Today we’d like to introduce you to Annette Christian.
Annette, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
You can say my journey started as a little girl, I always joke and say we came out of the womb singing. (Me and my three sisters). My mom had a beautiful soprano voice and it passed on to all four of her girls. Born and raised in Buffalo, NY I sang in the church choir and the school choir. The first performances I ever did was as a dancer in A Chorus Line and Grease in 8th grade. In High School, I continued to sing in church and participated in two talent shows.
As the years went on at the age of 20, I joined the United States Army Reserves and was called upon many times to lead the cadence calls while marching. I was always honored when asked to sing for weddings, but I always had to warn the brides, “I can’t look your way while you’re walking down the aisle because I’m going to cry.” I get emotional at weddings, what can I say I’m a hopeless romantic.
My passion for the arts and entertainment started in one day in 2003. While singing away in the copy room at work, I was approached by a fellow co-worker named Paulette Harris who informed me that she was the artistic director at the Paul Robeson Theater. She asked me had I ever performed in any stage plays, after telling her no, she invited me to come to see the musical Stomping At The Savoy. As I sat there watching the performance, all I kept saying to myself was that I could do that, and I want to do that. I auditioned for the following production of Christmas is Coming Uptown and was Cast. December of 2003, I made my debut on stage and was hooked. I performed at The Paul Robeson Theater, Musical Fare Theater and of course, the church plays. After several years of being an actress, I also started working on the production side as a Costume Designer. It was then that I realized what a creative person I was.
At the end of 2009, I started writing my first book, called Living A Double Life. In 2010 I completed writing chapter three when both of my parents took ill, so I put the manuscript down. Although I was a caregiver for both of my parents, and a single mother of two adolescents, I continued to perform at the theater. The theater was my outlet. I could put whatever curveballs that life was throwing my way on the backburner and place all my energy on stage.
In 2011 I got the opportunity to audition for a movie called Breathe that was being filmed in Buffalo. I was supposed to be an extra, but I was sitting in the right place at the right time. Robin Givens was cast as a nurse, and I was sitting behind the receptionist’s desk, making small talk with her when the director told me that he wanted me and her to talk casually during the next scene. So without a script, Robin and I struck up a conversation, and the director loved it.
In 2014 my mother transitioned on, and in 2016 my daddy followed her. January 2017 came and I decided to pick my manuscript up and finish the rough draft. I moved to Atlanta in July of 2018, continued editing my book and self-published it in August of 2019. I knew the book was good, but I didn’t realize how good until I started getting feedback and reviews from my supporters. I was on the hut looking for a theater company to join, I was missing the stage, but to no avail, I couldn’t find one. To keep my mind occupied, I started writing again, but this time I told myself that if I can write a book that I can write a feature film. I completed writing my first feature film called BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR. At this point, I haven’t had the opportunity to do anything with it, but I have it and I am ready for any director and producer who’s willing to take a chance on me to fund my film.
I didn’t stop there, in August of 2019 I directed my first music video. While sitting on the couch in the apartment of the artist, I was looking out his huge window that was facing the courtyard. The balcony of the other apartment was right across the way and I laughed to myself, saying what if a woman was staring at him every day without him knowing it. So I went home and wrote a short film called Binoculars. The film was shot at the end of summer and beginning of fall. This was the first short film that I wrote, directed and starred in. It’s currently in production and will be out by the middle of April 2020. I am currently getting ready to shoot my second short film called Your Eyes, which is focusing on sex trafficking a current issue in our society today. I am also writing the book of my feature film Be Careful What You Ask For.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has definitely not been smooth. Dealing with the death of both of my parents was emotionally draining. At times I would get mental blocks while writing my first book. I knew that I was still grieving, but I pushed myself to finish. I have always been a firm believer in networking and had good experiences while doing so back in Buffalo. Moving here to Atlanta, the experience wasn’t so pleasant, people would brush you off when you asked them if they were interested collaborating together. I knew that I was a crab in a crab barrel trying to make it to the top like everyone else. People wanted me to support them in their projects, but it was never reciprocated. I am a motivated, committed and talented actress, author, and scriptwriter. I am committed to achieving the highest standard of performance and I am always willing to listen and learn from others. No one wanted to welcome this stranger from NY and give me a chance to collaborate with them.
Please tell us about your business.
I decided to start my own business, called ALC UNLIMITED LLC. I choose this name because I’m not putting a limit on what skills I possess or what talents I was blessed with. I truly enjoy writing drama/suspense manuscripts and screenplays. I am proud of the work that I have done thus far. I am looking forward to writing more in this upcoming year. What sets me apart from others is my drive and energy. I am always prepared to go the extra mile because I want to make a real difference to any project that I am involved in.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, it would be the same outcome. Life happens and that’s one thing you have no control over. I had to put my goals, desires, and aspirations on hold to take care of my parents. And I would do it again.
Pricing:
- $18.00
Contact Info:
- Website: alcunlimitedllc.
godaddysites.com/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=account§ion=username
- Instagram: SONGBIRD055
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