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LaToyah C. Smith

@toysmith

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TOY ✨ All Things Art ✨
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the best moments aren’t always in the script. back in 2018, while filming Division, David Bianco started improvising with our background talent. The camera caught it all in one shot: David, the laughter, the reactions, and the moment coming right back around to him. No cuts. No manufactured reactions. Just people connecting in real time. You can plan a scene down to the smallest detail, but filmmaking has a way of surprising you when you leave room for the unexpected. Eight years later, we’re still celebrating the moments that made Division special. what’s a moment you wish you could experience again?
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Be kind to yourself. This was us in 2017, making our first project. A lot has changed since then. And a lot has stayed the same. We’re still learning. Still making. Still figuring it out. Still going. So if you’re somewhere in the middle of your own journey, give yourself some grace. Keep going. Look how far you’ve come. #DivisionFilm #ChicagoFilm #IndependentFilm #CottageGroveProductions #FlashbackFriday
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After 6 years of Loc’s she decided to comb them out! Cheers to healthy transitions ✨🥂 Silk Press x Trim #MyToyArt #HealthyHair #ChicagoMasterHairStylist
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Today, we’re celebrating the women of Human Noise. 🩵 From our PA and costume designer to our hairstylist, producers, cast, and every woman working behind the scenes, every contribution helped bring this story to life. Human Noise is a female-led ensemble project, and we’re proud of the women who showed up with their talent, care, and creativity to help make it happen. This film wouldn’t be the same without you. To the women of Human Noise: THANK YOU. 🩷 #HumanNoise #WomenInFilm #instinctivisionfilms #CottageGroveProductions #independentfilm
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Silk Press & Trim from one of the BEST in the city… my Day 1 @desthebest_ I love you sister, thank you! ✨🥂🙏🏾🤞🏾🤍 Of course ya’ll should hate on me… I get my hair done whenever I want to 🥂😂🙃😘 #WestSideWomen
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We saw @proximitymedia share their SINNERS test footage, and it made us want to document our own. 🎬 There’s something special about the first time you see a film starting to look like itself. On August 11, we tested the look of Human Noise. QuickSilverColor built the LUTs for us, tuned for Sony S-Log 3 / S-Gamut3.cine, and this was one of our first chances to see the visual world we had been developing actually show up on camera. We wanted warmth on the surface. Unease underneath. Lifted blacks. Softer contrast. Subtle green undertones. Grain, bloom and texture that make the image feel almost like a memory. But the look wasn’t just about making the movie look good. It was about making the audience feel something. Human Noise explores the tension between who we present ourselves to be and the life we’re quietly avoiding. So the image needed to feel familiar but not completely comfortable. Warm, but with something underneath. This was one of those early moments when the idea in our heads started becoming something we could actually see. Huge shoutout to Proximity for showing us what documenting this part of the process can look like through SINNERS. We loved seeing it, and it inspired us to share our own. 🎬 Human Noise Screen Test — August 11, 2026 LUTs by QuickSilverColor #HumanNoiseFilm #ChicagoFilm #Cinematography #IndependentFilm #behindthescenes
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The internet: We in love this summer or outside? Me: in love, outside! Summer is officially coming to a close soon and idk about yawl but I had a BAWL! It’s my true desire for people to experience life with people, their own people. People God made for them in every capacity-platonically, romantically, etc! I’m not a perfect person and my life ain’t a perfect place but to say, it’s not fun over here would be a LIE! I been super emo about my life lately and that’s okay too! I love mine and I truly hope, you love yours too! 💕🫂🥳 To my frens, get your rest! It’s a ACT BAD FALL! 😈🥳
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Dancing his way through heaven. 🕺✨ Happy Heavenly Birthday to a literal star, Mike J. 🕊️💫 Miss you and your energy every single day. 🎧🎵 Turn up his music on SoundCloud today to celebrate him! 🙌🔥#aahhh
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Today is September 1st & the countdown begins! In 52 short days, I’ll OFFICIALLY be retired as a FULL TIME HAIRSTYLIST & EDUCATOR! Yes, you read it right! I will NO LONGER BE DOING HAIR OR TEACHING FULL TIME! God has blessed me with 20 STRONG years in the industry, now it’s time to pivot! In those years, I’ve done more than most and for that, I am GRATEFUL… I have been a published hairstylist, I’ve traveled the world because of my gift, worked on TV shows & movies! I have serviced beautiful brides & their bridal parties, done photoshoots, and worked for major product companies! I have taught future and licensed professionals, started several businesses & I have caught every dream that I’ve ever chased! I have also experienced the growing pains of the industry. I’ve learned some very hard business lessons, gone through the ups and down of the economy, missed life changing moments with my son & family, I’ve experienced crazy, entitled clients and even made my own mistakes! I’ve learned SO MUCH on this ride! I am so grateful for every teacher, every client, every mentor, every single person that has spent money, posted a review, sat in my chair, extended a referral, donated hair, came consistently, or even been serviced by me only once, THANKYOU! I love and appreciate you all for trusting me! As I transition into this next chapter of my life, I want to encourage anyone that feels like you CAN’T do anything else, to TRUST GOD and surrender control. I’ve done the same thing for 20 years! I spent my teenage years, my entire 20’s and early 30’s sacrificing my time, effort, knowledge and energy servicing people! I have no regrets! In this season, I’m simply servicing me! This transition is not GOODBYE, it’s see you later! To my close friends, regular clients and family, I will be honoring future appointments, please be on the lookout for a follow up email with detailed information about your appointments! Until then, WISH ME WELL 🥂
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🎬 Hair is part of the story. We’re proud to welcome Jamaican Mango & Lime as the Official Haircare Partner of Human Noise. 🧡 From natural textures to styled looks, JML helped our hair team shape, refresh & maintain our cast’s looks at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios. Because every look tells a story. ✨ Jamaican Mango & Lime × Cottage Grove Productions Human Noise — coming soon. 🎥 #HumanNoiseFilm #JamaicanMangoAndLime #ChicagoFilm #HairCare #IndependentFilm
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The film may have a director but it takes a CREW to build the world. As we come down from the high of filming Human Noise, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the people whose hands, talent, and time made it possible. Our gaffer. Production designer. Camera team. G&E. Hair and makeup. Sound. Script supervisor. Costume. Props. Locations. Set decoration. PAs. And every person who helped transform an empty space into the world of Human Noise. From practical details to technology, every department left its mark on this film. This proof of concept exists because you showed up and did the work. We couldn’t have made it without you. 🤍 Swipe through and meet some of the people who helped bring Human Noise to life. 📸: @mmckenziephotography Tag a crew member who deserves to be celebrated. #HumanNoiseFilm #ChicagoFilm #FilmCrew #BehindTheScenes #IndependentFilm
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If you’ve been following us, you know we have been very busy at Cottage Grove Productions. You might’ve seen us share some of our favorite memories from college and start counting down the days until filming. Now, it’s time for us to share what that is, what it means, and how we are bringing the script to screen. Human Noise is the latest project from our writer/director, George Elzey Jr., and the CGP team. We are beyond excited to share this and want to say a huge thank you to every person who was a part of bringing this idea to life. If you had a hand in this project, whether you were crew, cast, or a donor, let us know what Human Noise means to you. Or if you’ve simply supported us with a like or share, we thank you for following along.
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