OUR TEAM
PROFOUND CLARKE
FOUNDER/CEO
With a pension for seeing the BIG in small stories, Profound focuses his storytelling on perspective. As a first generation Jamaican-American and the youngest of four, he's always looked to see the world through the eyes of others. This addiction to perspective has guided Profound's creative ambitions from an early age where he wrote endlessly. This continues today in his screenwriting, where his work focuses on the varied viewpoints in the complex lives of simple people no matter the genre.
Writing is a passion Profound had to come back to after adventures in the music industry. He’s worked as a consultant for feature film writers and independent film studios since 2014. His first feature placed in many competitions which led to a deeper relationship with the filmmaking industry. He wrote the award winning short “CLEAN SLATE” in 2019.
While on his writing journey, Profound was given the opportunity to work as a casting assistant for OAS Casting, working on projects like DYNASTY, COBRA KAI, and LEGACIES.
In 2020, Profound birthed THE STORYTELLER SESSION, a community birthed from his need to connect during the pandemic and lead to doing reads for around 100 stories a year along with bringing in industry guests, organizing workshops, and pushing towards the goal of alleviating industry isolation for creatives, especially creatives from historically underheard communities.
OLUBAJO SONUBI
SENIOR PARTNER
Primarily an Atlanta Casting Director for Television and Film. His past credits include The TV series, Vampire Diaries, Containment, Dynasty, & Cobra Kai and The films Come Sunday, & Addicted.
He is a graduate of University of Georgia, and Southern Methodist University. When not casting, Bajo throws himself into supporting the arts as a volunteer, director, producer, actor, and supporter of emerging artists and community focused organizations.
BRANDI PAYNE
HEAD OF WRITER INITIATIVES
Brandi Nicole is a feminist filmmaker, performer, and artivist whose work centers on women fighting to return to themselves.
While she started off as an actor, Brandi fell in love with the storytelling process after writing & producing MUTED, a short film about media discrepancy when a child of color goes missing, that was acquired by HBO and to date has just over 170k views on YouTube via Issa Rae’s #ShortFilmSundays. She followed that up by making ALOHA, a short film awarded the Emergence Filmmaker Grant based partly on her experience of developing H.E.L.L.P. Syndrome, a life-threatening complication, while pregnant with her third child. A proud HBCU grad, HBO Writers Program alum, and sexual assault survivor advocate, her goal is to use story to spark discussion, create community and help facilitate empathy and healing. These efforts are underway with her latest short film about intimate partner violence, SPIN, a prelude co-directed by Jen West, to what they hope will be their first feature.
Recently wrapping up her role as a staff writer and recurring character on season two of Showtime’s YOUR HONOR, Brandi splits her time between Memphis and Los Angeles, and has her eye on adding New York to that list very soon! When she’s not spending time with her sons, you can find Brandi pole dancing, baking delectable cookies, belting showtunes for Broadway shows in her kitchen and railing against white supremacy in all its insidious forms.
ANDREA BEHRING
HEAD OF DIRECTOR INITIATIVES
Andrea Behring, also known as Andi, is an Atlanta-based writer, director, and producer. She is the founder of "&D” Productions, her local production company. With a passion for storytelling, Andi writes, directs, and produces her own projects, while also working full time as a television director.
Andi's extensive experience includes serving as the long-time location manager for hit shows and movies like The Vampire Diaries, Black Lightning, Let's Be Cops, Triple 9, and the first four seasons of Dynasty. In addition to her location scouting and managing expertise, she eventually directed four total episodes of Dynasty, and most recently helmed an episode of the CW sci-fi series, Tom Swift.
Andi's work has been featured in over 50 film festivals; her short film "Attest," which she wrote and directed, earned her the prestigious Best Director award at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2021. She is currently prepping to direct her first comedic feature film, co-written with creative teammate Walter Smith. She has also been adapting her film work for the stage, alongside Marcus Allen, adapting her short film “Baggage” into a full blown musical.
Andi's dedication extends far beyond her own projects, as she finds uplifting others along the journey equally as rewarding. She frequently collaborates with Georgia State University to work with their students at various events such as the “Actors Refresh” - fostering their growth in the industry. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she pursued her passion by earning a degree in film from Sacramento State, while on a full track and field scholarship for throwing the shot put and discus. Shortly after graduating, she relocated to Atlanta, where she now resides with her partner Alli, their dog, and two cats. She is beyond thrilled to join the team at The Storyteller Sessions.
KENDRA CHRISTEL
DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT - EAST
Born and raised in Texas, Kendra considers herself a Southern-fried weirdo who loves to tell Southern tales just South of somebody's God. A Jill of all trades, she began dancing at 3 years old, singing at 7, writing at 8, and acting at 10. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from Texas State University, where she was part of the E-Board that revamped the only Black theatre group in the university's history. She also has as an M.F.A. in Screenwriting from the University of Georgia and has since continued to place in several major screenwriting competitions/fellowships. As a drama and genre screenwriter, her accolades for both TV and Film include being a 2nd Rounder and Semifinalist for the Austin Film Festival, a 2nd rounder in the Black Boy/Girl Writes Fellowship and NBC Universal Fellowship; A Semifinalist for Final Draft Big Break, Nicholle Fellowship; a top 25 finalist in the Outstanding Screenplay Competition; and a winner of WeScreenplay's Feature Competition and Stowe Story Labs Sidewalk Fellowship. She is currently in production for a horror short titled "Savior of '63" for which she is the writer, Co-Director, Co-Producer, and Co-Star. Kendra is the facilitator for the Storyteller Session's Monthly Script Club. As an actress, Kendra was Co-Founder for the Shades of Talent collective, which helped curate theatre opportunities for BIPOC artists in and around her hometown of Austin, TX. She is also currently Broadway World Austin's Vocalist of the Decade and Performer of the Decade. When Kendra is not on the stage or on the page, you can find her in drag as Saharra St.Riviera-Stone, helping to raise money and awareness as an LGBTQ+ ally.
ALEX TROXLER
DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT - WEST
The product of a big cornbread-fed North Carolinian family, Alex is a BIPOC screenwriter, editor, and producer who focuses on the adventure, emotions, and comedy that is “family.” His pages tackle the complexities of the “family you choose” while navigating life’s big adventures. While enjoying 'step-parenting' the family that chose him, Alex has reached Coverfly's Top 10 Red List and been a Final Draft semifinalist. Most recently, Alex has been hired to help an indie director develop a biopic feature about a controversial pastor's rise to building America's first mega-church.