By: Lennard James
Writer and film director Katrina Sykes, at OTS Films, is currently in the process of creating her own casting and directing company, 1ShotEntertainment. Storytelling has always been a part of Katrina’s life for as long as she could remember. It all began when she was eight years old, using writing as a form of expression and an escape from the challenges she faced growing up. After her parents divorced, she found herself in a new world, trying to navigate the emotional complexities that came with such a significant change. Writing became her outlet, a way to channel her feelings and experiences.
Her first piece of work was an anti-bullying stage play, where a third-grade class performed for the school. That experience fueled her passion for stage performance and drama. For many years, Katrina’s interest stayed with theater. However, everything changed in 2020 when the pandemic hit. With the world slowing down and everyone confined to their homes, she found herself in a space where she could dive deeper into a different type of storytelling: screenwriting. It was during this time that the screenplay CRAPS was born.
As a bartender, she used to listen to men talk about their relationships and problems, and when the restaurants shut down, she would grab her pen and pad and start writing.
She believes in the work she had to do because she created stories that were outside the box, particularly when it came to the Black cinema. While she deeply respects independent Black films, she was not drawn to traditional narratives centered around gangs or hood life unless they have some sci-fi or alternative twist. Her vision was to bring something new to the table, especially for Memphis, where she from, “I want my work to reflect diverse and imaginative stories that step beyond the stereotypes often associated with Black culture.”
Her target audience is a Black audience eager to see themselves represented in different lights, outside of the usual tropes. There’s a hunger for stories that showcase Black people in innovative and creative narratives. One such perspective is the focus of her film CRAPS, which delves into relationships from a Black male perspective. It’s a lane that hasn’t been explored much in cinema. Some might say it’s like a male version of Waiting to Exhale, but Katrina feels that the space for telling men’s stories in this way has been largely overlooked. She wanted to show that these perspectives are just as important and deserve a place in the broader conversation about relationships, identity, and Black experience.
For Katrina, there are no rules when it comes to creativity. She doesn’t believe in restrictions or fitting into any particular mold. As a writer, Katrina refuses to conform to society’s ideas of what a Black woman storyteller should be. Katrina embraces the freedom to take her stories wherever her imagination leads. There is beauty in breaking expectations and creating work that is true to who you are, even if it doesn’t fit into the mainstream.
One of the important messages Katrina shares with readers is that roses really do grow from concrete. Your voice can come from anywhere, and there is no blueprint for being a messenger of stories. I took a risk by writing a film catered to Black men and their relationship struggles, a topic not often tackled by Black women writers. But in doing so, I found my unique voice.
Katrina committed to continuing to create films that challenge the status quo and open doors for new narratives to emerge. Her ultimate goal is to take my audience on journeys they’ve never experienced before, through stories that don’t fit into the boxes society often tries to place us in.
“Always aim high, and if you miss, you’ll still land on something.” This is the philosophy I live by, and it is the driving force behind everything she has created.
Published by: Khy Talara
