We had the good fortune of connecting with Shirlyn A. Cesar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shirlyn A., we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Honestly, I’ve never thought about risk. Not because I haven’t taken any, I’ve taken plenty. You could say my entire career is built on it. When I graduated from film school, as a loyal east coast native I had no interest in moving to Los Angeles, but when the right opportunity called I moved across the country in 7 days with no long term plan and a new life that fit neatly into the truck of my rental car. Yes, that was a risk. Alternatively, what I saw was my dream coming to fruition.  My joy in the moment was too high to be scared. I feel like I’ve had a lot of those moments where I’m so blinded by the thing I love to do, that I don’t stop to think of my actions as risky. My cross country move was definitely one of those moments.  There was no time for the “what if” questions, I just had to act.

As a producer and creative for television, navigating this industry is tricky. So making the decision to take the journey is itself a risk to embark on. Don’t get me wrong, I have plenty of concerns and opinions and awareness about a ton of things in the industry, but if I’m going to play the game, I can’t be scared. I have to be willing to boldly take on challenges, including advocating for myself which can be the biggest industry risk. Deciding how to respond to colleagues challenging me personally or professionally on jobs where there aren’t many people that look like me, takes strategy.  It can feel like a landmine of navigating a risky escape while maintaining my integrity and work ethic. I guess the better question is- is it worth it? And even after an incredibly hard year of a double strike, I’m crazy enough to say that the answer remains- yes.

 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I was born in Brooklyn and raised in Newark New Jersey – to Haitian immigrant parents.  It’ s been a long road, but God is good. From Jersey to Hollywood, I’ve gone on to win a prestigious Emmy award- my dream goal in entertainment. But before all of that, I was a theater kid that thought acting was going to be my pathway to the big screen. I watched a lot of TV growing up- thanks Mom 🙂I appreciated how those stories lived with you over time. Every now and then, we’d go to the movies. Hearing and feeling an audience’s live reaction to something was like being on an amusement park ride. There was something about the arts that captured my attention very early. By the time I got to college, I realized that my creativity and managerial skills translated to the role of producer and I’ve stuck to that ever since. I graduated from college on the brink of an economic collapse (sound familiar?) and after a year out of school I was accepted to Syracuse’s Newhouse School where I studied television, radio, and film followed by an internship. At Syracuse, my Emmy path started with a Student Emmy Win given to me by the ATAS Foundation.
I am definitely proud of who I am and how it informs my palate as a creative. I have a deep desire to tell different stories and celebrate the cultural nuances we don’t often see.My work ethic plus creative desires created what I hope is a pretty stable foundation.

I’m back east now, but I think after I moved to LA, I learned how much work, work is. Not the job per se, but everything around it. The networking, the politics, the smile and wave, plug and play was different than that of my east coast bubble. It was a challenge adjusting to that until I realized how I could make that process my own. Relentless pursuit, even when the industry doesn’t love me back, is how I overcome. I’m not sure that I have a backup plan if this doesn’t work out. And because of that I approach my work with high expectations. My Mom said to me when I was little “Strive not to be better, but the best so when it’s your time to be recognized you can’t be denied.” That is my standard.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I am based on the east coast, but I’m in a few cities for work so how about a few spots depending on where I am? If I’m in LA- Bacari W. 3rd has become a fast favorite of mine. I’m all about ambiance and this place has it. The drinks are great and the food is amazing. Crave Café in Studio City is the perfect affordable meal meetup spot. It is where I’ve held plenty of creative catch up conversations.

If I’m in New York, Cuba’s by Washington Square Park is great for brunch. If you’re looking for good Haitian food in the city, cause why wouldn’t you be, then Rebel Restaurant in the LES is the place to go. The art on the walls and music all help to surround you in the essence of the culture. And if we’re celebrating then Lure Restaurant or Tatiana’s after seeing MJ the Musical is a vibe. Otherwise, Brooklyn Museum’s First Saturdays or walking through the Spike Lee exhibit there earlier this year is what you can find my friends and I doing. In Atlanta, Bomb Biscuit is so good it’s unreal and Poor Calvin’s is great for dinner try the pound cake- you’re welcome! Can you tell good food is my favorite pastime? Lastly, if you’re in NOLA head to Dakar Nola, catch a gator tour, and learn about the Haitian architectural and culinary influence on the city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Mom and Sister have been so supportive and I’m proud to be on their team. We’ve been our own Three Musketeers- well the Haitian version that is- for a long time now.  In a culture where being an artist or creative is not encouraged, my Mom prays that creative ideas find me and others will see my vision too.  That means a lot to me.  I hope I can continue to make them proud, and that there’s a long journey of success ahead that they get to witness and be a part of.

Website: www.knowshirlyn.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirlyn-c-497a9817/

Image Credits
Regina Fleming Nazih Ilyass Frazer Harrison Ashley Grace Television Academy

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