Meet our GA Film Community Hosts

Lisa Ferrell & Aneesah Bray

Lisa Ferrell is CMII Professor of Practice. In that role, she serves as a principle liaison between the Creative Media Industries Institute and the wider media industries, and coordinates projects that bring media production companies to the Institute, working with GSU students and taking advantage of the new performance capture systems available in the CMII core studio. She heads the curricular area in CMII that aims to prepare students for careers in media producing.

Ferrell brings many years of industry experience to her work at GSU. She has worked in series and telefilm development for such companies as CBS, Lifetime Television/Hearst Entertainment, NBC and TBS. While at motion capture studio Giant Studios, she was involved in the post-production of films that include New Line Cinema’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and Sony Imageworks animated holiday feature “Polar Express” directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks. She was also instrumental in creating the pilot episode for the long-running “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” series for TBS and the series “America’s Greatest Pets” for UPN.

Ferrell was also an account executive at ECG Productions.

With Darius Evans and Travis Morgan, Ferrell formed Chattahoochee Studios, an independent media production company. Longtime industry veterans, the three have been able to tap into their varied industry experience and complimentary skill-sets to turn media ideas into distinct and beautiful productions. Chattahoochee Studios produces top quality media – feature films, episodic television, broadcast commercial campaigns, digital, social media – on time and on budget, by using cutting edge production techniques and the most accomplished talent.

Ferrell is the current Past-President of Georgia Production Partnership, a leading advocate for Georgia’s film and television industries. She also serves on the Board of Directors for a number of industry associations that include ASIFA South (the animation association), Film Impact Georgia and RE:imagine/ATL, the education and workforce solution to train and connect talented young people to the creative industry.

Aneesah Bray, originally from Los Angeles, California, is a manager with multi-level experience in administration and management working in music, film, private industry and nonprofit organizations.

For over 30 years, Ms. Bray has made music management her chief aim in life. Coming from a musical family, Aneesah developed a passion for music early on. Although, she did not pursue a career as a performer, she did study classical piano for 12 years. She realized and developed her greater strengths in administration and management, as did her gifted mother.

Aneesah Bray Management was developed to discover, service and manage music and film celebrity talent. Aneesah has used her business acumen to attract and produce talent, develop strategic alliances with global talent buyers, music publishing/licensing organizations and advertising agencies.

Ms. Bray started in the music business by driving label artists around town for appearances at radio, retail and performances when friends such as Violator management’s Chris Lighty (50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers. Missy, Mariah Carey) noticed her passion & coupled strengths, he took the time to cultivate her talents and took her on tour. This progressed to working with numerous artists (Rhyme Syndicate , Fat Lip of Pharsyde, MC Trouble, Bone Crusher, David Banner, Lil John) becoming well known as a nurturing manager making sure clients, customers and staff received quality service at events, festivals and performances. It was then Aneesah was able to see up close and personal the work that goes to music concerts, live performances and films as well as recorded events and how her skills in administration and management can be best used. Also the need for qualified personnel to attend to the many details involved in these productions. Aneesah currently manages Xanier, Jay Kelly and Big Mike Mic Whoa.

Ms. Bray spends her spare time volunteering  and spending time with her kids. She is a member of The National Association of Personal Mangers, Casting Society of America, Women in Film, National Association of Black Female Music Executives and The Association of Music Supervisors.  She is primarily credited with developing the career of rapper/actor Bone Crusher. Among her film and television credits (as talent, production assistant and wardrobe stylist) are: “Trois” “Working Girl,” “Pump Up The Volume,” “Lambada,” “Deadly Justice,” “The Wonder Years,” and “Beverly Hills High. Music videos include “Bonita Applebum”, and “Love you like I did” & "House Party". Large productions include “NAACP Image awards”, “The Show…” Jodeci Tour, Divine Styler “Grey Matter” project, Universal Zulu Nation and United Nations Club promotions, Universal trade shows, Ciera’s & Chris Brown’s EPK project for Arista records. Other labels include Jive Records, Giant records, A&M records and Epic records. In 1994, Bray developed Omega Models, An urban modeling agency, hiring models for many major companies like B.E.T., Carson Products, Soft & Free, Burrell Communications, and Mat Locke & Associates.

Aneesah is also sought out for her experience and keen advice. “My passion is to help artists with more than just their jobs, but to help them live a  fulfilling life.” She created Aneesah Bray Consulting Inc in 2006.

Aneesah is now on the Executive Board of Georgia Music Partners and  the President of Georgia Production Partnership. She runs Creative Collective Capital (C3Convention.com), a yearly finance forum for Entertainment Investors and strategists and ABC. She is also Chief Organizer for Backstage Entertainment Federal Credit Union in Atlanta GA.