DREAMY MANGO STUDIOS
Founders
Actress
Momina Shahzad
My name is Momina Shahzad, and I’m an actress currently based in Chicago. Acting is and will continue to be my biggest passion. I started doing theatre over 10 years ago, taking any opportunity I could to take classes, audition for projects, and perform in front of others. Since then, I’ve delved into other creative endeavors such as photography, writing, and more. I’ve spent a majority of my life moving, and through this experience, I became an avid observer of people and everyday life, which influences my approach to acting and storytelling. For the longest time I’ve dreamt of creating my own projects, by being able to act in them, write, produce, and more! With the creation of Dreamy Mango Studios, this dream is finally becoming a reality. Meeting Seeta and Wanjiru was like competing the final pieces of a puzzle. And together, we hope to bring to life important, diverse, and entertaining stories. My hope is that through Dreamy Mango Studios, we can inspire and reach others while also building upon our crafts through experience and empathetic collaboration. Thank you for coming with us on this journey, we can’t wait to show you what’s in store!
Director / Writer
Seeta Mangroo
My name is Seeta Mangroo and I’m a proud Puerto Rican and Guyanese woman from Tampa, Florida. I am a filmmaker and cinephile whose love for storytelling began with childhood films I wrote, directed, and edited alongside my cousins. I can recall at a young age being excited to get editing software for Christmas one year (every child’s dream, right?) and burning dvds of the films we had created together. My passion for the arts extends beyond filmmaking to poetry, where I explore themes of identity and connection. I’ve always loved film as a medium which I felt the most connected to creatively as it has allowed me to develop a relationality to others through shared experience. Meeting Wanjiru and Momina felt serendipitous for the dreams I had of growing up and writing never before told stories of cultural experiences that I felt were underrepresented in the media. Dreamy Mango Studios is that vision coming to fruition. I cannot wait to see how much we grow and learn through our studio as we develop and collaborate on more projects in the near future with the creative community in Chicago. We’re excited for what’s next and can’t wait to share it with you!
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Actress
Wanjiru Mbuthia
Hi, I’m Wanjiru Mbuthia, a 21-year-old filmmaker and one that connected me to the experiences of others and to the power of art to communicate what’s real and meaningful. For a long time, pursuing film was just a dream. But last year, I decided to move to Chicago on a whim. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and start a new journey—one that would help me pursue the dreams my younger self never thought were possible. Seeing Chicago’s diversity firsthand has made me feel at home and given me the space i needed to grow. I’ve gotten the chance to connect with stories that matter and reflect the real, lived experiences of people like me. Meeting Seeta and Momina within my first week here felt like fate and only validated all of our dreams. all three of us are passionate about creating change through storytelling—making space for narratives that challenge the status quo. Starting Dreamy Mango Studios has been the most exciting journey yet, and I’m so thrilled to see where it takes us. I hope you’re just as excited as we are.
Meet Our Team
marketing
Jessica Douglas
My name is Jessica Douglas, a Chicago-born visual storyteller whose work is rooted in community, creativity, and care. I’m drawn to capturing the everyday beauty of Black life and the wider communities of color that shaped me. Through photography, art direction, and digital storytelling, I create work that feels warm, human, and grounded in justice—highlighting voices and experiences that deserve to be seen. I’ve always been drawn to the kind of work that makes people feel seen. Storytelling, for me, is a way of gathering people, honoring their experiences, and building the worlds we wish existed. Creating with intention, joy, and a deep sense of community is what keeps me picking up my camera. I joined Dreamy Mango Studios to create alongside like-minded artists, reignite my creative spark, and push my work in new directions. Dreamy Mango feels like a space that values softness, imagination, and people-first storytelling. I’m excited for what we’ll build together and the stories still ahead.
Filmmaker
sumana syed
Sumana Syed is a Desi Muslim-American screenwriter and filmmaker currently based in Chicago. She is a recent graduate from Columbia College Chicago, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Film/Television. As a POC artist, she wants to create stories for her community. Her goal as a writer and filmmaker is to show future generations that they can be whoever they want to be—heroes, villains, or something in between. Additionally, she hopes her films will empower her community and shed light on modern-day social issues. Her first short film, the psychological drama "Make Them Proud," tackles mental health and the "eldest daughter experience" through a South Asian lens. She served as the writer and director, and she hopes that the film sparks a conversation around destigmatizing therapy.
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actress / costume & Makeup design
ema kester
Hi, I’m Ema Kester, a multi hyphenate artist with a passion for uplifting femme stories of all kinds. Working with Dreamy Mango studios so far has been such a joy, and I am so grateful to get the chance to continually work with this group of incredible humans. Outside of Dreamy Mango, I like to work with Rivendell Theatre Ensemble and other local storefront theatre in Chicago in many different capacities. I’m so looking forward to developing my skills as an artist and tell stories that bring value to my life and other’s.
Production assistant
juan almanza
Hello! I’m Juan Almanza, I’m 24 years old, and I’m excited to be joining the production team at Dreamy Mango. I’ve always loved creating films and stories that can inspire people and hopefully make the world a little better. What I enjoy most about media production is working with a team, meeting new people, and being part of a creative environment where everyone brings something different to the table. I’m proud of my social media skills and my eye for visual storytelling, and I’m looking forward to growing even more in this space. Outside of work, I’m big on gaming, watching movies, cooking, and exploring new spots around Chicago. I’m really excited to be part of Dreamy Mango and can’t wait to help bring new ideas to life.
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cinematographer / sound design / editor
michael max wolfe
Hi, my name is Michael Max Wolfe. I’m a 25-year-old filmmaker based in Chicago. My interest in making art began with music at the age of 12, and I joined multiple bands over the years. I now use the skills I developed through songwriting to contribute to soundtrack and sound effects work in the filmmaking process. I've always dreamed of being a writer and director, but I didn’t start taking it seriously until my 20s. During COVID, I began creating video essays for YouTube, which eventually led to directing music videos for local bands. My main focus now is creating narrative-based short films and sketches to practice my craft, with the goal of eventually working on a full feature film. I recently joined Dreamy Mango to help bring our ideas to life as a collaborative project, and I hope to entertain and inspire others through this journey.