We had the good fortune of connecting with Lillian Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lillian, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
At the age of 20 when a curve ball disrupted my life’s plans causing a new journey to begin with many detours to follow. Becoming pregnant at the age of 20 while in the thick of chasing my dreams changed the trajectory of my pursuit. The many obstacles and challenges I faced led me down a spiraling patch into the land of being lost and overwhelmed. I lost my sense of self and purpose. The once confident young girl that was very sure of who she wanted to be and what she would be doing in life didn’t quit carry over into my adulthood like I had planned. I became a SINGLE mother with NO help, never has there been a co-parenting situation for me. It was all on me to figure out how to survive and provide for my son who later was diagnosed with autism. The journey to my dreams became more further and further into the distance, seeming as if I would never catch my dreams. I would cry and pray to GOD because it felt like I had been forgotten and counted out. It was hard to believe that I wouldn’t be able to pursue my dreams because I was confided and constantly being told to give up just accept this good job and raise your son but I just knew that could not be the final plan for my life. I became overwhelmed early on after becoming a young single mother. I was lost and felt defeated. My son turned four and I could no longer accept being complacent with a good’ ole 9-5 job and being a single-super-soccer-mom. I somehow felt I could do it all; I tried and I did. I went to school full-time from 7a – 2p, had an hour to pick my son up from childcare and to drop off at my mother’s to watch while I went to work. I worked from 3p-7p, then went to my 2nd job from 8p – 12p. My son and I would get home around 1 am just to start the routine all over again the next day. Then on the weekends I drove 3hours there and back to attend an acting class. That was the start of my hustle which increased throughout years. Working several jobs from day to night and still taking classes to learn tv and film production. Taking whatever job I could get to just be on set. I truly worked my way from the bottom-of-the-line to above-the-line. Every set back actually set me up for my come back and every time I came back wiser, better and more confident in my gifts and talents. As challenging as it was I couldn’t give up. GOD gave me big dreams and intended for me to catch them. The magic of being apart of visual storytelling for tv and film was my place of joy, utter peace and fulfillment besides being a mother. In retrospect my son and GOD gave me everything I needed to keep going and not give up. His existence made me want to catch my dreams even more, so he could live in the reality of my success. Eventually , throughout the years and moving from Atlanta GA to Los Angeles CA I regained my sense of self and find my true purpose. It’s definitely visual storytelling for tv and film allowing opportunities for others chasing this magical dream using my personal road map as a guide or help to one day inspire others especially women of color to never give up on catching their dreams. Now at the age 0f 42 you can say I’m a dream catcher.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In 2019 I created, wrote and produced a drama TV series. The excitement and release of the show temporarily stopped in 2020 due to Covid-19 slowing down finishing the development and production of the show. Now in year 2021 the momentum for the TV series is back. I’m happy to say development and the production has continued. Giving up in what I strongly believe in, is never an option for me; therefore I’m excited to share this TV series with you in year 2022. Durning a pandemic in 2020 I moved forward in faith and launched my production company L.LEE Productions. It’s a full service-production company developing content from start to finish, and ready to present for potential placement on streaming or cable networks, and film festival markets. We produce and help complete content ideas for drama, comedy tv sitcoms and series; along with short films, documentaries, web-series, music videos, and feature films. I’m grateful for my team Brain Aguilar and Cynthia Garcia who work diligently along aside of me in producing and developing our list of projects to come. Stay up to date on our projects being released and informed on Hollywood news by going to the website and subscribe to ‘The LEE Weekly.’ Let’s CONNECT, CREATE and make CONTENT GREAT. www.lleeproductions.com

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Atlantic Station is the highlight of the city for me.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My son Ahde’ Lee has been my biggest inspiration. My drive for chasing my dreams to now catching my dreams, has all been for my son to live in the reality of my dreams. I have gone through the struggles and sacrifices so he can soar.

Website: www.lleeproductions.com

Instagram: @empresslilee

Linkedin: Lillian Lee

Twitter: @lillianslee

Facebook: Lillian Lee

Image Credits
Dexter Brown Photography

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