Tai Payne | Free Native Productions

Creative Director. Cinematographer. Photographer

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Based in the Chicago & Indianapolis areas of the midwest, Tai Payne is a multimedia platform creative through his independent production house, 
Free Native Productions.
Producing content such as: music videos, short films, commercials, event documentation & more. Capturing subjects in their rawest form, he aims to express their truest nature through his vision...and make it look dope too.
Full bio here →

“I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, 

with visions to be realized, than lord among those 

without dreams and desires.”

                                         - Khalil Gibran

Awards

YouTube

1 MILLION

VIEWS

BEST

Cinematographer

2014

Deity Mics

Contest

Winner

Indiana Assoc. of Broadcast Journalist | 2014​

Best Cinematographer​

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Black-ish | 2015

Worked on the set of Black-ish, and developed a pilot

with the creators of the show.

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Script Analysis for Justin Simien | 2016

Reviewed and analyzed a script for Justin Simien,​

creator of "Dear White People", and

his production studio.

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Tyler Perry's "Sistas" | 2019

I documented the main cast of Tyler Perry's Sistas

trip to Chicago, and created a promo ad.

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Free The Natives | 2020

Created my own film festival to connect with other

filmmakers in my area, and build our industry from

the ground up.