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Today we’d like to introduce you to Chayna Douglas.
Hi Chayna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I literally woke up one day and decided to be an actor. I wish I was joking, but that’s kind of how it all started. I was going through a rough time after a breakup, and all I was doing was watching Netflix. Then all of a sudden, I’m saying to myself… “I can do that.” Which further makes me believe that one’s passion literally hits them in the face.
At the time, I was a university student 3rd year in going on 4th… being a statistic and wanting a change of pace. My last semester at school I just took an acting class for non-actors, and from there I knew I was not going to use the degree I worked so many years to get. After graduation, my lease was up July 31st and by August 1st, I was on a plane from Florida to New York City.
I’m a city girl–specifically a New York City girl through and through. Even though I was born in NYC and raised in Florida, navigating NYC life as a young adult constantly hitting the ground running while still trying to figure it out is…different. I started to audition for student films and off-off broadway shows despite not having much experience. I ended up landing a two-year theatre repertory run where we were publishing a new play a month. I studied long and hard to keep up with the best of the best on stage. I’m glad I started my film career in theatre because you just see the art differently; the heart of acting is definitely on stage. In the years in NYC, I’ve managed to be on multiple popular TV shows thanks to my representation I worked so hard to get.
A few years pass and I’m anxious to advance in my career. I heard of this “Black Hollywood” in Atlanta, but I never really felt compelled to join because of the moves I was making in NYC. But one day, I decided to take the leap yet again and leave my beloved NYC with nothing but a massively large suitcase. What took me five years to do in NYC took me six months to do in Atlanta. Starting over never really has to be that because you are “starting over” with a more experienced brain. I’ve been on TV, met celebrities, invited to events I can only dream about, and so on. I’m no longer anxious to advance, but I am enjoying the journey from here.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Pursuing my acting career has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It’s the only thing I’ve really continued to water no matter what. It got lonely and it got frustrating; hearing all those “no”s while watching my friends easily live their lives of “yes”. My challenge is that I keep telling myself that a loving relationship is distracting. Having a family with children and pets are just going slow me down. That I couldn’t have what everyone else had.
And so, I feel like I had to unlearn to not make my career my only identity. I can be a loving and devoted partner. I can be a mother. I can have pets. Without the constant guilt that I’m not trying hard enough for myself, thus in turn- for a better generation and future. I may not have all of these things now, but I’m not going to deny them because of my mission.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m Chayna Douglas and I’m an actor, writer, director & producer. When you start out acting, it is very rare that you don’t develop into the other working parts of the film because your eyes become more open. Now, instead of constantly asking for a seat at the table, you can have your own table and pursue all of your desires at your fingertips.
Learning to act forced me to understand the director more. Character development allowed me to empathize with the writer. And crew production interaction leads me to realize I too can produce full-on movies myself! For 2023, I am releasing my first film in a LONG time where I am the star, but I also wrote it. This time around, I’ve learned that I want someone else to direct it and others to co-produce the film with me. While it is assuring to hold many hats, a true creative knows you can’t do it all by yourself.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I am looking fo a mentor myself currently LOL!
But when I was in New York City, my unofficial mentor was the woman who owned the theatre repertory I was a part of. And she would just tell me like it is. When it came to the lines, delivery, blocking, everything. Well, not just me- everyone! And I enjoyed that because I also have a direct personality. And while that helped me with art development, I still felt like the networking aspect was missing.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.tiktok.com/@ebonyassassin
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ebonyassassin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ebonyassassin
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ebonyassassin1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ebonyassassin
Image Credits
Headshot: @slingshots.atl