Founder

Stephán O’Shea

Dreamer. Doer. Dey Gon’ Hear Me.

Stephán O’Shea is a creative force—actor, writer, producer, and community builder—born and raised in Pasadena, California. After spending 15 years working in education, mentoring students, and building life-changing programs for Black and Brown youth, life flipped the script: multiple family homes lost in the Eaton Fires, a job gone, and a gut feeling that it was time to bet on himself. And so, PHÁN Collective Entertainment was born—not just as a business, but as a declaration: my story matters, and so does yours.

PHÁN (pronounced fawn) is a love letter to the power of storytelling—to the resilience in our roots, the rhythm in our culture, and the joy that refuses to die. Whether he’s producing live events like The Young Black Males Conference, turning up the volume at Caribbean Night, or writing and starring in the digital series Preference, Stephán creates spaces where Black, queer, and youth voices aren’t just included—they’re centered.

One of his greatest inspirations is Mara Brock Akil, whose penned projects shaped generations—including Moesha, Being Mary Jane and newly Netflix series original Forever. Her legacy of telling nuanced, layered stories about Black life continues to inspire the work he does today.

When he’s not filming, writing, or curating something for the culture, you’ll find him mentoring the next generation, dancing in the mirror to Beyoncé, with family or watching reruns of classic Black sitcoms like Moesha, reminding himself that the blueprint was always in us.

BIOGRAPHY