Meet Nahshon Dion

We recently connected with Nahshon Dion and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nahshon, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I am grateful for every chance I get to discuss my creative endeavors. I truly appreciate your support and your inviting me to share my passion. Thank you. Also, I didn’t discover a purpose for myself. Rather, a grand purpose was bestowed upon me. In 1991, I witnessed the transformative power of a SONY camcorder as it captured the horrific police brutality inflicted upon my family friend, Rodney King, by Los Angeles police officers. For years the chaotic aftermath and the media spotlight on this event played out on my front lawn, driveway, and apartment, where Rodney and his wife Denetta lived before my family moved in. The environment instilled in me a keen sense of observation and critical analysis of the world around me and fueled my passion for storytelling through print and screen. The never-ending saga of King’s brutal beating, one of the most savage in modern history, kindled my interest in human rights and film and was a guiding principle for my life.

Despite being discouraged by some, Rodney King’s sincere appeal for harmony and solidarity touched me deeply. He expressed this sentiment without any obligation to do so. Following the 1992 LA riots, I wrote an essay on community development and conflict resolution, which earned me a Discover Card Excellence Award and a prize of $500 through Scholastic Magazine. With this award, my family traveled to New York, which ignited my desire to live in the Big Apple and pursue a career as a writer.

By thirteen, my interest in entertainment was sparked when my junior high school drama class from John Marshall visited live television show tapings of the popular sitcom Family Matters. Also, in 1995 and 1996, while working at Universal Studios Hollywood, I spent my weekends at the home of Ms. Sandra Evers-Manly, the aunt of my friend and the cousin of the late Civil rights activist Medgar Evers. At that time, Sandra was the president of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood branch of the NAACP and President of the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center. During my teenage years, I was unaware that everything I was being exposed to, from harmful to good and bad would eventually propel me toward success and teach me how to deal with haters.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a nonfiction writer, teaching artist, writing mentor, video editor, emerging filmmaker, producer, grant writer, grants panelist, awards juror, community organizer, fundraiser, disability advocate, and arts patron. As a grant writer, I voluntarily assist others. Over the past decade, I have helped dozens of artists, entrepreneurs, and crime victims acquire tens of thousands of dollars in grants, funding, and resources. I also host a YouTube show TRANSBRATIONS. Since last year, I have interviewed over 30 brilliant artists, writers, and people creating change, like Jennifer Baker and Linda Villarosa. In celebration and honor of Black History and Women’s History Month, my most recent guests were California Secretary of State Dr. Weber, Shepherd’s Door Executive Director Tunisia Offray, CEO of Artist Community Alliance Lisa F. Hoffman, and the prolific acclaimed writer Jacqueline Woodson. My next guest is entrepreneur Dion Peronneau.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I grew up in a working-class family in the backyard of Hollywood. I’ve spent the past three decades working in the entertainment industry in various roles on and off camera as a member of SAG-AFTRA. Throughout my career, I’ve held administrative positions. I’m accustomed to having a seat at decision-making tables. My unwavering attention to detail, remarkable memory, and prudent decision-making have been crucial in my ongoing accomplishments. My profound expertise in arts and culture, social services, government affairs, media, labor law, civil rights, criminal justice, victim advocacy, and disability rights has also proved immensely advantageous in providing me with direction. Also, the guaranteed monthly income that I’ve received since 2004 has contributed to my success.

In junior high school, my interest in film and TV production was sparked by my involvement in the drama department. I furthered my education in high school by reading newspapers and various trade magazines like Black Talent News, the Hollywood Reporter, and Variety. At my prom, I met rapper Tupac Shakur, who referred me to his business partner, Tracy D. Robinson. I interned at her company, Look Hear Sound & Vision Productions, where I learned crucial TV and film production skills from Tracy and her partner Gobi Rahimi.

In 1997, I began my journey as a production assistant for Master P’s film “Da Last Don” and “The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show.” At 19, I worked alongside prolific British Executive Producers Charlie Parsons and Michael Davies at Buena Vista TV, a subsidiary of Walt Disney. Later, I became the production coordinator for Russell Simmons’ “One World Music Beat.” In 2000, I landed an interview to work on the feature film “How High,” which starred rapper Method Man, thanks to my former supervisor, Shauna Garr. In 2007, I reconnected with filmmaker and talent manager Shauna and worked as a production coordinator for her notable documentary, “1 More Hit.” During our collaboration, I shared with her the graphic details of my near-death experience in 1997, and she encouraged me to start creative writing, which led me to explore a new artistic direction.

Through my work with Shauna, I also learned that she had executive produced an eight-part docu-soap reality show PBS series called “The Ride” in 1995, which was a critical success and launched the career of actress Paula Patton. Shauna had secured over $400k in grant funding from ITVS, making “The Ride” possible. In 2013, Shauna of SIX AM LLC began reviewing and advising me on my artist grant applications. She wrote several letters of recommendation stating that my creative material deserved recognition from the artistic community and the wider public. She encouraged me to pursue grant opportunities and to “get my fundraising on.”

My journey has been plagued with immense violence, hostility, jealousy, exclusion, and discrimination. But, I have been fortunate enough to always have access to excellent health insurance, multiple income streams at every corner, and free rides. Along the way, I have become an expert observer and learned how to extract vital and valuable information, initiate meaningful conversations, and take charge of my creative projects and funding opportunities. I advise young professionals to believe in themselves, remain focused on their objectives, and chart their own paths. Don’t simply absorb knowledge; actively seek out new skills and expertise relevant to your field, even if they don’t immediately interest you. I discovered my passion for video editing and grant writing by taking on tasks that didn’t initially interest me. Remember to apply your newfound knowledge every day to your work.

I have always applied the creative and professional skills I have learned over the past three decades to my business affairs. My unrelenting, overly aggressive approach has helped me obtain opportunities in writing, TV, film production, grant writing, and access to brilliant, accomplished people. I must emphasize that sharing valuable information with others and reciprocating the favor when possible is essential. I also advise young professionals to not just be competitive but be more competitive than others in their fields. Within reason, capitalize on every opportunity that comes your way or someone else’s way. Always broadcast and highlight what you are doing. Never stop believing in yourself. Pay attention to everything and trust your own judgment. Don’t take others for granted or dismiss folks due to your insecurity, bias, prejudice, or ignorance. Remember, money doesn’t make you a boss. You are already the boss! And as a boss, it’s important to come to terms with the fact that some people may feel jealous or envious of your success, and they may even resort to spreading falsehoods to undermine your business. This is something that I have personally had to manage since the late 90s.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
As part of my recently established arts collective, TRANSBRATIONS, I team up with three uber-talented transwomen who are recognized activists and performers in California. These legends are Queen Jazzmun Crayton, Ebony Lane, and LZ Love. In addition to working on my memoir, grant writing, and researching guests for TRANSBRATIONS YouTube show, I dedicate my time to developing my documentary film, “Renewed Life”, which chronicles my journey of survival and artistic development, delving into two critical questions. First, how does one break free from violence when it permeates their community and still pursue their dreams? Second, what are the ramifications of surviving in a harmful environment, and how does one emerge without perpetuating additional damage? The film, being co-directed by Tracy Robinson and produced by Leila Steinberg, serves as a celebratory rainbow blueprint, demonstrating to marginalized young people the significance of self-esteem and how to attain their fullest potential, radiating with confidence and dignity, even when their path is obscured by adversity, and their rainbow is blurred.

The area where I have experienced the most growth is in identifying and pursuing new grant opportunities. Last Fall, I was named a Bronx Documentary Center Film Fellowship finalist. I was awarded an artist residency at the 18th Street Arts Center this winter. I was recently awarded a New York State Seed Funding $5k grant that is helping me further develop my work-in-progress documentary film “Renewed Life”.

“I wanted to reiterate that your story is so powerful and so important. I really look forward to the day we sit together in one of these theaters in New York and watch it.” ― Zachary Kerschberg, Documentary filmmaker.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
All photos are owned by Nahshon Dion except the full-body photo with Nahshon Dion and Jenn Baker (grey background). That photo is by @dp.jolly. After my main photo, please publish the photos in following order: Nahshon Dion & Shauna Garr Nahshon Dion & Jenn Baker Nahshon Dion & Linda Villarosa Nahshon Dion & Jacqueline Woodson Dr. Shirley Weber & Nahshon Dion

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of

Productivity
Beating Burnout

Often the key to having massive impact is the ability to keep going when others

Leadership Development
Finding Your Why

Not knowing why you are going wherever it is that you are going sounds silly,