Ja-Ci Mayes
About Me
My name is Jada "Ja-Ci" Mayes.
I am a graduate cinematography student at Howard University and a North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University alumna with a B.S. in Mass Media Production. As a filmmaker, cinematographer, model, dancer, and multidisciplinary creative, I am passionate about telling stories through movement, imagery, and performance. Whether I’m behind the camera, in front of the lens, or on stage, I strive to bring authenticity, confidence, and intention to every project I take on. I enjoy collaborating with brands, artists, and fellow creatives to bring bold ideas to life through film, photography, and live performance. My work is driven by a love for visual storytelling, meaningful connections, and creating experiences that leave a lasting impact. As I continue to grow in the entertainment industry, my goal is to inspire others through creativity, versatility, and authentic self-expression.
I grew up in Prince George's County, MD, surrounded by creativity, making it all I ever knew. I began dancing in 2009, specializing in ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop. I started theatre in 2015, gaining skills in direction and behind-the-scenes work.
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During my high school career, I took a break from theater and delved into majorette and more American-style dance. I began coaching/choreographing in 2020 and have been doing so ever since.
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I always stood out as the "bigger girl" as opposed to my smaller counterparts. Due to this, I strived to set an example and prove that girls like me can do anything, regardless of size.
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During my college career, I founded Liquid Gold, the first plus-size dance team at A&T, due to a lack of representation amongst other teams. It fueled my passion for advocacy and representation in all communities, especially the black community.
College is also where I discovered that I wanted to devote the majority of my creative passion to film. Being a mass media production student and diving into production made me fall in love with all of the technicalities that go into making our favorite projects. I plan to specialize in cinematography, but my love for entertainment goes many ways that I'm also open to.
My Story
