Meet Tylre Synclair

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tylre Synclair. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Tylre, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

Oh, I absolutely love this question. I used to be extremely insecure about this – growing up as a Black woman, I’ve found myself to be the only one that looks like me in a room more often than not, especially when pursuing a job in entertainment. I’ve worked jobs where I’ve quite literally watched episodes of television and filled out diversity checklists – how many women in this episode, how many POC in this episode, if the director was a person of color or a woman, etc. But once I was done with those checklists, if I felt a show or a joke was particularly offensive or insensitive to a marginalized group and tried to bring it up, I became that diversity check. My voice would go unheard and my opinions didn’t matter.

However, the best way I’ve learned to be effective is to speak my mind and stand up for myself in moments of conflict, no matter how uncomfortable it may make the situation or the other person. Don’t get me wrong: it took many years to do this (and many regretful moments of staying quiet), but I’ve embraced my differences, recognizing that I have a unique perspective and special voice that is not only important and necessary for storytelling, but also to everyday situations as well. I’ve become best friends with my gut – if it is telling me to stay quiet, I stay quiet. But if it’s telling me to speak up, no matter how scary it might feel in the moment, I speak up. It hasn’t steered me wrong yet.

If your gut is SCREAMING for you to say or do something, listen to it. You could be changing a life, possibly your own.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Originally from Dallas, TX, I’ve been a writer my entire life and even published a YA fiction psychological thriller novel back in high school. However, I’ve been pursuing my professional screenwriting career since college, having minored in Screenwriting, gotten a Master’s degree in Communication Management with an emphasis in Media & Entertainment, and worked for multiple studios in the LA area as well as an Academy Award-winning film director.

More specifically, I’m a dramedy television writer with an intent to tell stories that instill empathy and change how viewers see the world around them. I want to introduce audiences to diverse and unique characters they may not have seen before or come across in their own lives and make them fall head over heels in love with them, relate to them, cheer for them, yell at them, cry for them, and follow them on journeys of friendship, romance, mental health, mystery, murder (sometimes), and growth (always). I tell a great revenge story, but I also tell a beautiful love story. I can comment on the state of the world while also making you laugh. But the characters I create and the worlds I build are what I believe stand out the most in my writing.

I can’t wait to someday soon be able to share my voice and my stories with the world!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three most important qualities that were most impactful on my journey were authenticity, passion and perseverance. All throughout my journey, I’ve noticed that when I make choices that are the most authentic and true to who I am as a person, even if people around me don’t agree with every choice I make, everything else just falls into place – people notice you, opportunities open up for you, and it makes making art and pushing through my struggles that much more worth it. I also never turned away from my passion, and accepted the things that light a fire in me, refusing to hide them no matter how out of the blue or embarrassing the things I love might seem. Furthermore, I continued (and continue) to persevere, even when the industry I’m fighting my way into feels like an impossible wall I’m still climbing and when things begin to look bleak, I continue climbing because it’s what I love. I continue to make art because it’s what fuels me.

My biggest piece of advice is to keep going. Keep creating. Keep taking opportunities and odd jobs. Not matter when things seem hard and you’re not sure anyone’s going to ever see it, if it makes YOU happy, and keeps you here another day, keep going. You never know what opportunity will be or lead to THE opportunity.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

My friends and I have sort of modified a saying: you know that phrase “one day at a time”? We’ve turned it into “one hour” and sometimes “one minute” at a time. Whenever I’m overwhelmed, I force myself to take a step back and do something that gives my brain a break. Sleep, go for a walk, watch TV (and nothing that would spark my creativity – I’m talking the trashiest trash TV you can think of), play a video game…even if it’s just for an hour. Or two. Or twenty minutes. However much time I have. I put my phone on DND and just cruise for a little bit.

Something else that helps me? It might be controversial, but…crying. Purging. Just allowing myself to feel the feelings and let my body release the stress. Usually afterwards, I feel so much better and so much more ready to take on the world because I allowed myself to have a moment. Even if it’s just that moment.

Please take care of yourself and put yourself first. There’s nothing wrong with being selfish sometimes. Those little moments add up. They can help you take things day by day, hour by hour. One minute at a time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @synclairsworld

Image Credits

Headshots: Jackie Male @sh00tyoursh0t