The Weight of Waiting...

The 13th by Ava Duvernay...it's something that I cannot unsee...and I don't want to unsee it. I don't want to unfeel it. I don't want to un-anything, except to undo my period of waiting to do pieces that talk about things beyond love from an individual perspective. 

I have written numerous blogs about being a creative (it's the premise of this entire blog page overall) and how art should change you and grow you. Each time I see and experience something impactful, I take a piece of that with me. I realize however, holding onto that impact has given me substantial unrest and anixety.

Seeing this film, this rundown of our system and society; this work that shows the real, raw breakdown of the beginning of our faux-freedom and how the film doses out the harsh reality that there is really not an end in sight to the racism and oppression that has been birthed out of that farce, as well as how it's fostered and grown exponentially over time...that haunts me. 

But what weighs even heavier, is the weight of knowing that as I continue to see heavy and informative and impactful work, I am affected, impacted and inspired. But that all gets diluted in the time I take to then create, as a result of all of those feelings. 

I'm always WAITING!!! Waiting to figure out how to use my camera and lenses properly, waiting to find a shooter, an editor, talent, funds...forever waiting. Waiting for the right marketing idea to execute these scripts and projects that live on tablets, in notebooks, on my hard drives and in my mind.

I've decide as a result of seeing this project, to change that. This work by Ava Duvernay (and the plethora of additional creatives I know with exceptional, beautiful and amazing work) continually shows me that the weight of waiting weighs heavily on me. And I will no longer wait. I will figure it out and I will make it happen and I will execute however I can, without sacrificing the quality of my work. 

I'm not looking to just toss up any old thing because I feel a way.  However, with my work I want to engage, I want to entice, I want to edu-tain, I want to heal, I want to provoke, I want to please and to tease folks. But most of all I was to just expose all of the stuff that lives inside of me, begging, pleading and wrestling to escape and manifest itself. 

Do you have the habit of waiting as well? Do you have a long list of things to create, but there's always something in the way? I implore you, REACH OUT! Let's converse. Let's talk about what you have in mind or on your heart. Im a natural born producer, so let's discuss how viable it is. Let's dream in 3D and make it happen. And if its not viable now, let's create a plan! I am a natural dot connector as well, so if it's out of my wheelhouse, I am sure I have someone in my circle or close enough to put you in touch with. Let's figure out who we know, let's pool our resources. Let's apply for grants and contests and scholarships and in-kind donations and do this!!!

No fancy closing this go round Shining Starrs.

This one is signed simply...a chick ready to work and incite change!

~ Miss O