Meet Cherie Antoinette | Writer I Producer I Director I Travel Nurse

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

Hi Cherie, how do you think about risk?
Risk taking has lead me to my ultimate rewards. So often, we want people, companies, consumers to go all in on us when we haven’t invested in ourselves first. Belief will fuel your strategic risk taking. The more you believe in your vision and mission, or whatever you are selling- the more likely you are to take bigger risk. We don’t bet on ourselves enough which is unfortunate. It goes back to trusting yourself and knowing your worth. People will call you crazy. Let them. They are seeing with only their eyes, but vision is formed through perception.

I recently invested 130k of money I earned from my day job as a travel nurse. I poured it into my own hit web series Hard Drive the Series. Now, one year after our private premiere, we are traveling the festival circuit and in distribution talks. It is our duty to make people believers in our dreams. So, if the only risk you ever take in life is on something you love, then do it to your full capacity. The moment you view life through a realm of possibilities, those limitations cease to exist, and if the only risk you take today is to believe in yourself- DO IT,

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My journey has definitely been a charmed one. I grew up in College Park, Ga with a single, biracial mother from Cleveland Ohio. At the age of seven we moved to Jonesboro, Ga and everyday I would pass the historic site of Gone with the Wind. I didn’t know how that would impact me until later in life, but it ignited my attraction to film and the arts.

In the 90’s it wasn’t uncommon for children to come home and tend to themselves after school- latchkey children, and it was in this time that television began to heavily influence me. I watched all the classics: I Love Lucy, Wonder Years, I Dream of Genie- and I began to dream.

Growing up, I was first introduced to writing. I was shy and quiet and found solace in expressing myself through written language. One of my biggest influences was my uncle, pro NFL and hall of famer, Reggie White of the Greenbay Packers. He was a surrogate father to me and allowed me to experience a life I would have never seen otherwise. He and my Aunt were the first persons to allow me to use a camcorder, and I filmed my first film at the age of nine. I had no idea the impact this had on my subconscious mind until recently.

Fast-forwarding, I decided to become a nurse after the tragic death of my Uncle and an unexpected teen pregnancy. I knew I had to provide for my son and nursing was in the same vein of healing- which I hope to do with my art. So, for 10 years I worked at every hospital in Atlanta, but something was missing.

Before I got pregnant at 17, I had a scholarship to Savannah College of Art and Design after an invitation to the Georgia Governor’s Honor’s Program at the age of 15. I was the first person from my high-school to ever make it in theater, and only 1% of students were invited to participate in this summer intensive at Valdosta State University.

That summer changed my life, and I thought deeply on it as I entered my six year of nursing. So, I began to write again. Entering script writing competitions. My first script was #Woke- a political satire on the migration of six childhood friends from America to Africa. It was a timely and hilarious piece that scored an 8/10 on the Black List.

But I still wasn’t satisfied. I needed more fulfillment. So, I began background work for shows like BET’s “Being Mary Jane” “Jumanji: The Next Level”, and “24: Legacy”. It was the spark I needed to create my own production company and in the summer of 2018, I named it: Pathway Cinema.

What I want people to know about my brand and story is it’s honest and authentic. Pathway Cinema’s slogan is Destination Film. I believe life is a journey and film is the mirror, so each film you watch should take you to places, feelings, emotions, you would never experience otherwise. Life is a labyrinth and the key to unlocking it is connection. Everyday, we scroll through social media aimlessly to disconnect, but film reconnects us to all those parts we neglect.

This road I’m on, if I’m being honest, feels impossible. You are faced with rejection daily. You have to fight to have your vision seen, but it’s the emptiness in your soul from denying yourself your gift that keeps you in those pursuits. My goal is to change the world. It doesn’t have to be kinder or more peaceful, but more understanding and compassionate. I believe if we start with understanding, everything flows from there. We as artist have to remind people we are connected, and that connection is humanity- the state of being so imperfect that despite those imperfections we extend love and grace.
So, all my characters I write or portray are flawed, because we all are in some way.

What I am most excited about is my first documentary depicting my journey as a travel nurse/filmmaker during the pandemic. I was the first person to lament about Long Covid (it didn’t have a name then), but I identified it the same way I write my characters, through observation. I mean you can google me now as both nurse and filmmaker, and for years I thought I had to choose one or the other, but we are not 2 dimensional beings. We are multidimensional and fully capable of achieving many goals across multi-faucets and avenues.

I hope to continue to grow Pathway Cinema into an umbrella company. I want to seek out filmmakers with similar goals from a multitude of perspectives. I want film to be the reason the world changes, and I believe that is my mission here on Earth.

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?
Man, Atlanta has changed so much, but… my first visit would be to the shop my friend’s own: Purifi-IV. Its a vitamin and hydration shop, and we have to get a drip to fuel our weekend! I like the Be Lean for the amino acids and magnesium, but that’s where we’d start. Then head over to Mochi-Nut for the best donuts in town. I honestly avoid downtown like the plague now, but areas like Lawrenceville and Suwannee are really fact-paced and growing and have some of the best food in town. I’m still a fan of MJQ though, it was temporarily closed, but used to be the hottest night club in town, so as soon as its back up and running we are heading there, but first Ramen! Because what’s life without Udon Noodles? Jinya Ramen Bar has the best! So, Jinya then MJQ and some drinks, and probably a little star gazing afterwards at the observatory over in Fern Bank. Bur honestly, the best spot in town is determined by who you’re with not what your doing, and a stroll in Piedmont Park is more than enough for me.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to take this time to thank the Atlanta Film Community and every Indie Filmmaker. The community here in Atlanta, despite its underrepresentation in Hollywood, is incredible. From the Alliance Theater to screenings like Onset and Greenlit ATL. We the artist have decided to take control of our narratives. Atlanta is a thriving mecca of arts and supports the grind of new artist. We have fought to foster communities of goal-driven and unstoppable filmmakers and actors.

I would also like to recognize Co-Star coaching with Chantal Maurice, Kiah Can Productions, Bobby Huntley Films, Jonesport Sounds, and HaloUnion Productions, and the acting community at Rob Mello Studios for uplifting and inspiring me in my pursuit of happiness.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harddrivetheseries/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pathwaycinemas/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmeZ5Cwak7BpBnKGxvDlH3w