While there are no definitions that can hold her, there are quite a few words that come to mind to describe her. DaVIDA CHANEL is a daughter, sister, granddaughter, and friend who is extremely loyal to family but intent on charting her own course.
DaVIDA CHANEL’s persistence, determination and ambition are a part of her heritage. She comes from a long-line of entrepreneurs, educators, hard workers and courageous types who paved their own way. Her great-grandfather Henry Demby, Sr. founded a funeral home business in 1958 that lives on today. Currently 90 years old, her great-uncle Isaac Butler still runs his corner store, which has been in the same location for over 50 years. Her godfather Arnett D. James was the first African-American assistant superintendent of schools in Iberville Parish and was committed to providing quality education to all students. During his tenure, record numbers of black students graduated and went on to college.
DaVIDA CHANEL is talented, creative, imaginative and artistic.
From a very young age, DaVIDA CHANEL didn’t mind being the center of attention. Like most kids, she got her “big break” at her place of worship. Her star potential was utilized in a variety of church plays and programs. Those early experiences built her confidence, allowing her to become comfortable as a public speaker. Once school age, DaVIDA CHANEL coupled that speaking ability with a natural gift of storytelling. However, because her “stories” were viewed as lies by teachers and peers causing much conflict, she decided life would be easier if she suppressed that gift. As a college student at Southern University, out of her small town and on her own, she was free to explore her creative talents. DaVIDA CHANEL wrote for the school newspaper, held office in student government and within her sorority, won several pageants and hosted campus shows and events. Upon graduation, she longed to move to Los Angeles but once again she let the goals and concerns of others determine her next move. She became a teacher at a local magnet school where she ironically encouraged her students to never give up on their dreams and desires. When she received an end of the year card from her prized pupil telling her she should follow her heart, DaVIDA CHANEL knew it was time to move on. Under the influence of the fears of others, now afraid to make the leap to Los Angeles, she found herself at Purdue University as an Assistant Sports Information Director and then a student at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. After completing her first year, a highly daunting scholastic task, DaVIDA CHANEL knew that she could no longer deny her true passion. Once she earned her Juris Doctorate, she made the move to Los Angeles.
DaVIDA CHANEL is a writer, independent filmmaker, entertainment juggernaut who not only talks the talk, but has walked and continues to walk the walk.
After a few months of pounding the pavement, she landed a coveted position on the desk of Vincent Cirrincione, long-term manager to Academy Award winner Halle Berry. Serving as his apprentice allowed her to get a bird’s eye view on the inner workings of Hollywood. This and further positions around Tinseltown allowed her to see the variety of career opportunities that film and television production allowed. Always the multitasker, DaVIDA CHANEL was comforted to find that the most successful people in entertainment industry wore a variety of hats.
When she worked at Brillstein Entertainment Partners, she encountered some of the world’s major stars who were not only successful at acting, but were directors and producers as well. Her next gig was assistant to mogul Benny Medina, who over stood Hollywood’s lone rule: there are no rules in Hollywood. Medina, who has seen success as a performer, record executive, film producer, talent manager and has played a hand in developing the careers of today’s top names in pop culture, inspired DaVIDA CHANEL to forge her own path, not falling prey to the belief that success in entertainment followed a particular path.
DaVIDA CHANEL is a tech-savvy visionary, a leader, an eccentric, a gypsy and a trendsetter.
She is a hard-working hustler fueled by great, innovative ideas that come from deep within. She’s an inspiring figure who understands that her greatest gift is that she is a catalyst with the power to empower the lives of others. Recognizing that her home state of Louisiana could now play a big part in the next era of entertainment history, DaVIDA CHANEL decided to move back home to pursue physical production positions. She’s found balance by working as hard on her personal projects as she does for the films and television shows that employ her. With the popularity of internet blogging, she has found a platform for her storytelling – on her blog she shares the stories of her life to hundreds of readers a week. She’s compiling a series of the stories into a memoir.
No longer willing to sacrifice any of her dreams, DaVIDA CHANEL has made great strides to establish herself not just behind the scenes.
In 2011, DaVIDA CHANEL produced her first piece for the stage, HIP HOP IS ALIVE. The play recounted her love for the music genre by delving into its lyrical core as it relates to her life. Currently working on a documentary as well as new media projects, she plans to produce more material in 2012. Additionally, DaVIDA CHANEL continues to expand by doing more acting, including acting in a presentation of Ntozake Shange’s FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF.
Above all DaVIDA CHANEL is an idealistic dreamer who knows the importance of following one’s passion. Like a line from her favorite book states, “It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting,” and of all the things DaVIDA CHANEL can be described as she can never be called boring, dull or accused of having an uneventful life.