Meet Carona Davis-Diop | Producer, Filmmaker, Author, Podcast Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carona Davis-Diop and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carona, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The thought process behind me starting my own business was just that, A thought. When you start having these thought patterns in relation to starting your own business you have to place everything in your life into perspective, Do I have time? Am I too old? Will I be able to dedicate time to the family and other relationships? Do I have time for another thing to do when I am already so busy and cluttered. The answer is yes. After placing all of these thoughts, scenarios good and bad into a neat little pile I truly could not see a reason not to start my own business. There is way too much opportunity and technology to not at-least give it a shot.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My first loves are writing and filmmaking and when you are clear on what you love the only thing needed is to nurture that gift. Research, study and speak with specialists in your field of interest. You would be surprised at how many people don’t mind giving advice or their views on different topics. When starting and well into the business I was always behind the scenes as a writer, author or producer. I told myself if I wanted people to truly hear my stories I would need to be more transparent and this included my journey of self reflections and questioning the worth of myself and my work. Slowly I began to show my face more on social media posts and articles. I literally forced myself to step in front of the camera more and this started a new path of thinking, emotional security and self assurance. Even if I got in front of the camera and bombed at least I tried. I slowly but surely found out that I was a natural and love being in front of the camera because my thinking now is that I am of better use to my community, fans, etc, by being behind and in front of the camera. This way I am able to transfer information in more than one way. Diop Productions not only focuses on the production, book or project but we also focus on the creators themselves. I feel that when we focus on fixing ourselves it allows for the true artist to show up.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Even though I am located in New Jersey, I am by heart a New Yorker straight from NYC. With the rich array of culture, diversity and monumental places to visit, New York City is one of the perfect places to show out of town visitors and guests. Ellis Island, home to the statue of Liberty and shopping in SOHO are only the tip of the iceberg. Little Italy, Chinatown and Harlem were only some of my stomping grounds growing up in such a vast melting pot.
If you are an Arts lover such as myself you would love Broadway theatre.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to give shot outs to my mentors: Tammy Reese (Journalist), Rich Henkel (Actor), and Anthony Tucker. These 3 individuals have had the greatest impact on what I have done and where I am in my career and they are still teaching me and others coming up in the industry. I am truly grateful to have them as my friends and confidants. There is nothing like having a mentor who is experienced in the field and uses their time and efforts to elevate the next individual.

Website: www.caronadavisdiop.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caronadavisdiop/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiopProducer/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCciF0EzCaXGPcC8pzU2ZF8g

Image Credits
Photographer : Diop Productions/Ellen Walker Kurz