Today we’d like to introduce you to Mignon Pinson.
Hi Mignon, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began taking acting lessons and performing in stage plays while in high school. Entertainment and writing had always been passions of mine, but I never imagined just how far that path would take me. In 1986, while riding the subway train to work in Washington, I was discovered by a well-known casting agent from Virginia. That unexpected moment opened the door to incredible opportunities in television, commercials, film, and print work.
By 1988, I officially became a member of the Screen Actors Guild, which was a major milestone in my career. Over the years, I continued building my experience in the entertainment industry while also developing a passion for helping others pursue their dreams.
In 1990, I gave birth to my first daughter, and at just one year old, she began working professionally in the entertainment industry. She appeared in major national campaigns and magazines including Playskool Toys, Kids “R” Us, Toys “R” Us, Babies “R” Us, Sears, Ebony, National Geographic, and countless toy packaging campaigns for major brands like Hasbro, as well as commercials, television, and film projects. Throughout her career, she had the opportunity to appear on sets and productions connected to legendary talents including Bill Cosby, Will Smith, Chris Rock, Taraji P. Henson, Nicolas Cage, and Phyllis Hyman, among many others. By the age of three, she had also become a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Years later, I gave birth to my youngest daughter, Maya Jai Pinson. At just one year old, Maya also began appearing in commercials, print campaigns, and advertisements for companies such as Macy’s. As she grew older, her interest in the entertainment industry deepened even more. Around the age of 11, she became passionate about filmmaking, writing, and directing.
Our story evolved through different chapters and brands over the years. What first began under Shooting Future Stars eventually expanded into MJAIP Productions and later grew into what is now known worldwide as LoJai Productions.
Then, in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, at only 15 years old, Maya wrote her very first short film titled I’m Ready. We decided to produce it together as a family, never realizing it would become the beginning of something much bigger. After releasing that first film on October 17, 2020, doors began opening in ways we could have never imagined. What started as one family project quickly turned into a full-time passion and purpose.
Since producing Maya’s first film, we have remained nonstop — producing, writing, directing, casting, mentoring, and creating meaningful films through LoJai Productions. Since then, we have produced over 20 award-winning projects and built an internationally recognized mother-and-daughter production company based out of the DMV area.
Today, our films through LoJai Productions have reached millions of viewers worldwide on platforms including Prime Video, Tubi, EncourageTV, Apple TV, Roku, YouTube, and more — including over 4.8 million views for My Private Line to God on EncourageTV alone. What makes our success story especially meaningful is that none of our films were created with Hollywood backing, major investors, or industry funding. Everything we have built has been driven by faith, hard work, family, determination, and passion.
Along the way, we have been blessed to receive the 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, three state proclamations from Washington, Maryland, and Indiana, as well as numerous national recognitions. Maya also became the first person from the DMV area to win Young Artist Academy Awards three consecutive years at the Directors Guild in Hollywood, California, for her projects I’m Ready, I Dare You, and Distractions. We also recently learned that one of our films received official eligibility for Emmy Award consideration.
In addition, I have been honored with many prestigious awards, including the 2025 Sheen Magazine Kimmie Award and the 2026 Inspirational Women in Literature, Media & Journalism Award. I have also received numerous film festival honors, including the Triple Play Award for being the first production company to have three films selected and showcased at the same festival in a single year, the 2025 Global Recognition Award, and many international award wins.
Entertainment has truly become a family legacy for us. In addition to my daughters’ accomplishments, my granddaughter has also appeared in several films and has worked in print modeling and commercials, continuing the next generation of creativity and artistry within our family.
More than anything, we are passionate about using storytelling to inspire, educate, heal, and create opportunities for others. We genuinely love what we do, we love creating together as a family, and we are incredibly grateful for every blessing, lesson, and opportunity this experience has brought into our lives.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Some of the biggest challenges in this industry are being hired to produce a project under a formal agreement, only to later see your work and film credits overlooked or promoted as though someone else created it entirely. There have also been times when I wore multiple hats throughout production — producing, directing, casting, consulting, organizing, and helping bring a vision to life — without being properly compensated for the countless hours and services provided.
Experiences like these are exactly why I always say:
“The industry is not for the weak.”
As independent filmmakers, other challenges have included building and producing projects without major investors or large industry funding. Much of what we have accomplished has been built through sacrifice, long hours, determination, creativity, and believing in ourselves even when resources were limited.
With my faith in God, every challenge has strengthened us, increased our wisdom, and pushed us to continue creating impactful stories with purpose, passion, and excellence.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
LoJai Productions, led by Mignon Pinson and Maya Jai Pinson, was built on faith, creativity, perseverance, and the passion to create meaningful stories that impact lives. In addition to filmmaking, Mignon Pinson is also a published author with five released books, including the award-winning book Transitioning from Teen to Twenty: Preparing for Adulthood, with book number six scheduled to be released this summer.
As artists and creatives, we believe filmmaking is more than entertainment — it is about changing lives, creating opportunities, mentoring others, and telling meaningful stories that leave a lasting impact. Through LoJai Productions, we have been blessed to combine our passion for film, writing, directing, producing, and mentoring into work that continues to reach and inspire audiences around the world.
One thing that makes our journey especially meaningful is that we genuinely love helping others grow. We understand firsthand how difficult it can be for actors to receive opportunities in the entertainment industry, especially when trying to book speaking roles. Because of that, we often surprise background and non-speaking actors on our sets by giving them unexpected speaking lines and moments to shine. Watching someone’s confidence grow after receiving their very first speaking role is one of the most rewarding experiences for us. We believe a single opportunity can change someone’s future, build confidence, and inspire them to keep believing in their dream.
Mentoring is also a major part of who we are. We truly enjoy encouraging aspiring actors, filmmakers, writers, and creatives while helping them better understand the entertainment industry. For us, success is not just about creating films — it is also about opening doors for others and helping people discover gifts and talents they may not have fully seen within themselves.
At LoJai Productions, we are also passionate about creating quality content with strong storylines that emotionally connect with audiences. We believe people remember stories that make them laugh, cry, think, heal, and feel inspired long after the film is over. Whether we are producing faith-based films, dramas, thrillers, documentaries, or comedy projects, we strive to create meaningful and impactful content that resonates with viewers on a deeper level.
Many of our projects focus on real-life topics including faith, family, healing, abuse awareness, redemption, youth struggles, disabilities, overcoming adversity, and the importance of hope. We love creating films that entertain audiences while also starting conversations, encouraging healing, and inspiring people from all walks of life.
As a family-owned production company, we also value creating a positive, welcoming, and uplifting environment on set. We want every actor, crew member, and supporter to feel respected, appreciated, encouraged, and inspired while working with us. Over the years, those relationships and connections have become one of the most meaningful parts of our journey.
One of the accomplishments we are most proud of is being able to build our platform independently while reaching millions of viewers worldwide without Hollywood backing, major investors, or large industry funding. Everything we have accomplished has been built through faith, consistency, hard work, creativity, perseverance, and family unity.
At the end of the day, our greatest achievement is not simply the awards, recognition, or numbers. It is knowing that our work has inspired people, opened doors for others, created opportunities that may not have existed otherwise, and continues to positively impact lives through the power of storytelling and film.
We Specialize In:
Faith-based films
Drama and emotional storytelling
Training opportunities
Suspense and thriller projects
Inspirational and motivational content
Short films and feature films
Comedy films
Directing and producing
Scriptwriting & Book writing
Casting and talent development
Mentoring aspiring actors and filmmakers
Producing films and creative projects for independent creators
Creating opportunities for new talent
Community-centered storytelling
Awareness films focused on real-life issues
Red carpet premiere events and live audience experiences
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lojaiproductions.com
- Instagram: @lojaiproductions
- Facebook: @Shooting-futurestars
- Youtube: @lojaiproductions
- Other: Instagram @mayajai04
