Meet the Squad
Brittani Taylor Brown
Brittani T. Brown is a writer, director and editor - founder and CEO of BarbaraJean Productions, LLC.
Brittani has written, directed, edited, & produced several short films. The Melanin King Project (2014), Door 309 (2019). Her latest work, The Fruit it Bears (2020), she co-wrote and co-directed alongside her brother, Rodney Brown.
Brittani is also an audio producer. She has worked on Beyond the Last Dance (Associate Producer - Audible), This Day in Esoteric History (Radiotopia - Producer), Open World ( Philo's Future Media - Producer), and Shi*t You Need to Know with Rodrixo, the first official podcast of BarbaraJean Productions, LLC.
Rodney Brown Jr
Rodney Brown Jr is an actor, writer, director, editor and producer. Rodney is the Chief Operating Officer of Barbara Jean Productions, LLC.
Rodney got into the industry at an early age, and fell in love with acting. After playing Macbeth in a high school play, he never looked back. Rodney attended Towson University and graduated with a B.S. in Journalism and a minor in Film. It was during this time he fell in love with the film making process.
Rodney starred in The Melanin King Project, wrote and directed The Fruit It Bears.
Lionel Djaowe
Lionel T. Djaowe is a cinematographer who resides in New York City. With almost a decade of work under his belt, LT still finds excitement in new projects and continues to see them as learning experiences. He’s a lover of all immersive visual experience, and believes that for stories to be told the right way, the viewer must FEEL the images they’re watching. His style is crisp, natural, floating but still edgy that makes you desire more. “The Fruit it Bears”, will be his 4th short film as Director of Photography.
Melvin Taylor II
Melvin Taylor II is an actor, host, writer/producer and Chicago native living the New York City dream. He studied education and journalism at Knox College and writing at the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) New York and The Magnet Theater. His writing is grounded in the experiences of being from the south side of Chicago while juggling careers for multiple years.
His acting began in college playing Dean in a southern, mixed-race relationship period theatre piece titled MComb 1964 and he has since acted in short films (The Fruit It Bears) and web series. He currently hosts his radio show #TheAltWithMel on WHCR 90.3FM-NY Monday nights at 11:55pm EST. Additionally, his YouTube channel has garnered over 2 million views. You can find him monthly at The Magnet Theater and UCB-NY performing improv and sketch comedy or writing for Heavy.com and RESPECT Magazine.
Keisha "TK" Dutes
Keisha “TK” Dutes is an independent audio producer and co-host of TK in The AM, recently celebrating 1000 episodes of live streaming morning radio on Bondfire Radio. With experience spanning terrestrial radio (WBAI-NY) , online, podcast (Buzzfeed’s “Thirst Aid Kit”) and audio drama, her life is in audio is all encompassing.
TK's audio life is truly all encompassing. Her experience spans 7 years on WBAI as an on-air personality and producer, to founding Bondfire Radio a live streaming web radio station where she curates and produces programs that air live and archive in podcast form. As an enterprising freelancer, TK produces audio stories and shows for private clients.
