6 a.m. call times, 12-hour shoot days, multi-tasking, industry lingo, emails (so many emails—my nemesis). Production is a grind, yet working for a company with people who actively want to make inspiring and visually dynamic stories through film, makes all the drudgery worthwhile.
I wake up on a typical filming day with all production gear packed. Snacks and drinks for the crew, a kit of supplies that could be called upon at a moment’s notice, clipboard in hand. But my work doesn’t start here.
Back in the studio I am painting, crafting, drafting, building, sourcing, collaborating, and yes, there is the dreaded, yet essential emailing, but it must be done! This was a lot to take in for a rookie like me.
Before working at the studio, I was working on my own creative projects that had no strict timeline of events— it just happened when it happened. I could take mindless jobs to fund my solo undertakings. And no, I definitely didn’t have to email anyone about these things since it was basically a one-woman show.
Coming to the scene where these worlds collide, necessity and creativity, was quite jarring at first for a freelance artist. Gradually though, it became my new normal, and knowing that I wasn’t alone, made it all that more encouraging. I have my lovely team, who had all been in my shoes at one point in time, and my fellow onboarding mate (now a certified homie) to make this transition a navigable one.
Now, to see these projects that we have worked so diligently on come to fruition in all their glory, knowing there were bumps along the way (which are bound to happen) makes this all the more satisfying. There is something about leaving a project with a sense of accomplishment, that tangible creation to physically look back on with a shared feeling of communal pride.
My first 90 days were a wild ride, to say the least, but I have learned such an incredible amount thus far, and there is still so much left to uncover. In a way, I still very much feel like a rookie, but I’ve got some experience under my belt, which I now carry and refer back to as I traverse the ever-present challenges and opportunities ahead.
