Maya Lilly
Maya is a film, TV, and digital media producer, specializing in activist documentary storytelling. She produced Amazon’s first theatrically-distributed documentary with Sundance-winner Lauren Greenfield, the opening night documentary at Sundance 2018. She also produced Resist (Pulse Films/VICE), and Finding Justice (BET/Seven Bucks Productions), with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s company. Both series looked at how communities of color fight systemic injustices.
Maya is a Producer with The Years Project, the Emmy-winning team behind Years of Living Dangerously (Showtime/NatGeo). They have the largest digital following for the climate crisis with over 395 million reach and 1 billion views of their content.
The product of performing arts schools starting in the 4th grade and culminating in Juilliard rigorous classical , Maya originally trained as a triple threat actor/singer/dancer. She attended School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati (Alums: Sarah Jessica Parker, Nick and Drew Lachey, Carmen Electric, Todd Louiso) and New World School of the Arts in Miami (Alum: Glenn Howerton, Tarell Alvin McCraney)
Maya trained as an actor, singer, and dancer. She began performing arts in the 4th grade, leading to Juilliard’s rigorous classical Acting program, She was one of 7 women in an acting class of 20, then the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati and the New World School of the Arts in Miami. Also a professional writer, Maya’s original play Mixed won “Best of Actor’s Rep” in Los Angeles in 2007. Described as one of “the most groundbreaking new works,” it premiered to sold-out audiences in New York in 2009 and toured for over a decade.
She is a Udall Congressional scholar, the first chosen for using the arts as activism. She holds an M.A. in Environmental Security and Peace from the United Nations and a BA in Environmental Studies. She is active for environmental causes and the climate crisis.
844: Maya Lilly, part 1: Effective Storytelling and Producing The Years Project
Since I’ve seen Maya’s work on the Years Project with people like executive producers James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger, I was worried I might feel starstruck.
Oh wait, she also worked with series creators Joel Bach and David Gelber (of 60 Minutes); chief science advisors podcast guest Joseph Romm and Heidi Cullen; and episode hosts including Cameron, Schwarzenegger, Harrison Ford, Ian Somerhalder, America Ferrera, David Letterman, Gisele Bündchen, Jack Black, Matt Damon, Jessica Alba, Sigourney Weaver.
Oh, and the series won an Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.
She was engaging, informative, open, and fun. We laughed a bunch We talked about her passion for the art and practice of storytelling. You have to be true to the science, but you can’t skimp on the story or take for granted it will work. We also talked about her background that brought her to this level.
UPDATE: After we recorded, Maya noted that about halfway in, she said “Bread and Puppet theatre in San Francisco.” The actual troop was The San Francisco Mime Troupe.