Executive Producer Katoria Chanyasubkit Release Highly Anticipated Film, Strictly For the Streets

Known for her recently released film, Strictly for The Streets, Director Katoria Chanyasubkit has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. We sat down with the HBCU Alumni to talk more about her new movie and she drops some inside gems on what it’s like in the industry.

In your project Strictly for The Streets, the protagonist grapples with attending an HBCU and briefly describes the micro-aggressions she had to face while at Princeton. What is your message to young women experiencing those kinds of incidents and can you describe an instance where you’ve personally experienced something like this?

My message to women experiencing this is to be all of you in those moments. Do not cower down, do not try to fit in and adjust, but simply be you, as great as you are and as beautiful as you are. Be that.

As a Black creative, why is It important to tell stories from our own voices?

It is important to tell stories from our own voices because in order to reach someone you have to have similarities. The arts is a preservation of history, so every culture deserves to tell their story from their perspective. It is empowering and it resonates when the story is from your own people.

We know that this film was shot and filmed in Savannah, Georgia. During filming, your company was able to provide jobs for more than thirty people during the Pandemic.

Why did you feel the need to shoot in this City and how did you feel being able to give back to the community?

I felt the need to shoot it in Savannah because that’s where I attended an HBCU (Savannah State University). The sounds of the voices of the people, the rhythm they speak in, and the exotic look of Savannah people needs to be shown. It is so rich with black art and beauty that I enjoyed every second of displaying it.

Not only are you multifaceted, but you are also a mother. Tell us the difficulties of being a full-time entrepreneur all while being a mother.

I’m actually a stay at home Mom/wife. I’m old fashion in that sense so I’ve always homeschool my kids, even before corona. The biggest challenge is balancing time to parent and time to run businesses. The time to parent is full stop, but I take breaks to be an entrepreneur.

You also have a non-profit. Tell us about your philanthropy projects and what do you hope to teach youth about life?

​I’m most proud of our It’s Lit(eracy) summer camp. It’s a free camp we host for title 1 elementary and middle school students in July. Our mission is to decrease crime and poverty by increasing literacy and education.

I hear that you also have a podcast? Tell us about that.

It’s more of an after-hours show. It’s called Mommy Lounge After Hours with myself and Ms. Niko. The Mommy Lounge is where creatives women come together to speak freely about past relationships, parenting, and we even have a live Drummer and bust into freestyle. It is this narrative that after a certain age woman stop being cool, creative, or beautiful. We’re here to kill that myth and make you laugh, and entertain you while we do it.

What advice would you give a young black girl or boy in this time of hate and racism?

My advice is to hold your head up with pride, own your labor, and choose freedom.

Anything you would like to add?

Dishing with Dejoire is a cooking show I executive produced on Mommy Lounge Network. It’s very cool. Check it out.

Where can audience members catch the latest updates?

All of our shows are on my network Mommy Lounge Network also available of Firestick, Roku and www.mommyloungenetwork.com