Dr. Missy Johnson, BET screenwriter, speaker, coach, and 3x Amazon bestselling author, was a rising star in one of America’s Fortune 100 companies, and everything looked perfect from the outside. Suddenly her life changed, and she lost everything she ever believed in or achieved. With a 3% chance of living after a 60 MPH car accident, 47 days in a coma, falling twelve feet, marriage failing, and later being diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer, she asked God for one more chance. With that one more chance, Dr. Missy turned her tragedies into triumphs to create transformation for herself and others worldwide. She is the CEO of Fearless Women Rock LLC, a platform created for women to share their courageous stories through books and brands.
Tammy: We understand you are the screenwriter for a BET movie; what can you tell us about it?
Dr. Missy: It is not easy, but it is worth it. It is a BETHER Health Initiative they do every year. The Waiting Room, season 3, episode 2 and The Party is the movie I wrote with Lori Ray Conway. The film is about breast cancer awareness.
Tammy: What does your role entail as a That Girl Ambassador?
Dr. Missy: It represents that we are collaborators and not competing with each other. It is a beautiful organization that focuses on bringing powerful Detroit Girls together.
Tammy: As a black woman screenwriter in the industry, what would you like to see more of?
Dr. Missy: I would like to see more women screenwriters highlighted. It is an industry that highlights the cast more than the talent, but you would not have a movie production if there were no screenplay.
Tammy: How has your creative process been during the pandemic?
Dr. Missy:
- Rethink, refocus and regroup.
- Dream bigger, and if you can see it, you are not dreaming big enough.
- Keep working, and the answer to who does not have to be you.
- Hire what you need and be creative in what you already know.
Tammy: What is a super fun fact that most people may not know about you?
Dr. Missy: I love designing my accessory line and custom wigs.
Tammy: What advice would you have for black women who aspire to become screenwriters?
Dr. Missy: First, surround yourself with people who lift you up. Then, hire people more intelligent than you and where you are weak, invest in classes, and learn the industry.
Keep-up-to-date by visiting www.askdrmissy.com
Interview Done by: Tammy Reese | @tammyreesemedia
