Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Briana Morris. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Briana thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
One of the greatest risks I’ve taken is deciding to start another business. Many know me from the work of my production company established in 2015, B Mor Productions (BMP). From the start, BMP has been an artist-driven entertainment company committed to bold storytelling that is intentional about shaping the culture and elevating cinematic media and digital content. However, a little over two years ago, I was called to start B Mor Studios (BMS) in Los Angeles, where we take bold storytelling to another level. I saw the need for training not only in production but in artistprenuership as well. BMS is an entertainment production house that focuses on making connections through storytelling, media, and thoughtful engagement. B Mor Studios was created as a training ground for artistic development. We’re a home where stories live, discover, and develop. In today’s world, it’s difficult to find a place that serves the storyteller from art form to social engagement. Places that were once created for innovation and vision have expanded beyond the walls that once housed them. We live in a society that requires more than simply in-person job enhancement. This was a life-changing risk as it would require me to step out of my comfort zone and establish relationships with schools, legislatures, unions, and arts education affiliates. Not at all how I imagined my new normal after the pandemic. However, I do not regret the decision. BMS has taken leaps and bounds in just a short time toward helping artists take ownership of their creative lane. We currently have a partnership with Ithaca College Los Angeles where we offer virtual internships to students pursuing a career in the arts, media, or entertainment industry. Our hope is that B Mor Studios can partner with more schools, offer more resources to our community, and eventually own our own studio space.
Briana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Briana Morris, better known as simply B Mor. I am the visionary behind B Mor Productions, LLC and B Mor Studios, LLC. I am a multi-hyphenate artist on a mission to elevate and excel. My training extends beyond the disciplines of acting, writing, and producing. When I’m not in front of the camera or on stage, you can usually find me behind the scenes —actively transforming a story from script to screen or stage. I am an alumna of the Mecca, Howard University. Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, IL. With dual residency between Chicago and Los Angeles, I wake up every day trying to figure out how in the world I can combine my ambiguous relationship with tacos, traveling, and TV with my passion. My goal in life? It’s simple. To laugh 100xs per day, and have fun doing what I love! “Earn your sleep” is my motto and this is what drives me every day.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Invest in artists, show compassion, and share the art. By investing in creativity one becomes a catalyst for change. It not only strengthens the community but also encourages social evolution, and fosters accountability to keep the arts alive. Show me a society without the arts, and I’ll show you a community that is failing its people. As the saying goes, “Put your money where your mouth is.” Support is a verb. Invest in artistic expression through actions that back and support the sustainability of creatives. Artists deserve the right to make a living, not simply minimum wage, through their art and pursue their piece of the American Dream. Investing in local art promotes community dollars that are recycled back into the community. It contributes to the local socioeconomic infrastructure, increases economic prosperity, and benefits the overall health of one’s neighborhood. By fostering compassion, it builds a bridge between humanity and human connection. It boosts the well being of the culture and ultimately strengthens its people. By sharing art, it sparks innovation, encourages imaginative play, inspires expression, and allows history to thrive for the current generation and beyond. What’s helpful to creatives is ensuring the sustainability of art, as well as artists now and for years to come.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I must confess the newest addition to my bookshelf is “Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It,” by Chris Voss. I initially heard about this book at a leadership conference in Los Angeles earlier this year. I would’ve never imagined that it would be as transformative as it has been. Every mogul, businessperson, artistprenuership, man, woman, and beast needs to read this book. It breaks communication down into bite-size nuggets for anyone who just so happens to find themselves in any type of negotiation. The practicality of the examples is spot on. From buying a car to negotiating a raise to preventing a rent increase, this book provides everything you need to know about closing a deal. Do yourself a favor and add this beauty to your collection. You’ll thank me for it later!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bmorstudios.com
- Instagram: @bmorstudios
- Facebook: Facebook.com/bmorstudios
Image Credits
Photos of B Mor Productions and B Mor Studios.