Sade Oyinade

Director Reel

About

Award-winning director, writer and producer Sade Oyinade has brought her unique storytelling to popular documentary television programs, short films and digital series. Sade most recently served as Executive Producer of a reboot of the critically acclaimed BET crime docu-series, “American Gangster” where she oversaw production of 10 in-depth episodes on notorious female criminals. The series titled "American Gangster: Trap Queens" will debut on BET+ in the fall of 2019. In the summer of 2019, Sade co-wrote and produced the provocative short film on gun violence, First Day Back, starring Loretta Devine and Aisha Hinds. At the same time, Sade was selected, with her producing partner, Deshawn Plair, to participate in the 2019 Producer’s Guild Power of Diversity Master Workshop with their script for the feature film adaptation of the Essence Magazine best-selling novel “Better Than I Know Myself” written by Donna Grant and Virginia DeBerry.

Along with her producing background, Sade has always had a strong passion for directing. A first-generation Nigerian-American, her culture and experience have greatly shaped her point of view. Her film Who Do You Know?, featured on ASPiRE TV, explored AIDS in the black teen community, and her 2017 short film Yemi's Dilemma, examined the repercussions of a cross-cultural marriage. Yemi’s Dilemma won Best Narrative Film/Video at Black Cinema International Berlin. Sade also directed a concept pilot for a mental health-related comedy series in 2018 and episodes of the digital series “CON$equences” and “Growing Up Immigrant”.

Sade is also known for her work on the award-winning TV One hit series "Unsung" and its successful spin-off "Unsung Hollywood" where she served as a producer and later Co-Executive Producer of the series. For nine seasons, she crafted one-hour shows profiling prominent entertainers, TV shows and films working with artists like Sheryl Underwood, Malcolm Lee, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Charlie Murphy and Debbie Allen, creating an unprecedented visual library of Black music and entertainment. She also produced the highest-rated episode in series history on R&B group Xscape. With the series, Sade has received six NAACP Image Awards. Prior to “Unsung”, Sade worked on all three seasons of the original “American Gangster” series and later produced a compelling show on hate crimes for TV One’s “Celebrity Crimes Files” series. Sade started her career working in reality TV on show like “Starting Over”, “The Simple Life” and “America’s Next Top Model.”

Under her production company Flower Ave. Films, Sade is working on a feature film adaptation of "Better Than I Know Myself" with plans to go into production in 2020. Sade is from Silver Spring, Maryland and is based in Los Angeles.