Meet Lyandre Pierre | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lyandre Pierre and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lyandre, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
The funny thing about giving up is that, for a true artist, your soul won’t let you. As an artist, you can give up on a direction, a city, or even a community but you’ll always find yourself going back to your true passion. There was once a time after spending six years in LA and three years in NYC, that I asked myself: What am I doing? Why am I putting myself through this?

I moved back to my hometown of Nashville, determined to get a regular 9 to 5 and live a “normal life.” Within a month I had joined a local screenwriting group and was volunteering on music video sets. I soon realized, for me, that I was happier being a struggling artist than being home and treating it as a hobby. Being creative is not easy by any means, there are often more fails than wins. Creatively exposing yourself to the world requires an almost superhuman level amount of bravery. But the light and joy that comes from seeing your creativity come to life can never be surpassed. And that feeling of seeing your art come to fruition is why you keep going.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I am a screenwriter and director but most of all a storyteller. Originally from Nashville, I have been living in Los Angeles for about a decade. I feel like my Tennessee upbringing influences my writing which can be considered slice-of-life storytelling and explores the different dynamics within relationships. I do enjoy writing comedy most and my latest project Third Wheel Material is a proof of concept for a 30-minute situation comedy. It definitely encompasses everything I love and is a celebration of comedy and Black joy. I have another digital short series called The 6th Degree which is more dramatic and follows six different characters who are interconnected and dealing with the various struggles of life. Both series have been in multiple festivals and have garnered a lot of love online.

In addition to my produced material I have an unproduced play and three unproduced TV pilots I am very excited about. Personally, I am a TV nerd especially when it comes to sitcoms and I love watching sitcoms from every decade. I have too many favorites to name but my constant rewatches are Living Single, A Different World, Taxi, and The Dick Van Dyke Show. I study these multi-character ensemble shows because that is my style of writing. When I first moved to Los Angeles I mainly focused on being a writer, but now I write and direct because I just wanted to create. Of course, indie filmmaking is not easy but if you are willing to work hard and make a lot of sacrifices it is possible. It’s cliche to say go out and do it yourself but that is exactly what I have done. At the end of the day, my soul needs to create, and I can’t wait for permission or for someone to give me the opportunity. I try to surround myself with people who are just as passionate and hungry as I am and that has helped me on this journey. I started a collective of creatives called Creative Nomads just for this reason. Instead of waiting for someone to open the door, go out and build your own house, and then open the door for others.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

The great thing about LA, there is always something going on, the bad thing is those activities are never close to each other lol. Since I am an LA transplant I have people come visit often. So I have several go-tos. I am a sucker for a rooftop restaurant/bar, always great for a night out and pics for your socials. Perch, in downtown LA, has a great one for this. I really like Highland Park for its nightlife, several bars that play good music all in close proximity to each other, and parking is not impossible when you go out. Hilltop Cafe is my go-to for coffee. I don’t eat out much, and I like to cook, but I have taken several friends to Post & Beam in south LA. One of my favorite places (I even filmed a scene there for my latest project).

If they like being outside you gotta hit the parks. Griffith Park is a must and I am just now getting into Brand Park as a hangout. Depending on which friend, we gotta hit the museums. For me, that is going to be the Academy Museum and the Broad. I’ll do touristy stuff if they want like Universal or studio tours, but otherwise, I am about getting a group of friends together and just having fun. Dinner, games, trivia. Those type of get-togethers always leaves friends with the best experiences.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate a shoutout to my dear sweet friend April Nicole Hobson. April and I went to the same college but only got to know each other after crossing paths here in Los Angeles. An amazing actress she could bring you to tears and have you falling over in laughter in one fell swoop. Throughout my time in LA she was always there when I called, and never failed to show unconditional love and support. Unfortunately we lost April earlier this year, unexpectedly, and our creative community is still in shock. April inspired me to not only be a better filmmaker but also to be a better friend. My goal is to keep her legacy alive by always showing love and support to other artists and making sure that those people who support me know that I appreciate them.

Website: www.Lyandre.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelyandre/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@morrowentertainment

Image Credits
Andy Burdin