Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Nichols.
Hi Veronica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a Director, multi-hyphenate storyteller and passionate creative based in Los Angeles, California. I’ve been a writer and a lover of words since I was a child in St. Louis, Missouri, scribing dramatic, emotional poetry sitting cross-legged under my parents’ dining room table and penning screenplays by hand in on loose leaf paper at recess. My love of the visual image began with life-like pencil drawing and oil painting as a teen which later developed into photography and then evolving ultimately into directing.
Producing was how my career began and it is an experience that continuously informs who I am as a creative artist. The skills I developed and honed as a Producer built a well rounded purview: I am able to see the big picture as well as the small details, helping me make smarter and more efficient decisions as a writer and director. Although I have always told stories and expressed creatively in some way, Directing has become the passion that drives how I learn and experience this industry, and honestly, life as a whole.
After attending Florida A&M University and cutting my teeth in the Atlanta Film and Television Industry, I moved to Los Angeles, where I joined forces with some phenomenal FAMU Alumni at Tri Destined Studios. I found a great synergy in LA and I am probably best known for my work on Tri Destined Studios and Urban Books Media’s power house hits, Carl Weber’s The Family Business, The Family Business New Orleans and The Black Hamptons on BET, BET+ and Paramount+. I’ve been a Producer on all three series, served as a writing consultant for several seasons and had the honor of directing seven episodes between all the series. Additionally, I have Produced and/or Consulted on many other scripted film, television and streaming projects, including the thriller Carl Weber’s The Man in 3B, the hit Christmas movie Throwback Holiday, the acclaimed rom-com Always a Bridesmaid written by Yvette Nicole Brown and the upcoming Deb Is Boss, a period picture about the life of famed music manager Deb Antney, just to name a few. I was also tapped to direct several music videos, which was super creatively stimulating and a medium I’d love to dive more into. Additionally, I had a fun stint as a Casting Producer for the mega-franchises The Bachelor and The Bachelorette for several seasons, dipping my toe into the unscripted world.
All of these experiences were magical but I believe one of my biggest and most satisfying adventures yet was penning the narrative short film, Perspectives. Drawing from my own dating experiences and those of my friends, I told an honest and funny story of the missed opportunities and opposing viewpoints that can occur when emotions are high and communication is low. Perspectives was also my directorial debut and a true expression of my experience, vision and voice. With this artistic endeavor, I was able to fire on all creative cylinders as writer, producer and director of this self-funded project that won many awards and accolades on the film festival circuit and catapulted my visibility as a director with the team at Tri Destined, Urban Books and BET. But the biggest compliment of all was watching the audience experience the film: laughing, shouting, clapping and ultimately lauding the film as relatable and entertaining.
As a creative, I am always writing, developing, networking and continuing to seek challenging projects that stimulate my creative appetite and benefit from my unique vision and knowledge of budgeting, scheduling, guild and union relations and set operations. As an artist, I live to tell stories and I truly hope we are all able to speak our voices and create our visions for many years to come! Currently, we’re telling all the stories on our brand new Season 6 of The Family Business that recently dropped and is now streaming every Thursday on BET+ and Paramount+. I am thrilled to have directed Episodes 4, 7 and 8, so please tune in and check them out!
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?
It has been a character and gratitude building road. The journey has had both smooth times and challenging times, but each has given me resilience and faith. The smooth times have brought joy, excitement and the satisfaction of seeing hard work pay off. The challenging times have made me smarter, more agile and less emotional when it comes to both art and business. I believe that it’s normal and important to have both experiences in order to continue to grow in your passion. The smooth times, when things just click and everything aligns perfectly, build your confidence and embolden you to strive for higher heights, while the tough moments build character, integrity and give you a true appreciation for every success and victory no matter how large or small. As artists navigating an ever evolving industry, we have to be prepared for some ebbs and flows. The real test is how you handle these ups and downs; can you ride the waves, adjust your grind and find your flow? This road we’ve chosen takes a lot of faith, loads of intention and a little bit of luck, defined as preparation meeting opportunity. As the saying goes, if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready! This is just the beginning so keep going!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a writer and producer but most passionately, I am a director. That is a creative visionary who can take a story from page to picture and carry the viewer on an emotional and visual journey, though the nuances of the job can differ based on directing either for film or television. Like the conductor of a symphony orchestra, the director finds the harmony between a myriad of moving parts from actors to shot selection to even production design in order to create a cohesive and engaging visual story. It’s imperative that the director have a clear vision and a strong approach but also an openness and willingness to listen, consider and adapt in order to ensure the most efficient and effective creative process and outcome. I do appreciate the collaborative nature of storytelling and I wholeheartedly believe some of the most magical moments are found through organic exploration, but a clear, deliberate and thoughtful plan is essential and I am not afraid to stand up for my vision. As a director, I am committed to being a bold leader that enlists and engages cooperation and contribution from every level of cast and crew. That has been one of the most valued complements that I have received from both talent and crew members on past projects. It’s an age old colloquialism but I truly believe that, at its best, team work really does make the dream work. My most recent work can be seen in Episodes 4, 7 and 8 of the brand new Season 6 of the flagship show Carl Weber’s The Family Business, now streaming on BET+ and Paramount+. My first of the season, Episode 4, will drop Nov 6th, please tune in!
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The entertainment industry has been experiencing seismic shifts over the past few years and I definitely expect it to continue to evolve and change. In the past 5 years, we’ve been through a massive strike, the pandemic related shut down, multiple mega corporate mergers and a rapid acceleration of technology all of which have forever changed the landscape and the function of our industry. However, with change comes opportunity. I don’t know exactly how industry will shift and change in the next 5-10 years but I know it will be vastly different. What I also know is that art soothes, art heals, art teaches, art brings out the best in us all. We may have to adapt, shape shift and grow to match this rapidly evolving industry but that’s what artists and creatives do. We take the everyday human experience and weave it in to magical stories that speak to and affect the masses. We touch minds, hearts and souls around the world, and every smile, tear and laugh is both a success and a victory. Not everyone is born with a dream, but for those of us who were, it is our duty to pursue and express that dream even in the most challenging of times in the most uncertain of industries. Our dream is not only a gift for us, but it is a gift for the world!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veronicanichols
Image Credits
Eugene Byrd
Don Harris
Matt Jong
