The SAVEDpreneur™ Spotlight: Tijaha Richardson, Founder of Groundbreaking Productions

Tijaha Richardson has been building since before she had the language for it. A 29-year-old filmmaker and entrepreneur from Pearl, Mississippi, she has been carrying a calling in the arts since her sophomore year of high school, when God revealed through her mother that she was called to become a producer and director in the film industry. She held onto that word from 2012 until now — through two degrees, a nonprofit, a film production company, and more hats than she can count. She is a watchman in the entertainment industry, a creator of safe spaces for faith-filled artists, and a woman who refuses to let the work go undone just because no one else has shown up yet to help her do it.

Let's lean in

Tell us who you are and what is your God-driven purpose?

My name is Tijaha Richardson and I am a 29-year-old Christian entrepreneur from Pearl, Mississippi. I am an alumna of the University of Southern Mississippi, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Production and a minor in Black Studies. I am also an alumna of Mississippi College, where I earned my Master of Science in Integrated Communications.

While I was in college, God called me to pursue entrepreneurship. Out of obedience, I started my nonprofit organization, Groundbreaking Productions Studios, on January 28, 2020, and later my film production company, Groundbreaking Productions, on July 15, 2021. I look at both as ministries — regardless of whether they are nonprofit or for-profit. I minister to people through content that feeds them spiritually through Jesus Christ, and I desire to minister through dance and other artistic fields through the nonprofit.

Whatever I do as an entrepreneur, I want to glorify the Lord through it however He leads me — and save souls for the Kingdom of God.

What does it mean to be saved and how do you live a saved lifestyle?

When you are saved, you operate from a good heart posture and you reflect Christ in everything that you do. As a daughter of God, I understand that works alone is not what God goes off of — but here is how I live a saved lifestyle.

I incorporate prayer and repentance into my life every day when possible. I have made fasting a regular part of my lifestyle as well, however God leads me — whether for myself or to intercede for siblings in Christ who need support. And I make sure to rest completely on the Sabbath every week. I do not work on that day. I intentionally spend time resting by bonding with Abba Father through reading the Bible.

Success in the Kingdom looks different from the success of the world. How do you explain the difference?

Gaining success in the Kingdom of God is fulfilling in a way that worldly success simply cannot match. So many people gain wealth and fame the world’s way — and no matter how high they climb, they never stop feeling hungry. Their hunger is never satisfied. Without God, you will feel unsatisfied even when you have reached your peak.

When you take the route God cultivated for you, it is a completely different story. Your journey to success carries lessons that prepare you for your next season, your next step, your next breakthrough. You shed the old to make room for more — whether that is generational wealth, healing from past hurt, the right people, Kingdom financiers, business connections, or aligned partners.

God builds His children up so they can sustain and withstand anything that is thrown at them in every season of life. He provides love, peace, wisdom, and support. But in the world, none of that comes for free. It is purely transactional, and it will cost you your mental, spiritual, and physical health to get what you desire. The world does not care about people and it never will be able to sustain them for generations to come. What is done in the dark always comes to the light.

What does having “vision” mean to you? What is your vision?

Having a vision means knowing what you are supposed to do while you are alive and existing in the physical realm. Every person has the chance to discover what God has called them to do for His Kingdom.

My vision is to lead people to Christ by creating groundbreaking films that feed people spiritually and teach them how to operate boldly and authentically in their true identities as God’s children. The films God called me to make will not only bless people — they will encourage them to walk in freedom with the authority the Lord gave them.

In addition, God gave me a vision for my nonprofit organization: to give God’s children who are called to dance, sing, paint, act, create content, and film — the freedom and actual space to do so without compromising their faith. I know this type of space is needed in the South right now, and I know future generations will need it too. Very soon, I believe God will bless me with the provision to purchase my own buildings in full, so that both organizations can exist beyond the internet and my home. Nothing is impossible through Christ.

What does being a SAVEDpreneur™ mean to you? What is your kingdom assignment and how are you carrying out your assignment now?

Being a SAVEDpreneur™ means that who you could have been as a business owner in the world does not compare to the person God wants you to be as His entrepreneur for the Kingdom of Heaven. Through Him, you become the absolute best of yourself as His child in everything you do and pursue.

My Kingdom assignment is to save others from the darkness in the entertainment industry and protect them from it — by allowing God to use me as a vessel to create a safe haven where they can grow. God has called me to be a watchman in the entertainment industry however He leads me. What others cannot see or detect, I can see — and I sound the alarm when God tells me to, so that my brothers and sisters in Christ can be safe.

I have known how dark the entertainment industry is for years because of the discernment God gave me. Things that have been exposed in recent years regarding Hollywood were not new information to me. I knew because of the Lord and because of how familiar I have become with knowing how the enemy operates.

How I am carrying out my assignment is simply by allowing the Lord to be the CEO over me. I allow Him to lead every decision I make regarding my film production company and my nonprofit. How I came back online to do my Kingdom businesses again was completely planned out by the Lord — and the work will pay off.

What did God call you to build, and how did you know? What steps did you take to be obedient? How quickly did it take you to answer the call?

God called me to build a film production company and a nonprofit organization. Ever since I was little, I have been multi-talented in the arts — singing, dancing, drawing, writing, filming, video editing, graphic design, photography, and more. The areas I was always most drawn to were writing, videography, photography, video editing, and dancing.

I grew up watching special features on DVDs to learn how films were made. I grew up praise dancing, learning choreography from movies, and writing my own poems and original stories. I used my mom’s cameras and my parents’ phones to take photos of everything. I played with Adobe Creative Suite programs and edited videos just for the joy of it.

During my sophomore year of high school, God revealed to me through my mother that I was called to become a producer and director in the film industry. I held onto that word from 2012 until now. I answered the call immediately. I do not regret getting my degrees in Media Production and Integrated Communications. I do not regret starting a K-Pop dance organization during undergrad — because without it, I would not have my nonprofit. I do not regret starting my film production company during graduate school — because without it, my films would never have reached the people they have reached.

Between 2012 and now, obedience to the Lord is what made it this far. It was not easy, but it has paid off.

I also thank my mom, my dad, and my little sister for being my film production team and my most consistent supporters. I cannot wait to see what God has for me in this new season.

Where did obedience cost you something—money, time, identity, approval? And how did you handle the tension?

My obedience has cost me most significantly in money and time. Money is a real factor right now because of how God is leading me to pour into my purpose more than in previous seasons. I am leaning on Him as I use what I earn from my full-time job in information technology to invest in my calling. I am also allowing Him to lead me to apply for grants for the first time this year. There is a lot of stretching taking place as I learn to trust Him to provide and to lead me in the right directions financially.

Time is equally costly. Alongside working full time, I make time to show up as an entrepreneur — making dance tutorials for the nonprofit on YouTube, producing films, advertising videography and photography services, and staying up late to schedule social media posts for the next day. I wear many hats because I have no other choice — until God sends me the Kingdom helpers He has called to walk alongside me. Until then, I will do the work that needs to get done, with His strength in my body and His support as my Abba Father.

What upcoming projects are you working on that you want our readers to know about?

Groundbreaking Productions is currently resting from active film production and using this season to build the portfolio by offering affordable videography, photography, and video editing services to believers who are entrepreneurs, have special events, need headshots, or are preparing for a wedding, pageant, prom, and more. We are open to traveling locally in Mississippi, across the United States, and internationally.

We also invite readers to support our previous work. Head to our YouTube channel to watch and share our documentary In the Shadow of the Storm — Rolling Fork Overcomes, and stream our documentary Silence in the Mississippi Delta — Hawkins vs. the Town of Shaw at www.serbestdistribution.com.

What is the best way for our readers to keep up with you?

Instagram: @groundbreakingproductionsllc

Facebook: Groundbreaking Productions

YouTube: Groundbreaking Productions

TikTok: @groundbreaking.pr

Email: groundbreakingproductions2021@gmail.com