Today we’d like to introduce you to Christen Griffin
Christen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was raised by a single mother who made sure that I was not only educated, but that I also knew that I could be anything that I put my mind to. When I was 6 years old, she enrolled me into the Gene Slays Boys Club (now the Gene Slays Girls & Boys Club) in which I have remained active in the club as alumni. While there, I had the opportunity to be included in commercials, fundraising letters, the club’s annual gala (as an speaker) and I was a scholarship recipient of the club. From the many mentors that I had there, I learned a lot about entrepreneurship and that sparked my interest in one day having my own business. When I went away to college, I got more involved in filmmaking. It was a rough journey for me as a new filmmaker. Even when you create a film, it is extremely hard to get it in front of people. I struggled a lot with this, until I met my business partner (Lamar Gayfield) who is also a filmmaker. After talking about our goals, we decided to start our own streaming platform (Ethos Streaming), which focuses on showcasing content (films, podcasts, web series, music videos, etc), that was created by creators from underrepresented communities. It is important to us, to give new filmmakers/creators the opportunity to have their work showcased to the industry and for them to be recognized by others. Ethos Streaming also has a screenwriting program, that teaches inspiring filmmakers how to write a script. I than decided to start my own LLC (Juvenile Minds Entertainment), which focuses on producing content that represents the hardships of at-risk youth and black history in America. My LLC is a partner of my other company Ethos Streaming. My long term goal for Juvenile Minds Entertainment, is to expand to Juvenile centers and teach juveniles film traits. What do I mean by film traits? I would like to teach them how to make a living from being a filmmaker/content creator. I would teach them how to write a film script, how to edit a video/film, how to operate a camera, and most of all, how to share their story with the world. They deserve a second chance in life, and I hope to give them that.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. Entrepreneurship has its many ups and downs to it. Many people see the success, but a lot of times you take more losses than wins. You have to be passionate about your brand and business. There are millions of other entrepreneurs out there that are competing with you. So you have to stay disciplined and continue to improve your craft so that your business can continue to grow.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Besides being an entrepreneur, I am a filmmaker, musical artist, and published author. I enjoy storytelling overall, so I use these tools to tell stories. As of now, I have over 10 film projects, I have 4 songs that are out now on SoundCloud, and an album in the works. I currently have 7 books on Amazon, with my latest book being “Why Am I Your Enemy” by Christen Griffin. I specialize in the overall art of storytelling. I can tell a story in different ways. Whether it’s through a film project, a song, or a book, I can tell a story in many ways. I am proud of my journey. Last year I got in a bad car accident, and my journey hasn’t been easy. But by the grace of God and the support of my mom, granny, family, and community, I have overcome my hardships and have grown. I believe that my work ethic and creative mind sets me apart from others. I have such a creative mind, that sometimes I have to remind myself to not overwork myself. But it’s hard to do that, because I have so many ideas.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is taking care of my Mom, family and community. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Especially my mom. Everything you get from me comes from her. I just would like to make her proud, and show her that all the sacrifices that she made for me doesn’t go unnoticed. In the words of the late Tupac Shakur, “Ain’t a woman alive that can take my momma’s place”.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealethoscg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083985301347
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/nRXea2acuuELdMX27
- Other: https://linktr.ee/mosthatedcg
