Mya Baker facts for kids

Mya Baker (born in 1974) is an American filmmaker, poet, writer, and director. She was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Mya has also lived and taught early childhood education in Brooklyn, New York. She lived in Los Angeles for eight years.

About Mya Baker

Mya Baker was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Her father was an electrical engineer, and her mother worked for the EPA. Mya grew up seeing many positive Black role models. However, she also experienced racism. These experiences later inspired her filmmaking.

Mya studied film at Columbia College in Chicago. After her studies, she started her own film company called Shoot Films Not People. Her films have been shown at many film festivals. Besides filmmaking, she has also worked as a special education preschool teacher in Brooklyn, New York.

Mya has said that she makes films to help Black men and women, and society as a whole, begin to heal. Her movies often explore how Black people are shown in media. They also discuss historical and current racial tensions and unfairness in America. Mya shares her own experiences and interviews Black men from different backgrounds and generations.

Mya's Films

Mya Baker has created several films. Here are some of her notable works:

• 1994 - Warrior Queens: This was Mya's very first documentary short film. It was shown at the Dusable Museum of African American History in Chicago.
• 2010 - Maya Illusion: This is a short film directed by Mya Baker and Amy Werber. It tells the story of a young woman who falls in love with someone. She later finds out that this person has HIV.
• 2014 - Afraid of Dark: This film challenges negative ideas about Black men. Mya interviews rappers, actors, and politicians. They talk about their experiences with racism and unfair treatment. People like Lou Myers, Malik Yoba, and Cornel West are featured in the film.
• 2024 - Finals: This is a short film written, produced, and directed by Mya Baker. It's about a teenager who is bullied. On the last day of finals, this teenager leaves a lasting impression on their high school classmates.

Awards and Honors

Mya Baker has received several honors for her work:

• 2006 - BET finalist in the Rap It-Up Competition
• 2018 - Screencraft Horror Competition, Semifinalist
• 2019 - Screencraft Screenwriting Fellowship, Semifinalist
• 2018 - Script Pipeline Screenplay Competition, Semifinalist
• 2020 - Filmmatic Horror Screenplay Awards (Season 4), Finalist
• 2022 - Quarterfinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Screenplay Competition
• Quarterfinalist, Filmmatic TV Pilot Awards Season 7
• Semifinalist, Filmmatic TV Pilot Awards Season 5
• Quarterfinalist, Filmmatic Short Screenplay Awards Season 9
• 2023 - Honorable Mention, Big Apple Film Festival Screenplay Competition Fall
• 2024 - Top 25 Semifinalist, Roadmap Writers Shorts Competition