Daily Inspiration: Meet Chelaé Cummings

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelaé Cummings.

Hi Chelaé, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I came to Los Angeles five years ago this year, intending to work in film and television. Unlike most people, I had no idea what area I wanted to be in; I had no burning passion for working for anyone or having a crafted specific role. I didn’t know anything about the industry. I wasn’t a person who was into tv and movies or all the details. Although I enjoy a good show or movie, I cannot even remember the most iconic lines or scenes after watching them…lol. What I did know was that my interest in film and television as a viable career option after being in Advertising, Marketing, and Design for almost 20 years was attainable. Shout out to Shonda Rhimes for igniting a spark with Scandal. The show caught my attention, and as a writer, each week, my friend would call and ask me what would happen next. The funny thing is I was constantly answering if it were me, and I wanted this to last; I’d go here. And the next week would come, and boom, I was close to exactly right when the episode aired, and this pointed my attention toward the path of the writer’s room.

Fast forward to my ideas of how easy it would be for me as a great writer. I signed up for a class on TV and Film script writing and failed miserably. It wasn’t easy to create the characters or storylines I had grown to figure out and love as a viewer; the view was shockingly different. I remember having two scriptwriting assignments that showed me my weaknesses and validated my strengths. One assignment’s task was to write a nonfiction story, commercial, or PSA. That would be light work for me because I was a Creative Director; this was my world. I wrote a story about a woman’s journey to freedom after being wrongly accused and jailed for a crime she didn’t commit and a HIV/AIDS PSA. The other was to create a fictional story, animation, or comedy. Well, I wasn’t into anime much, and humor was a 50/50 chance, so I took my shot at writing a romantic comedy loosely based on what I thought Romcoms needed. What happened next was self-actualization handed to me with my professor’s candor. He was an actual Film/TV writer and former commercial scriptwriter, so he was qualified to evaluate my potential in both assignments. His feedback was that when it came to the nonfiction work, I excelled and delivered all the needed content to go straight into the industry. He said this was powerful work, and he enjoyed it. He graded me an A+, and I was on cloud nine until he rained and thundered all over my romcom with red pen blood markings and line comments full of bullets. Shots fired as his feedback was that I lacked character development, storyline reality, and proof of concept. He graded me a C- and I was devastated because I had worked hard to come up with this. I struggled for days and was proud to finish when I finally figured out a direction. Hmmm. The real Scandal had turned into a Ball of Furry, and at that moment, I knew that fiction writing was not my preference.

A whole semester of trying, struggling, and attempting to excel at fiction writing was wearing thin on my spirit week after week; I was improving but not connecting to it for whatever reason, and my mind could not pick this genre of imaginary reality up easily. So the decision to keep working at it to get better or be content in enjoying my ability to anticipate what a writer would do from a viewer’s perspective would be paramount to what brought me to where we are today.

I had completely given up on scriptwriting out of my ignorance of the industry and the many roles available outside of being a writer. Along the way, I encountered John Singleton (rest his soul), who assured me that, based on my experience, everything I knew was transferable. He would see I found my way, and fire returned, but he passed before I got on set with him. I stopped thinking about it because I may have misjudged my intent to be in the industry. A friend invited me to a screening + conversation event for a movie I had been avoiding for fear of triggering personal trauma. She convinced me to go saying my favorite person would be there, and I wrestled mentally, concluding that it would be safe to go because the director could easily explain away any issues I might encounter once it was over. So I hurried to get dressed in 30 minutes to get to Hollywood from Inglewood. The inner fire flicked on, and my awareness shifted after listening to Attica Locke talk about her role in the series. That flicker turned into a blaze once Ava DuVernay began explaining episode one of “When They See Us,” which brought clarity, insight, and perspective to what genre of film/tv I am here to create and be a part of. I was the little girl who didn’t know it was possible until she saw someone who looked like her doing it. My passion for nonfiction, documentary, and authentic storytelling wasn’t even a thought before realizing that this is the transition pathway for what connected me to writing for film/tv. The story is much deeper, but more about this another time.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
LOL!!! I do not know what a smooth road looks like to save my life. My routes have always had potholes, unpaved streets, falling rocks, deer jumping, speed bumps, and full-on dead ends to route me through my struggles not around them. The unsmooth road has been a great thing in building my character, patience, and perspective on what it will mean to see a sigh that says “smooth road ahead” finally. Our eyes notice many signs labeling our journey as “slippery when wet, no passing zone, sharp curve ahead,” but how often do we interpret them as guides that help us navigate our struggles not to stop us? A smooth road looks like finally connecting your gifts with your purpose and operating in it with gratitude and appreciation for how life navigated you there. It all has meaning to prepare you and fortify you in the height of what no more struggle looks like for you. The biggest takeaway is that you are becoming settled in yourself, your abilities, your capacity, your peace, your identity, and your choices.

A life without struggle teaches us nothing about who we can become or what we are here to do. I turn the negative meaning of “struggles” into the positive purpose of “effort.” More particularly, the most considerable effort I’ve been working through has been getting to what I know is my purpose of supporting the work and stories told by the visionary leadership team at Array (my smooth road) with my transferable skills. On my unpaved road toward this smooth road, I had to return to what I knew by starting my digital creative and strategic marketing agency, The BluPen, to help support myself financially. I’ve gotten odd jobs below my skills, education, and capabilities at companies because it was quick money. I’ve taken many projects that didn’t feed my soul but solved a financial challenge against homelessness. The danger sign that it’s time to change roads is losing sight of what I want, trying to stay afloat in a business, paying employees, or having a prideful spirit to hold on to this path is temporary until I get where I want to be. And quite simply, it cannot work; you have to be open to accepting all the signs or struggles that direct you where to go and be willing to take a new road. So I have learned what is not leading you to the green timing of your life’s traffic light means to yield or stop. The point of unsmooth roads is to redirect you toward the final destination. If we don’t let our struggles go, they will either take control of our life or yield us to our destiny by not working, so after five years of lucrative success in my business, out of nowhere, it shifted to a complete drought at the close of 2022. It was like all of the projects that were a part of our daily routine disappeared, with so many businesses trying to get into the hustle of securing more bags. I was so confused, and the panic of the word “struggle” settled me into a depression.

I had to pull strength from other entrepreneurs who were experiencing some of the same so I didn’t feel alone, but at the same time, it required I use wisdom. I stopped to strategize what made sense for the company and our employees, what made sense for me, and who I was preparing to be. My two worlds began fighting for me to align without my permission. Now here I was, deciding between finishing my most significant projects and closing my business or starting a job as a production assistant to get experience in the industry. Then at the right moment of feeling concerned about what was next, a project came to my company to write and produce a Black History Month project in which I was the sole decision maker. A new effort has now found me, and with it came so many new types of struggles, but I overcame them all because my road here gave me everything I needed to successfully my first docudrama, “A Night in Harlem.” I can say so much more, but I will end with the belief that all things work together for my good if I am open to the process, no matter how it’s going.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My answer to what I do is I EXECUTE and operate in WISDOM! This means people call me when they need work done right with the highest level of excellence, no judgment, strategic efficiency, and deliverables exceeding their expectations. Whether in business development, advertising, marketing, design, experiential event planning, publishing, or small production, I come to the top of clients’ minds as a referral. After meeting most people once, they call me. They might not even know what I do, but they certainly remember who I am, my energy, conversation, and passion for helping others. My mentor told me that explaining what you do is not who you are or what you will be remembered by, so I lead with authentic relationship building in rooms. I rarely answer what I do when asked, not because I don’t know, it’s because I am here on Earth to do whatever is necessary for humanity to receive whatever they need from me. No title or experience level will define me and keep me from being of service and help to those who come across my path. I’m patient and open enough to wait for why we crossed paths. Even when it’s in disciplines, I might not be an expert; people look to me to help them figure out a way. I get joy in meeting all kinds of people.

So I’m known for being a creative and savvy solution-centered businesswoman, and I’d like to continue as such. Still, I have more to give with opportunities to flourish and evolve with life and purpose. You might see me on stage inspiring thousands to jump and leap into what they dream of, spitting a poem or spoken word at an open mic, teaching a class or writing a book, or, most recently, writing, producing, directing, or casting for a project. Being multi-talented with adaptable creativity is a blessing it is not a curse; it is not ever finding the one way to do something, but it is a gift to steward and dispense at the right moment. Creative flexibility sets me apart from many people because we are told to start our lives in one direction and stick to it, settle on outdated careers, and move in a way that eliminates human connection. We are told you have to get there and know the way. How? None of us have been here before, and we miss all the tools we are to gather and survive outside of our constructed plan by labeling ourselves as one thing. I don’t subscribe to that ideal, so my considerable strength is knowing when to pivot, pause and release what doesn’t honor me in presenting my best self in a fulfilled life or to those waiting in my future.

I’m most proud of creating my first short film with 22 children aged 6 – 17, who were not actors but wanted to learn black history. I had an open canvas to teach them and tell a real story about one of my favorite periods, the Harlem Renaissance, and the historical relevance of key figures that contributed to an explosion of recognized black art, fashion, intelligence, music, writing, politics, and more. This opportunity brought us together for our first significant film experience to learn, grow and enjoy a rich legacy of African-American culture and societal contributions.

The film is “A Night in Harlem” featuring famous greats such as Langston Hughes, Billie Holiday, James Weldon Jonson, W.E.B. DuBois, Josephine Baker, Duke Ellington, and figures we should know like Dr. Alain Locke, Nella Larson, Claude McKay, Anne Spencer, Augusta Savage, Chick Webb, and so many others. Initially, I set out to do a small play with nine kids and had a preselected cast. Within a week, parents and grandparents started calling to put their kids in the play. It became a huge deal when kids started attending closed practices and asking for lines. That’s when I started thinking we might have to record this. My mind was overwhelmed, but my heart loves children, although I have none. I had to adjust the script 11 times for it all to make sense to turn any kids away. I even had to recruit more kids, and they all practiced hard. I had to have the whole Hollywood experience with movie premiere night and museum exhibit for the kids to see how great they were. They screamed so loud for each other, and watching them see themselves and know their character’s history when walking the red carpet was an impact I didn’t even know this experience had on them. I had no idea this would bring me much joy and purpose in my writing. Working with these kids changed my life, and the opportunity inspired them, gave them confidence, and challenged us all out of our comfort zones.

Since its private release on February 24, 2023, it has garnered some industry interest. We’ve submitted to several film festivals and anticipate hearing something soon. We are raising capital to do a series of period docudramas through the eyes of children that serve as a way to educate them and preserve our black history, which is currently in threat of being reconstructed into an altered American reality and completely erased. This is an experience they will never forget, and the shorts will become features essential to a generation who might never know our truth. I believe the best way to accomplish all this is to create time capsules relevant to public entertainment and consumption. I am honored to be the first to do this type of film and production. This is my space to create as a trailblazer who advocates for education, black arts, and writing. I see myself developing a camp for kids to come to learn, write, act, and be the legacy carries of Black History forward.

I’m a new film scriptwriter, along with many other credits. I’ve had a fantastic voyage! Learn more about “A Night in Harlem” at www.pensandpoets.com.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I love the word “luck,” but I don’t believe in it with context to my life and business. It has no role because of my active participation and accountability to myself, my words, and God first leading me. I work to get where I want to go, whether I plan for it or it just appears before me as I walk. I see how it plays a role for others I know, but for me, it is the understanding and spiritual belief that my life is guided by predetermined or connected intentional “destiny” rather than luck. My interpretation of my good and bad in life and business is that it manifested precisely how it was supposed to happen or will happen. I was created to make the choices I make, meet the people I’ve met, do the things I’ve done, have the experiences I’ve had, and go the places I will go.

This belief affords me the freedom of having a limitless mind with no regrets, as I am an open explorer of life. I love to learn and experience new things; travel is one of my most prominent teachers. Every facet of my life is exciting and always makes me reflect on how every part of my journey affords me the right moments of opportunity and chance. I will undoubtedly receive, give and experience much more and become everything I was born to be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pensandpoets.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamchelae
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamChelae

Image Credits
Frozen Moments Photography – Laurence Stromile