Filmmaking was divine intervention.
I didn’t attend film school, I don’t have technical training, and I sure wasn’t go looking for it. It found me - hustlin’, hungry, ready, and with unwavering faith to make $h*t happen.
I’m from the school of hard knocks, DIY’s, and Nelson D. George.
Work In Progress
Current Title: Through The Wire
After receiving the best news of his life, a young music producer begins to prepare himself for stardom, fearful that the industry might take advantage of him.
Category: Narrative Short | Location: New York City | Status: Post-Production
The Gates Preserve | EP: Sallomé Hralima | Director: umi | DP: Herman Jean Noel | Producer: Syreeta Gates | Credit: Producer & Art/Production Design
World Premiere
Urbanworld | Fall 2020
Recent Projects
Gratuity Included presents
Be Greatful x Pass It On.
International Women’s Day is celebrated on the 8th of March and is the centerpiece of the movement for women’s rights. We want to thank all women - grandmothers, mothers, aunties, big sisters, little sisters, nieces, and homegirls. We acknowledge you and all of your accomplishments to date. Thank you, Pass it on!
Credit: Director, Executive Producer, Production Design, Editor
This video is a meditation. We suggest you play it twice - once with visuals, and then again with your eyes closed. What you hear is an excerpt from The Unfolding Book entitled, WISDOM by co-host Akua Soadwa of Let's Pursue You.
Inspired by the collective nature of the #norushchallenge, we created #PassItOn to highlight and celebrate all the beautiful people around the world activating our Unfolding Deck of affirmations. Edited by Justice Hatterson | Song: My People by REMI (ft. Thando)
Whines & Whispers - Donatello Ft. Ashley Mui, Luna, and JessLi
Credit: Instruments (Singing Bowl & Ufo Drum), Affirmations, & Vocals
The Gates Preserve presents
Yo Stay Hungry, chef coaches work with young people to bring hip hop to the table, and to craft a dish inspired by a hip hop lyric. Watch our annual Biggie Day Celebration!
Follow The Gates Preserve and Yo Stay Hungry.
Creator: Syreeta Gates | Shot and edited by Herman Jean-Noel of Neglakay Productions | Credit: Producer
We honor #BiggieDay by sharing with you a little archive of our Chef Coach April telling us what she and her team did to impress the judges! Music by @officiallyjp_
5 years ago, Yo Stay Hungry! launched in celebration of hip hop icon’s Biggie Smalls birthday at August Martin Highschool in Queens, NY.
Spread Love It’s The Brooklyn Way. #BiggieDay
Family Affair presents
A Day In The Life of John Doe by WAAJEED
Taken from 1997 to 1999, A Day in the Life of JOHN DOE is a collection of never-before-seen and rare photos of J Dilla by WAAJEED, a multi-talented music producer, filmmaker, artist, and Detroit native.
Family Affair opened it’s doors on June 7th 2018 with its debut show Prince: Pre-Fame by Robert Whitman. In just one year, Family Affair held 7 shows celebrating Eric B. & Rakim, Michael Jackson, Bay Area Hip Hop Artists, Chaz Bear of Toro y Moi & Company Studio, J Dilla, and Andy Warhol.
Gallery Owner & Creative Director: Freddy Anzures | Credit: Producer, Host
Catch more videos by Lorenzo Escalate of Flipbird Films.
This is a personal glimpse of the prolific producer, composer, artist, innovator, and musical genius from Detroit JAMES DEWITT YANCEY, also known as JAY DEE, and best known as J DILLA.
“Just as J Dilla taught me to listen differently, Andy Warhol taught me to see differently.” — Freddy Anzures
On June 7th, 2019, Family Affair celebrated it’s one year anniversary with its 7th Show, ANDY® by Freddy Anzures.
Thank you to @HaightStreetArt for the tight collaboration and production of the ANDY® screenprints. We are happy to engage the local creative community in our artistic endeavors.
Oldies but Goodies
Urban Romances presents
A Ballerina’S Tale, Iconic ballerina Misty Copeland made history when she became the first African-American woman to be named principal dancer of the legendary American Ballet Theater. More than just a ballet success story, Copeland’s journey is a hugely inspirational, universal tale of perseverance.
Urban Romances is a twenty-year old film and television production company specializing in African American content headed by writer, director Nelson George.
Directed by Nelson George | Credit: Associate Producer
Finding the Funk is a road trip in search of the past, present and future of Funk music.
International Premiere at SXSW 2013
Directed by Nelson George | Narrated by Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson of the Roots | Credit: Associate Producer
PlanIt Brooklyn presents
Get Ghost: A Halloween Blitz
Ashley + Sallomé Hralima host a Halloween Party on the back of the A Train on October 31, 2013.
Shot and edited by Herman Jean-Noel of Neglakay Productions.
Credit: Executive Producer
God Bless The A (GBTA) is a brilliant framing of theatrical participatory story telling of experiences exclusive to the "A train”. Hosted at the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn.
Shot and edited by Herman Jean-Noel of Neglakay Productions.
In 2009, PlanIt Brooklyn created a 3-day/5 event celebration to honor Spike Lee's impact on artists, entrepreneurs and activists. This video was created as social media promotion.
Director: Daoud Abeid | Editor: Dahkil Hausif | Music by: Alfred Obiesie
Bonus Goodies
ARRAY Alliance x W.K. Kellogg Foundation presents National Day of Racial Healing
On January 16th 2019, I hosted the Live Stream segment of Chef Conversation w/ Chef Preeti Mistry, Chef Nyesha Arrington, Chef George Azar, Chef Dahlia Narvaez .
The Period’s Wedding Ceremony
On August 2, 2015 Ashley Mui, Alicia Boone, Akua Soadwa, Jamilah Seifullah, Syreeta Gates, and Diallo Williams organized a surprise wedding ceremony for Sallomé and Ibrahim. Those in attendance managed to keep the wedding a secret for weeks and arrived at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY to witness a rites of passage for them. See photos on Instagram at #SalloAndIb and #PeriodsWedding15 .
Officiated by Shawnee Benton-Gibson | Captured by Herman Jean-Noel
Fastgirls Run NYC
With a little prayer, water, and collective movement, the Fastgirls set out to run all 3 bridges in NYC - The Manhattan, Williamsburg, and Brooklyn Bridge. Watch our journey as we run New York! #forthefastgirls
Official Music video for "Papa"
I got tapped to play a bossed up agent in a music video. Serving face and papers to Papa. Song by Ghanian artist, Jay Ghartey. Debut album - Shining Gold. 2011. Shot in NYC.