(AllHipHop Features) Shanice Parker (often referred to as Ms.Parker) is the CEO and Founder of Billz Productions, a New York City based production company that specializes in producing and creating visual content within the entertainment industry. Since launching her brand in 2014, Shanice has filmed and edited video content featuring Reality TV- Star, Yandy Smith, GOOD MUSIC artist Desiigner, Rick Ross, Cardi B, Remy Ma, Fat Joe, Dave East, and many other well known public figures.
In addition Ms. Parker has covered major shows and events such as the BET Live Experience (L.A), BET Music Matters (NYC), BET Hip Hop Awards (ATL) and the WEEN Awards (NYC.) Shanice has built a wonderful track record as a professional, with testimonials from clients throughout New York City, Detroit, Delaware and London! Ms. Parker’s work and career has been highlighted on various publications such as NoveeRose.com, Harlem News, Black Enterprise and other media platforms (radio, online and print.)
Outside of filming and editing, Ms. Parker continues to share her knowledge with others through various speaking engagements ranging from young students to emerging professionals. Since the launch of Billz Productions Ms. Parker has facilitated workshops for the New York Coalition of 100 Black Women Role Model program, the Junior One Hundred (a youth extension of The One Hundred Black Men) and the College Success program at Harlem Children’s Zone. She has led panels in New York City and in Pittsburgh providing entrepreneurial tips to attendees on how to effectively follow their passion and develop their brand.
Shanice continues to go above and beyond for clients to ensure their videos and photos properly showcase the brands highest potential. As a young professional Shanice understands the importance of providing services that compliments popular culture trends. Aside from producing traditional services such as music videos and headshots she also creates custom Instagram commercials and Vlogs!
Shanice released her first film Benny & Chris in December 2016, selling out at the Magno Theatre located in Times Square. The film is now available on Youtube and DVD.
As the month comes to a close, AllHipHop was excited to get some time with Ms. Parker to hear more about her life as a director in the music and entertainment industry and her journey to becoming a powerful woman in the game.
AllHipHop: Explain what your job entails:
Shanice Parker: As a director my job entails me providing my clients a layout and strong directing ability to produce the visuals needs of my client whether they are an artist, actor, or reporter. My duty is to produce visual content that not only appeals to the client needs but to also add my expertise so that the visuals can also appeal to their target audience.
AllHipHop: What’s the most enjoyable part of the job and your duties:
Shanice Parker: Its always fun to talk to the client to get a clear understanding of what they are looking for and produce a visual that they had in their head come to life.
AllHipHop: What is the hardest part:
Shanice Parker: The hardest part of my career is developing a team. It is a difficult task to find people who are just as passionate as you are for what you are striving to accomplish.
AllHipHop: Can you describe a moment of adversity personal and in your career?
Shanice Parker: It’s always difficult recognizing when to pull back and relax. At times I feel like I can be doing a lot more but you have to recognize that whatever is meant to happen will happen. I believe one of the best lessons I learned from my struggle was that the less thought I put into my next move, the more I could think freely and make decisions without any pressure on myself. Less pressure on yourself makes you think clear.
AllHipHop: What keeps you from giving up?
Shanice Parker: The people I choose to surround myself with has been the background to my strength. They have been helpful in reminding me of where I come from and where I am now. I also see how my hard work and diligence has influenced those around me as well. Giving up is not an option when you have nothing but strength surrounding you whether you find the strength within yourself or the people you surround yourself by. You are only as powerful as the people you keep around you.
AllHipHop: Who inspired you to become a leader or boss?
Shanice Parker: To be truthful I believe I am a natural born leader. But I took that leap to become a boss when I decided to follow my dreams to work in the production field and all doors were closed. It’s not in me to quit so I decided to create my own door. I feel like my family instilled that hustling work ethic. I never seen anyone in my family not work hard to get what they wanted.
AllHipHop: How do you balance work, and personal life?
Shanice Parker: I always like to be real with myself and recognize when something is reeling in too much of my attention. I love to work a lot and I realized that it plays a huge role on how well my body operates when its being over worked. That makes it easier to decide when I need to tend to my personal life. Its strange to say but somehow work finds a way to connect to my personal life at times. And at that time I am enjoying the best of both worlds.
AllHipHop: What do you like to do for fun?
Shanice Parker: I like to drive around see new environments, listen to music, dance, sing, watch movies from time to time not all the time though. I also find Instagram entertaining and with that comes a lot of comedy. If you know me you’ll know I like to laugh a lot!
AllHipHop: Please provide what it means to you to be a powerful and influential woman in the urban music and hip-hop industry.
Shanice Parker: To be a powerful or influential woman in the urban music and hip hop industry you have to know yourself. Know what you can take and what you need to work on and handle it with ease. People look to you as a source of strength by how well you can conduct yourself in a time of challenge. From my understanding this industry is tough and its not built for those who crack under pressure. Not only do you have to be strong you have to deliver work that will set you apart from any gender. You have to work twice as hard to prove that you deserve to be here and you have to recognize your uniqueness very early in your career.
AllHipHop: Final Thoughts or words of advice?
Shanice Parker: Always be you, and don’t be afraid to show it. People aren’t going to always understand you and it is not up for everyone to understand. It is up to you to master who you are and fall in love with who you are because there will never be another you.