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Who is Cherel as a filmmaker?
Long before I knew what a filmmaker was, I knew I loved stories.
As a kid, I was fascinated by the worlds created on screen. While most people remember cartoons, I remember becoming completely immersed in films and television that made me feel something. By the age of ten, I was captivated by everything from Bollywood films to Degrassi, True Blood, and Desperate Housewives. Every story introduced me to new perspectives, cultures, and ways of understanding people.
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But what stayed with me just as much were the conversations behind the stories. I loved watching The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Dr. Oz Show, not because of the hosts, but because I was genuinely interested in the people they interviewed. I wanted to know where they came from, what shaped them, and why their stories mattered.
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Looking back, I realize I've always been drawn to storytelling.
As I got older, I lost sight of that part of myself. It wasn't until my mid-twenties that I finally realized I wasn't simply someone who enjoyed creativity—I was a creative. Building brands through CherelsDesign helped me reconnect with that truth, and filmmaking became the natural next chapter.
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Today, I'm pursuing documentary filmmaking because I believe stories preserve history, create empathy, and leave behind something far greater than ourselves. My goal is to tell films that center culture, identity, legacy, and the people whose experiences deserve to be seen, heard, and remembered.
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This isn't a career change—it's a return to the stories I've been drawn to all my life.
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​For years, I was producing stories without realizing I was producing them. Through interviews, exhibitions, podcasts, and brand campaigns, I found myself drawn to one thing over and over again—people. Today, filmmaking gives me the opportunity to tell those stories on an even deeper level.
My Experiences
Loudspace Podcast
Co-Producer • Co-Director • Editor (2021–2023)
Loudspace gave me my first opportunity to help shape stories from concept to screen. Working alongside the founder, I helped develop episode concepts, curate meaningful conversations, and produce interview-driven content that prioritized authenticity over performance.
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One of my most rewarding experiences was co-producing an international production in Ghana, where I coordinated guests, developed interview questions, guided story flow, and helped create an environment where people felt comfortable sharing honest experiences. From pre-production planning to post-production editing, this project deepened my appreciation for documentary-style storytelling and reinforced my passion for stories centered on people and culture.
Creative Producing Through CherelsDesign
Although CherelsDesign is known as a branding agency, storytelling has always been at the center of my work.
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As Creative Producer, I lead campaigns from concept through execution—developing creative briefs, directing photoshoots, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, managing production timelines, and ensuring every visual tells a cohesive story. Producing brand narratives has strengthened my ability to think strategically while balancing logistics, collaboration, and creative vision.
Producing Cultural Experiences
Before stepping into filmmaking, I spent years producing experiences that brought communities together.
Through leadership roles with the African Student Association and Friends of Africa, I coordinated fashion shows, cultural celebrations, community events, and public engagement initiatives. These experiences taught me how to manage productions, lead teams, solve problems under pressure, and create meaningful moments for audiences—skills that continue to shape my work as a producer today.
Looking Ahead
I'm currently developing my first documentary, Sankofa, while continuing to grow as a creative producer and filmmaker. My long-term goal is to create documentaries and narrative films that explore culture, identity, family, and the human experience through honest, emotionally grounded storytelling.