Exclusive Interview: Playwright Shamora Carter of Shamora Carter Productions

Hey friends! I'm back at it again with another exclusive interview! But, before I get started, I have some unfortunate news I want to share with you. This is also the reason this interview dropped later than expected. On January 22, 2022 my brother-in-law, Shelton Barker, who was married to my sister and best friend, passed away from the awful widespread virus that is COVID-19. This tragic news caught my entire family off guard. I have to send a special shout out to all the prayer warriors out there who sent their condolences to my family. We appreciate you. In honor of Shelton, feel free to watch a TikTok memorial video I made for him by clicking here.

Now, let's get back to our exclusive interview with Shamora Carter! I had the pleasure of getting to know the Treasure Coast playwright, writer and producer who's also the founder of Shamora Carter Productions. In this exclusive post, you'll get a closer look at who Shamora is, the insight to her grounded wisdom, and how her inspirational and thought provoking play, Out of Time has deeply affected me and many others. Let's get right into it!

MOTS: Miss Shamora Carter, welcome to The Scenery! Let's dive right in. Tell me about where you're from and your upbringing.

SHAMORA: Thank you for having me, Martine. I'm from the Sunshine State. I was born and raised in South Florida and moved to Port Saint Lucie with my mom and step dad when I was a teenager. I have two sisters and a brother, and I’m the baby of the bunch. For as long as I can remember, my mom has always been involved in the church, so I spent a lot of time in church as I was growing up too.

My biological father passed away when my mom was pregnant with me, but my mom said his wish was to make sure I “did everything.” She kept her promise and signed me up for literally everything: dance, cheer, basketball, piano lessons, you name it. Doing that taught me at an early age not to fear the new and to try everything I was interested in. So, I’d say I grew up pretty open minded and eager to try new things and with the biblical background, it added a pretty good balance to how I viewed life.

MOTS: Wow, my condolences for the loss of your biological father. But boy, your mom did not mess around! You've had such a blessed upbringing. I love that. So, how did you become a writer?

SHAMORA: I’ve always enjoyed writing. When I was about 8 years old, I would write short poems and stories. But, I think church really pushed me to the next level. In my early teens, my mom was the church secretary and she would look up inspirational poems to read to the congregation. One Sunday, she forgot to print the poem so I volunteered to write one about the sermon; the people were impressed and they started requesting that I do that every Sunday.

Eventually I began writing for guest pastors and even other churches. It was a constant challenge to think fast, and I fell in love with the adrenaline rush I got from the crowd reactions. Eventually it transitioned from short poems, to short stories, and eventually I began writing books and scripts, which is where I am now on my writing journey.

MOTS: What a journey! So, I've seen you in your element in two different ways; as a busy writer for both the stage and poetry events. What are some of the challenges distinct to each medium for you and what are the strongest similarities?

SHAMORA: Although they both have several challenges, the poetry show, Poetic Persuasion is a lot easier to produce. Putting on an artist showcase isn’t nearly as time consuming, and in my opinion it’s more of simple event coordination. On the contrary, executing the plan to bring a production to life is a lot more complex. There are so many steps from writing, to casting, to building sets and rehearsals; it really becomes a lot.

The strongest similarity between those two different elements are the talent. In both settings I get the privilege of finding new talent, and connecting with different artists and actors that I usually look forward to working with again. True business relationships and even genuine friendships have formed just from doing what I do and connecting with other people who have similar goals and interests. I cherish that the most.

Out of Time Eternity Tour — Source: Shamora Carter Productions

MOTS: I've yet to experience the unique experience that is a walking play tour. Your play Out of Time was just that; a true lesson of deep faith in God. What inspired you to write Out of Time? I, myself, along with other audience members were so touched by it. Want to see for yourself? Watch the audience reviews below. Then we'll get back to the interview afterwards to learn more about your process for this production.

WATCH AUDIENCE REVIEWS FOR OUT OF TIME THE ETERNITY TOUR

SHAMORA: Out of Time was one of those projects that I feel like I may have needed for myself. It started off as a short story that I wrote in a new job training class to pass time in 2013. When I reread it, I was able to actually visualize the story and the characters, it all felt so real. So, I challenged myself to make it into a skit, the more I added the more I realized that it was a full length play.

After taking the leap of faith and deciding I wanted to put on my first play, I casted and began rehearsals. With each rehearsal I began to really understand that God spoke to me through that script. I believe the message was to remind me that it’s not about being perfect, it’s just about having a relationship with God. That’s when you are able to get closer to him and gain discernment, and clarity and even direct answers to your questions. I can only hope people take the same message away from it, simply understanding that you should build that relationship with God while you still have time here on earth, because you’ll never know when you’ll be out of time.

MOTS: That's absolutely special. I get goosebumps every time I read your response. What’s the first piece of inspiration that gets a new play started for you? Is it an image, a theme, a character?

SHAMORA: It varies. Sometimes, I’ll have a crazy dream and when I wake up I’ll think, “that would be a good idea for a movie.” And there have been a few times where I say a phrase or a megaphone in a casual conversation and a light bulb will go off and that voice comes back, “that could be a catchy title for a movie.” But, most of my storylines are inspired by true events that I’ve witnessed or experienced, and I just add a little “razzle dazzle” to it to make it more entertaining.

MOTS: Okay, I see you! Who are some current playwrights you follow and think should get more recognition?

SHAMORA: Tyler Perry is my biggest inspiration. His life's story is so motivating and is a constant reminder for me that all things really are possible. I think he gets the recognition he deserves and I believe he truly worked hard for everything he’s gained on his journey to success.

MOTS: I absolutely agree. Tyler Perry's ethics and passion are undeniable. I most certainly understand why he's your inspiration. So what do you think are the main obstacles playwrights face to gain wider recognition?

SHAMORA: I personally think the film /production industry is one of those environments where “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” and although networking can definitely open doors, sometimes it’s difficult to gain wider recognition when you haven’t met “the right person” yet. So often times aspiring writers and directors end up at a standstill when they’ve exhausted all of their local options. However, I’ve been noticing many new platforms that are catered to our craft and bridging the gap between underground and mainstream exposure.

MOTS: What can we expect from you in 2022?

SHAMORA: My manager actually just said that the word of the year is “more.” You can expect a lot more from me. Starting with my miniseries, Lethal Lover which will be premiering in the first quarter of the year. Out of Time is also taking the show on tour and we plan to go to several states, as well as return to our first home, in Fort Pierce. I have a few other projects that should be coming out of the vault as well to show a different side of me creatively, so stay tuned!

MOTS: More of Mora...that's so exciting! I can't wait to see where your projects take you! Do you have any words of wisdom for young black women who want to become writers?

SHAMORA: Just go for it. You can really do whatever you put your mind to. Also, don’t wait to get all of your ducks in a row, just take that leap of faith and learn as you go because you don’t want to miss your chance. And, if no one else does, I believe in you!

MOTS: Now that's inspirational. Do you have any shout outs you'd like to give?

SHAMORA: Yes, I’m so grateful for my team! Huge thanks to my mom, Marissa, who is also one of the sponsors of Out of Time. She’s always been supportive of my craft and she always finds a way to keep me on track. My manager, Tracy, she’s really pushing me to reach my potential and the fact that she believes in me this much is honestly an indescribable feeling. My business partner and friend, Tyler, he’s been extremely helpful throughout my season of growing as an artist, a writer, and entrepreneur. Lastly, my good friend Jaharie. He’s never too far when I need him and he always helps keep me going when the load gets too heavy. There are plenty of others that I love and thank for being apart of my journey. I could go on all day naming everyone. I’m forever grateful for everyone who is truly a supporter of me. I don’t ever take that lightly.

MOTS: You can definitely count me in as one of your supporters. That's why I had to write about you. If you're a part of my blog, you're definitely special. Thank you for taking the time to interview with me at The Scenery. I wish you nothing but pure success and abundant blessings. We all look forward to experiencing More of Mora! You are amazing Queen, keep on shining.