Center Stage: 'Dare' your new hot novel was released by Simon & Schuster December 2007, what do you expect your readers to gain from it?
ABIOLA: My debut novel Dare is the story of Maya Hope, a sociologist who goes undercover as a rapper and winds up in too deep. It is a fun, sexy, comedic story and because it is a hip hop novel it falls in the urban literature genre. However, I reference Alice Walker, Maya Angelou and Ntozake Shange in the telling of the story because it is most definitely literary. I, like most female authors, hate the term chick lit, however I use it and embrace it because I understand the need to put people in boxes to reach audiences. My primary obligation is to my audience, so it can be called whatever as long as they check it out. That's the long winded way of saying that the book is intended to be motivational chick lit. Its lesson, in a non-preachy way, is to be your own hero. It is fun, sexy and inspirational. I hope that women and men of all and experiences embrace it. Oh, the novel is in stores everywhere, and the interactive website is www.daretogetalife.com.

Center Stage: How did you arrive at BET Jazz?
ABIOLA: With all TV and film jobs you generally interview and audition. My two amazing producers Sean Joell Johnson and Ralph Scott were looking to go in a new direction with the show in its early stages. They felt that as a working indie filmmaker and former actress with an MFA in Film Arts I had the energy, fun and the thoughtfulness that their audiences were seeking. Oh, and BET Jazz officially became BET J in May 2006, so it's no longer called BET Jazz.

Center Stage: What are you most passionate about?
ABIOLA: That is a challenging question because I am a naturally very passionate woman. I can be moved to tears watching a commercial or a bird with its chickadees! (laughs), I am most passionate about people knowing their capacity and opening their minds.

Center Stage: Your screenplay Knives in My Throat was a dark screen play, how do you cope when things aren't going well for you?
ABIOLA: That's a great question. A few years ago, I went through the most painful experience in my life, when the relationship I'd been (for what I thought would be) for the rest of my life collapsed simultaneously with the death of two very close family members. I have very powerful faith, which gets me through those moments. I focus on knowing for sure 'this too will pass' , that's a good thing to repeat,  and reach for a better feeling from wherever I am standing. There is a Chinese proverb that motivates me: 'My barn having burned to the ground, now I can see the moon.' I wouldn't change a thing because I love who I have become as a result of everything, positive and negative, that I have experienced.

Center Stage: As a filmmaker, what are your thoughts on film competitions such as HBO's Greenlight where they pretty
much mold filmmakers into what they think they should be?
ABIOLA: Any corporate entity seeks to stamp its brand on those affiliated with it. Colleges and universities do the same thing, as do business/ work environments. We live in a capitalist society where unfortunately art for arts sake, without monetization, is rare. You have to embrace the market you've chosen. If you're a filmmaker, definitely seek out competitions like The Best Shorts on BET J and others. Not that I am partial or anything, but we give away $30,000 per season, and my executive producers and entire team really, love film!! Okay, maybe I am a wee bit partial!!

Center Stage: Have you ever been in a predicament where something you wrote or directed got into the hands of someone else, taking away from your creativity?
ABIOLA: YES, yes, and yes! However, like I stated before, we live in a capitalist society. So, we as artists have a choice, love or money? Oftentimes thankfully those things are one in the same. Occasionally, they are not. It is the choice of the artist. However, I have found that for the most part, this forces me to be more creative in coming up with other options to stay true to my original intention. Some things though you may have to release independently to retain control.

Center Stage: Who has been your biggest director- influence?
ABIOLA: My biggest influence, without a doubt would be Mr. Spike Lee. When I had the good fortune to work with him, it opened my mind to the possibilities for me. He was a trailblazer. I exist because of him and others like him. I am very aware every day that I stand on the shoulders of giants.

Center Stage: Who has been your biggest influence outside of the cinematic world?
ABIOLA: On a personal level, my parents are my biggest heroes. Then of course I am lucky to have grown up after civil rights, with Oprah and A Different World on TV and Madonna taking risks. I had many positive influences. I can't name one, but my company id named The Goddess Factory, in partial tribute to radical artist, Andy Warhol. I appreciate the maverick approach to life that he took.

Center Stage: If you could choose anyone in the world to direct your bio-pic, who would it be?
ABIOLA: Oh wow, my bio pic, Girl, let me get some more work done first!!! Hahahaa, See that's a trick question because my first instinct would be to say me, but I might be too close to honestly present the material so I would have to say Kasi Lemmons and Miranda July can co-direct! Kasi because she is a phenomenal storyteller capable of deciphering the drama dahlia, that is Abiola Abrams J and Miranda July, who is a West coast weirdo artist chick like I am to make sure the indie weirdness of me stays in!

Center Stage: What have you learned?
ABIOLA: All kinds of stuff! I have learned that there's only but so much animal print one woman can own! I have learned that red and purple can match in a weird way if you squint. I have learned that when you are having a fat day on TV you should wear sleeves. But most of all, I just keep relearning my pageant answer: with faith in a higher power, courage, commitment and hard work, absolutely all things are truly possible.

Center Stage: What advice would you give to aspiring writers / screenwriters and directors?
ABIOLA: Do your homework, don't be lazy and learn your craft. Investigate many ways of telling your stories and don't be afraid to be different or unique. Also use Google people. Many answers are there. Someone wrote me the other day asking how to adapt a novel into a screenplay. I did an Amazon search and the book with both words in the title was right there. Another person asked for screenplay submission advice and I suggested a production company. She wrote me back asking for their website. This honestly upset me because I couldn't understand why she wouldn't just do a Google or Yahoo search after I had taken the time to give her the answer. There's no magic formula other than believing in yourself with everything in you and taking action.

Center Stage: What's next for you?
ABIOLA: Well as you know I am the host of BET's The Best Shorts (Sundays and Tuesdays on BET J at 8pm) and my novel DARE is in stores. People are loving the book and I enjoy having conversations with book clubs about it. I plan to do more interactive things with my website because I have a solid and growing fan base that I love communicating with, so look for a new daily show in conjunction with blackplanet.com called Planet Abiola. Nothing but bigger and better from here on. For you, me and everyone reading your magazine, the sky is the only limit! My work is about making us more powerful culturally, emotionally, sexually and politically. Watch my films, read excerpts and check out more at www.abiolaabrams.com or hit me up on http://www.myspace.com/goddessfactory. If you like the book, please post positive feedback for me at amazon.com because people think that we don't read anymore and I'm taking center stage to prove them wrong! This was fun, thank you.


Kamah Alicia Scott
Freelance writer
www.kas.mysite.com
"Kima"
Always ask, somebody might say yes
www.myspace.com/urbanbookwriter

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