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I am so glad that the sun is back out. It seemed to rain for weeks which made my soul crave light and warmth. I miss home a great deal. I miss James, our animals, my family and friends. I have honestly found it hard to concentrate lately on writing, but I’m actively looking for solutions and inspirations. I still have 5 weeks left to knock out as much as I can, and I feel very optimistic on being able to continue meaningful work here. I am not used to this life of a creative resident, not having a 9-5 and the usual schedule that comes along with it. I think one of the biggest distractions I face here is my professional career when I return to Atlanta in early May. I have options – do I continue my long-traveled path of marketing/graphic design for non profits? Or do I strike a new one in the production world and try to find work creating commercials and the like? If option #2, do I do it on my own, or for another business? If I were to answer ambitiously, I’d certainly say that I would love the opportunity to create original work on my own in the production realm. I want to write and direct in the film/video mediums. I think I would benefit from the experiences and enjoy every part of it. Aren’t you supposed to do what you love? I hope I can find a way.

This month will be busy in other ways too. Tomorrow I fly out to the Sonoma Film Festival in California to experience Bubble making its West Coast premiere. James will be attending the Chattanooga Film Festival simultaneously to accompany Bubble at their inaugural event. Then mid month, I will get to see James at a halfway point for both of us – the Indie Grits Film Festival in Columbia, SC. It may seem financially hard to travel to so many places, but festivals like these are so kind in finding places to stay for filmmakers and sometimes covering costs of travel. I am so happy that we will be able to go to each of these as they hold lots of potential… always more than you could ever imagine in the way of like-minded human connections and education. It is important to try your best to attend, especially if you want to continue making films.

We have a small update too on the music video we just completed for St. Paul and the Broken Bones! Looks like the premiere will be towards the middle of April, and I’m sure some cool things will be planned for that release. I promise to keep you in the loop as I can, though I’m sure most things associated with it will be top-secret until it happens.

Also, we have official new production dates for our next short film Little Cabbage! We will be shooting August 1 – 4. The ball is rollin’!

More than ever before, I feel like I am taking the strategic risks necessary to move my career in a direction I’ve always wanted it to go. I know age is relative and one day I will probably laugh at this – but turning 35 was a wake-up call. I need to start taking more action if I want to see my dreams realized. Making any film, even short ones, takes time and resources. Am I choosing the right projects? Am I making the statements I want to make? Am I being creative enough? What is the point of striving to be the kind of filmmaker I’ve always wanted to be? I know sometimes I am too hard on myself and have *almost* unrealistic expectations. I just feel like it is within reach. That I can do it if I try hard enough. I can make a living creating films that have a broad impact – that are meaningful and thought-provoking to many. I hope it is very soon.

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