Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aneisha Brackens. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Aneisha, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I think my optimism derives from the same part of my fear. That may seem silly, but at the root of fear and optimism there is some level of excitement. I think they’re both built on not knowing the outcome of whatever situation you’re in. So I choose to be optimistic that things will turn out right, instead of feeding into the fear of them not. I’m a Christian, so I think I also attribute my discipline in being optimistic to my faith.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m an actress and screenwriter.
I think what makes being in this field so special is that we get to create with such a freedom that isn’t always acknowledged. I don’t get to re-write, edit, or change certain aspects of my life—what’s done is done. However, for my career; I get to play pretend and write the ending however I see fit. I think that’s really fun, to keep it simple. How many times are you able to control the beginning, middle, and end of anything? You’re not usually. So to be able to do it in a safe and beautiful way such as storytelling is great, I love it.
My brand is still being established, from what I can tell. There are times when I want to do risky work and really see how far I can push myself artistically, I love every minute of that. Other times, I want full-on family oriented projects so my niece and nephews can watch it. I think I’m still figuring my brand out, but I think it’s very inclusive and warm.
What’s new? Uh, I just wrapped two feature films (‘Life is Short’ and ‘Psycho Roommate’) and that was my big summer ending. I was a lead for one and a supporting character for another. So those were big firsts for me! I lead a sims animated series on Youtube called “Breakout” directed by Trap Goddess Shawty, there’s been an overwhelming amount of support for that show and the fan base is so lovely. I love playing Braxton and just seeing how people root for her—I’m rooting for her, I’m sure we’d be friends if she were real. Trap is a 10/10 writer and creator, I adore her! One of my screenplays just got accepted into a screenplay competition, so that’s really cool. I have another big project coming up, but I signed a NDA so I actually can’t say anything yet— but it’s a dream come true in every way.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three most impactful components or qualities in my journey were and still are: Faith, Integrity, and Discipline. I think Faith is going to keep you going when it would be easier to give up, but you have to believe that you’re capable of the initial goal you set. It’ll come into play on those “rainy days”. Discipline because if you can’t follow through on a commitment to yourself, then why should someone put you on their team? Or trust you to bring their vision to life? You haven’t shown up for yourself at all, so it’s not a surprise as to why they would question your ability to show up for this job and take on the work required. Integrity simply because that speaks to your character. If you change who you are in every room you walk into, you’ll never feel comfortable enough to accomplish anything in my opinion. I’d even go as far as to say, you won’t really ever feel accomplished– because you’re trying to fit a standard or fit what you think someone else wants, so you’re camouflaging all the time. You wouldn’t last in any field because you have no foundation for who you are if your integrity is flawed.
My advice for those starting out in Acting or Screenwriting, is to make friends. You’re not the best in your field and that is such a wonderful thing because you get to learn. Imagine having to be the trailblazer in every way and having no one to look to for advice or aid? That is a lonely road and so much pressure. Luckily, you don’t have to do that. So be open to learning, be open to correction.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My biggest area of growth in the past 12 months has been, and I’ve said this before, letting “No.” be a full sentence. If you flat out say no to certain things, you’ll hardly ever have to give a reason why because you were so firm and so sure by saying it. I think in the past, I’ve always shown hesitation and that’s where people slide their way in and try to manipulate you or your decision. So I think just honoring my feelings and the path I want to take, without being swayed by people I wouldn’t want on this journey with me anyways–has been the biggest improvement.
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David Moreno
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