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I want to talk about a form of allyship that isn't mentoring or hiring, but is equally important, and we don't hear enough about: TEAMWORK.
A few of times in my career, folks have approached me asking about my history-based passion projects.
So they can make them.
Without me.
A few of times in my career, folks have approached me asking about my history-based passion projects.
So they can make them.
Without me.
Yes, it looks lazy when you talk about a film for eons and it's never finished. But if you're underemployed and underpaid, like many underrepresented creators are, it can be brutal trying to eke out time for a passion project, if you even have the means to move it forward at all.
Unfortunately, enthusiasm for a project doesn't pay the bills while you making it. This is the core of why @Almaharel founded @FREETHEWORK; how can you create personal art and grow if you can't access the jobs that pay well enough to let you spend time focusing on your passions?
There's a saying that if you don't pursue your dreams, someone will hire you to pursue theirs. But if your work isn't financially sustainable, you don't have a CHOICE but to pursue whatever you're hired for by someone else. And you're not in a position to hire others to help you.
I'm super excited when people approach me who share my esoteric interests, and know that I've been working on a particular topic for a long time. Then I'm gutted when they want to do their own version, because they don't think I'm capable, or they have resources I don't, or both.
I can count on one hand the number of people who have told me I had a cool idea for a film AND they wanted to help make it. It meant the world. Teamwork is a valuable resource that makes a difference in so many ways; and not just to individual films, but WHO gets to tell stories.
If you come across a story that's a woman or POC's passion project, especially if you have the resources to make itâconsider helping them instead of competing with them. Produce, research, grant write, find cash, make calls.
Be the team you have for someone else who needs one.
Be the team you have for someone else who needs one.
The zeitgeist is something all filmmakers contend with, and is especially hard with historical topics. But when you've spent the time, done the research, met the subjects, only for your enthusiasm to unwittingly unlock a door for someone else to walk through, it's heartbreaking.
typos
This thread is dedicated to @JonSchnepp, who is one of the five people who heard about one of my projects and said fuck yeah, let me know what I can do. I miss you, Jon.
