Meet LaNisa Renee Frederick of Hashtag Booked

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaNisa Renee Frederick.

LaNisa Renee, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m a Midwest girl through and through. My go-to greeting is a hug, when someone does something nice I deflect or say, “appreciate it., and I’m used to four seasons.

I was born in Ohio (Cincinnati) but got grown in Chicago. Chicago taught me so much and allowed me to dig deep and develop as an artist. It’s full of amazing theatre, amazing people, and amazing stories. It is a city of resilience and love and hope. I have a big crush on Chicago.

I started my journey in the performing arts and entertainment business as a baby-model, showing off my chunky legs for companies like Shillito’s (now Macy’s) and Polly Flinders. My mama and daddy were like, “if you live under this roof, you will earn a check.”

Moving forward, my parents never said no to my artistic endeavors, which I admittedly have mixed feelings about. On one hand, I know that I am super lucky to have the unwavering support of family. But on the other hand, damn!! They let me spend all that money on two theatre degrees? (I have a BA from Loyola University Chicago and MA from University of Essex, England) They could have at least made me minor in business.

Jokes aside, I am grateful for my training. And the support given is no surprise considering I come from a family of artists and those who supported artists. My mother is a visual artist, my grandmother has a beautiful voice but didn’t have an opportunity to realize her dream, and my great-great-great-grandmother Sarah Brown owned the black hotel in Bowling Green, Kentucky where artists like Cab Calloway stayed while on tour as they were not permitted to stay in white-only establishments.

For years I never had the desire to come west. I was content in Chicago and was blessed with consistent work in theatre, voiceover, TV, and had a full-time career in non-profit youth work. But after performing at the national theatre in Singapore, I returned to Chicago wanting a change. I wanted an opportunity to work on a larger scale and immerse myself in other aspects of the industry like show-running and producing. I quit my full time (with benefits) job, and thanks to savings from a few national commercials, agent referrals, and my Chicago to LA tribe I made the journey out.

I’ve only been in LA for two years and I have no regrets. My biggest change is how I view myself now. Not only am I an actor but I’m also a producer, content creator, editor, educator, and director. The move and the hustle of LA gave me the confidence to realize the work and experience I have after being in the industry for over ten years is valid and meaningful. My goal now is to build doors as an artist versus waiting for doors to open up.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Rare is the artist that can say they’ve had a smooth road. A little struggle is good for the artistic soul. It’s where we find ingenuity and creativity. Take Hashtag Booked, the series I co-created. Hashtag Booked was born out of “ not #booking” It was developed when my co-creator, Danielle Pinnock and I wanted to stay fresh in our craft and learn new skills. Within it, we have found the joy and humor in the struggle.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am my business! In addition to acting, my primary foci are teaching and content creation. I am a private voiceover coach and work with beginner students to understand the world of voiceover. Many actors, especially theatre trained actors don’t understand the unique and rich advantage they have so don’t pursue it as a career path. Voiceover agents and casting directors love trained actors. They know how to develop a character and provide a range of emotions. Many also don’t realize how much voiceover work there is out there. I have done TV and radio commercials, promo work, e-learning work, and currently working on several large video games. I really love working with actors of color on developing their skills as voiceover artists too. I used to be very self-conscious about my voice and it took years to appreciate my ability to vocally code switch, enabling me to work in several different markets. Plus the industry has changed. Ad agencies want “real people.” Gone are the days where the “announcer voice” reigned. I’m so proud of my students who have booked work including animation at Disney, national commercials and secured top agents in LA and regionally.

As a content creator, much of my time is spent developing Hashtag Booked with my co-creator Danielle Pinnock. Our baby, Hashtag Booked is a groundbreaking Instagram series examining the joys and misfortunes of being an actress of color in the entertainment industry. Having both come from Second City Chicago, Danielle and I use our improv skills to share a “slice of actor’s life” in 50 seconds or less. We launched in just 2018 and are working to develop it into a TV show. We have created something special and are super proud of our work.
It goes back to finding the joy and humor in the struggle and building a door of opportunity instead of waiting for one to open. Danielle and I didn’t have a fancy camera, equipment or connections, but we have grit and talent so wanted to use social media as a platform to tell our stories. And the response has been astounding. We’ve garnered the attention of celebrities and major networks within the industry. Perhaps most meaningful is the fact that we touch on topics that so many actors can relate to. It is so rewarding hearing other artists say they feel seen and validated through our work.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moments are those in which I have said no to opportunities that didn’t serve me as an artist and human. It is so easy to get caught up and say yes because one is so accustomed to hearing no. But then you lose yourself, and your “why.” I’ve said yes to projects in the past I should have turned down because I didn’t know better and I was too scared to say no. I didn’t feel like I had a right to say no and gave up my power. There is power in saying no and knowing your worth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hashtagbooked.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/hashtagbooked
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/BookedHashtag
• Other: www.about.me/volanisa

Image Credit:
Jerome A. Shaw
David Muller
Popio Stumpf Photography
Getty Images

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