With more than 30 years of experience in writing and filmmaking, Nicole got her start in television news and has since become an award-winning writer, director, producer, educator, and podcaster. She has unapologetically provided a space to lift up Black voices and stories, and shines a positive light on the future of film for women—especially WOC. A dedicated member of New York Women in Film & Television, Film Fatalaes and the Writer’s Guild Women of Color Caucus, Nicole is passionate, gritty and changing the game in the film industry and beyond.

The Basics:

Hometown: St. Louis, MO, although I was born in Montclair, NJ
Current city: Whatever airport I happen to be in. The virtual mailbox is the greatest invention!
Alma mater: University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
Degree: B.A., Mass Communications
Very first job: At 14, I worked as a receptionist at a member of our Church family’s physical therapy office
Hustle: Writer, Podcaster, Director, Filmmaker + Freelance Journalist

The Interests:

Babe you admire and why?
I have to say Sade. She came out of the box, killin’ it. She brought key members of her team along for the glory, but she knew it was the tight-knit band with a style so unique and recognizable—fronted by her face, and her name—that made the world groove with them. The best part is that she went off to enjoy her life in the country with her love and only came back onto the scene because there was more music in her to share. She shares on her own terms. Beautiful, bold… a Babe to admire, for sure.

Describe your life using a film title.
Bridesmaids.

Where’s that one place that you’ve been dying to visit?
It’s a split between Vancouver and South Africa.

Who is one person, dead or alive, that you’d love to film or direct?
I’d love to direct Joaquin Phoenix, but he’s not someone a Hollywood studio or even an indie studio would think to pair me with as a director/lead actor partnership. I love dissecting scenes with actors, having their input feed off all the homework I bring as a director, and vice versa. When Joaquin publicly made the call for Hollywood to step up their inclusion game, I actually started the process of searching for a script that would be the perfect fit. I’m still searching.

The Hustle:

Tell us about your hustle, providing a summary of your roles and the work you do daily.
I check the news headlines first thing. I also post news items to my social media that I feel peeps in my community need to know—something that may be considered trivial may actually be life-saving for us in the African American community. I’m now producing three podcasts and a radio drama, so at some point during the day you’ll find me in front of the microphone, mixer and Adobe editing suite. I’m also a writer and freelance journalist, so I’m always discovering more research that needs to be done and more calls and emails to be made. If I can, I’ll try to sneak in a documentary or narrative film to watch while I grab a late lunch. Then there are people with whom I touch base: Friends, agents, team members, potential guests, colleagues who want to bounce around project ideas and, of course, family. NPR is pretty much on the whole day to provide background motivation. I’m also teaching at the moment, so there’s lesson planning and grading to do.

Was there a film or piece of work that inspired you to pursue filmmaking? What about it inspired you?
I grew up in the ‘70s; Norman Lear’s bold commentary through working class settings inspired me—hats off to the incredible cast members who made his shows and characters classics. As far as films, I worked in a Black video store. The film Sparkle did not influence my style of filmmaking, but it hit close to home as I grew up in a family with three ambitious sisters. Lonette McKee is my real-life sister-friend, and it’s fun to hear her behind-the-scenes stories every once in a while. I would consider her character in Sparkle one that warned me most about the industry, even the men I would probably attract and date. The film stayed with me and meeting and getting to know the actor who brought it to life strangely helped me realize the women whose lives resemble those in Sparkle will mostly turn out okay. We can be in love with this business that can beat you up and try to steal away all of your dreams, but we are going to be OK, even stronger for it, and supported by a tribe of creatives and adorable misfits. Life is funny that way. 

How have your past professional and academic experiences and lessons prepared you for the work you do today? How have they not prepared you?
I still have to credit a professor in college at my state school—which is not known for its film and television curriculum—for the best advice I ever received. He said, “Nicole, if you want to be a television producer, you have to write, write, write.” Weeks later, some of my colleagues and I started our own college newspaper, where I shared a column with another sister-friend of mine, wrote for the internal newsletter of the college’s internationally renowned eye surgery center, and took an internship at a public relations firm. I figured one day all of this writing would help me create stories for film and television. Then it clicked: Writers organize our thoughts as a way to invite others to read them. That’s what he was trying to tell me. 

Is there a dream project that you’d love to create or a dream cast and crew that you’d love to work with?
I think I will work with everyone I’m supposed to in this lifetime—I hope. But I know an area of media that I would love to explore is museum installations, and mixing that up with some virtual reality.

How has being a woman impacted your professional experiences? What can we collectively do to support and empower women in your industry today?
I love being a woman in the industry. I’m a proud member and former board member of New York Women in Film & Television. Promoting and collaborating with women is our life’s work. My experience with Film Fatalaes as a member has also been enlightening, inspiring and rejuvenating. I’m also a proud member of the Writer’s Guild Women of Color Caucus; the industry training put forth by the group are focused and beneficial in innumerable ways. Audiences can support women in the industry by sharing our successes and learned experiences. Yes, audiences know one or two names of Black women directors. There are thousands—and I don’t throw that term around lightly—of women, especially Black women, writing, directing and producing. You know what would make you the cool person at the party? Introducing the name of some of these creatives in the same way you introduce the latest music track from an indie artist who finds fame beyond commercial radio. Indie directors are here, streaming on your alternative channels. “Heart” us and “share.”

Specifically, how has being a WOC impacted your professional experience? What can we do to create more supportive and inclusive work environments inside and outside of your industry?
This won’t surprise you, but women of color will soon thrive in the industry because of Black spaces. Yes, the waiting room at major Hollywood studios have told a grim story for decades when it comes to us. Now there are too many of us not to come together, hire each other and distribute our work throughout all communities. Black films make money in the United States and abroad. I’m thrilled to see so many African films and series coming to the United States as well (such as Queen Sono and anything Kagiso Lediga is putting his hands on lately). As an audience, please seek out audience-friendly film showcases of our work. Reel Sisters of the African Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series should be a destination, and kweliTV should be your next streaming app on all of your mobile devices.

Do you feel that reflecting aspects of your culture into your work is something you strive for? Why is this important to you?
My culture influences my work, always. Being race-specific with my work is something I strive for—especially when the films are eye-openers and touchstones for my own community. My latest feature, TITLE VII, “went there” in the discussion of “same-race discrimination.” It happens from the best of us, who are instigators in this practice, and it needs to be checked. With our film, we took a surreal approach but the audience discussions afterward proved there is pain there that needs to heal. I’m proud that our feature prompted the Chicago Sun-Times to call TITLE VII “bizarrely toned.” We loved that, because we went outside the box and ran with it, in addition to providing the space for so many to speak up and speak out. 

What’s one thing you’re proud to have accomplished in your career thus far?
I’m proud that 30 years into my career, I still love to pitch and schedule meetings on potential projects. I’ve now moved into the podcasting space with our series Before You Go. Podcasting means I can tell stories I’m excited about, reveal fascinating characters and riveting events without the prohibitive nature of having to find funding for it, work with a small hand-picked team who loves the project as much as I do, and distribute our content worldwide. 

Translating passion and creativity into a career is tough. What advice would you give to women trying to figure this out?
Many who know me know that I spent 30 years as an editor in television news. It was a great “day gig,” except for going to work in the middle of the night for the morning shows. My advice for breaking into the industry are 1) Find a skill that involves technology where the creatives will always need that collaborator in order to get their work produced, and 2) Know that the hours will not always be nine to five.

If sixteen-year-old Nicole was standing in front of you, what are some things you’d want her to know?
I would want sixteen-year-old Nicole to know that every obstacle is a lesson. Life is going to resemble a tragic opera. I’d tell her that In fact, she doesn’t know this yet, but she’s going to meet, film and befriend the incredible Anne Brown, star soprano of one of the most famous operas of all time, Porgy and Bess. But even through rejection and some really rough patches, her entire family will continue to remind her to never stop pursuing her dream and keep going. And since she's a woman unafraid to navigate the streets, she’ll encounter many who are only there to bring harm. Remember what your Dad tells you, “Spin, kick...and run!” 

Career and/or life advice for other babes?
Step up to either be a mentor or mentee whenever possible. My first three films were on double Dutch jump rope, which I played with the neighbors as a child. Show up, and be willing to play. There’s no getting in the ropes without the other girls inviting you in.

Connect with Nicole:

Facebook Group / Website / Email / Twitter / Instagram / Linkedin / Before You Go

This interview has been condensed and edited.

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