About the Artist..

Brandi LaVada Kneedly is a Black queer film maker, born and raised in Chicago, IL. They were an understudy of their mother, Brienda Crosby -Averhart, who was a artist and story teller. They started as a poet and performer at Louder Than A Bomb Poetry Slam competition from 2002-2004 with Curie High Schools slam team. Brandi used to carry their camera around with them all of the time capturing life as it happened. Growing up in Chicago taught Brandi to capture truth and appreciate the details and beauty in the little things. Brandi started filming and editing videos of different artist in Chicago between 2007-2009. At that time, they thought their main focus would be on documentary filmmaking. That changed as they discovered and honed in on their passion for fiction storytelling.

 

In 2011 Brandi wrote and published a children's book full of poems to encourage creativity and expression in children. The picture book, "Poems of an Artsy Smartsy 10 Year Old" gave youth empowering poems alongside colorful pictures of kids who they could relate to.

 

In 2012, in the wake of police murdering Trayvon Martin, Brandi developed a clothing brand geared toward empowering Black and Brown Chicago teens, "Chain Fragmentz". 

 

In 2020 Brandi collaborated with their mom to write and publish a poetry book discussing the hurts and joys of that year, and overcoming adversity.

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In November 2020 Brandi parted ways with a company they were managing at for 12 years to completely invest in their dream of being a visual story teller. Over those 12 years they straddled the fence between investing in their art and pushing forward at a company that was growing too fast. 

 

From 2021-2022 Brandi attended New York Film Academy where they wrote, directed, and produced 6 short films. Brandi is excited to continue their journey as a director, screenwriter, and producer! Let's Work!

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Director Statement:

My approach is to tell good stories that have 4 dimensional characters. I want to touch base on social issues and personal issues that have diverse characters. I want to give my truth and the truths of other diverse people that I have met and built community with over the years on screen.