NIKIVA DIONNE

Few things hurt worst than someone you love telling you, what you are NOT. Ineffective communication can ruin a relationship. So do u...  1) Opt out of sharing your feelings because you don’t want to risk losing the relationship.   or do you say 2)The relationship is flawed and unproductive if I can't assume the responsibility of being honest with the other person. I’m both of those people. I think we all are. It’s the ‘Pick your battles’ thing and it’s the ‘I love you so I’m going to require you to be better’ thing.   As I position myself to write this entry I realize that it’s NOT what you say, It’s how you say it. I dated a guy once who in the middle of an argument said  ’You are no different from any of the other actors, your walk will be like everyone else’s walk...'    We broke up, lol. I spent a lil over a year in that relationship and he and I were friends for a few years prior to but my point is. Of ...

Over the past few weeks I’ve had several conversations about Instagram. I was impressed by some of the convos and affirmative statements made about the social site. I decided I still would not join but I respected it in a new light. THEN a couple things happened that made me say seriously, it should be called INSTASHAM! lol I remember I met my BF at the most inopportune time of my life. I was mortified that I’d just met him when I was at my perceived lowest time in my life. I just kept saying to myself, this isn’t ME. He has no idea who I really am; and as a result I tried to push him away. Fast Forward, I realize now that he had to see me in a way that no other person I’d dated ever saw me in order for me to receive him and respect him for what I always wanted but never knew how to embrace. I know I said allot without saying much at all, but I hope you understand, lol. The point is, if you only show people the person you want them to see, will they ever really...

I read a pretty dope acting book recently and one of my major takeaways was COMPETITION. It focused heavily on trying to get actors, actress in particular, to be ok with competing. In fact, thrive off of competition.   I’m probably one of the most competitive people I know and I can name sooo many times throughout life that my competitive energy was a direct reflection of my success.   Similarly, of course ACTORS know we have to compete. We compete with hundreds of people a day, we face more rejection in a month than some people in a life time blah blah blah but what happens when suddenly you get something another actor didn't expect you to get? SHADE! thats what happens, tons of shade! I HATE when you get to the place in a relationship with a fellow actor where suddenly it doesn’t work anymore. The conversations become all about what you/they have booked. It’s almost like people are perfectly willing to accept you how you are the day they met you but they don’t ...

Hey Friends,  I love to share my experiences with great photographers with you guys. So hear is my latest head shot shoot with B Head shots (+) *Very easy to shoot with. He made the environment relaxed and organic *Totally a likeable dude who is a photog, model and actor so it's no surprise he has a great eye *Ok I seriously couldn't pick so I just sent my agent every picture that my eyes weren't closed in, lol *no really, I have a TON of pics I can use *very reasonable prices (-) *Only or Mainly shoots on weekend *Picture turn around isn't the quickest but not awful a tad longer than standard.                                          see below a sample of my new shots. Yayyee!   Website:   http://www.bheadshots.com/ contact: Brendan  bheadshotsphotography@gmail.com Thanks for reading  Nikiva Dionne

Hey Friends,  There is a new web series coming out NOVEMBER 5, 2013 entitled BLACK ACTRESS by Andrea Lewis. I am awestruck by Andrea's vision and her ability to capture the Audition process and the life of an Actress in such a genuine fashion, THEN she ups the ante by offering an in depth look into what being a BLACK actress includes.  Black Actress is a Web Series celebrating black actresses while giving you a peek inside the ups & downs of the acting industry. Yall it's real, It's funny and it's inspiring. This Series will start so many beautiful, healthy and necessary conversations and I encourage you guys to share it, talk about it and lets deal with who we want to be and not how it's always been. Be INSPIRED to DO! I had the pleasure of shooting one of the skits that serves as sort of a prelude to the upcoming web series. I'm honored to have been apart of this project because it really required me to think about what my journey means to me and wha...

 I recently had the pleasure of working with some amazing film makers that I truly consider family. Below is a short film we created for the 48hr film festival in LA. If you aren't familiar basically you have to create a short (write, shoot and edit) within 48 hrs and within the guidelines and ramifications of the film festival. Yes it sounds crazy because it is, lol.  As an Actor all I had to do was show up and act. However, when I arrived (the day of the shoot) I received my script and page one described and extremely emotional scene with me crying, emotions raging etc. Now,  I knew most of the team from other projects so I automatically assumed, them knowing me, they would have me in a comedic role. SIKE! I can honestly say I was terrified when we began and at the end I was so drained but so genuinely proud of myself.   This short is special not because of the product but because of the faith they had in me to deliver outside of my comfort zone and bec...

There are some days if I were asked this question there would be a resounding HECK NO! This is one of those days. One of the days when you feel like you are misunderstood and under appreciated because you lack the desire to full fill a certain public persona. All I can think in my mind is, If I give people what ‘they want’ or what ‘makes them feel comfortable’ than I may never have the opportunity to actually give them ME. For someone who loves the person God made me to be, that would be DEATH. WE are all on our own personal journey. I couldn’t imagine going back to Baltimore and trying to ACT like I’m the same person I was, when I’m not. The reality of it is, the people who LOVE YOU will respect the JOURNEY you are on. They don’t want or expect you to ‘put on’.   However in Hollywood, people ‘PUT ON’ so much that people don’t know how to receive someone who doesn’t respond with the intention to please someone else. Ie: people pleasers. When I was leaving N...