Nuanse Entertainment is an award-winning, New York-based independent film and video production company, owned and operated by Ashley Denise and Ricki Lynée. Our mission is to create colorful characters for every genre while contributing to the perpetuation of new narratives about the black experience. By centering black faces in roles both on and offscreen, our focus lies with championing stories for those who are often overlooked and undervalued. Prevalent themes throughout our work focus on issues of mental health, disability, racial and gender disparities, black rest and more.
Featured on Filmmaker Magazine, Crackle, Comcast/Xfinity, The Huffington Post, IndieWire, Boyish Media, KweliTV, BlackOak TV, OTV - Open Television and more
Recipient of Big Vision, Empty Wallet's Kickstart Diversity Program & Distribution Lab 2015
WINNER (“Anthology”) | IndieWorks Silver Whiskers Award, presented by CongestedCat 2013
WINNER (SECRET ADMIRER) | Best Comedic Short Film, The International Gullah Film Festival 2019
WINNER (SECRET ADMIRER) | Best Performance in a Short Film, Black and Latino Film Awards 2019
Official Selections: Big Apple Film Festival, Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival, Audfest, African American Film Marketplace and S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase, Utopia Film Festival, Project Catalyst, National Black Public Media Consortium, Black Web Fest, Picture Farm Film Festival, Broad Humor Film Festival, Ocktober Film Festival, Imagine This Women’s Film Festival, and more…
Ashley Denise (Founder, Artistic Director)
Ashley Denise is an award-winning writer, director, actress, producer and editor. She discovered her dream of writing for film and television while studying English at Yale University. In 2009, she moved to New York to pursue her career. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Nuanse Entertainment, a boutique film production company, whose goal is to create colorful characters for every genre, while contributing to the perpetuation of new narratives about the black experience. Projects include feature-length and short films, web and tv series, comedy sketches and music videos that have screened at festivals and showcases across the country. Her work has been featured on Crackle, Filmmaker Magazine, The Huffington Post, Comcast/Xfinity, Shadow And Act, KweliTV and the National Black Public Media Consortium.
In 2019, Ashley won Best Performance in a Short Film at the Black and Latino Film Awards for Nuanse's short film, SECRET ADMIRER. 2021 saw the debut of a new season of her award-winning episodic series, "Anthology" which is currently streaming on OTV, KweliTV, and BlackOak TV. In 2023, she saw the Crackle TV premiere of her hit series, "The Retreat" on which she served as the Co-Creator and Principal Director. Ashley is a recipient of Big Vision, Empty Wallet's Kickstart Diversity Program and member of the Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective. She recently relocated to Syracuse, NY and is currently in development on new series for Nuanse Entertainment, in addition to developing her craft as a vocalist.
Ricki Lynée (Head of Development)
Ricki Lynée is an award-winning New York City-born & based actress, writer, and producer. She is the co-owner and Head of Development at Nuanse Entertainment, a resident artist with New Light Theater Project, and a recipient of the 2021 All Stars Project/Castillo Theater Fellowship for Young Artists of Color. Ricki is a graduate of CUNY Brooklyn College where she studied Theatre and studied acting at HB Studios, AADA, and New Federal Theatre. She officially embraced her passion for filmmaking with the award-winning webseries, “Anthology” produced by Nuanse Entertainment in 2013. In her free time, Ricki proudly works as a Standardized Patient portraying case studies through simulations, and educating medical students/professionals in the Tri-State area.
As an advocate for diversity in film, theatre, and media, Ricki seeks to inspire younger artists; trailblazing by creating stories and embodying characters that challenge social norms. She is committed to authoring a body of work that prioritizes inclusivity, bold choices, and craftsmanship.
In 2018, Ricki received the award for "Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play" for her work in The Diplomats, in the 2017 Fresh Fruit Festival. She is also a member of the #SheFilmTribe. More info about Ricki is available at rickilynee.com.