, and media speaking coach. She also excels in the film industry as a director, producer, and actress.
Her award-winning documentary, "The Myth of the Black Woman," gives voice to 21 Black women to explore the influence of images that depict them on their lives. The film won the Magnus-Isacsson Award for Best Film at the Montreal International Documentary Festival and has been featured in numerous international festivals. It also remained in the top 20 of the Quebec box office for five weeks, despite competition from major American productions.
Ayana has directed other films, including "Black Hands - Trial of the Arsonist Slave," which received funding from ICI Radio-Canada, SODEC, and the NFB, and has received widespread acclaim.
In addition to her role behind the camera, Ayana is also an accomplished actress with a diverse career in film, television, theater, and commercials.
Ayana O’Shun aims to create powerful stories that foster connection between individuals and communities while breaking barriers related to gender and race, promoting values of freedom, truth, respect, and sisterhood-brotherhood in all her works.
BOOK THIS EXPERT AS A SPEAKER, HOST OR COACH
Ayana adapts to your needs and develops tailor-made conferences (1 to 3 hours), whether to discuss issues related to women, stereotypes, mental health, diversity, overcoming perceived limits or to view the documentary "The Myth of the Black Woman".
TYPES OF EXPERTISE:
1. THE MYTH OF THE BLACK WOMAN
Immerse yourself in a transformative experience based on the best-selling documentary.
In this interactive talk, Ayana O'Shun explores in depth three major stereotypes, some of which affect Black women specifically, but also have repercussions for women in general: the Jezebel, the Mammy and the Angry Woman stereotypes.
After viewing all or part of the documentary, this interactive talk highlights the consequences of these stereotypes in women's professional, social and personal lives, while proposing concrete solutions for deconstructing them.
Moreover, this conference offers the flexibility to delve deeper into other fascinating themes from the film, such as profiling, mental health, colorism, the conception of beauty and hair-related issues, according to your needs and preferences.
The feature-length documentary investigates the image of black women in society, from the hypersexual Jezebel to the lovable Nurse to the sassy "Bitch".
According to experts, the Black community is the minority most affected by images created centuries ago. Acclaimed women leaders in their fields share the challenges these representations pose in their lives.
Their compelling stories are supported by unprecedented and captivating archival footage spanning centuries to the present day.
2. MASTER THE SECRETS OF CINEMA TO FULLFILL YOUR FULL POTENTIAL
Filmmaking is a complex, costly, and demanding endeavor.
In Quebec, as elsewhere, only a tiny fraction of film projects see the light of day each year. For example, Ayana O'Shun's documentary "The Myth of the Black Woman" took ten years to complete.
In this talk, Ayana O'Shun shares the major lessons learned from this adventure:
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What obstacles were overcome to bring this dream to life?
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How did Ayana mobilize her physical, mental and spiritual resources to keep the film among the top 20 in Quebec, alongside Hollywood giants?
Join Ayana in this testimonial conference, where she shares the 5 essential lessons she learned from producing this exceptional film, and more importantly, gives advice on how they can be applied on a daily basis to achieve your goals, or those of your company. In short, a source of inspiration for your resilience!
3. MAKE YOUR MESSAGE SHINE IN A SEA OF MEDIA: 3 KEYS TO ATTRACTING ATTENTION
In a world where the media receives a daily avalanche of press releases, how can you ensure that your message stands out from the crowd and has a chance of being published?
Ayana O'Shun will share with you three essential keys based on her rich experience in the media industry. You will discover how to shape a message that captures the attention of journalists and audiences, how to create distinctive content that sets you apart from the competition, and how to build effective relationships with the media to maximize your visibility.
Whether you are a communications professional, an entrepreneur, or simply seeking ways to make your message heard, this conference will provide you with practical and proven strategies to shine in the complex world of media.
LANGUAGES :
LOCATION : MONTREAL, QC
TESTIMONIALS:
PUBLICATIONS:
Deconstructing stereotypes of Black women,
LA PRESSE
After a forced two-year hiatus, Black History Month begins this year with a multitude of activities, conferences, shows, and films, all revolving around the theme "From Darkness to Light." The program reflects the strength and creativity of Black communities. Here's a glimpse of what awaits you.
She embodies a Haitian refugee facing deportation threats: Ayana O’Shun delivers a strong performance in the series "The Rebels."
LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL
Actress Ayana O’Shun fully invested herself in portraying the Haitian refugee Rosena Jean in the series "The Rebels" on Club illico.
She felt a "responsibility to pay tribute" to immigrants who, like her own parents, left the Pearl of the Antilles in hopes of a better life.