Meet Sheila Jaye: Minister of the Gospel, Actress, Writer

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

Hi Sheila, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
So in life we have this thing called, “your desires”. Hopefully, as we grow and mature our desires are refined by our life experience. This is done by getting to know ourselves more intimately, and being closely aligned with our highest calling. Also sometimes our desires are just wrong! We may have been going down a path that is not in alignment to our truest selves, so there is a recalibration that takes place.

I say all of that to say, the end goal for me and has always been since i was a little girl, is to work professionally in film and television. I have worked towards that my whole life. However, since the Pandemic shut down I have had a complete plot twist! I am answering a Ministry calling. For those who may not know, Ministry is the work of reconciling people to Jesus Christ. All people! Whether you are black, white, gay , straight, poor, or rich Jesus wants to take residence in your heart!

By the end of my career, I want everything to be glorified through him! Everything be a reflection of him!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Where I am today, the story is still unfolding. I wish that I could say I am now an accomplished series regular on a big show, but I am not. However, I am most proud that I produced my first SAG-AFTRA Pilot episode called, Jane and Marlow. I did this 1.5 years ago. I am seeking help to reshoot it, get financing and all that jazz. This wasn’t an easy process, but it was so rewarding. I wrote, financed, produced, and performed in this project. Mainly the challenges were that fact that i was wearing so many hats. As an independent producer, you tend to be left with tying up the loose ends with a production because sometimes the funds are not there to out-source. Also sometimes you just don’t want to out-source, because you have a issue with releasing control of the vision. Which is not always good, and I am learning that it is ok to release and ask for help.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh my goodness the best place to eat sushi is in DTLA at a spot called, “The Water grill.” A little pricey, However, it opens at 5pm high end, so it’s a great place to date, have a dinner with your girls, or for company luncheons.

This is LA so it’s always sunny and hot. In the mornings we would go hiking at Runyon Canyon, or Kenneth Hahn Hiking trail. Finishing things off with smoothies at Simply Wholesome in the historic Black Beverly Hills Area.

Any night of the week, drinks at any of the bars in West Hollywood would be amazing and fun. It’s always lively, upbeat, and fun.
Another dinner spot to try actually in West Hollywood, is Bottega Louie. Excellent wine, Excellent dessert.

If you are looking for a couple spots to just hang and chill. There are two lounges that are a lot of fun called, Rooftop on Sunset, and Habibi in Westwood. This is all I have for you right now being that we are coming out of the Pandemic shutdown.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Along my life journey, I have had a ton of people encourage me along the way. Some were in my life for only a season, and that’s ok because that is life! I appreciate there influence though. I have to say someone by the name of, let’s just call him Mr. Ken. He deserves recognition. Where I am today, I can pinpoint back to our many conversations about moving to LA, and pursuing entertainment. Also he was just really inspiring to me. He traveled the world, he was an accomplished writer, an so much more. I can remember just being so inspired. I met Mr. Ken in Atlanta, Georgia. We were waitressing at restaurant together. I was working my way through school, and Mr. Ken was actually a Professor working at one of the colleges, not too far from where we worked. I can remember him just encouraging me in so many areas of my life. I didn’t really have a lot of people pouring into me. I remember him pushing me to finish school, and helping me with my love life(lol). More importantly, I remember him unapologetically telling me to do what I got to do to move to California, and pursue my dreams. Don’t let anyone stop me.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7624066/

Instagram: sheilajaye