ABOUT US

CEO / EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Shanté Gabriel is a producer, writer, and CEO of Next Generation Films with more than 25 years of experience bringing film, television, and digital content from concept to completion. She is a strategist, and project developer with extensive experience in content development, relationship management, project packaging, and production oversight.

As Chief Executive Officer of Next Generation Films, Shanté oversees the company’s creative vision, strategic partnerships, and overall production slate—including feature films, television series, documentaries, and streaming content. She leads high-level dealmaking, financing strategy, and distribution pathways while guiding projects through development, production, and delivery.

As a producer with deep skills in budgeting, scheduling, logistics, and music supervision, Shanté continues to develop, produce, and distribute documentaries, television series, and feature films for a global audience. Known for her ability to balance creative vision with financial and operational discipline, Shanté specializes in end-to-end production management, strategic partnerships, and content that resonates with both audiences and buyers. Shanté has a keen ability to identify marketable concepts, build creative partnerships, assemble production teams, and guide projects through development and execution.

Her driving belief: powerful stories can entertain, inspire, and transform on screen and in the real world.

PARTNER / VICE PRESIDENT / DEVELOPMENT & PRODUCTION 

Whitt is an award-winning filmmaker, executive producer, director, and development executive with more than three decades of experience creating, developing, and producing content across film, television, and digital media.

As Partner / Vice President Development & Production for Next Generation Films, Whitt leads project development, creative strategy, talent packaging, and production execution for the company’s growing slate of feature films, television series, holiday programming, and streaming content.

Whitt built her career by working through virtually every level of the entertainment industry; from Production Assistant and First Assistant Director to Director, Executive Producer, and corporate executive. This unique journey provides her with a comprehensive understanding of both the creative and operational sides of production.

Throughout her career, Whitt has worked alongside some of the industry’s most recognizable talent, including Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, Queen Latifah, Regina King, Diana Ross, Richard Gere, Kim Basinger, and many others. Her credits include productions such as The Jamie Foxx Show, Living Single, Family Matters, Higher Learning, Set It Off, A Wrinkle in Time, First Lady of BMF, Gaslight, Conspirators, HUSH, and numerous television and film projects.

Prior to Next Generation Films, Whitt served as Vice President of Creative & Production at DCTV Public Access Corporation in Washington, D.C., and Vice President of Diversity & Development at Cinema Libre Studio in Burbank, California. In these roles, she oversaw content development, production operations, strategic initiatives, and creative services while managing teams dedicated to storytelling and content creation. As a filmmaker, Whitt is a Telly Award-winning director and recipient of the Los Angeles International Film Festival’s Best New Director Award for her short film Prey, which she executive produced, co-wrote, and directed. She also directed the feature film A Family Matters Christmas, currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

Known for her ability to identify compelling stories and position them for today’s marketplace, Whitt specializes in story development, pitch creation, project packaging, talent alignment, and strategic positioning for networks, studios, streaming platforms, and investors. Her passion is simple: creating meaningful stories that connect with audiences while building partnerships that bring those stories to life.

“I don’t just develop stories…. I position them to sell.”

HEAD OF PRODUCTION

Tasha Coates has years of experience as a Lead Producer; developing and producing multiple series on network television. While producing the hit TV series, DOUBLE CROSS, Tasha also served as Casting Director. Using her entrepreneurial background she started a casting company, 1024 Casting, where she casted both Lead principals and background for multiple series and feature films.

HEAD OF COMMUNITY & CULTURE

Producer, Brian Burns III is a graduate of Temple University College, majoring in Communication with a Production track; where he dabbled in news;  his gateway to the film industry. He has since worked as a  producer on two network streaming shows as well as the feature film, DESPAIRED  on BET.  Brian also served as a community liaison giving compassion to several nonprofit organizations and steer heading Next Gen Film's partnerships in education.