Director
Jamal Akakpo
Jamal Akakpo is a Ghanaian-American filmmaker and actor from Chicago. As a storyteller shaped by the city he calls home, Jamal creates with intention, spotlighting mental health within the Black community. He wrote and directed the acclaimed short film Somewhere in the Grey and has appeared in HBO’s Watchmen and CW’s Black Lightning. Talk to Somebody is his most personal work yet, rooted in lived experience and emotional truth.
Producer
LaTanya Y. Potts
LaTanya Y. Potts carries a four-generation legacy in American cinema. Serving as a cinema historian, exhibitor, and administrator of the Potts family motion picture legacy—which began in 1929—she brings nearly three decades of behind-the-scenes expertise in casting and producing. As the CEO of Potts Studios, Potts combines deep industry heritage with rigorous formal preparation, holding a Specialization Certificate in Entertainment Studies from UCLA Extension and a Bachelor of Science in Holistic Nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health.
Writer
Michael McGrew
Michael McGrew is a writer, author, and filmmaker who has published nine books and founded The I Am Project for Literacy, helping youth in foster care and group homes become published authors. His entertainment journey began at 18 as a lighting technician for BET Network. In 2025, he launched Dark Corner Productions, bringing his passion for storytelling from the page to the screen with his first feature film project.