THE PERPETUAL VISITOR: Sustainable Creative Living.
  • Blog
  • About Me
  • Things I Teach
  • Things I Make
    • The Book: The Perpetual Visitor
    • Wild Unfolding: and other poems
    • New Bird
    • The Podcast
    • Theatre
    • Film
    • Poetry
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • About Me
  • Things I Teach
  • Things I Make
    • The Book: The Perpetual Visitor
    • Wild Unfolding: and other poems
    • New Bird
    • The Podcast
    • Theatre
    • Film
    • Poetry
  • Contact

Make the Thing, Already! (Introducing my First Film, Ready for Lou)

7/17/2019

2 Comments

 
Picture
It's been a little while since I've spent time in this space. My first book, The Perpetual Visitor: A Field Guide for Everyday Artists came out this May, and I honestly poured so much of my creative energy into writing about, well, creativity, that I feel like I'm moving into a different season of my artistic and writing life at the moment.

I believe that creative energy is wild. It ebbs and flows and we get stuck when we try to tame it, so I'm trying to take my own advice and follow where this playful energy of mine seems to want to go. Will I write some more about creativity and our need to play and explore? Probably. Do I need a break from that at the moment? For sure. 

I've spent the last couple of months making the shift from writing about making stuff to actually making stuff, and it feels SO GOOD. One of the first things on my list was to edit my first short film, Ready for Lou, that I made with my partner, Dave Bergstrom. I wrote the script last summer, we shot it in the fall, and I just edited it last month.  

I've wanted to be in a movie since I was six years old and though I live in Boston and can audition for student, indie, and occasional feature films, I'll be honest: most the of the stories aren't compelling and the characters don't appeal to me. I can't tell you how many films still center around the boy meets girl plot line or how many casting calls describe the leading female as "gorgeous" and/or require nudity.  Don't get me wrong, I love a good love story, but in 2019, it feels disheartening to still see so many movies, particularly short, indie projects that still promote outdated stereotypes and rely on romance centered stories. 

I desire to play characters who felt like the very real, incredibly nuanced human beings I am privileged to know in my own life and to explore real questions that I struggle with each day. I waited for someone to offer me the role I wanted, and as with most things in life, it never showed up.  

I was shy for so long about making the first film because I was afraid it wouldn't be perfect. I feared that the finished product wouldn't be as shiny and snappy and powerful as the version I saw in my imagination. This perfectionism kept me from making a movie for a long time. Somehow I thought if I could avoid doing the thing I really wanted, I would haven't to be disappointed when it fell short. 

But see, the thing is that here's no way to fast track your learning process and skip over your first try at something and go straight to being an expert.

There's no way for your first try at anything to not fall short on some way.

When's the last time you tried something brand new, whether it be paddle boarding or making a new-to-you pasta dish, and declared "Well, this turned out exactly like I'd hoped it would. No improvements necessary!"

Never? Yeah, me either.

If you're waiting to make your movie (or paint that landscape or knit that sweater) until you know what you're doing, you'll never going to be ready. You'll avoid having a beginner's version of your long-dreamed of creation and you'll also sacrifice any joy that you might experience by going for it. The price of pleasing your perfectionism is quite costly. You must be willing to trade joy for never having to feel awkward or scared. I used to be willing to make this trade so much of the time with so many things in my life, but I'm less willing to do this. Life is short, embarrassment won't actually kill you, and we owe ourselves the chance to see what we might do with the time and talent we have. 

Making the six year old version of your thing can be scary and embarrassing and make you feel like you're a wobbly kid again, but the only way to get through your first time making something is to go ahead and make the first thing. And once you make that first thing, you might just be surprised at the permission you feel to go ahead and make the second. And the third. The first movie felt like a lot of pressure. But once you make the thing and prove to yourself that you can do it, you might just feel a  little more free to try the next thing. 

Head over to YouTube to watch Ready for Lou. I'm so grateful to Dave for being my partner in this experiment, as well as Renee Miller and Alyson Muzila, two wonderful actresses who took a chance on this first try.  I'm so excited to share this with all of you! 

​
2 Comments
https://www.bestessay.org/ link
7/26/2019 08:26:35 am

I am happy to see that after the years of hard work you have spent for your book you have published it already. Nothing compares to that kind of happiness that's why I have to congratulate you for a job well done. Now that you are also in the filed of making films, there are huge challenges that are waiting for you. But you don't need to let pressure be part of the process and stop you. If you will let it, then use it as your motivation to do better; to push better. That's the best thing you can do right now!

Reply
Laura Hobson
12/23/2022 01:55:31 pm

I was really stressed by Acid reflux issues with my newborn and had consulted Chief Dr Lucky. He gave us a thorough consultation and the medicines were equally effective. In a couple of weeks there was big improvement in my son and we are very pleased with the progress. We cannot thank Chief Dr Lucky enough. Highly recommended.

Email chiefdrlucky@gmail.com

WhatsApp +2348132777335

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    My name is Melissa and I'm an actor, playwright, author, filmmaker, and teaching artist who wants to help you discover, cultivate, and care for your creativity. 
     
    What does being creative mean to you?

    How do you play every day?

    This is a space for taking a break, a breath,  and finding ways to flex our imagination and find the joy where we can. 

    ​No one is going to present us with a ready made creative life--we have  to step up and gift it to ourselves. I'm so glad you're here.

    Categories

    All
    Artist Dates
    Creative Recharge
    Creative Risks
    Motivation Monday
    Persistence
    Play
    Success
    Theatre
    Tiny Tips For Creativity
    Whole Artist
    Writing

    Archives

    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    August 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Want to get blog posts delivered right to your inbox? Sign up to receive The Perpetual Visitor below and never miss creative conversation!

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.