We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Janine Sherman Barrois. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Janine below.
Janine, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Being a writer is like learning to take a punch and still get back up. Rejection is constant and relentless, but it’s through challenging it that you build resilience. You start to realize that the bad moments don’t last forever; you can rewrite a scene, find a better story, and land an even bigger opportunity. There are times when you’re deeply invested in a project that just doesn’t work out, but in that failure, something new emerges, and suddenly your career has taken an unexpected turn for the better.
During my time at Warner Bros, I’ve gotten four shows on the air: Claws, Self Made, The Kings of Napa, and The Big Cigar. I’ve also Executive Produced a documentary, Hargrove, about the brilliant trumpeter Roy Hargrove, directed by Eliane Henri. Along the way, some projects fell by the wayside, while others began to take shape. Relationships were formed that sparked new creative collaborations. Interestingly, my two best scripts haven’t even been made yet, but they’re the ones that keep opening doors. People often say, “One day, someone will make Project X or Project Y,” but in the meantime, resilience remains my guiding star—because you never know what’s just around the corner.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Who am I? That’s the question. I’m a writer and showrunner under an overall deal at Warner Bros, where my production company, Folding Chair Productions, is based. The name comes from Shirley Chisholm’s quote, “If you don’t have a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” Her words resonate deeply with me because, as women and Black women in particular, we’re constantly pushing to be seen and heard. My mission is to create a space where one day we’ll all just be seen as artists, period. At Folding Chair, my goal is to champion content that pushes the boundaries and expands the playing field for everyone. During my time at Warner Bros, I’ve been fortunate enough to not only do Claws, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker, The Kings of Napa, and The Big Cigar but I have forged relationships with a lot of people who are pushing to make a wide range of art. My company has a slate of shows in development right now that I’m fighting to get up the hill — fingers crossed. Our focus is on strong, unique characters that haven’t been seen before, whose stories hold up a mirror to society and keep audiences captivated. Development is the ultimate grueling test. It’s a daily grind as a writer, working with the head of my company, Nikita Adams, and other producers, studio execs and streamers, to get that green light. No guarantees. It’s a street fight from the writers’ room to the set, and even then, the battle doesn’t end until someone calls “action” and we’re on the air.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Playing sports taught me stamina. I love soccer and played left wing growing up, so I know the rush of sprinting down the field, going for the goal, or getting knocked down and feeling like you can’t get back up — then doing it anyway. Those lessons stick with you and translate into life as a writer.
When I first got to LA, I worked for Damon Wayans, who gave me a simple but powerful push: “Go to the coffee shop and write. Not the club, not the parties. Just grab a coffee, put on your headphones, and write.” Back then, my friends and I would meet at Insomnia on Beverly Blvd., read each other’s work at tables and give notes. That was our scene — a small, committed circle of writers grinding it out. It instilled in me the discipline to keep writing, day in and day out.
I also had to learn not to take it all so personally — something I’m still working on because it’s a hard one. Some things stick, and some things don’t. But you can always write your way out of a corner and reinvent yourself. The key is to keep creating. When in doubt, write. Don’t chase trends; write what you want to see, and trust that one day, that show or movie will happen.
The other thing I have learned is to surround yourself with like minded contemporaries. From Reggie Blythewood and Gina Prince Blythewood to Yvette Lee Bowser, Susan Fales Hill, Nkechi Okoro Carroll and Victoria Mahoney, to name just a few. I have learned how imperative it is to not isolate yourself on your own creative journey, rather lean on your community if you need advice. When I was just in Colombia shooting and it was pouring rain, I ran into a problem and someone on the other side of the world was on their set and gave me quick advice that saved my butt. Another big lesson I took from Ava DuVernay is not waiting for permission. As women, we’re often conditioned to believe that if we follow the rules, opportunity will come. But you have to ignore that and make your own opportunities. Go after what you want with everything you’ve got. And as we move through these trying times, it will be more imperative than ever for creatives to be innovative and relentless in their pursuit to make art and get it seen throughout the world. As a Black woman, I know what I’m up against, but just like all the great artists who have come before me, I just need to keep going and block out the noise.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did was encourage me to become a writer and make the move to LA. I remember when I was wavering, thinking maybe I’d go to law school, my father sat me down and said, “People died in this country so you could have the right to be whatever you wanted. So please, go be it.” That kind of support is everything, especially when you’re pursuing something creative. Parents naturally want you to be safe, independent, and able to provide for yourself, but having them back your dreams makes chasing them a little easier. Becoming a professional writer is tough, but all the love and encouragement I got from my parents gave me the confidence to seek out a circle of friends who were just as supportive and driven. Full stop.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.FoldingChairProds.com
- Instagram: @JanineShermanBarrois @foldingchairproductions
- Linkedin: Janine Sherman Barrois
- Twitter: @Jsbarrois
Image Credits
Gloria Mesa (is for me under the warner bros television sign, me on the golf course, the first one of me with the madam cj walker sign and claws poster, me sitting underneath the big cigar poster, claws and kings of napa)
The one with the two actors is Leah Renee
The one with me behind the camera is Dan Kaplow
The one with me sitting on stage under the Big cigar poster with three other people is Lyndon Barrois Sr.
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