We recently connected with Samora Smallwood and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Samora thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The biggest risk I’ve taken was pretty recently, when I made a massive pivot in my career. As an actor you play characters in the service of an overall story. And I was a natural born storyteller (there are years worth of old camera footage my grandfather made of me doing accents, practicing comedy, and telling tales. So it made sense to everyone when I decided to go to theater school then became a professional actor. In the past couple of years though, I’ve felt called to start telling my own stories. As a child I’d written plays, cast them, held rehearsals and put on shows. My siblings and I even had the gall to charge our neighbors money to come watch! As a school kid, I’d written stories and even placed in the “Young Authors” program. And one of my best memories is when, in highschool, I’d written a fictional piece about Marilyn Monroe. In my story, Marilyn, after an attempt on her life, presumes a false identity and runs off to New York, to become a serious actor (one of her great dreams), proving she had been one all along, because nobody caught on that she was THE Marilyn Monroe. Anyway, my teacher, Mr. Lennie, who loved stories, and would read aloud, acting out the characters, asked to speak to me after reading my Marilyn Monroe story. I thought I was in trouble (there were some edgy parts in my story–it WAS about Marilyn Monroe after all). But I wasn’t in trouble. I’ll never forget how excited Mr Lennie was when I entered the class and walked up to him. He loved my story. Said he’d read it many times. And then, I’ll never forget, he locked his eyes on mine, and practically begged me to become a writer. I became an actor instead.

Now, back to that calling I was having. To tell my own stories. To write. This time I set out to write and create films and television series. My favorite genres are crime, true crime, mystery, thriller, action, and comedy. This led to my decision to launch a production company, Hold One Entertainment. We’ve just wrapped production on our first television series, on which I wrote, served as showrunner, lead actress and director. It’s an adult coming of age romantic comedy called Coming Home which will air on Bell TV1 in 2025. We also have two other tv series, a female revenge procedural and a mystery crime thriller in development, as well as a feature film, set to shoot in my home province of Newfoundland. I wrote all three scripts. This moment is the biggest risk I’ve taken. Pivoting from passionate actor for hire to creator of a diverse media empire (let me manifest!). Really, I know that I am now becoming commander of my own fate. It’s a massive risk, and I hope an inspiring one, because whenever we choose to expand our identities, deviate from what’s expected of us, and let our biggest dreams and deepest fears be known by way of new pursuits, we make ourselves vulnerable. We become brave in the face of change. We surrender to our lives unfolding the way they’re meant to. My personal mantra, “Manifest Yo Shit”, is about living a lifestyle of dedication, hard work, faith, and belief not only in the validity of your dreams, but in your worthiness to achieve them. My goal is to tell entertaining, emotionally resonant stories that usurp stereotypes and center traditionally marginalized voices. I am dedicating myself to the work it takes to become a successful creator for tv and film. To become a good writer. Like any craft, it will be a lifelong pursuit, and like any passion, that idea really excites me. I have thoroughly enjoyed the work so far, poring over and breaking down hundreds of the best scripts, practicing pitching, asking for help from leaders who are now mentors, and writing, writing and rewriting to get to this point. In the beginning, the demon of imposter syndrome would incessantly attempt to get in the door, and that damn quote “Jack of all trades master of none” played on a loop in my mind. I had won a Canadian Screen Award (Canada’s highest acting honor) as an actor and was making a good living from acting. Why did I have to now try to write, create, and produce my own stuff? Then one night, I was in Los Angeles, writing the outline for the Female Rage Procedural, when my mom called, and I lamented much the same and repeated the quote to her ‘A jack of all trades is a master of none” and she said “Do you know what the end of that quote is?’ I didn’t. So she texted it to me:

Text from Mamacita: (A jack of all trades is a master of none) though oftentimes better than a master of one”

Limiting ourselves to exploring just one facet of our talents, gifts, and skills, we were blessed with, is a dereliction of our sacred duty, I believe. God/Spirit/Universe whatever you believe in, bestowed these gifts upon us, and then put the calling on our hearts, so we’d know what to do with them. That’s the surest sign that you’re worthy of all that you desire. And the other part of Manifest Yo Shit, that always resonates with people the most is that Manifest Yo Shit promises that no matter where you come from, and no matter what happened to you, you have the ability and the right to achieve the life you dream of. So that’s what I’m doing, following the unfolding of this beautiful life of mine, led by the light of my wildest passions. When I read back that last line, it rather seems like a divine blessing, and not a risk at all.

Samora, 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?

I’m an actress, writer, producer and director for television and film who started in the theatre. I’m also a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. My production company, Hold One Entertainment, was recently announced in industry publication Deadline, as well as our first series, an adult coming of age rom com “Coming Home” which will air on Bell TV1 in 2025. The goal for my company, Hold One Entertainment, is to craft unforgettable films, series, and diverse media and collaborating with inspired storytellers. Coming Home is not simply a series, but a calling, to come home to one’s authentic voice and true power. It’s had a transformative affect on my mental health, my manifestation abilities, my self worth, and my ability to become who I’m meant to be. The Coming Home Community is an empowerment group I created this year. We get together usually once a month (in person and online meet ups are available). What we do in the group sessions in sacred work that I truly feel called to do, as we both free ourselves from generational baggage and exalt our ancestors, inviting them to join the new era. It’s really a great group of what I call “brave explorers”. If this resonates with readers, they can visit The Actors Work Studio social media to fill out an application to join the Coming Home Community.

Lastly, I am launching a new line of “Manifest Yo Shxt” products which will be available at www.manifestyoshxt.com. I haven’t launched any new Manifest Yo Shxt merch since 2018 when I had a simple collection of t-shirts and crystal candles for manifestation (that were charged under the new & full moon). This new line has many pieces that are chic, high quality, cool, well-fitting, fashionable and designed with care for the movers and shakers, and magical manifest yo shxt makers. I’m so proud of it, and it’s been a long time in the making. I’m in my multi-hyphenate bag, heavy and I love it! <3

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Part of both “Coming Home” to your power and vibrating at an energy to Manifest Yo Shxt is about letting go of outdated thoughts patterns and beliefs that are holding you back. Off the top of my head, stuff I let go of that has had a transformative affect on my life/mental health/relationships and career?

-deference (it’s dead)
-seeking external validation
-people pleasing
-creating art from a place of scarcity
-imposter syndrome
-weak boundaries
-investing too much in others opinions
-perfectionism (it’s just keeping you from sharing your work or getting outside your comfort zone)
-always being the expert (you’re in the wrong rooms)
-procrastination (do it NOW)
-doing everything myself
-being ashamed to ask for help
-lack of trusting myself/the unfolding of my life
-being afraid or unaware of how powerful I am
-closed mouths don’t get fed

to name a few….

Advice for people who want to manifest something:

invest in your healing journey
pray
meditate
or otherwise develop a spiritual practice
and follow the breadcrumbs in conflict & momentum building (join the Coming Home Community for more insight on these tools to come home to your power and manifest yo shxt)

xx, Samora
You got this! (don’t let anyone tell you otherwise)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hold1ent.com
• Instagram: @samoragloria @theactorsworkstudio @hold1ent @manifestyoshit
• Facebook: Samora Smallwood, The Actors Work Studio
• Twitter: @samoragloria
• Youtube: @samoragloria

Image Credits

in order
B&W: Anthony Fascione
Blue Suit (in studio): George Pimentel, Canadian Screen Awards Studio
Black & White Full Body; George Pimentel, Canadian Screen Award Winners Studio
White Men’s Shirt: Anthony Fascione
ON-Set with Samora Smallwood Director Clapper: Robert Ifedi
The “Coming Home Community” Photos (group of women hugging, Samora with clasped hands) social media co-ordinator Laura Mannion
The Manifest Yo Shit merchandise shots in South of France (Cap Ferrat), at Eiffel Tower taken by my mother Karen Smallwood