Today we’d like to introduce you to Briana Monet’.
Hi Briana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started producing when I was as little as 5 years old lol. I’ve Always put on shows for my family and I mean full blown productions! We had rehearsals, programs, sound, lights, costumes, everything! Literally every weekend me and my cousins would pick a song, create a dance and put on a full blown live performances for all of the adults…. we sat up chairs we had a set time that they should attend and now looking back I am so grateful for my family for showing in those moments.
I think I first started making movies on my Barbie camera at like 8 years old and I was always apart of some type of performance team whether it was cheerleading, majorettes, and once I got to high school I finally joined theatre and fell in love with Acting. Up until then I was completely self taught. I would memorize movies, I learned all the dance routines from Honey, You got served, Bring it on, Drumline, Step Up you name it. I could recite full movies from beginning to end. When it was time to go to college I honestly didn’t want to go I just wanted to move to LA and pursue my acting/dance career but my senior year in highschool there was a representative that visited from Howard University and when I learned about how many of our black heroes graduated from Howard, knew it was where I was meant to be. I went to visit and I fell in love immediately. I remember auditioning for the Theatre program and one of the professors, Professor Ruffin was able to activate something in my performance that I had never experienced before. It was euphoria, all of a sudden my emotions were flowing and I was on cloud nine. A few weeks later I received the official notice that I was accepted into the theatre program and it was truly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely hasn’t been smooth….Ive encountered so many obstacles but every single one was absolutely necessary to activate my faith and truly shape me into the person I am today!
I think the first huge obstacle happened my sophomore year in college. My financial aid award letter stated that I would receive a refund of $12,000 but instead I found out at the last minute that I actually owed $12,000. So it put me in a bind with my off campus apartment and I ended up getting evicted as well as not being able to register for any classes the next semester. Honestly I was going to just move back home from DC and figure something out but I went to speak to my spiritual advisor at Truc Lam Meditation center here in Houston and he asked me if I believed in financial aid or if I believed in God….He said if I truly believed in God I would go back and trust that it would work out. So I did, I went back on a leap of faith and the head of the department ended up letting me come to class even though I wasn’t registered if I promised to be on time and diligent in my studies. They even got me a dorm room until I was able to work on getting some scholarships. The next semester there was an anonymous donor to the Theatre program and I was awarded that scholarship. Fast forward to my senior year, I was registered for 40 something credits to make up for that year and by the grace of God I made it through and was able to be the first person of my family to graduate from college…on time… doing what I loved.
That situation kind of set the tone for the rest of my journey from DC to LA and now here in Houston because not once will I ever doubt the power of God. I learned that when you’re willing to take that leap and meet God halfway, everything will work out in the most miraculous ways!
In the words of my spiritual advisor…. “If you do your best and be your best, God will continue to bless you. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. If one door closes, God will open three more!”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an Actress, Writer, Producer, humanitarian, and all around support system for creatives who have a vision but don’t necessarily know how to bring it into fruition. To my friends I am a therapist, to my son I am the “best mom ever”, For God, I am a vessel of light, love, and service.
Earlier this year, I launched my non profit, InnerSpace Studios, which is kind of a hub for all of the different roles I play within the world. Through training, education and developmental support, we create art and curate events that inspire our communities to feel deal and HEAL! Our focus is on producing work that merges mental health awareness and performing arts.
My most proud moment thus far was bringing Transparency the play (in which I had the pleasure of acting in for the Los Angeles run) to Houston at the historical Deluxe Theater. Transparency is a mental health advocacy project that explores what it would look like if people were completely honest and transparent on first dates, about who they are, what they’ve been through, and what they expect.
Not only was it our first project that we co-produced under InnerSpace studios, but it was an opportunity to provide opportunities to local artists, Feed over 300 families for the holidays with the Star of Hope Women and Children’s Shelter, as well as use every single thing I’ve learned from my time at Howard, my time participating as a performer on national tours, from being a performer in LA, from studying to be a producer with International Eye LA, all while still acting in the show as well. I felt superhuman. I think the most rewarding part of the experience was not only making my own dreams come true but helping to do that for others in the process as well.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
In the upcoming new year we are so excited to be launching our grant applications to continue to support Houston Artists as well as our RISE film program (Resilience in storytelling and expression) where teens and young adults experiencing homelessness will have the opportunity to heal from trauma and develop new skills through storytelling, performance, and film production.
Join our newsletter at innerspacestudios.org
and follow us on instagram @innerspace.studios to keep up with all of the amazing opportunities we have coming in 2026.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Innerspacestudios.org
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/im_briana_monet
- Other: https://instagram.com/innerspace.studios
