Meet Cheryl Neve | Screenwriter │ Producer │ Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cheryl Neve and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cheryl, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve always been a very creative person. When I was a little girl, I was always painting or writing stories. I wasn’t sure, however, if I could make a career out of using my imagination! Thankfully, the entertainment industry found me in a wonderfully organic way. In 2012, Tom Hooper was shooting Les Miserables in the south of England and I turned up to the casting day on a whim. I’d just dyed my hair a natural brown, and observed with interest that the casting team were turning away anyone with dyed blonde hair (which mine had been). I ended up playing a nun and singing alongside Hugh Jackman in the movie’s convent scene. It was the first time I experienced the camaraderie that exists on a film set, and it was one of the most magical experiences of my life. In fact, cheesy as it sounds, it was a life-changing, Eureka moment for me! I knew then that I wanted to be part of the entertainment world and pursue an artistic career.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Ever since that first experience on set back in 2012, I’ve been on an exciting journey that has taken me from acting into screenwriting, directing and producing. I recently directed my first movie, 1960s spy thriller Cheating Charlie, as well as produced one of the projects I’m most proud of – music video Love Should Not Hurt starring Spice Girl Mel B. As a patron of UK charity Women’s Aid, Mel wanted to use this powerful short film to highlight the varying forms of abuse, whether it be physical, coercive, financial, or psychological. Showing on YouTube, the video has received 1.2 million views so far and has happily helped many women come forward for help. I’m always on the look out for exciting stories to tell, whether they are set in the past or in modern times. For me it is all about the characters and helping to give them a voice.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m originally from England and have only just got to know Los Angeles relatively well, although I’m pretty sure that I would need to spend years and years here to fully learn all its best spots! As an ocean lover, I really enjoyed my time on the sandy beaches. While I love Santa Monica and its brightly colored pier, one of my favorite beaches is Hermosa. It feels very safe and clean and has some excellent cafes and restaurants along the prominade. Food-wise, there are so many amazing places to eat out in LA. I’ve got to know the Melrose area very well, and love cafes such as Stone Street, Carrera Cafe, Gratitude Cafe and Sightglass to name but a few. View-wise, I love hiking up to both Runyon Canyon and the Griffith Observatory. From here you can see the Hollywood Sign as well as far-reaching views of the city. If you want to feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, head to Rodeo Drive for some designer shopping! I can’t express how much I love LA. So many things stand out about the city, but one gem I’ll leave you with is Highland Park Bowl in East Hollywood. It’s been restored to how it was in the 1920s and it’s a great venue if you love a bit of Hollywood history.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people in my life that I’m thankful to and for. From opera singer Debbie Holmes, who gave me my first singing and acting lessons and who inspired me to believe in myself, to Fabio D’Andrea, a lifelong friend and talented composer who brought me on board his project “Love Should not Hurt” with Mel B, to the inspiring women in my life who I’m blessed to call my soul sisters and mentors – Crystal Lee, military veteran and magical voice-over artist, Megan Lockhurst, talented Canadian actress and songwriter, Dani Thompson, scream queen actress and fellow lover of nature and crumbling castles, and Akira Lee Watanabe, mind-blowing actress and incredibly insightful human being – all of these people and more have added so much to my life! My three beautiful children also motivate me to keep going and to be the best I can be for them.

Website: www.redtypewriterpictures.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cherylneve

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/cherylneve

Twitter: www.twitter.com/cheryl_neve

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6xWu4xaKTg