Meet Briana Cole | Author, Actress, Screenwriter

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

Hi Briana, why did you pursue a creative career?
I pursued a creative career because I couldn’t ignore what I was passionate about. I’ve been drawn to stories since I was younger and I love how writing and acting go hand-in-hand, two sides of the same coin. Whether I am bringing stories to life with my words, or through my performances, I enjoy being able to provide a source of peace and escape. I think that requires a unique talent. Stories are meant to be immersive and the good ones can draw in an audience and transport them to other lives/worlds, if you will. Where characters are living, breathing creatures that you could pick them out of a lineup or hear their voices in a crowd. That same power is also what intrigues me the most about writing and storytelling. It’s being able to creatively control those narratives; making my audiences laugh, cry, get angry, become aroused, love, hate, and love some more, all with my words or my actions. When I’m operating in my artistry, I feel this is where I’m most alive.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I consider myself an entertainment mogul. I am a published author, actress, screenwriter, motivational speaker, producer, and filmmaker. Writing has been a passion of mine since the age of six. I believe it all started with my love for reading. When I was younger, I devoured books quicker than my mom could purchase them and pretty soon, my shelves were stocked full of Nora Roberts, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Maya Angelou, and the like. The more I read, the more I would think to myself, ‘I can do that.” So, I allowed my mind to wander. Before I knew it, I was writing short stories and drawing pictures to accompany the stories (even though I couldn’t draw at all). Being able to express my creativity was extremely rewarding and I loved making up characters and putting them in strange situations. I knew then that writing was my purpose. I was bit by the acting bug at the age of 12 but I started in theater. I stepped into the film industry as a way to marry my two passions of writing and acting. To me, they’re like two sides of the same coin. In both industries I am able to tell a story and bring characters to life, either through my pen or through my performance. I can also appreciate how both outlets strengthen each other when it comes to creating my narratives.
My biggest challenge during this journey is finding the time to do everything. I have my hands in a lot and between all of my business ventures, my full-time job, being a mommy, and everything else in between, I have to squeeze in every second I can. Plus, to make sure things get done, I have to make some sacrifices (like sleep, lol). It keeps me busy, that’s for sure. But it’s a good busy. For example, when I finished making my movie, I went about planning this elaborate red-carpet movie premiere (which was amazing)! Often times, I am juggling writing one book, marketing another, writing screenplays, auditions, taking acting classes, photoshoots, outlining new ideas, and pitching, just to name a few things. But this is what I’ve prayed for so I am certainly enjoying the ride and looking forward to the next levels. And thankfully, I have a phenomenal support system which most certainly helps!
I have grown tremendously as a creative over the years. I have learned the importance of building my audience so that I can have longevity in my field. It’s not enough to just put out a good story but I need people to read these stories. So, I spend a lot of time branding myself so that people trust me, trust my brand, and trust the quality of my work. I just want to be an inspiration to my kids and other young black women who are striving to make a name for themselves in the creative industries. That is what is so fulfilling about what I do. And I can only hope my passion shows through in my work.

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.
I’m an Atlanta native, born and bred. And because I am a foodie, my friend and I would have to try a lot of the food hotspots in and around the Atlanta Area. That’s a MUST. For brunch, we would dine at BQE, or Atlanta Breakfast Club, or (my absolute favorite) Gocha’s Breakfast Bar. I’m a wine lover so I would definitely have to take her to Chateau Elan where we could get massages, tour the vineyard, and have some fun seeing how to make our own custom wine. I also love the Wild Animal Safari near Columbus where the wild animals come up to your car and you can feed them. And I have a huge love of theater (of course) so we would catch a show or two at the Fox or perhaps a Comedy Club. We would also swing by Little Five Points for some eclectic vibes or Ponce City Market for good food, shopping, and activities. For dinners, we would have to go to a few of my favorites, Cafe Milano, Stoney River, Pappadeaux, On The Border, or (if she has money to spend) Capital Grille. Some after dinner fun would be Apache or Kats Cafe to listen to live music or poetry. I don’t club as much as I used to, but I’m familiar with a few spots to catch the nightlife, like Suite Food Lounge or Sutra.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate my shoutout like I dedicate my life and all of my work, to my beautiful sister Paige Christina. Everything I do is in her honor and I just hope that I’m making her as proud as she made me during her time here on Earth.

Website: www.brianacole.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bcoleauthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/bcoleauthor

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bcoleauthor

Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/BrianaCole

Other: www.tiktok.com/brianacole3