Meet Sierra Mercer

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sierra Mercer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sierra, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?

Now THIS – this is my kind of question.
Because whew!
My communication skills were quite literally born from necessity, experience, and a real commitment to growth.
I grew up in an environment where children were often expected to be seen and not heard. Opinions weren’t encouraged, emotional expression wasn’t always received well, and having a voice didn’t mean it would be valued. For a long time, I held things in. Journaling wasn’t even an option. That silence taught me, very early, how damaging the absence of communication can be.

As I got older, the promise to myself would be: I will speak. I will express. I will communicate with clarity, respect, and intention.
 Quite frankly, I wanted to be the kind of communicator I didn’t always have access to. One that is honest, direct, compassionate, and clear.
With that came maturation. I learned that effective communication isn’t just about talking; but actually listening, observing, assessing the moment, and choosing words that honor both the message and the person receiving it.
It requires emotional intelligence, self-reflection, and constant recalibration.

I’ll admit, my communication style is naturally blunt. Some people, especially when uncomfortable conversations arise, can interpret that as intimidating or “too honest.” I’ve lost relationships I thought were valuable, and I don’t regret any of those losses.
I’ve learned to balance that strength with empathy. I don’t shy away from difficult conversations – even when they don’t favor me – because leaning into discomfort is how you build trust, resolve conflict, and create structure in relationships and business.

As a woman in the film industry, communication has been essential to my success. You can’t nurture partnerships, lead teams, or build sustainable environments without clear dialogue. I’m firm on that! Miscommunication creates chaos; understanding and transparency create momentum. I’ve seen firsthand how quickly things fall apart when people don’t manage their emotions or don’t take the time to deeply understand one another.
So the way I communicate today is intentional. It’s a blend of my upbringing, the lessons I learned from silence, the discipline it took to use my voice, and the maturity it took to refine it. Having this skill is a core value, and how I maintain meaningful connections in every space I step into.

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 award winning writer, producer, and director – a multi-hyphenated creative who moves fluidly between storytelling forms through poetry, songwriting and the creator of a doll-comic universe with its own characters, politics, and interconnected storylines.
At the core of everything I do is narrative! To shape, honor and make sure our stories; Black Stories – are told with intention, care, and depth.

As an independent filmmaker, my company, CeCeLyric Productions, is rooted in amplifying Black messages both on screen and behind the scenes. That’s always been the heart of my work.
Whether it’s a live-action film or a 1/6-scale doll series set in an elite Black town, everything I create is inspired by my lineage.
My creativity is a testament to my ancestors – their hustle, their resilience, their vision, and the worlds they dreamed but didn’t always get to see. I feel like I’m carrying that torch forward and what excites me most is that all my platforms are part of the same creative ecosystem. Each project adds depth to the larger narrative I’m building about Black life, Black love, Black complexity, and Black imagination.

Right now, we’re in pre-production for my latest film, MAKE TONIGHT BEAUTIFUL, and I’m incredibly proud of where it’s headed. It’s a story that flips the idea of a one-night stand on its head. Instead of a night centered on sex, it follows a woman who needs space – real emotional space to process how the last three years of her relationship weren’t what she believed they were. She ends up connecting with a man at a bar, and they spend a night together simply being human: talking, reflecting, resting, releasing. No intimacy in the traditional sense – just kindness, presence, and the quiet power of being seen.
I’m especially excited about a moment in the film where we pay homage to a classic scene from Waiting to Exhale. That film raised a generation of us, and honoring it in my work feels full-circle. It turns 30 this year. Sheesh!

But there’s so much more coming – expansions to my doll universe, new film projects in development, collaborations with creatives who share my vision, and continued growth in the CeCeLyric brand.
My goal is to create art that resonates, heals, challenges… just art that makes people feel seen in every character.
If folks take anything away from my work, I hope it’s understood that creativity is activism. Storytelling is legacy. And everything I build is rooted in love for my people, my culture, and the generations coming after us. Nothing less!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Wow! Ummm… looking back, the three qualities and skills that shaped my journey the most were my natural boss intellect,
 my communication skills, and my devotion to writing and storytelling.

I’ve had a sharp mind since I was young. That ability to analyze, observe, and read people and situations without them saying a word, chile. That “boss intellect” helped me navigate adulthood, artistry, and business long before I had any formal titles. It taught me to trust my instincts, make strategic decisions, and move with a confidence grounded in wisdom.

Again, my communication skills really came from life itself. Real situations, real lessons, real moments that pushed me to speak up and say what needed to be said. I had to learn how to articulate my truth and use my voice as a tool instead of reacting out of emotion. Once I started communicating honestly and compassionately, everything shifted. I learned how to lead with clarity even if the situation is filled by disorder.

But the skill that ties everything together is writing. Writing has always been my foundation. Poems, songs, scripts, stories – those were my first blueprints. Without the intimacy I built with language, rhythm, character, and emotion, I don’t think I would’ve ever believed I could bring my worlds to life on screen. Writing taught me that imagination is a muscle, and it’s what helped me see first.

And honestly? Another major “area of knowledge” was the in-between seasons – the moments when nothing seemed to be happening. Like… at all in the creative space. Those quiet stretches prepared me more than any success did. They taught me patience, discipline, and the importance of building internally before anything external can manifest. I manifested everything I’m living now because I did the work… even when no one was watching.

My advice for anyone early in their journey is shifting your mindset. Your thoughts shape your direction. Don’t talk down to yourself; don’t shrink your vision. Expand your imagination and train your mind to expect what you desire.
Prepare yourself before the opportunity comes. Don’t wait for a title, a budget, a team, or the “perfect moment.” You become ready by moving, learning, practicing, failing, adjusting – not by sitting still.
Get clear on what you want. Vagueness creates confusion. Find that momentum and chase it! When you know what you’re reaching for, you become intentional with your time, your relationships, and your creativity.

And babies, PLEASE… master your communication. Doesn’t matter if it’s business, art, or community, your voice will carry you further than your résumé ever could. Speak with authenticity, listen with intention, and don’t be afraid of hard conversations.

Honor your craft. It’s yours! Water it. Write. Read. Study. Practice. Create. Everything you do today becomes a brick in the world you’re trying to build tomorrow.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you don’t become great by accident. You become great by showing up for yourself, your vision, and the legacy you’re creating. BE GREAT! Good is basic.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

For me, I definitely believe in investing effort to become well-rounded – especially when you’re building something independently.

As an independent filmmaker, I haven’t had the luxury of only sticking to my strengths. I had to become the writer, the director, the producer, the camera operator, the editor – the whole production team, beloved. Not because I wanted to do everything, but because I had no choice if I wanted my vision to exist. And it humbled me quick.
Camera work wasn’t my strongest area.
I’d write a powerful scene, direct it beautifully, but the visual execution wasn’t always where I wanted it to be. I can admit that.
There were moments where I’d watch my own footage and say, “Okay, CeCe… this ain’t giving what it was supposed to give.”
But instead of taking that as failure, I took it as a cue to learn.
I spent nights studying. Watching YouTube videos. Learning how to create cinematic shots using nothing but a phone. And at the time, I was working with an iPhone 11 Pro, not even the newest device. But I squeezed everything out of that camera because I was committed to growing. I downloaded apps, learned manual controls, studied framing, composition, lighting – all the things a cinematographer would normally bring to the table.

Eventually, I upgraded my equipment. Eventually, my work leveled up. And eventually, I started to really understand how to visually translate the worlds I was creating on paper.
Would I love to hire a cinematographer I trust? Absolutely. That’s the literal goal – to build a team where everyone plays to their strengths. But I don’t regret the journey of learning it myself first. It made me a better director. It made me more intentional as a writer. And it made me appreciate the craft on a deeper level.

Going all-in on your strengths is beautiful, but growth happens in the areas you’re willing to explore, not just the ones you’ve already mastered. If I had only stuck to what I was already good at, none of my films would exist.
By investing in my weaker areas, I expanded my toolbox. I created opportunities for myself when resources were limited. And I built a foundation strong enough to support the bigger projects I’m stepping into now.
So my view is simple. 
Your strengths will take you far, but being willing to learn what you don’t know will take you further.

Because sometimes the thing you avoid learning is the thing that unlocks the next level of your journey. Hello lights!

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Image Credits

Images courtesy of CeCeLyric Productions

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