From the very beginning, though our mediums were different our goals were the same: we wanted to mold our ideas into concrete projects that would not only entertain but also somehow make a difference in the lives of those with whom we shared these projects. Our life experiences influenced our creative contributions every step of the way, fueling Andre’s growth as an actor and screenwriter and my growth as a writer and storyteller. Circumstances and happenings that were once considered boulders and blemishes on a path so non-linear it sometimes made our heads spin, had now become impetuses for the stories we constructed. While for years we’d never worked on a screenplay or manuscript together, we were grossly involved in each other’s work as critic, editor, proofreader, and cheerleader. When we finally decided it was time to see “what would happen” if we collaborated on an idea from conception to completion, those who knew us best wanted to know “what took ya’ll so long?”

GRANDchild Productions was formed after years of our working as professionals separately, yet together. We chose to create a home for our collective works that, hopefully, will shine a light on the best of humanity yet not shy away from subject matter that exposes the pain, agony and life-changing decisions which make us distinctly human.

Named for our grandmothers, Bernice and Melvina, who believed in our dreams long before we even knew what they were, and whose daily affirmations during our time with them made us truly feel like GRAND children, GRANDchild Productions encapsulates the hope and resilience with which they lived and honors the work ethic they instilled in us by their examples. We thank them, and you, for being a part of our ongoing story.

-Andre and CJ

For more than a decade Andre has performed extensively in award-winning theatrical productions nationwide. He is a noted alumnus of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA). As an actor, Andre has been awarded the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, NAACP Theatre Award, Los Angeles Ovation Award, and was nominated for the BroadwayWorld Best Lead Actor Award for his role as “Simba” in the Tony Award-winning Disney’s The Lion King.

In addition to television and film appearances in the Amazon series BLACK, NBC's Law & Order: SVU, and Netflix's Luke Cage, Andre is the writer, producer and star of the multiple award-winning film STOP. He is also the Overall Winner of the 2020 Filmmatic TV Pilot Award for his original series Boley U.S.A. and a television writer for CBS/Paramount and NBC/Universal.

A former Marine who has traveled all over the world, Andre now splits his time between New York City, Memphis and Los Angeles, where he primarily resides with his wife (a writer) and son (an aspiring astrophysicist).

More at  andrejackson.com

C.J. is a freelance storyteller, editor, and published author with a focus on conveying stories that exemplify the human spirit. She has written for numerous companies and nonprofit organizations including Executive Speakers Bureau and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis. For more than six years she penned the blog River City Rising for cityCURRENT, a Memphis-based philanthropic organization.

SELF MADE: Boley, Oklahoma, a collaborative effort with the nonprofit Project 2020, was published in 2023. The book is a collection of essays based on C.J.’s interviews with current and former residents of Boley, the historic all-Black town in Oklahoma. In addition, she has completed her first Contemporary Fiction novel For True. She and her son are working on a joint project titled And Then.

C.J. earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Spelman College and thereafter began her graduate work at Morgan State University. She completed the requirements for her Master of Arts in International Relations at UCLA after moving to Los Angeles. Following an internship at CNN (Los Angeles), and a brief, yet successful, stint working as a commercial and voice-over actress, she returned to the field she loved most: writing.

While residing in Los Angeles, C.J. began a creative writing group at a residential home for at-risk youth and, after moving to Memphis, volunteered at a nonprofit organization helping students build their writing and English skills in preparation for the GED exam. In 2011, C.J. was the graduation keynote speaker for BRIDGES in Memphis.
 
She has been homeschooling her son for six years and enjoys running, CrossFit, and traveling.



More at cjkirkland.com