Amplifying Stories that Matter: How a Former Teacher Became a Best-Selling Author and Award-Winning Film Producer
By Natalie Jenkins and Yasmeen Mayes
We hear stories of successful people at their peak, but what is often most inspiring is learning about the moment that everything changed for them. We might uncover that they’ve risen to the top after battling the likes of homelessness. We might discover that a chance to encounter someone who gave them an opportunity after a chorus of rejections was the reason for their success.
For Tressa “Azarel” Smallwood, the inception of her career as a best-selling author and film producer began while she was on bed rest. Today, Smallwood’s work can be viewed on the likes of BET, TVOne, Urban Movie Channel, and more.
Smallwood’s journey to becoming the founder of award-winning film company MegaMind Media and independent publishing house Life Changing Books wasn’t a straight path, “I was always the person who never knew what she wanted to do.”
While she was an undergraduate student, Smallwood studied business with a focus on marketing and merchandising. She intended to pursue a career in fashion, but eventually landed a teaching role in the school system, and in 2000, she returned to school to get her master’s in education. With a long line of educators in her family, Smallwood was convinced that this was the right path for her to take.
The following year in 2001, she was expecting her second child but it wasn’t the smooth ride she anticipated. Due to complications with her pregnancy, Smallwood’s doctors placed her on bed rest for six months. With a strong business sense instilled in her, Smallwood was devising plans for ways that she could make the most out of her circumstance.
Considering what type of business she could launch, she eventually accepted the challenge from a family member to write her very first book. Lo and behold, that book would soon become a best-seller and Smallwood would never go back to work in the classroom. At least, not in the way she had before.
“At that time my annual salary was $42,000. After releasing my book, I made that in two months. Although I love education, I knew that I had it in me to make more of an impact going outside of the classroom and bringing people along with me.”
Another motivating factor for Smallwood in her decision to step away from teaching was that her family was incredibly supportive. She intentionally includes her husband and children in every project, so that they feel a sense of ownership in the work that she does too. “If you keep the dream to yourself, it’s harder!” she explained.
Smallwood also credits her father for supporting and investing in her dreams, “Having someone with that level of wisdom and someone to guide you in that way that he has been so amazing for me and my career.”
While most of Smallwood’s family was on board with her transition and have since played a significant role in the success of her projects, she also recognizes that may not be the case for the average person. She in fact faced some pushback herself. “It’s okay if you share the dream and they can’t see it. How you handle a lack of support and reject matters. You have to be okay with the fact that not everyone will share your vision!”
By 2005, Smallwood had written three books and had six authors under her publishing company. Proud to be in a position where she is truly able to help change lives, as the name of her publishing company alludes, she is passionate about helping emerging producers, directors, and writers experience the success that she has in her ventures. “Many creatives don’t really know how to make it happen. A lot of people just don’t have the support that they need to win,” she said.
Today, Smallwood spends most of her time juggling the demands of her two companies, where she produces content in record time. Over just four years, her film company helped produce over 10 films.
While many might look at Smallwood’s path and wonder how she got to where she is, she attributes it all to God. “People have to have a certain level of faith in themselves and in God! I know that if I put in the work, I won’t fail. My faith is on 20,000. I do the craziest things and people always ask me why. My faith catapults me.”
Though Smallwood jumps at opportunities in a big way that surprises those around her, she is very strategic in determining what types of stories she will tell. Ensuring that the projects she takes on are marketable and something that she can sell is a key factor. In addition to this, her first priority is uplifting women. No matter the movie or book, she always looks for ways to shed light on women and their experiences in a positive light. She is also passionate about sharing faith-based work and bringing projects to life that uplift our communities. Though these pieces tend to be more challenging to get big brands to support, they are exactly what Smallwood has dedicated her career to.
One of her favorite projects was “Like, Comment, Subscribe,” produced in partnership with BETHer. “Like, Comment, Subscribe,” is a cautionary tale to young Black women about the risk of breast cancer. This was especially eye-opening and impactful for Smallwood to work on, considering Black women are the second-highest race to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Black representation in film production — whether on or behind-the-screen as directors, producers, writers, or crew members — is incredibly important in amplifying the stories of Black people and telling those stories in a way that is nuanced and human.
Although the film industry has made gains in overall casting diversity, findings from UCLA’s Hollywood Diversity Report showed that women and people of color remain severely underrepresented in the ranks of film directors, writers, and studio heads. These positions in Hollywood films are responsible for defining the heart of a film’s arc and lighting up audiences with stories that are meaningful. The absence of true diversity that represents distinctive audiences has historically led to characters who are stereotypical or the exclusion of their storylines altogether.
Within the film industry, entertainment networks and studio companies are attempting to break down these barriers for Black and other people of color. Smallwood works to uplift other Black writers and directors in the industry by hiring them and giving them opportunities to shine.
During the creation of a Christmas film for a major network, Smallwood shared that she was intentional about hiring a director for the film that would put him in a position to put his work on the map. “Not only did the network buy the film from us after first rejecting it, but they absolutely loved it. I was so honored to put the director of my film in a position where he received even more opportunities from working on this project,” she said. “I was able to help him and now he can go on and help someone else.”
This beautiful example of paying it forward came from those who believed in Smallwood and pushed her to go beyond her own expectations. This has been significant in the way she will continue to be bold and a part of advancing the film industry.
There are a host of female executives who have made it in corporate films and entertainment who rally behind her knowing that she could help a lot of women and other people of color in the industry. “They realize that me doing this independently is something they haven’t seen in a while so they always reach out and help often to help me get to the next level.”
Smallwood reflected on the meaning of Black History Month and shared that she believes it’s a reminder to celebrate Black people every day. “This month gives us an opportunity to learn and research those who have done things of importance and for the culture. It also gives us a chance to recognize and talk about people who are doing it big now! That means that it could be recognizing someone that is just helping their community.”
Intentional about helping her own community, Smallwood hosts an annual event focused on pouring into local talent pursuing careers in television and film. The DMV Film and TV Summit will take place this year on March 20th and 21st. This two-day summit features a lineup of creators in the industry and aims to provide education and networking opportunities for actors, writers, producers, creatives, and more.
For Smallwood, Black History Month puts a battery in her back to stay the course and continue to show gratitude to our ancestors by achieving even greater heights.
“I think we all should be inspired and motivated to be more and do more. Having Black History Month reminds us of that.”
This is the sixth article in an eight-part Black History Month series, Celebrating our Past, Present, and Future featured in the publication The Chronicles of Black History and Culture.
