Today we’d like to introduce you to Ciera Danielle.
Hi Ciera, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I began as a little dreamer in her teens in Los Angeles pursuing an acting career. After a while I began making movies myself and pretty much dared to do the impossible. By the grace of God and with the help of other fellow dreamers, I’ve been able to produce, write, direct and act in many feature films over the last decade and a half. Upon moving to Nashville 6 years ago, my husband and I founded a production company and became focused on creating art for the Kingdom – movies, content and music that bring hope and love into the world.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life does not move in a straight line. And if you endeavor to do meaningful things, things like starting a family, ministering to those in need or creating art, you are going to face often harrowing obstacles. I chose to do all three of those things at the same time. I have encountered my fair share of obstacles and have most definitely walked through the fire, but quite honestly art has always been a refuge for me. When it comes to art especially, I have always believed, and seen proven again and again, that anything is possible for you if you have faith and are willing to work hard. Often when things seem most dire in life, whether that be financial trouble or broken relationships or you name it, God will bring some beautiful new idea for a story or a song to life inside of my heart and then I get the chance to dare to dream again to see it come to pass. Moments like those have given me the inspiration to keep going through many trials.
I’ve encountered major set backs, failures, rejections, personal dilemmas, lack, betrayals, the list can go on and on, but I have also experienced miracle upon miracle in those very same seasons. I have learned that creating art is a way to keep the flame of hope and fulfillment lit in your heart no matter what struggle you are facing.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create Kingdom art in the form of movies, music, plays and free content online. You can watch many of my movies on platforms such as Amazon Prime or Pureflix to name a few. You can watch a 14 time award winning documentary I wrote, produced and edited alongside my husband and father in law called “Sparks: The Ken Sparks Story” on Amazon, or on a smaller scale a faith and family musical based on Psalm 23 called “Song of The South” free on Youtube. I’ve made larger films like those that have had a theatrical release at movie theaters, but I also make content from home as I’m raising my three daughters. I have a show for moms free on Youtube called “Honey and Wheat: Nourishment for a Mother’s Heart”. I believe we should always be creating as artists and releasing our work into the world to bless others, no matter how big or small that art may be.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I really think that we underestimate what we are capable of and what God can do in our lives when given the chance. My husband and I took a huge risk when we endeavored to make a feature film ourselves with no budget and no crew – our musical “Song of The South”. I wrote it, acted in it, sang on screen for the first time and co-directed it as well – all with a new baby on my hip, oh and it was a period piece! The desire and need to express art does not have to make sense though.
We owned all of the camera equipment and shot in our house, so we were able to keep the budget extremely low. We shot only when we could so it took us two years to complete the movie. We cast our family and did most of the work ourselves. What started as a huge risk, turned out to be a gorgeous family adventure that is eternally a very beautiful film and soundtrack that anyone can enjoy all over the world for free.
If I did not take risks, then I would say about ninety percent of my life would not exist. My advice to any reader would be to jump right in and don’t look back. You’ll find yourself carried and walking on water.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2949229/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciera_danielle_/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cieradaniellejoslin
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HoneyandWheat
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ommd2Uu93s4&t=294s
