STAY TRUE TO YOU! Your vision, your voice, your desires for yourself and your project is everything. You are the master of your own experience; no one can tell you how to tell it. You are the baddest bitch you now. Never forget that!

Probably directing my first short film “With(Out) You.” I never thought I would be a director–it was never in my plan. I have been a writer for more than half my life and I know, without a doubt, that I am very good at it! But, when my friend asked me to direct her short,… Read More @charia: What is a successful moment in your career so far?

Hmm…Maybe the first time I was cast into a musical in high school. I was always a wayward child (Gemini moon, Aquarius rising), and finding a hobby or anything that I genuinely liked was hard. Discovering theater took me down a path of discovering that I not only needed to work in entertainment, but that… Read More @charia: What’s a defining moment in your life?

I have been a writer for as long as I can remember. I have always wanted to allow people to feel the range of joy and emotions that I have felt from media. Telling stories that 12 year-old me would have loved to see is my mission. I want to make Black girls everywhere feel… Read More @charia: Why did you decide to get into this industry?

What are you working on next? In addition, if people want to find out more about you, where can they find you on social media? @ShirleyVernae or www.shirleyvernae.com. My goal is to write, produce and direct scripted shows and films. I need greenlighters and people with power and money to take risks on me! Making history… Read More @ShirleyVerna: What are you working on next? In addition, if people want to find out more about you, where can they find you on social media?

Make-up lol. I have a bad Sephora habit thanks to my friends. 

You are enough. Trust your gut. You have the chops. You are it. You don’t need to convince anyone of that. Be your true authentic self. Don’t take no for an answer and don’t let this industry take advantage of you. Support your sisters, community is everything. Keep pushing.

The most successful moment I’ve had is being able to lead (5) teams in (4) different cities over the course of 2 months for an Adidas campaign I was producing and directing. Majority of the crew were women and I was able to hire a lot of people of color. Not only did we have… Read More @ShirleyVernae: What is a successful moment in your career so far?

My biggest concern is that black people will continue to have to kick and scream for a seat at the table. We live in a world that is unfair to us and doesn’t see us as equal and that’s represented in the stories you see on screen. It must stop and I worry that it will… Read More @ShirleyVernae: What is your biggest concern with the future?

I don’t think I have a specific defining moment but all of my choices, big and small, that I have made have ultimately defined who I am today.