It's my Birthday (& I'll cry if I want to)

It's my Birthday (& I'll cry if I want to)

🎂 I just turned 33, rolled out of bed, and am reconnecting with the film tribe.

For the last few months, I've been working on a DC feature (Black Adam). The film industry is certainly back with a vengeance. The IATSE film unions need to step up, times have changed and greater protections are needed again.

I'm turning 33 and still feel like I don't have a thriving salary and that is really tough. I've gotten a lot of people started in this industry and I feel they've surpassed me. I also have a different career path though, which is a longer runway to Write & Direct.

🧐 Sometimes I wonder if I can really make it in the southeast as a film Writer/Director because the doors have not opened (& I've been knocking). I've been working & re-working my pitch deck and film business plan to get my feature green-lit. I feel like I haven't been able to capitalize on the connections I have because they are all working on these big studio projects. Then I'm reaching out to new people who aren't familiar with my journey/experience and are harder to convince that I'm worth working with.

😡 As a coordinator (my day job), I'm not viewed as a Writer/Director by my colleagues. It's a mystified, under-appreciated position. There's also an unhelpful stigma between set and office crew. There is more of a team workflow when working on set. Office workers can be very isolated and are working on the prep and wrap portions of the filming day. Be more appreciative of your counterparts in the office and on set, we all work really hard!

💜 I keep wondering & hoping that everything will work out for me. I carry these feelings of uncertainty with me on a daily basis and have my good days & bad days. There is a light side and shadow side to the film industry. This industry can so crippling and you feel like you're losing out on other elements of your life. Life shouldn't be all about work.

🙏 Thanks for listening.