my mid-year audit: business, creative self and community

TLDR; Two (2 ) US-based projects, Three (3) Canada-based projects, Two (2) public presence opportunities, Six (6) Independent film projects, One community: Twenty-seven (27) writing groups hosted, received sixty-five (65) submissions for our $1500 film fund and annual short film festival.

In my decades of entrepreneurship, I've never done something quite like this before. I've written goals and checked off to-do lists, made recap reels and photo carousels of what I've accomplished that year, but not at the mid-way point and certainly not broken down in the different sections of my life: business, creative self, and community.

This year, my work took a massive leap with the launch of my US entity, Kilam LLC, alongside my existing Canadian corporation, Kilam Media Inc. Operating across borders under a unified brand name has forced me to look at my creative work through a strategic business lens.

In addition, a major milestone happened recently this year: my short film, Charlene, premiered at the LA Shorts International Film Festival where I was the writer/director. As filmmakers, we often categorize festival runs as purely "artistic" or "personal" wins. But as a business owner and media consultant figuring out how to operate in two countries, it matters on a different level; having a film screen at a prestige, Oscar-qualifying premiere acts as a stamp that tells clients that our production standards are top-tier. The short film I produced called Performance Review (2025), accepted into five film festivals and still on its festival journey, is also doing that for Kilam and my own personal portfolio as well.

It's rare that I celebrate my own achievements or even think of what I'm doing as something to be proud of but I started my business as a single parent. I started it because I needed to provide for my son, and as he's gotten older, I have learned a lot about myself and the kind of person I want to be in this industry. Now that I have space to think more strategically, I also want to recognize what I've done and am doing, in order to ensure I'm still on the right path.

To keep myself accountable I'm giving an official breakdown.

In this post, I'll share the behind-the-scenes of what a mid-year focus looks like for a media production company and share each project, my role, its status, and current phases.

US Entity: Kilam LLC

1) Palisades A Year in Retrospective

(February-May 1, 2026)

LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath - One Year Since the Palisades Fire: An official review highlighting the strategic steps taken over 12 months toward community resilience, ongoing recovery aid, and future risk mitigation

• Focus: Commercial video editing and regional storytelling/campaign for the office of LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
• Role: Editor.
• Status: Complete.
• Current Phase: Delivered a 5-video retrospective series (2–3 minutes each) for LA County, directed by Lain Ewing in partnership with Kro's Nest Productions.
• What I learned: A reminder that hard topics require lots of rest and self-care, and that when multiple levels of leadership have notes, that clear communication between all levels makes for a more efficient workflow.

Linked in this recent post is each different episode:

2025 Wildfires Retrospective series for LA County

Over the last few months I’ve been editing videos produced and directed by Lain Ewing in partnership with Kro’s Nest Productions for Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Third District. In a series called 2025 Wildfires Retrospective, these videos are all about emergency preparedness, environmental impacts and the LA County’

Hinay with MaiMailyne

2) A Remote Operated Studio Design & Installation

(March 2026 - ongoing)

A physical studio that has the ability for remote camera operators and remote editors to collaborate in real time on a live or recorded production.

• Focus: Technical media consulting, infrastructure design, and project management for a remote operated studio in the Bay Area for a Silicon Valley tech company.
• Role: Consultant and Project Manager.
• Status: In Progress.
• Current Phase: Transitioning from the completed consultative design architecture into active on-site equipment installation in the Bay Area.
• What I'm learning: Easing client expectations, and working with massive suppliers and major stakeholders is challenging but fun.

Canadian Entity: Kilam Media Inc.

Leading projects that protect community stories and push for systemic change provides a deep sense of ginhawa—it restores my internal peace and clarifies my values. The following projects are the heart of that alignment.

1) End the 2nd Generation Cut-Off Campaign & Docuseries

An advocacy and educational campaign to raise awareness of the discriminatory legislation in Canada and the proposal to pass Bill S-2 as amended to end the second generation cut off for First Nations.

• Focus: Indigenous-led political advocacy media, campaign strategy, and long-form documentary storytelling for the office of Senator Paul "PJ" Prosper.
• Role: Co-Director/Editor.
• Status: In Progress.
• Current Phase: Website is complete and was the landing point for folks to sign the petition. Currently moving directly into the campaign launch strategy and production of a 3-part documentary series that serves as both education and advocacy.
• What I'm learning: Returning back to the question of who is this for and what is the purpose can help clients with their primary focus for a project that has increased in scope.

Learn more: www.endthecutoff.ca

2) UBCIC Animated Series

(August 1, 2026 - ongoing)

An animated short film highlighting the inequalities and discriminations that First Nations have faced and continue to face.

• Focus: Creative direction, production management, and advocacy storytelling for the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC).
• Role: Co-Director/Editor.
• Status: In Progress.
• Current Phase: Active production and direction on the first short animation, while also learning that this will become a longer series.
• What I'm learning: I love working with real artists and seeing their concept boards and I'm excited to do more.

Learn more about UBCIC: https://www.ubcic.bc.ca/

Industry Presence & Thought Leadership

1) Digital Communications Workshop & Media Capture (IGARSS 2026)

August 9-14, 2026

This one also falls under the Canadian entity section, but will leave this in this section, because I'd love to do more paid speaking engagements.

• Focus: In person-educational presentation and hands-on training to an international audience of the IEEE GRSS (IDEA program), and live event production (billed through the Canadian entity, executed in Washington, DC).
• Role: Presenter & Videographer/Editor.
• Status: Complete.
• Current Phase: Co-presented the workshop "Our Research, Their Understanding" and delivered two distinct conference recap videos (a comprehensive 3-minute recap and a 60-second reel).
• What I learned: Being trusted to deliver with more autonomy makes room for great work and a fun outcome, and; even if your workshop is sold out, 8am is not an ideal time for maximum turn out.

2) Guest Podcast Appearance: Get Reelisms

• Focus: Brand advocacy, sharing industry insights, and expanding creative network reach.
• Status: Complete / Ongoing.
• Current Phase: Featured as an guest on an industry podcast called Get Reelisms to discuss how I started my company as a single parent, media production strategy and projects, directing multiple projects, and building community-led film spaces.

Independent Productions (Kilam Media)

1) Those Days of Summer (Feature Film)

Logline: In the final weeks of summer, a sheltered teen defies her strict adoptive mother to sneak out for one wild night with her best friend, prompting a confrontation with her mother’s painful past.

• Focus: Developing my first feature film and packaging it for production and financing, leveling up my career.
• Role: Writer/Director, Producer. Co-producers Kevin & Koliah Bourne.
• Status: In progress.
• Current Phase: Completed v9 of the feature script, created the pitch deck and pitch materials and applied to the Telefilm Talent to Watch program. Simultaneously exploring labs and fellowships.

2) Charlene (Short Film)

(premiered August 3)

Logline: A young woman on the way to make amends with her ex, stops for the night but soon finds herself in a dangerous situation.

• Focus: Narrative direction and festival circuit market presence.
• Role: Writer/Director, Producer.
• Status: Complete / Active Distribution.
• Current Phase: Successfully achieved an international premiere at the LA Shorts International Film Festival, elevating my name as a Writer/Director and giving Kilam portfolio prestige.

3) Friends in Film (Short Series)

(Principal Photography: April 15, 2026 - ongoing)

Logline: Two film industry besties try to maintain a normal friendship, but between surviving set chaos and stumbling into off-duty gigs, every attempt to unwind is blocked by their own inability to stop working.

• Focus: Was created for fun. An episodic narrative production and multi-platform distribution.
• Role: Co-creator, writer/director and producer alongside Christine
• Status: Active Release.
• Current Phase: Production is officially wrapped on ten (10) episodes that are 2-3 minutes in length and is in post-production with an active release and rollout phase of the series. It's being pitched to the Sundance/TikTok collab.

4) Tumi & Me (Proof of Concept / Documentary)

(Principal photography: August 2, 2026)

Logline: When a sudden brain tumor diagnosis forces a workaholic Taiwanese American filmmaker away from her career, she fights to maintain her independence against her overbearing estranged family and "Tumi," the darkly comedic voice of the tumor inside her head.  

• Focus: Intimate biographical storytelling and producing a deeply personal health journey film for my friend, writer/director Christine Chen.
• Role: Producer.
• Status: In Progress / Early Production.
• Current Phase: Mid-production phase, actively shaping the narrative structure for the proof of concept.

Learn more: www.tumiandme.com

5) Shadows Within (short horror film)

Logline: Three temp workers question their sanity on their midnight shift. What secrets are you keeping buried?

• Focus: Completing a genre-based short film that can serve as IP/proof of concept for feature or series.
• Role: Producer.
• Status: In Progress.
• Current Phase: Actively moving through post-production, on track to secure the final cut in the second half of this year.

6) Beyond the Pause (Documentary Series)

A documentary and YouTube series highlighting the personal stories of every day people experiencing menopause.

• Focus: A two phased approach. The independent docuseries production is content and also marketing / digital audience building for the primary documentary being produced.
• Role: Co-Producer/Director/Editor alongside Nicole Bedford.
• Status: Ongoing.
• Current Phase: Public rollout complete, with episodes now officially live and streaming on YouTube and new interviewees. Developing the story arch of the documentary as the campaign continues.

Learn more: www.beyondthepausefilm.com

Community-based Projects

One of the most fulfilling part of my life's work is being able to give back to a place and build community. My goal when living in LA wasn't about how much it would give me and benefit me, but also observe what is presently here and give something in return.

Community Meetups, Writing Groups, and Talks

As part of my commitment to my own art and building community, I merged the two. I host weekly virtual writing groups as part of Film Girlz Brunch - a grassroots volunteer-led community for women and non-binary filmmakers. It started in LA and now has a Chicago chapter.

• Focus: Creative ecosystem cultivation, virtual peer support, and industry networking.
• Role: Host & event organizer
• Status: 27 Writing Groups led this year. Ongoing.
• Current Phase: Running highly active weekly virtual writing groups and educational talks, keeping momentum strong alongside consistent monthly meetups with the main group (with a strategic operational break taken in July).

Film Girlz Film Fund & Annual Festival

• Focus: A direct filmmaker fund of $1500USD offered through all the PWYC donation meet-ups and events, and showcasing emerging and experienced work by women/non-binary filmmakers.
• Role: Co-Founder alongside Imani Davis and Kaiulani Bush.
• Status: 37 Film Submissions, 28 Film Fund Applications. Active Submissions.
• Current Phase: Brought on volunteer screeners for the thirty-seven (37) film submissions, with the deadline for submissions being August 31, 2026. The rest of the team will review the twenty-eight (28) film fund applications. Notifications will be in October 2026.

Learn more: www.filmgirlzbrunch.com

And that is it! This does not include writing my novel (currently in its first draft) or my poetry chapbook (also in its first draft).

Art is what helps me fuel myself so I can have energy to drive my creative business, and the business funds my personal art.

Looking toward the second half of the year, the goal isn't just to stay busy, it's to keep ensuring that my time, energy, and projects are aligned so that I can balance rest with my creative life and do so sustainably.

Thank you for reading all the way through. Let me know if you have any questions or comments <3