Mia Upshaw

08/16/2025

Another article just dropped with 🎉 This time I’m talking all things branding, social media, and film. I get real on what it’s like being a business owner and juggling multiple clients! Take a look at what to expect from us for next year and follow along and for the journey.

PLUS…we just launched our brand-new partnership program with MUP 🤝✨ and stay tuned because this month I’ll be dropping a music video soon 👀🎬

06/04/2025

03/28/2025

The first edition of the Producers Playbook is here! I’m spilling all the tea on how I became a full-time creative and, more importantly, how I’m staying afloat. It hasn’t been all sunshine and invoices—trust me, I’ve hit my fair share of roadblocks. But these gems helped me push through, and they might just help you too.

First things first—this might be a duhhh moment, but your craft—whether it’s photography, design, or film—isn’t just a passion, it’s a business. Act accordingly.

Read the rest of my top three tips in my bio and subscribe for more unfiltered insights in our newsletter!

02/18/2025

Representation matters, and as a Black woman in film, I’m proud to be one of the few paving the way for others. 🎬 Only 7% of filmmakers are Black women, and while we’re rare, we exist—and we are powerful.

My mission? To pour confidence back into Black filmmakers, writers, and directors, showing them that their dreams are possible, even if the first step isn’t perfect. ✨ I’m here to help creatives believe in their vision and make it a reality. Keep dreaming, keep creating. 💫

01/14/2025

Back at it again! 🎥 Huge thanks to Canvas Rebel for the feature. Last fall, my company had the incredible opportunity to film in LA for an upcoming project. This article shares some behind-the-scenes moments, as well as a peek into my journey as a film producer.

Thank you, Niya , for trusting me to produce your film. 🙏

I also get real about the challenges I’ve faced this past year—like finally going full-time with my business in 2024. “One of the biggest moments that illustrates my resilience happened this year. In 2024, I finally went full-time with my business, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride. There were so many challenges—changes to contracts, like five times this year alone, which meant I had to either hustle to find new work or apply for different contracts. It was a lot, but I kept pushing through.”

I also opened up about my recent move to Houston, which came with unexpected difficulties, including a scary stalker situation. “Things didn’t stop being tough, though. As soon as I moved, I had to deal with a stalker situation, which was terrifying. I had to file a restraining order against someone I’d dated a while ago. It was a huge emotional toll, but I had to power through because I still had my business to run. I wasn’t about to let that derail everything I worked for.”

Despite it all, I kept building: from filming in LA to signing new clients, producing my first podcast, and so much more.

Thank you again to Canvas Rebel for giving me the platform to share my story. 2024 might have been tough, but I’m ready for all the new opportunities ahead.

👉 Stream 2 of our films exclusively on the app, link in bio!

12/11/2024

🌟 Hey y'all I realized I don’t show my face here much—it’s usually all about my films. So, I wanted to share 5 lessons I’ve learned during my first year going full-time:

5️⃣ Consistency and organization are key.
This year, I’ve had to overhaul my schedule and systems multiple times, but tools like Google Calendar, Monday.com, and a master task document have been lifesavers. As a creative, it’s easy to get caught up in shoot after shoot, so staying on top of everything is critical.

4️⃣ Organization is everything for an independent film producer.
I used to keep all my production details in my head (yikes!), but transferring everything into Monday.com has been a game-changer for tracking production needs.

3️⃣ Be flexible and ready to strategize often.
This year brought so many unexpected contract changes that I had to revisit and tweak my plans—sometimes monthly, even weekly. Adaptability is everything.

2️⃣ (Bonus tip!) Build a business savings account.
In your first year, it’s tempting to celebrate every bit of revenue, but setting aside savings is crucial—especially for those unpredictable fourth-quarter surprises.

Anything I missed or questions you want to ask? Drop them in the comments!

🎬 Make sure to follow my production company and my creative agency —we’ll be launching our 2025 internship program soon. Stay tuned!
Editing: Gwen Conway, Social Media Intern

08/30/2024

Excited to announce that has officially signed on with The Dear Dess Podcast! Tune in every Sunday for exciting, real, raw, and entertaining episodes.🎤 . . 🎤