Motion/Pictures Dance Project
About Us
The Team
The Creatives of MPDP
Talia Koylass
Talia Koylass is a Chicago-based director and producer working at the intersection of narrative film and dance. She holds an MFA in Film from Howard University, where she received the Haile Gerima Directing Award, and a BFA in Dance from Fordham University/The Ailey School. As founder of Motion/Pictures Dance Project, she has directed and produced over a dozen short films and music videos, with work commissioned by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and streaming on platforms including OTV and Afropunk. She has supported the development, production, and distribution of projects that have screened at Sundance, Tribeca, Dance on Camera, African World Film Festival, and more. Talia was a 2025 participant in the European Film Market’s Fiction Toolbox program and has had extensive on-set experience with Full Spectrum Features, NBCUniversal, Big Beach, Food Network and more.
Jasmin Taylor
Jasmin Taylor is a multidisciplinary artist, storyteller, and problem solver. She co-produces Motion/Pictures Dance Project’s Inside the Studio series with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and composed the original score for BAWDY. Her producing credits include I Said, No (Midwest Film Festival) and This Doesn’t Last Forever (Our Right to Gaze, 2023). A 2022 Art on theMART commissioned artist, Jasmin brings a dynamic background in dance, music, and storytelling to all of her work. Her artist credits include performances and collaborations with Soundtrack (Netflix), Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chance the Rapper and Cashmere Cat, and her choreographic work has been featured in VICE, Complex, and Rolling Stone.​
Cherish Faith
Cherish Faith is a writer and producer from Muskegon, Michigan, currently based in Chicago. She holds a BA in Film from Grand Valley State University and an MFA in Film from Howard University. Cherish serves as Lead Editor for Motion/Pictures Dance Project "Inside the Studio" series with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Her producing and writing credits include BAWDY—an OTV Atlas Fund recipient—and several short films developed during her time with Full Spectrum Features.