Daequan Winbush

Daequan Winbush (born July 13, 1994) is an African American screenwriter, director, and entrepreneur, best known for his work in independent filmmaking. Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Winbush's early life was marked by significant challenges, including his family's relocation to Manchester, New Hampshire, due to gun violence, and his father's long-term incarceration. Despite these hardships, Winbush found inspiration in his late uncle, Comilus Pope, and developed a passion for performance and storytelling at a young age.
==Early Life and Challenges==
Winbush's artistic side first emerged when he was transitioning from middle school to high school. He loved to draw and write notes, eventually beginning to write music lyrics. After school, he would go home and record on his mother's old computer, using her webcam as a microphone, and upload the recordings to YouTube when it first started in 2009. Winbush was fascinated by the fact that his late uncle was also a rapper and wanted to be just like him. However, as he grew older, he realized that making music wasn't going to lead anywhere, so he began making music only for himself before eventually stopping completely to focus on directing and writing scripts.
Winbush's childhood was further complicated by traumatic experiences. He was involved in a car accident, nearly drowned, and was in a house fire, all at a very young age. The house fire occurred when Winbush was about five years old. His mother had left him in the care of a cousin while she dropped a friend off in Massachusetts. The cousin, who was cooking chicken at the time, left to smoke a cigarette and never returned, leaving young Daequan alone in a burning house. Additionally, Winbush experienced sexual abuse during his childhood, which added to the many challenges he faced.
Throughout middle school and some of high school, Winbush had a best friend named Robert Caribe. They engaged in activities such as pool hopping and staying up all night, sharing a close bond akin to brotherhood. Their friendship continued until Robert moved away with his mother to Germany. Although they still talk occasionally, their interactions have become less frequent.
Winbush moved to Manchester, New Hampshire, with his mother, Crystal Josey, at the age of three. His father, Bradley Winbush, was incarcerated when Daequan was two years old, remaining in prison for 26 years. Although they live in the same city and state, Daequan and his father do not have a relationship. Growing up, Winbush faced obstacles that impacted his high school education and sports career. Despite his natural talent and love for performance, these difficulties derailed his aspirations during his teenage years.
In 2009, Winbush entered a relationship with Jayla Paquette, with whom he had his first child, Deijah Lee Winbush, born on January 1, 2012. Following the birth of his daughter, Winbush made the difficult decision to drop out of high school and began working at Taco Bell to support his family. Two years later, he and Paquette welcomed twin boys, Jadaeq Winbush (born January 6, 2014) and Jakobe Winbush (born December 6, 2014).
==Personal Struggles and Growth==
Winbush and his ex-wife were expecting a baby girl during their relationship, but tragically, he lost the baby while they were separated, and he never learned the full details of what happened. 
After the birth of his children, Winbush faced severe financial difficulties that led to periods of homelessness. During this time, he often slept in cars and other makeshift shelters. After a brief and unsuccessful move to Florida, Winbush returned to New Hampshire, where he continued to struggle, sleeping wherever he could find a safe place. He worked at Subway, often sleeping in his uniform to be ready for work the next day.
Even after meeting his fiancée, Kristina Paradise, the challenges persisted. They lived in about eight different places before moving in with her parents. Eventually, they moved into a housing building, where they finally found stability and never looked back.
==Directing Career and Accomplishments==
Although Winbush had aspirations of attending film school, he was unable to pursue higher education due to a lack of a high school diploma and transportation to GED classes. Undeterred, he dedicated himself to learning everything he could about filmmaking on his own. In 2021, Winbush launched his production company, "A Frankie Production.""A Frankie Production," YouTube Channel, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/@EarlixTV. and directed his first music video, marking the beginning of his directing career.
Building on this success, Winbush established "A Dark Titan Picture," further solidifying his role as a director in the independent film scene. He released his book *Terror Don't Sleep (Titan Universe Book 1)* on Amazon.Winbush, Daequan. *Terror Don't Sleep (Titan Universe Book 1)*, Amazon, 2023, https://www.amazon.com/Terror-Dont-Sleep-Titan-Universe-ebook/dp/B0CW857YCG/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2X60Y8254RYZ2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DsLH8eVvwbDyCveyM6ttSbz59fBImMTpV3SasXvZO5XGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps._N9hhpJajNSIlCHgCg2V9qwB9oAUa7mME36w_V2BvI8&dib_tag=se&keywords=daequan+winbush&qid=1723168262&s=books&sprefix=daequan+winbush%2Cstripbooks%2C76&sr=1-3 showcasing his talent for storytelling and visual direction. He is currently developing his latest projects, "Terror Don't Sleep""Terror Don't Sleep," IMDb, 2023, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26255802/?ref_=nm_knf_i_1 and "A Wish for the Devil.""A Wish for the Devil," IMDb, 2023, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32842977/?ref_=nm_knf_i_3 which promises to further highlight his directing skills.
==Personal Life==
Daequan Winbush is the father of four children. His first three children, Deijah, Jadaeq, and Jakobe, were born during his relationship with Jayla Paquette. His fourth child, Elijah Winbush, was born on March 26, 2024, with his fiancée, Kristina Paradise.
Winbush's life story is one of resilience and determination, overcoming significant personal and professional challenges to establish himself as a filmmaker and director. He continues to live and work in New Hampshire, where he is committed to expanding his creative endeavors and supporting his family.
Category:1994 births
Category:People from Dorchester, Massachusetts
Category:Screenwriters
Category:Director
Category:Entrepreneurs