Selena Blake
Selena Blake was born in Kingston, Jamaica. She grew up in Old Harbor St. Catherine; as the youngest of 6 girls. In February 1979, Selena migrated to New York with her mother, where she finished her education. Selena’s first big break came as a model. Her entrée into modelling was that of a fairy tale. She was working as a stock girl on Park Avenue when an Arab Sheik came into the store and selected several gowns worth thousands of dollars. The house model was late and Selena, who wasn’t the least bit interested in modelling, was asked to model a few gowns for the Sheik. That’s when her modelling career took off. Since that experience, she has graced the covers of several women’s magazines and fashion newspapers. She has also modelled in advertisements for such companies as: American Express, Revlon, and Phillip Morris. Selena thereafter became very interested in the world of film, and also graced the silver screen, with small roles in such films as: Third Watch, Changing Lanes, and The Best Man.
In 1987 Selena moved to Queensbridge, the large public housing in the nation. It certainly was not “love at first sight”. In fact at first she hated it. But she soon realised from her neighbours the challenge many faced being a full-time working single parent, just as she was. In 2004, Selena started her own production company (MayNov Productions LLC). Her first production would be a documentary film titled: “Queensbridge: The Other Side”, a documentary that highlights the neighbourhood of Queensbridge Housing Projects, where she and many others called home; and how they survived as full-time single parents. Selena brought national and international awareness to daily life in the projects for people who may only understand the negative stereotypes that have been portrayed throughout popular culture. Selena maxed out her American Express card, borrowed from associates, family and friends racking up $100,000 in debt to complete the documentary.
Since its completion in December 2005, “Queensbridge: The Other Side” was screened nationally in numerous venues and at various schools, colleges and other events across the country such as: the New York Film and Video Festival May 2006; the 9th Annual African American Woman in Cinema Film Festival October 2006; the Caribbean Heritage Month at Brooklyn Borough Hall, June 2007, Reel Sister Film Festival, Brooklyn NY, September 2007.
Internationally, the documentary was featured in the 1st Pan-African film festival in Accra Ghana, and the 11th Annual Caribbean Multinational Business Conference in Panama- City May 2006.
Selena’s ultimate goal to offer kids living in urban housing projects more educational programs, sports activities and cultural opportunities, thus exposing them to viable options other than what they see on the streets on a daily basis. The goal is simply to inspire our youth who has lost hope and perceives crime and violence as their daily bread. Thus, in November 2008, the New York City Board of Education Division of Contract & Purchasing approved a 3 years contract to MayNov Productions LLC for the Queensbridge Interdisciplinary Curriculum Elective Manual in NYC public schools.
Currently Selena has just completed her second documentary titled: “Taboo ... Yardies" soon to be release in 2012.
