You may not be familiar with her name, but you certainly know the work of Danita Patterson. Over the past three decades the Chicago native has worked on several shows and productions both locally (Bud Billiken Parade, Know Your Heritage, Minority Business Report) and globally (Annie, The Donnie McClurkin Story, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) and can count luminaries such as Quincy Jones, Will Smith, Les Brown, and Tim Reid as just a few of the names she’s had the pleasure of working alongside in addition to work with companies like NBC, ABC, CBS, Warner Bros., Sony and Disney.
A graduate of Northwestern University, Patterson has long sought to leverage her success in Hollywood into something tangible for her hometown and community at large. Her company, Destiny Unlimited, Inc. focuses on producing and developing family focused entertainment across film, television and new media while her 501 c3 non-profit organization, Destiny Outreach, focuses on empowering, inspiring and equipping youth (12-17) and young adults (18+) from diverse backgrounds with tools and experience in engaging learning environments to achieve their ultimate potential in life, school, and work.
N’DIGO recently sat down with Patterson to discuss her career beginnings, her personal keys to success, and the recent Day of Destiny Entertainment Summit event.
N’DIGO: In your own words, who is Danita Patterson?
Danita Patterson: I am a lover of God, life, and people. I am a multi-hyphenate creative visionary and renaissance woman on a mission and taking no prisoners. I am an unselfish trailblazer who understands my purpose and that my destiny is to impact society and the nations with love and positive good for mankind. Media is my visual expression. Music is the soundtrack to my life, and Outreach is my gift to the next generation. I am a destined child of God.
What are three words those closest to you would use to describe you?
Gracious. Loving. Multi-Gifted.
What did you dream of doing for a living as a child?
I had a few dreams of becoming a superstar, making a difference in the world through my influence as a humanitarian, philanthropist, and entertainment tour de force. And to help people live better lives by becoming a doctor, though I disliked blood and guts.
How did you find your path into the world of producing for film and television?
I was in performing arts at the tender age of 2 in ballet, tap, jazz, and singing in musicals. At 16, when my best friend introduced me to her dad, Don Jackson of Central City Productions, which was headquartered at the Tribune Broadcasting building and WGN-TV, I was invited to do an internship, and I worked with a producer named Barbara Wilson who was producing television musical specials and awards shows, and I caught the proverbial bug. The creativity and power to produce something from nothing and bring teams of people together to entertain and inspire gripped my soul. I knew that this industry was calling my name, and I added behind-the-scenes skill sets of producing to my budding show business career.
I changed my major and studied Radio, TV & Film at Northwestern University School of Communications and minored in Broadcast Journalism. Shortly after college, I left for Hollywood and moved to LA, landing my first job on the number one sitcom, “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air“. I then worked directly with Will Smith on his 1993 film Six Degrees of Separation, for which he was nominated for an Oscar, and on the development of the box office hit Bad Boys. Working with an A-List talent like Will Smith launched me into a larger sphere of my career and professional vision in TV and film.
Please tell us about your company, Destiny Unlimited, Inc?
After working closely with multiple celebrities, networks, and studios, I decided it was time to capitalize on my god-given gifts and forge my own social enterprise as an entertainment entrepreneur.
Destiny Unlimited, Inc. represents the unlimited talents that I possess as a multi-hyphenate creator, writer, producer, director, singer, songwriter, and businesswoman.
Developing a slate of family and faith-friendly positive multi-platform entertainment (Film, TV, Music, Animation, New New Media) has positioned me for launch with giant distributors and Oscar award-winning collaborators. It’s my time and my turn. The market is prime for a fresh voice and relevant storytelling that captures humanity in creativity in innovative ways for progressive audiences. That’s what my upcoming film and television series does, even including Chicago, my hometown, as a character.
My entertainment properties are mini-franchises that will take the message off the big and small screen into the lives of viewers and movie-goers. Inspired by pioneers like Walt Disney, Destiny Unlimited is the wave of now and the new kid on the block!
And please tell us about your charitable organization, Destiny Outreach, and some of its initiatives, like the recent Day of Destiny Entertainment summit?
Destiny Outreach (DO!) is a labor of love born out of my 10-year-old childhood vision to create a safe haven for others who didn’t have parents like mine who empowered me to dream, believe in myself, and know I could achieve my wildest dreams. That seed grew into founding DO! on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1997, and next year will be our 30th anniversary.
DO! works with youth (ages 12-17) and young adults (ages 18-35+) helping them to fulfill their ultimate potential in life, school, and work and exposes them to careers in the entertainment industry. Our Dreams & Destiny program offers personal, professional, and workforce development programs that transform next-gen leaders to find, fight for & fulfill their dreams. We piloted a wonderfully successful workforce development program last June called Dreams & Destiny’s Entertainment Industry Apprenticeship Program (EIAP) with a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Illinois Youth Investment Program (IYIP), and Phalanx Family Services. We are beyond grateful to be a part of creating a workforce pipeline for the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois entertainment industry.
This past May, we hosted our Day of Destiny Entertainment Summit at the Chicago Cultural Center in partnership with the Chicago Film Office and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Both the Chicago Film Office and the Illinois Film Office hosted a FAM Tour of the city’s major studios: CineSpace Studios, The Fields Studios, and CineCity Studios.
The summit also featured panels and discussions with a host of execs and industry leaders such as JaSheika James, Executive Producer of Peacock’s “Bel-Air”, Donna- Marie Reid, Multi-platform Development and TV Programming Executive formerly with ABC and NBCUniversal, Christian Jackson, Entertainment Finance Attorney for companies like Disney and Warner Bros., Jameal “Jamie” Turner, Executive Producer of The CW/Netflix series “All American“, and Brenda Gilbert, Cofounder of BRON Studio among others.
What are three of your personal keys to business?
1. Have a clear vision that is big enough to make you walk by faith.
2. Remember players play and teams win. You can’t do it alone. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant learned this key and look at their great success.
3. Stay humble and be confidently excellent because pride comes before a fall.
Having so much on your plate, how do you maintain your mental health?
I let peace rule and reign over my heart, and I try not to sweat the small stuff and people. I choose to work hard, play hard, rest hard, and pray hard. This keeps me sane, coupled with my love for the beach where I find rest and God’s inspiring voice on the water.
Can you name a book that changed or really impacted your life?
In the beginning of my journey to destiny in high school and college, it was the Holy Bible. As time went on, I found Victor Frankel‘s Man’s Search for Meaning and M. Scott Peck‘s The Road Less Traveled very instrumental in changing the trajectory of my life and destiny.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
I love classical and country music.
Best advice or words of wisdom to young entrepreneurs?
Sandwich your destiny and career with love and humility. Success will come and go, but your integrity will stand the test of time. So don’t compromise because of the dangling carrots…remember your soul is not for sale.
Favorite quote or affirmation?
“With God all things are possible, nothing shall be impossible if you only believe. And It’s best to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”
What’s next for Danita Patterson?
I am working on a feature film and television series to bring to my hometown, Chicago, through Destiny Unlimited, Inc., and many of my graduating apprentices will have the opportunity to work with me in my larger entertainment vision of Film/TV and Music that inspires the world. I am seeing my childhood vision come alive as I help others’ dreams come true! So….what’s next is…ME and my unlimited destiny!
For more information on Danita Patterson and Destiny Unlimited, Inc., please visit www.danitapatterson.com and connect with her on social media at: @danitapatterson
