Meet Cameo Sherrell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cameo Sherrell.

Cameo, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My mom had a thing for fashion shows, she would host them at the local community club and church. I think by the time I begin walking she had me strutting the runway, lol. From there, she signed me up to local pageants. By the time I graduated high school, I had participated in numerous shows, a couple of pageants and attended a modeling troop in my hometown mall. When I graduated, I moved to Orlando, started college, joined another modeling troop and held down two jobs.

While working, I met one of the most AH-mazing people in my life. *Side note* I’m a firm believer that God will strategically place people in your life. He has done so time and time again for me. From FL to NY to LA. Anyway, she’s one of those friends who give it to you straight up no chase. We spoke about me not really wanting to return to school. She asked me what I love & wanted to do and I couldn’t answer. She told me, “well you need to figure it out cause you can’t be walking around here being a deadbeat” ~ Kisha Boone Ladies and gentleman. Lol.

So, I went home and thought about it. “What’s Love Got To Do With” happened to be on. I was watching and I thought…Angela Bassett is everything! I mean, I seen her in “Vampire in Brooklyn” but this was a whole other beast. So I looked up an acting school. I still had no idea, I was just really curious. The following week I joined The Lisa Maile School of Modeling and Acting. I was so turned on by the work I was getting from the school that I decided this is what I want to do. I told Kisha and she was like “Ok, so what’s your next move?”

Again, could not answer. She suggested I reached out to a friend that I met through modeling who lived in NYC and was pursuing acting. Danielle Hodge and I spoke and she told me she was thinking of moving to LA, that I should come out with her to visit the city. So I did. It rained our entire visit to LA. After I got back to Florida, Danielle decided she wasn’t going to make the move to LA. She said “I think you should move to NY.” I was like. “Oh wait. Pineapples! I’m not ready!” lol. One of the hardest decisions ever.

I made the decision to move, Kisha gave me six months to live with her & save money. I gave myself a date, packed my car and shipped it from Florida to Virginia and I drove to New York City in November 2006. Best decision ever. I LOVE NY! I was blessed to book some commercials, a LOT of commercial print. I mean, Delta, Budlight, Boost Mobile, MCU Bank, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Essence, Hype Hair, Braids & Beauty and countless weave packs ads that are still out there. I was a model for the TODAY show, Good Morning America, Katie Couric show and BET Rip The Runway. I even had the pleasure of walking the runway for New York Fashion week. I’ve studied and taken classes at The Lee Strasberg Institute, Anthony Abeson, One on One, Weist Barron, Black Nexus (which is now Susan Batson studios) Shiek Studio and Marc John Jefferies Studio. I think New York prepared me for LA, however an extension of my skills developed in LA.

I never planned to move to LA but I figured I would come check it out for pilot season but I had no contacts. I booked a flight and managed to lock in only one appointment with an agency. My last day in Cali a friend and I googled agencies, drove to their location and dropped off our headshot and resume with no appointments. I think I dropped off ten headshots. Gary, from Momentum Talent said “you’re just walking into agencies and leaving your HS?” I said “yes, the only thing they can tell us is no.” Then he said “What the hell, it’s Friday I’m feeling great.” Walked into his office, printed outsides, gave us 10 min to go over and allowed us to audition. He gave us notes and I headed back to NY the next day. By the time I landed in NY, I had a voicemail from the one appointment I locked saying they would like to sign me and an email from Momentum for a self-tape audition. I was SO hyped about the audition. I wasn’t even signed and he was sending me out. I said I’ll just go to LA for a three months.

I could transfer my job and see what the hype is about. I still lived with my best friend River back in NY so I found an inexpensive space in LA. I mean it’s not long term so it didn’t matter that I was sleeping in a dining room using the pantry as a closet, or anytime my roomate entered the kitchen she had to walk through “my room” or that my door was a curtain or that every time she cooked my clothes reeked of fried fish. Lol. It didn’t matter what she cooked I always associated it with fried fish. It’s cool though, this isn’t the end all be all. But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t uncomfortable. I was uncomfortable AF. Let’s just fast forward.

I was eating solo at Post and Beam in Baldwin Hills when I was offered a job as a server. I took the job because extra income is always cool with me and I was coming up on my last month in LA and was excited to get back to NY. One Saturday night, I had the pleasure of serving one of the most wise and humble actors in Hollywood. Apparently, Post & Beam is his spot and he’s close friends with the owner. Now, I’ve been working in the hospitality industry for years and lingered in the same room with A list celebrities and I’m not starstruck by far. I felt the same this particular Saturday night…or so I thought. I was giving him food options that wasn’t even on the menu. Lol.

Anywho, I had the opportunity to chat with this fellow thespian. We spoke about my move to LA and how I hated it and was ready to get back to LA. He said to me “Why are you going back to NY? Seems like you’re going back to NY because you’re comfortable there… You don’t have to worry about the things you’re standing here complaining about. But sometimes in order for God to elevate you to the next level, you need to get uncomfortable.”

This conversation went on for about 15-min we spoke about acting, casting directors and never compromising my integrity for industry. I said, “Ummm, I need to take some notes” him: “that’s alright but I’m going to have to bill you”. Before the end of our conversation, he shared with me some sage advice, “before you go to sleep put your slippers way underneath your bed so gotta get on your knees in the morning and thank God. See you on set.” I left the restaurant got in my car and began bawling crying yelling to myself, “OMG, I just had a conversation with Denzel Washington through snot and tears.” Then I released all my preconceived notions about Los Angeles or how I would make the transition to LA. It’s been one of the most beneficial things I’ve done not only for my career but for my personal growth.

Has it been a smooth road?
With anything you want wholeheartedly out of life there will be challenges. I mean life itself is full of challenges. But I believe we need to be extremely stubborn with our vision. When challenges arise, adapt and stay the course. If I can be completely raw, the obstacle that sticks out for me as an actor is the constant rejection. People who are not in the industry don’t realize that as artist, we get rejected on regular basis. I’ve adapted to the way I handle rejection, most days I’m a pro other days not so much. I’ve had to reprogram my way of thinking which is hard and a constant reminder. I learned to trust that every move I made to get me here has been because of the goals I have set, adapting to obstacles, my environment and faith.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Within my six months of being COMMITTED to living in LA, I wrote, shot and directed my first film Silent Screams. I was signed in month 2 with Momentum Talent and begin interning at the agency for six months. I wanted t0 learn the in’s and out’s of submitting talent. Speaking of agencies, I now know what it means to have representation who TRULY believes in you. My current manager Chris Giovanni at CGEM Talent is one of the best and I’m also signed to Littman Talent Group. I’ve studied at John Rosenfeld Studios, Joanna Barron, Tsaw, Jeffrey Marcus and currently Margie Haber Studios. Aside from acting, I’ve been blessed to be behind the camera. In the five years of my time in LA, I’ve help create a Production collective Film De Femmes. Produced five films, two in which I’m the lead and currently in pre-production for another. Assistant directed on a web-series, two short films and at the moment gearing up to direct my 3rd short film. I’ve also been a PA on a few sets or two or five. Recently coming off a six-episode recurring role booking for Tyler Perry’s hit show The Haves and The Haves Nots. Winter 2020, I can be seen in Iona Morris’s new film “Celeste’s Dream”, starring alongside Penny Johnson Jerald and Phillip Morris. I’m very proud of shooting my first film Silent Screams, however, my entire journey is something that I am grateful and proud of.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
In the beginning, it was a lot of alone time, which I had to get used to. Folks aren’t all up in your space like when you’re riding the train back in NY. I think the separation from everyone my first couple of years here really pushed me to go inward, rewire and refocus. I got to spend time with myself and now it’s a MUST I love it. I’m constantly checking in with Cameo. “Girl, you good? You know you need work on xyz?” Lol. Something about the energy of the city makes me want to work on personal growth. I hate the traffic period.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cameosherrell.com
• Instagram: @cameosherrell
• Facebook: @cameosherrell

Image Credit:
Savvy Henderson, Monty Images, Jelonna Byers, Brittany Nickolas, Liz Sim

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