News

Posted on November 2nd 2012 in Announcement

TFT alumna and Professor Felicia D. Henderson MA '04, PhD '08 will write and direct the film adaptation of Omar Tyree's New York Times Best Selling "Flyy Girl" trilogy of novels, through her company, WaterWalk Productions. Best known for developing "Soul Food" for Showtime, Henderson has written for film, television, and theater. She's currently the executive producer of BET's "Reed Between the Lines."

"I'm more than excited to make my feature film directing debut adapting the iconic Flyy Girl novels. Writing the screenplay, and knowing I'm directing the film has been creative joy!" Henderson's other credits include "Everybody Hates Chris," "Gossip Girl" and "Fringe." She she teaches writing for film and television at TFT.

Omar Tyree's catalog of novels, which include "Flyy Girl" and two follow up novels, "For the Love of Money" and "Boss Lady," have generated over $30 million worldwide for publishing giant Simon and Schuster. "For the Love of Money" won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work In Fiction.

After receiving her B.A. Ms. Henderson embarked upon a five-year stint in traditional business that began as an investment research manager and ended as a consultant at Kidder, Peabody & Company, after which she decided to go back to school. While pursuing an M.B.A. in corporate finance at the University of Georgia, she received the NBC National Fellowship.

When asked what's the most important thing in her life, the aunt of eighteen nieces and nephews replies, "The children." She strongly believes in community and is very active in programs for underprivileged youth in Pasadena, CA. She is a member of the Pasadena Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta (a public service sorority), The Literacy Program, and Each One Teach One.

Ms. Henderson believes, "It's important to expose those who otherwise might not have access to information. I make sure that all of the children I come in contact with, whether they're six or sixteen, know how I got where I am and that no one gives you success. You have to take it - which means working harder than everyone else; being more dedicated to your dream than anything else; and believing in yourself more than you believe in anyone else."

Related Links:

Felicia Henderson TFT faculty bio

VIDEO: Felicia Henderson Master Class with editor Ann Coates