Carshenah's first week arriving in Los Angeles, she landed a small part in the Lions Gate Film Akeelah and the Bee directed by Doug Atchison, produced by Sid Ganis and starred Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, and Keke Palmer. Little did Carshenah know that when she went on a set break, she sat down and ate her lunch next to Sid Ganis who happened to be the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the time. Sid thought Carshenah was Keke's stand in for the movie, but she told him that she was just upgraded from background actor to a small part in the movie. He then asked for her head shot and resume, then gave Carshenah his personal card to call his offices to set up a meeting. Carshenah did so, but since she was in the process of moving to Los Angeles that same week, she lost his card. Carshenah still looks for that card to this very day.
