We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cybil Lake. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cybil below.

Cybil, appreciate you joining us today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?

I had a sales job where I made lots of cold calls. This job showed me how persistent you had to be just to get one bite! It also taught me to have tough skin and let the words of others just roll off of you. These are super valuable lessons for the entertainment business.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Currently, I have a few projects that I wrote that are ready to go: a tv dramedy pilot, a thriller feature film, and a novel. I have a film on Amazon called Central Park Dark starring myself and Tom Sizemore. I wrote, directed, and acted in the film which is about a one night stand that turns into a never ending nightmare. Most of the film takes place in Central Park in New York City. This film is distributed by High Octane Pictures worldwide and on streaming services. We had dozens and dozens of press including national and local news. Before that, I was in several films and TV shows including HBO’s Girls and NBC’s The Black List.
I’ve directed two feature films and several shorts but I am an actor and writer foremost. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to act and write — probably around four years old or younger. Perhaps what sets me apart is that I love taking giant risks. My favorite roles are terribly flawed but lovable females. I love writing and performing reckless, unbalanced, intelligent characters. I’ve always had a knack for developing characters, but it’s taken me decades to understand plot and structure.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

There are so many rewards to creativity. First of all, the selfish reasons: I find writing and performing are the most liberating things that I can do. There’s nothing in the world as being in the ‘flow’…and that’s certainly not all the time and arriving there is also part of magic. There’s a unique freedom in allowing the work — a story or performance — to take over you and carry you, in a truthful way. Practice and preparation may get you there but there are no guarantees. That’s what makes creating art so elusive. I have painted my whole life. I’m self taught and I don’t hold myself to any standard. I take it lightly and I sincerely don’t feel that I will ‘do it wrong’. I’ve made a lot of bad paintings but it never affects me. I had a revelation a few years ago that I need to view acting and writing in the same way.

Creativity also offers fruits and rewards for others: stories, performances, and characters that entertain, shock, teach, and move us.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Nearly everyone who acts and writes must endure countless nos. That’s a part of the business. Resilience is a must. I’ve had haters write horrific things online about me. I’ve heard peers say things behind my back. But if you hear a bunch of nos and decide to quit your creative pursuit — then perhaps the yes inside of you wasn’t loud enough.

Nonetheless, I can get discouraged. I’ve endured so much rejection as an artist. So many auditions and rejections from film festivals, etc. When I was younger, I made a feature film of which I was proud and when it didn’t get into certain film festivals back then I was very discouraged. It takes time to move on from disappointments. I didn’t want to be involved in film and TV for a while. Then, I got cast in a commercial and on set I remembered how much I enjoyed the process. I missed performing. I missed storytelling. I promised myself that if I got back into the business, I would remember to keep a positive outlook and not take things personally. That’s not always easy but I try my best.

Also, I have two boys who are four and six and a husband. Without question, they are my number one priorities. I’m grateful that my parents instilled in me a strong sense of family first. Nothing compares to the love I feel for my family. But my heart and soul won’t be quiet unless I create and that has not changed because I have children. I was definitely born an artist and I think my boys may be too, fingers crossed. ;-)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cybillake.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/cybiilake
• Facebook: Facebook.com/cybillake
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/cybil-lake123/
• Twitter: twitter.com/cybillake