Ms. Laura Poindexter:Director, Producer Screenwriter with Unshakable Faith

aura Poindexter is an American Actress, Producer, Director, Writer and Screenwriter. A native New Yorker from Harlem and Baltimore, MD. She now resides in Atlanta, GA., making a difference with Unshakable Faith. Ms. Poindexter spent 23 years at John Hopkins Center for Social Concern/ Drug Court & Veterans Administration and Foster Care Systems. She is the Mother of one son and a proud glamorous grandma. A proclaimed graduate of The University of Get Your Head Right, her determination and spiritual gratitude have helped shape lives, leading by example. Winner of Best Experimental Screenplay, at the Georgia Shorts Film Festival (2019) Official Selection at the Drama Inc. Film Festival 2020, Semi-Finalist at the Red Flight Pictures Screenplay awards (Top 250 Scripts out of 3,500 submitted scripts), an Official Selection at the Baltimore Next Media Web Fest. It is a story of sheer will, service to others, and learning to hear and follow Gods’ voice when His divine grace seems to have dwindled.

Ms. Poindexter learned the hardships life brings at a young age. The life-changing event of

Director, Producer & Screenwriter with Unshakable Faith!

her Mother’s death, at the tender age of 6. She and her sister went to live with their paternal grandmother. A decision made by their father, he felt ill-equipped to deal with raising them without his wife. Processing the grief was unattainable for a young Laura stating in retrospect.

Black families, especially in that era, had no thought of grief counseling. Children get left to muddle through their losses with prayers and gratitude that someone in their family cared for them. At such a tender age, children rarely know how to express their need for help or reassurance. It felt as though she had lost both parents.

The devastating death of their Mother, the desperate departure of her father in his grief, him feeling inadequate to raise two daughters. Nevertheless, they needed him to nurture them in their grief too. The struggles she endured would later be the empowerment she used to help others.

Between the ages of 6-30, Ms. Poindexter had a tumultuous life, as well as divine interventions. Unable to process the loss of her mother. The decisions she made during her adolescence were all a reflection of the untreated emotions of her loss. Crack was the culprit of her escape, but the divine intervention was her capacity and desire to give the love she had missed so much to the child she found herself carrying at age 21.

Ms. Poindexter used her compassionate nature to help countless others during her years of Addiction and Recovery Counseling. This self-sacrificing nature took precedence and eased her internalized pain. She was exceptional in the counseling and judicial interventions of her community.

Pregnant at 21, her addiction started early in life. Few have the self-less strength to realize the hurt addiction can cause an unborn child while using the hauntingly addictive substance of crack. Ms. Poindexter was determined to supply the love and stability her childhood lacked. She was all too familiar with traumatic events. Comprehending the depth of love missing in her life without a mother, she was determined to make a change with the gift of her child.

She had family in Baltimore and moved there at 21 starting her journey into motherhood drug-free but without skills. Determined to make a better life for her son than welfare provides, she resorted to selling the vice that once gripped her while remaining clean. With the same success as her later ventures, Ms. Poindexter found herself at the hands of the Law. It would be the mercy of the judge presiding over her case that would bring a new beginning for this woman of monumental service to those whose lives she changed.

The young mother speaking on her own behalf as allowed. Her words resonated with the judge, who saw her potential with astute clarity. Convicted and sentenced to work full-time and report to jail immediately every Friday, fulfilling the sentence on weekends. Ms. Poindexter credits the judge. But it was by her own need and strength that eventually allowed her to work most sufficiently on the judicial merit system. She spoke up about needing assistance and being unskilled with a keen mindset to utilize the opportunity and fulfill the Judge’s (unheard-of today) sentencing. Miraculously the character and tenacity she showed in that court landed her a job at that very courthouse.

Although understandable why she credits the many people she worked with during that time for her unprecedented success. Yes, they ensured she was further educated and allowed to succeed at her fullest potential. Her gratitude showed in her relentless pursuit of helping others day after day. The efforts which she gave countless others, in truth, filled the void her plight had left. She functioned, having never lost sight of the fact that she was allowed an opportunity to prove herself worthy.

She not only achieved getting clean for a healthy son and overcoming what typically would have been the loss of her child by the current standard of court proceedings. Ms. Poindexter accomplished her degree and worked in Health and Human Services, excelling to Site Supervisor at John Hopkins Center for Social Concerns. The 34 years recovered addict went back to her community to help those struggling with addiction.

Realizing that drugs aren’t the problem, so much as the readily available, easily obtainable

self-medicating solution, most addicts incur. For 23 yrs. she dedicated her life to the wins of her clients.

She never considered dreams of her childhood or the what-ifs, so many clutter their thoughts with, she focused with determination to win the endless pursuit of her worthiness. She put forth tireless efforts in pursuing justice for those whose lives were broken by circumstance and human flaws.

To her dismay, her marriage ended. The life of stability and comfort she had built through years of dedication were gone. Finding herself lost in emotion and disparity from marriage, the twists and turns of life, she was at first angry. The failed marriage, losing the comforts her life’s hard work had built, was nearly unbearable. In a conversation with God, His voice awakened what had laid dormant during all those years of service. Then God’s voice said, start writing, and eventually she gave in. With no other outlet for the turmoil and disillusionment she felt, she wrote to God himself. While nothing in her world appeared to be working out, there were no traces of the universal scope of the path God had put her on.

With humor that only exposes her will and undeniable wit. She jokes about her family questioning drug usage when she disclosed her plans to leave Baltimore and pursue her unspoken dream. Unable to live with the “what ifs” any longer. Laura Poindexter packed a suitcase, took a twenty-four-hour bus ride to Georgia, and arrived in Atlanta at 50 years old, an untrained talent ready to proceed with the same tenacity used for success over the decades.

Now with only $32.00 to her name and sleeping at a friends’ place with no solid plan for success. She had her work cut out for her in an industry where ageism, race, and gender are a huge aspect of your ability to succeed.

Though the odds were against her, she decided to follow her lifelong

passion of becoming a creative force in one of the most difficult genres, at an age that can defy one’s logic.

Once moved, she started writing poetry and posting it via social media. The response gained her notoriety, and she was invited to appear on Podcasts discussing her works. Seeing greater opportunities but staggering in Atlanta, she found herself traveling back and forth between Baltimore and Georgia, hosting gigs and fashion shows. Eventually, she began seeing glimpses of God’s plan as doors started to open. While at her friends, she started appearing as an extra on various productions, getting a feel for the overall process of making film productions.

With humility and grace, Ms. Poindexter laughs at the inexperience, bad headshots, or lack of a portfolio and resume she auditioned without. But God’s grace preceded her and to their dismay, casting directors and the like would say there’s just something about her. As she stated “but by His grace,” they saw something. She put faith and trust in that unspoken “something,” they saw.

It was Bobby Huntley. A director, producer, writer, and editor who began his journey as a filmmaker at the tender age of ten years old. He gave Ms. Poindexter her first true break. She and that deep voice with her small frame got her first speaking role as a nightclub owner in a short film of his. Having landed supporting and lead roles in movie shorts, feature-length, independent films, and web series. Eventually, came the Netflix role in Killer Mike’s- “Trigger Warning” SE1/EP4 playing herself. Determination, focus, passion, wisdom, and experience at an age most people are thinking about retiring. She is just getting started.

She admits that she’s experienced ageism and any other ism that exist, but it never deterred her calling. Her biggest accomplishment was, reinventing herself realizing she need not demand attention. Allow God’s grace to command their attention.

Ms. Laura Poindexter, within a few short years, is now an actress, producer, director, filmmaker, and Multi-Award Winning Screenwriter. Working hard to become someone to watch in the industry, her credits are endless.

In various independent film projects, she received her first Writer, Director, Casting, and Producer credits in 2019 for the movie short “Choose This Day,” which can be found on IMDB. She has secured her first web series as Writer, Project Manager, and Co-Star.

“The Next Assignment,” an action, drama web series with numerous twists and turns. Despite the setbacks of the pandemic, Ms. Poindexter is writing and producing content, writing for other projects, and is always critically thinking about her next move. A finalist at the Hip-Hop Film Festival (2018). Winner of Best Experimental Screenplay at the Georgia Shorts Film Festival (2019). Official Selection at the Drama Inc. Film Festival 2020, Semi-Finalist at the Red Flight Pictures Screenplay awards (Top 250 Scripts out of 3,500 submitted scripts), an Official Selection of the Baltimore Next Media Web Fest. Her movie short/music video, Choose This

Day-The Prequel, was an official selection at the Do It Yourself Film Festival (2019) won the best music video at the Accord Cin Fest, and Baltimore’s Next Media Web Fest, the very best of New Media Content. She also holds the title People’s Choice Screenwriter of The Year by the International Christian Film and Music Festival.

While proud of her industry accomplishments, she states that nothing is more rewarding than being, inspiration to others. An unusually young 55, she explains her graduate degree from The University of Life. Get your mind right. The only thing people get out of Urban Living is being sick and tired, of being sick and tired. Once you get your mind right, you can exist around the same people you did your dirt with, in the worse times.

People find absurd excuses not to get their heads together. You have to re-acclimate yourself. It is a continuing education becoming the person that is the opposite of your former self. Fighting for upward mobility is a new arena for those surrounded by the very community they used drugs for escaping from is the ultimate re-education from the past and is a continuous climb.

One finds themselves constantly proving they are worthy when you feel trapped by your surroundings. It entails convincing yourself you are significant enough for the change. Advice from an amazing woman still on her journey with eyes on the prize to success. Ms. Laura Poindexter has just signed her first Deal Memo. A deal- memo is a term used to describe a document that summarizes the contractual key points between two or more parties. It is a precursor to a full contract for “Choose The Day,” and she is currently a finalist to Winner of the “Glowie” Best Screenplay Baltimore Next Media Web-fest 2020. Screenwriter of the Year 2020 from the International Christian Film and Music Festival.

Laura has worked as a production assistant, casting director, and production coordinator for various projects while maintaining a regular job and eating Ramen Noodles like any of us striving to make our dreams come true. Striving to act in, produce and direct quality content for a vast demographic audience.

Ms. Poindexter loves the role of producer the most, despite her acting, writing, and directing skills. Her favorite aspect of filmmaking is production, being at her best in bringing people together and creating strong teams. Being the film producer is at the top of her list for overall creative influence and inner satisfaction. Her favorite phrase when asked how is she doing? Booked, Blessed, and Busy.

She states to Ricardo D. Wrice, conducting a most insightful interview with his mutual friend of admiration. “Believe in yourself. You have everything you need inside you to succeed. Operate from what is internal. The external things will come to you,” she said.