Cheryl Interviews Lenore Coer, Actor

Out supporting my friend, model Shakyra Lashae, for her premiere party for VH1's "You're Cut Off 2" Good night with the gals :)

Happy New Year...Right

So...of course I'm sure you've been waiting for my new year post, reflecting over my life and this past year and what it means to me and how I plan to make it all better in 2011 and all the 'newness' that I will do.

Well, it ain't happening.

This will probably be the shortest post to date (maybe...u know I'm windy)

But seriously...what I set out to accomplish hasn't happened yet so why would I start all this new stuff and recreate myself..cuz what I want hasn't changed...and I assume that how I intend to get there hasn't changed much either. Sure, there are things that I put off last year and should have done IE getting postcards (altho I did get some I just hate them) and doing more mailings (cue postcard music again) and more things I wish to do...but I've never found that making a list of all these new things that I'm going to do in the new year to be helpful or beneficial to me. They make me more overwhelmed and stressed out than before. And whenever I get overwhelmed and stressed, I tend to do nothing.

That's right. Nothing, and pray it all goes away, with my head tucked somewhere under a cover. So this year, I plan to do the opposite of what I've done previously-No resolutions- and simply look forward to this year. Attack each day as the day that will change my life forever and smile as it happens.

No, nothing seriously new has happened, and yes I still have my dream...but I don't need a new vision board, I don't need a new 5,10, 15, or 20 year plan...cuz they haven't come true yet.

I'm gonna work on me, pray harder, and try and make each day positive and meaningful to someone. And that's the best 'resolution' (I really hate that word) that I can give.

~I'll save the rest for my journal :)

Happy New Years guys...I hope your holidays were great and you spent time with those that you love...it's what I did.

In 2011 I will:

Pray Hard
Work Hard
Play Hard
Love Hard

I hope you do the same :)

Hugs,
Lenore

Oh What A Night!

So this isn't gonna be a very long post (cuz it's super late and I"m super tired) BUT tonight was an amazing night. Well today was just an all around great day in NYC!

Couple of super fantastic things happened.

1. I was at an intimate kinda-like listening party for Tank tonight (who is breathlessly amazing. Like all around talented. Funny, handsome, clever, piano-playing-chocolateness) I was sooooo impressed.
2. KimberlyNichole was the MC, whom I love and see randomly all throughout the city. (It's so cool when I see people I know at events. It makes me feel good about myself)
3. I saw Keshawn at the same event. (refer to #2)
4. Then I went to BBKings for the first time ever with a huge group of friends...kinda randomly to see The Roots perform. (and they're simply amazing).
5. They brought out John Legend.
6. Estelle.
7. The Cast of Fela.
8. Patti Labelle (I almost peed myself)
9. It was free (I did have to stand in the cold for like 20 hours to get in tho-pure exaggeration but you get my drift)
10. I met the most fantastic director whom I have been twitter stalking for some time now-Matthew A. Cherry. And when I say stalking I mean legit stalking. Like know pretty much everything he tweets. I even facebook friended him cuz I love his work. And I don't know, I've just always felt like I was going to work with him at some point (call me crazy but a few months ago I even tweeted that to him)

IDK, I'm actually kind of proud of myself for speaking to him in the first place cuz I usually don't just randomly talk to people that I don't know/stalk and I did tonight so that was stepping outta my comfort zone a little (lot). I think the thing that inspires me most about him (and take this with a grain of salt cuz I don't even know this man) is that he's from Chicago and he's living the dream. He's making it happen for himself...and I've seen like all his projects...I probably scared him off telling him his life story tonight but...it just inspires me to chase my dreams just a little bit harder and a little bit faster...the same that he is.

So off my industry crush...I feel like my tv show is coming sooner than later...fingers crossed prayers prayed (it's gonna happen) meeting the right people, saying the right stuff, and being true to who I am so it has to happen SOON! I believe! More on that later tho.

That's all for now...all that musical talent tonight has left me speechless. I experience people living their dreams tonight and for that I'm forever grateful.

As the clock approaches 4 am...it's time to shut my eyes...my dreams will be there in the morning :)

I can't shake this feelin'

But it feels good :)

I was talking to him today after I left shooting a really minor scene, kinda as a favor/paying it forward/networking and he asked me how I felt. And honestly there's no other feeling like the one I get when I'm on set doing what I love. You always hear people talking about when you do what you love it never feels like work...well I've found mine. It's all I want to do. When I'm performing it feels like I'm fulfilling my purpose on this planet...doing what I was called to do. I've never felt like that with anything else...and I don't feel that way about anything else...and I'm not gonna keep searching either...I've found it and I've gotta hold onto it.

It makes me happy...it's my happy place. And for right now that's all I'm focusing on.

What else?

Um..ordered new head shots today and FINALLY ordered some postcards (even though I've been saying that I was gonna order some for like the last past YEAR) procrastination has GOT TO GO!! And that's why I just went ahead and got them. And I got a really great deal on them too.

Thanksgiving has come and gone and I'm completely thankful...my life is a miracle and where I am in life and with myself and mentally, physically, and emotionally is simply a blessing from above.

I ran into an old friend when I went home...and I couldn't get past the fact that he was still talking about the same stuff we were talking about 2 years ago. I was a little surprised...it got to the point that I could kinda tell what he was going to say next because he had said the same thing 2 years ago. I honestly feel a little bad for him because the person he met two years ago and the person I am today are 2 completely different people. Some for good and some for bad...but different...changed...progressing. Not still complaining about the same situation and stuff that I was complaining and talking about 2 years ago. I think people get comfortable and think they have no way out...when that just can't be true. There's always another option.

Maybe I'm just preaching but...bust a move. You don't like something, change it. You gonna complain about it and not do anything then go talk to somebody else. That's kinda rude and I'd never say that to a friend but I have an amazing ability to stop listening, pick a point on your face and just stare at it.

That's so mean.

So my best friend went to India today...I hope she has an amazing time...kinda weird for her to go so far away with no one but the Lord with her but it's a great experience.

OH!! So I'm (we) are writing a new web-series which...honestly is hilarious (at least I think so) I never considered myself a writer and the whole process is really interesting. I'll keep ya posted on it. It should be a lot of fun and a lot of hard work but that's what I appreciate. This is what I want so I have to work hard for it. And I'm ready.

OMG!!! So this post is taking forever! But I took a long break why? Cuz I'm no longer sleeping on the floor :) I mean technically I was never actually sleeping on the floor! But NOW I'm really not...kind of a new experience (even though I've been sleeping on beds since forever) but I think it was so easy for me to take things for granted...and clearly I don't do that anymore! I'm truly grateful...life for real. For the little things. I think that's what this experience is teaching me. Be grateful, be humble, cuz everything is a blessing. For some reason I pray really hard before each meal...I'd never done that before...until it was a point I didn't really know what I was gonna eat and lived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and water to get by. So now when I bless my food I'm truly thankful...for the money to buy the food and for what I'm about to eat. Weird but like I said...you learn in the valley and that's where I am...but I have a thankful heart and I know I'll be at my mountain top soon...with a tv show :)

To God Be The Glory

So I don't think I ever told you guys the story of how I landed my very first professional show in New York City.

It's simple. Basically, God gave it to me.

And I'm not kidding. Literally, fell out of the sky, into my lap because He knew I needed and wanted me to meet certain people and have something to do creatively when Joy passed.

A more detailed version of it goes like this:

I saw a casting for a young 16 year old daughter for a play that was based in the church (uh duh...I could play that with my eyes closed), innocent, smart..etc. And I submitted for it last summer when I used to buy Backstage...I didn't hear anything back from them.

When I finally decided to move here, I was invited to a birthday party for a casting director and I reluctantly agreed...this casting director and I started talking and eventually he told me he was casting a show that he thought I would be perfect for. He even showed me the picture of the lady that would play my mom and said we looked alike (we do). Now...this is hindsight, but still. the playwright/director of the show was actually at the party but she came after I left. Two other members of the cast were at the party too, but I didn't know them.

Moving on, I send my info to the casting director and he calls me in for an audition that week, I knew I did a good job so I wasn't surprised when they called me back for a call back. At this callback is when I met crazy, JJB, who would stay in my life forever! That's besides the point, he and I did our scene together and I felt really good about it. I knew the casting director, the director liked me (I could just tell) and JJB and I hit it off on stage. I was feeling really good about the show until about a week later, everyone received notification about their part except me. (Remember the moving men from an earlier post...two of them I actually met during the auditions and we've stayed close til this day-ain't that sweet?)

Anywho, so I was kinda bummed about not getting the role but something inside me wouldn't let it go. Every time my phone rang I just thought it was the director calling me and telling me I got the part-even after they had gone into rehearsals and someone else was cast. Until finally the exact same scenario that I kept playing over and over in my head, became my reality. Some people got shifted around, and I ended up with my role. It's seriously true...the favor of God is on my life. I can't explain it, I can't tell you why he's chosen me but he has...and let me tell ya-I APPRECIATE IT! PLEASE DON'T LET IT STOP!

I had an amazing time onstage at the Billie Holiday Theater last year...it was one of the greatest, most tragic, busiest, most extreme times of my life and I will never forget it. But the reason I'm bringing it up tonight is because it just won SEVEN AUDELCO AWARDS TONIGHT! Can you believe it??!?! Seven, like seven actual awards for one production! Who does that!??!

Yvette Heyliger- Best Playwright
Patrice Davidson-Set Design
Yvonne Farrow-Lead Actress in a Dramatic Role
Jerome Preston Bates-Lead Actor in a Dramatic Role
Johnnie Mae-Best Supporting Actress
Jamil AC Mangan-Best Supporting Actor
And The Billie Holiday Theater for best production of the year.

Like, the crazy part about it is, that my very first play is a multiple award winning show! What? Like for real? Ok God, I know you love me and you want me to be prosperous and live a great life but you're just spoiling me with this one. My first show and I'm working with people that have done some incredible stuff...I'm slightly in awe and sometimes have to remind myself that I am indeed living this life. It's a crazy, hectic one at times but I guess I"m off to a great start if the first show I'm apart of wins 7 awards in one night, in case I didn't mention it.

I'm excited to see what the future holds...I would love my next post to be about a fantastic role on a new television series so fingers crossed and prayers prayed ok...if God can give me this show (that won...ok I think you got it) and I wasn't even originally cast...then I'm sure he can pour out more roles for me. I'm excited and I"m inspired by the work that my fellow actors have done

Much love tonight,

Take the shackles off my feet so I can DANCE

Today I heard the silliest (stupidest) thing I've ever heard in my life.

Him-"I don't want to have kids because there's no guarantee that parents will stay together."

Are you serious? Did those words truly just come out of your mouth? I'm so outdone.

True indeed 72% of black children are born to single mothers...but the reason that you don't want to produce life is because you're afraid to fail at a successful marriage?

I would have had a lot more respect for what came out of this brother's mouth if his reasoning had been a little more-well smarter-perhaps for medical reasons (not wanting to pass on an illness), selfish reasons (he doesn't want to parent because he wants all the focus on himself-forever) I would even accept that one. Because that's a lot more honest and fair to the child. But to say I don't want to parent a well educated, responsible child is because I'm afraid I will be like 50% of people that get married is, I"m sorry, but a bit ridiculous. I think I would understand (still think bad thoughts about him) if he said I don't want to get married because of this statistic. But to base his decision on the mere fact that people that really shouldn't be having children are, and driving up the negative statistic, is a bit baffling.

Why not be the change he wants to see in the world? Make his son or daughter in the 28% of children and stay with his wife? Why not want something DIFFERENT for your kids that what other families have? Why not commit yourself to being the best father that you can and BE THERE for your child? Don't cop out...don't blame a statistic as to the reason why you do or do not do something. If our ancestors had that same mentality, we would all still be in chains picking cotton! Christopher Columbus would still be in Spain. Barack Obama would still be in Chicago. And Michael Jordan would be in North Carolina somewhere.

Perhaps I'm a little sensitive and it's not that deep but this issue really irritated me. Perhaps because I get annoyed when people complain and quit over silly things. The career choice, shoot my whole life choice in general, is about the craziest one that I could have come up with.

An Actress AND a commercial and print model?!!!? Really? Because only a handful of people want to do that. Not that there aren't about 20,000 NEW people PER YEAR attempting to get into the entertainment industry....did I say PER YEAR? Many of them with BAs in theater, film, tv...some graduating from MFA programs around the country. Then factor in how many people from overseas want to throw themselves into the pool. Then, oh lest we forget, the singers, models, reality stars and athletes that want to take their stab at film, tv, and whatever else they can snap up. Cuz these numbers aren't daunting at all.

And this man just said, he can't raise a child because why? I forgot the reason cuz it was so stupid.

Just because someone failed at something doesn't mean that I'm going to. I will not judge myself or anyone else based off what someone else has or has not done. You've gotta live your life for you. Do what you think is necessary for YOUR personal survival. That's what I plan to do...live life for Lenore...freely, fearlessly, COERLESSLY. I think you should do the same for yourself.

Did you guys ever see this?

My first hosting job EVER...kinda just 'fell' into it...was pretty fun though.