Wearing Less Hats These Days
Hey Creators!
Although I’ve been a little MIA on social media (traveling, getting sick, Flo, and I had to get my mind right 😭), I have still been sticking to most of the plan. Most recently, I worked with Muffy Films in Chicago to produce a short that I wrote, entitled Wounded. It’s my most honest and vulnerable piece yet and I’m very proud of the team and work we’ve done. So if you’re not familiar, keep up with them cause they’re an amazing group of filmmakers on a mission too!
During that process, I was put at ease because for once, I didn’t have to do any producing outside of finding the location, so really, I was just Location Manager. Usually, I’m wearing all the hats including creating the social media plans and deliverables and being the PA in some cases. That’s small budget indie life. It was running me ragged, especially as someone who was trained on union sets. You telling me I gotta do all the jobs?! Nah I’m good on that from now on. For one, I’m trying to build and further my craft. Plus, wearing all the hats stifles your creativity and limits the success of the project. And as someone who was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in middle school, I take that title very seriously 🤣 Success looks a little different each year but I’m rolling with whatever God wants for me.
Ok back to wearing all the hats! It’s a disservice to all involved to try to do it all and not ask for help. And that’s honestly a flaw of mine. I try to be everything to everybody, leaving myself with little and the assumption that those folks won’t help me back. It took a lot these past couple of years to really share what my dreams and aspirations were/are and inviting others into that journey to extend their assistance and I am forever grateful. Collaboration is always a big goal of mine and I had to let myself be assisted. Let myself breathe. I’ve never felt better. Showing up to set as the writer was something that I have dreamt of for a while and seeing my words come to fruition from the sidelines and how others interpret them differently from me, sometimes in better ways that serve the story, is the best part of this process.
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That’s why I’m building a team. For too long, I have been afraid to inconvenience someone or that they won’t see my vision and want to come on board. You know what assuming does right? Well, my village has made a believer out of me once again and honestly, I’m believing in myself more. So yes, the team is growing. I am conversations with potential interns and have an amazing Production Manager (B&I Services) to handle the logistics to keep me on task and allow me to be creative more often than not. Putting down the other hats isnt just about resting, it’s about allowing other people to shine while in each other’s orbit. I’ve never wanted to be the only star and I definitely won’t be the last Createher. My mission is for there to be many many more. So I hope this encourages you to lay down your other hats and allow others to show up for you, even if you pay them, when you need extra hands or brains. We weren’t meant to create alone.
Go create your best life! -🔑
