Wild & Fluorescent ✨
@ShaylaRacquel
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Repped DirectHER. WriteHER. CreateHER. ✨| Sweeter than Sweet Tea ❤️🔥 | Sickle Cell Warrior | Founder of @shayracqprod | #FAMUMade🐍
SC ➡️ DC ➡️ ATL
Joined May 2009
My 2025 Director’s Reel. 🎞️🎬✨ . I am nothing w/o every cast, crew, and person who thought enough of me to grant me the opportunity to lead. GRATITUDE ✨ Please share; my next opportunity may be on your timeline! . I hope it makes you smile, bc smiles are sunshine for the 🥰. ✨
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Was told the brunch reservation was 1PM. I arrived at 1:20PM. No one is here. Come to find out, the reservation is actually at 1:45PM. “I’ve been out nigga’d and I’ll never be out nigga’d again” 😭😭.
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Oh this became a Black History moment as well!??!!. THATS WHAT IM MF TALKING ABOUT!!!.
Dawn Staley is the first Black coach in Division I college basketball to complete an undefeated season (38-0)
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I'm going to disagree with the TL here. Chris was wrong. Will defended his wife. Jada suffers from a disease regarding her hair and she has been very vocal about it and how it affects her. Chris made a subtle joke about it. Will said to keep my wife name out ya mouth.
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I’m making a proof of concept about a Black girl who learns double Dutch, so last night my mom took me to an over 40 double dutch club to learn.
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The way my dog looked at me after I finished rubbing down two other dogs
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When I tell you BLACK WOMEN???!!!? Black women are truly something special. The oldest person was 73 and they would NOT let me give up or take the easy way out. “NO. SHE MUST LEARN TO JUST JUMP IN.”. IM STILL ON SUCH A HIGH! They were so encouraging and I cried when I got it 😭
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* clears throat *. Though Georgia considers themselves the peach state, South Carolina produces more peaches than any state in the South 🙃. Three times that of GA 🍑✨.
You know who I got beef with…Gaffney, South Carolina. You driving to Atlanta for the first time and you think you might be close because it’s a giant peach on 85. You are in fact not close and you not even in Georgia. Gaffney needs to be ashamed of itself.
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Please be empathetic. Please start thinking of others. Please take care of yourselves and wear a mask.
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I am not “blaming” Black men, but that 22% means something is happening within YALL community and YALL need to be pulling ya bros to the carpet. Turn off the mics. Cut off the Joe Budden podcast. Talk to ya boys.
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It’s January in the year of 2012, and I’m on Howard University’s campus celebrating Founders Day with their Deltas. One of the Sorors (who was studying to be a lawyer) starts talking to me about my aspirations, and I tell her that I’m currently working IT help desk support but I
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My number 1 rule: Do not embarrass me or put me in a position to be embarrassed.
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We found an actress who had a disability to play our character who has a disability. We found her, advocated for her, listened to her, and accommodated her. I never want to hear excuses regarding representation of people with disabilities. If we could, so can they 🥹✨
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THE PGA tour is coming, so Im sharing a short doc I made in my 1st yr of film school about my Granddad. He was a caddy in the 1950s & 60s of South Carolina, when Black ppl weren't allowed to play golf. He then created a Black golfers club called Black Jackets. This is his story:
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My Grandma beat cancer today. praises praises to the most High. 💛💛💛Thanks to everyone for our prayers and positive energy!
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You are absolutely right….I posted a video today of me surprising my bf, got a bunch of praises…. A few months ago I posted how my bf rented a theater for me to watch my favorite movie, and the vitriol I received BAYBEH.
Not to be that person but I’ve seen 2 viral posts this morning of gfs surprising their bfs with expensive, thoughtful gifts. No one is in the comments calling the men materialistic. All the women are supportive and not commenting being bitter like these boys do 🤧 interesting.
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As a fan of the teen movie/coming-of-age genre I felt like they didn’t reflect what my upbringing was like, especially coming-of-age in the Deep South. So, as a filmmaker I decided to change that which birthed THE OFF-BRANDS. Want to support? Click here:.
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WE WON A REGIONAL STUDENT EMMY. A STUDENT. EMMY. EMMY. WE WON. MY FILM WON. I HAVE NOT PICKED MYSELF UP OFF THE FLOOR.
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To everyone asking. my dog’s name is ICE🧊 and he’s a Cavapoo which means he’s a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a toy poodle mixed. He will probably not get much bigger than this (10-15 pounds). His eyebrows makes him look expressive but he’s the sweetest!
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I was holding my tongue on this convo. but yes. I was a former bottle/shot girl in DC and I worked at the primarily white bars/clubs…. And I could wear my natural hair.
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There are people in my mentions explaining assault to me and how Will should be "charged" and darlings. let me tell you right now.
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My Dad’s heart surgery was a success. ✨.I can breathe again. Only God. ✨
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I had my veneers for over a year now. Eventually I will do a vlog about the procedure/process - but I love them. I don't think mine look like celebrities who get them. My doctor (an Afro-Latina based in the DMV), was dope and let me choose the shape, size, color.
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I dont think, "Will ruined the vibe." . I think Chris didnt understand the gravity of his "joke.".
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When I tell you BLACK WOMEN???!!!? Black women are truly something special. The oldest person was 73 and they would NOT let me give up or take the easy way out. “NO. SHE MUST LEARN TO JUST JUMP IN.”. IM STILL ON SUCH A HIGH! They were so encouraging and I cried when I got it 😭
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* Ahem * . And with that being said, I truly hope everyone supports this Black coming of age film. ✨.
i remember a black girl made a tiktok about like how they dont really show black girlhood or teenagehood and a comment said that they didnt think black kids had like average childhoods and highschool things like prom…….
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Oh it’s a biggggg thing… which is why as a director my theatre experience comes in handy here. Everyone needs to be “on” even if the camera isn’t on them - your scene partner is still your partner and you must lean on each other.
“Coverage” is when cameras are pointed at one actor in a scene and not the other. Here, Taylor Zakhar Perez and Joey King are talking about how frustrating it can be if your scene partner doesn’t act when it’s not their coverage. Never even knew that was a thing.
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B L E S S E D. A Little Black girl born in South Carolina with Sickle Cell. I cant say “I’m not supposed to be here” bc the truth is. if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be. Here’s to living a life worth living. This is 30. #HappyBirthdayToMe #LeoSeason #DirectHer #womeninfilm
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My 2019 Director’s Reel ✨. Black Female Filmmakers. We write. We direct. We create. We are here. Always have been and always will be. #WomenInFilm #BlackFilmmakers #DirectHER
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Fast forward to 12 years later…. Two seasons of that webseries which got me accepted into film school. Two more short films. 20 awards AND a Student Emmy. Managers and Reps. And now a full time director. All because my community pushed me and continue to push me… to this
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Someone tweeted, “I was in high school in 94 and I’m a millennial and I was at Freaknik” and I want to let her know so bad that darling — you are not a millennial.
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Hyper-visibility has ruined people’s perception of net worth which is so interesting because, your homegirl with millions of followers on Tik Tok may be deemed “hypervisible” but it doesn’t mean she is wealthy.
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We hold the casting call - folks ACTUALLY showed up. She said “My job is done, it’s your time now.” . That push. That push from someone within my community, was ALL that I needed. 🥹🥹🥹 (we were babies 😭)
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Manifesting directing an episode because this is LITERALLY my life story as a Sickle Cell Warrior. ✨.
Y’all . I’m so happy to finally be able to talk about this . 💫♥️💫
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It's finally time to share my little secret!.This summer I will have my feature film directorial debut w/ the project that has stolen my heart, JITTERBUG. Jitterbug follows a Black teenage girl through her journey of self-discovery as she falls in love Lindy Hop swing dance.
.@shaylaracquel will direct Jitterbug! She's a finalist in @shondarhimes / @shondaland Seriesfest Women's Directing Mentorship; a John Singleton EmbRACE Initiative project winner @paffnow & finalist for @nbaf Horizon Grant for Emerging Black Artists. Brava Shayla! #director.26m
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After the film I was to direct got canceled, the crew decided that we couldn’t leave Sweden w/o shooting something, so we decided to shoot a teaser/docureel. Ppl who heard about what happened showed up in droves to help & donated their resources. Community even across waters 🥹✨.
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Though the article does not mention it, a Black woman directed Episodes 2 - 6 of this new series and that Black woman is me! 🥰. Super duper proud of what we were able to accomplish in such a short amount of time and overly ecstatic that this show is finally debuting to the world
Get into the trailer premiere of KeyTV’s new series ‘Cuzzin M’ on @blavity! The series introduces an obstentatious TV personality who gets a new gig after losing her late night slot due to her hilarious vulgar personality. Did we mention she’s a puppet?
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@TheBaddestMitch @TheAlainaShow I think that’s 26 all in all bc she also gave them cash. If we talking 20% she still didn’t hit it but it’s not as low as I originally thought.
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Born with Sickle Cell Disease. Had a stroke at the age of 12. but I’m still here, standing strong and ready to defy more odds. Thankful. Grateful. Blessed ✨ #ItsMyBirthday #Blackwomeninfilm #LeoSeason 🦁✨
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Back in January 2021, I directed a documentary for a museum in DC. On Thursday I find out if we were nominated for an Emmy. * takes a deep breath *. ✨✨✨.
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Words of advice regarding how to network across instead of up: . That independent filmmaker who isn’t “big” but you always see them SOMEHOW making things happen with a dollar & 15 cents? DM them, email them, contact them and tell them how you’d like to help on their next project.
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Me once I get my second vaccination dosage (safely of course) 😂✨
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We truly are losing recipes. and by recipes I mean community. Nobody cares about others. Nobody knows their neighbors. Very individualistic and it's just sad.
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Today is the last day of #BHM so I wanted to reshare an unknown Black history fact. My Granddad was a caddy in the 1950s of South Carolina, when Black ppl weren't allowed to play golf. He then created a Black golfers club called Black Jackets. His story:.
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“It’s a dangerous thing to mistake speaking without thought with speaking the truth.” - The Great Benoit Blanc ✨ #GlassOnion.
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My boyfriend is a “what can I do to make your life easier so you can fully focus on shining and thriving” type of partner and my goodness. That’s a love language ✨.
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Me to everyone enjoying FAMU Homecoming right now 😭🐍
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This time next week I’ll be getting ready for my first day on set as a shadowing director of a Disney/ABC show 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭. Wutticelife 🧚🏾.
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Found myself a little bit of sunshine and a little bit of joy ✨
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I say all that to say, it’s now 2024 and I know we get tired of hearing the word “community” because it can sometimes get watered down. But that will never be the case for me. You have to actively participate in community to be a part of community. My community showed up for me
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I directed this show. ✨.
EXCLUSIVE: @KekePalmer Launches #HeauxandTell On @KeyTVNetwork ! Gather the girls, cause we've got your first look & deets here:
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A story about a quirky Black teen as she navigates high school in a small southern town.
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Keep this on your radar:.I was hired as the Lead Director of a new series called Southern Fried Rice, and it was one of the most invigorating, challenging, humbling, experience of 2019. In 2020, coming to a screen near you.
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Umm. MS TINA LAWSON. THE MAGICAL WOMAN WHO IS THE MOTHER OF BEYONCÉ. REPOSTED. A TRAILER. WITH ME IN IT. WITH MY FILM IN IT. Hold on because excuse me?!?!!!!
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I’m not going to FAMU Homecoming, so I figured I’d wear Homecoming outfits on my premiere weekend 😭
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Most times sickle cell trait doesn’t render any complications. it’s the disease that causes the severe complications. This is insane.
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The next week, she hands me a filled three ring binder and sits me down with a step by step plan on how to execute this idea. She tells me I’m GOING to hold a casting call two weeks from that moment and she’ll handle the paperwork. I was petrified. She took my breath away. 🥹
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Every time we shot an episode, FAMU folks would show up in DROVES. Whole real house parties because FAMU folks wanted to be on our set. The community supported by showing up. Picking up a microphone, picking up a camera, being an extra, driving far and wide to just be there… I
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I really want people to know that there is no secret formula. You just keep making your own art until someone notices, then still… keep making your own art. Or help others make their art until someone notices, then still… keep helping others make their art.
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Life is so precious my God. Hit black ice, spinned out of control and fell into a ditch. My sister was in the front seat holding my puppy… she grabs him and my mom. My mom hits her head. We all made it out. God is awesome God is awesome God is awesome. My God.
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Thanks everyone for all of the 💛! To see more of my professional film work (shorts, series, docs), please visit
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My mom had been looking for community. Her trying to inspire me, inspired herself. To hear her say, “I wish I brought my tennis shoes. I love this… I’m joining… What days yall meet?”. To know she’s going to keep it up even after I leave her to go back to ATL? Whew God. ✨.
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BIH IM GOING TO THE BEYONCE CONCERT!. FLOOR SEATS!!. LETS FCKIN GOOOOOOOO!!!!
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It was terrible and I ended up muting a tweet about my bf doing something nice for me… The same bf I did something nice for, and barely received any negative commentary. It’s sickening how some people see Black women happy and figure we don’t deserve.
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You know my favorite part of this double Dutch story? My mom. ✨.
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Tried a new lighting aesthetic for a Women’s Directing Mentorship application. Hopefully I get in ✨
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My grandparents and most South Carolina Black folks STILL refuse to eat at Maurice’s BBQ. They’ve been boycotting that chain restaurant since I was in elementary school. It can be done.
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It’s the FIRST DAY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, and as a Black woman filmmaker I’m channeling all of that energy! . We launched our crowdfunding campaign! Click the link for more info on how you can support this Southern - Black girl centered - coming of age✨.
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I don’t even have a caption. Just feeling blessed to have the support that I do. The Off-Brands screening in ATL was more than a dream and my heart sings as I reflect today. Thank you 🥹✨
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And you didn’t need a famous name attached to get accepted, just a good project made with a lot of grit. Now even midline festivals are doing this.
Film festivals use to be for actual independent filmmakers 🤣.
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The soon to be director of your next favorite coming of age dramedy set in a Black high school 🎥 . Claiming it ✨
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A few of my filmmaking friends are making a documentary about the resurgence of vinyls and Black vinyl collectors, however, they need to hit their goal to finish this masterpiece. TODAY is the last day to donate to their campaign. Any amount helps! .
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It means she had been eyeing this over 40 double Dutch club for a while and just needed the inspiration to go. I’m so happy she found it.
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IM IN DEADLINE!!!!!!!!.AND DO YOU SEE THIS THUMBNAIL?! THATS MY FILM!!!. Inner Voice Artists Signs Trio Of New Filmmaker Clients – Deadline
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Black people’s need for perfection in film/television characters representing us is a character flaw.
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My Grandma hugged me long and tight today and unprovoked just whispered “you gotta trust God. Stress and trust in God don’t go hand in hand.”. Baby I’m a pool of water. If you don’t have a Black Southern praying Grandma I don’t know what to tell ya. 😭✨.
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I wanted to do the suspense Tik tok so bad. so when I saw someone do it with voice I had to use the sound. Meet “Ice” Cube the Cavapoo - A certified NWA.
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My sister’s pics harder than mine but I took them so it’s all good lol. #CountryGirls #Spanngirls #HappyHolidays ✨
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We did it Joe 🥹. We did it. Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU.
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Men were literally googling how much it cost to rent a theater in the pandemic, coming back to the app, quote tweeting me to tell me I shouldnt feel special bc of the cost. A few others quote tweeted me saying “men who do things like this for their girl be cheating the hardest.”.
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