Tell Your Story - #10

DEAR ROW: 
As I grapple with staying true to my voice, I came across this quote by Neil Gaiman:

“Tell your story. Don't try and tell the stories that other people can tell. Because [as a] starting writer, you always start out with other people's voices – you've been reading other people for years… But, as quickly as you can, start telling the stories that only you can tell – because there will always be better writers than you, there will always be smarter writers than you … but you are the only you."

I needed that affirmation. I am loving my voice more everyday.

Write me back,
Chanel

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DEAR CHANEL:
This is definitely a fantastic quote and one that if more writers invested in, would either:  

#1. Feel more confident in their expressions
#2. Stop writing and live more so they would have enriched expressions
#3. Realize they're not unique at all and stop regurgitating the same crap over and over again and quit

I think a real writer will go through all three at varying points in her career.

This is a great go-to when you need that extra support. It also applies well to comedians, song writers, lyricists, and anyone putting out original content.

Sometimes it's hard writing against the current and putting stock in your own identity. This totally affirms that. 
--Row

 
 

Success Is Proximity - #9

DEAR CHANEL:

I was watching one of my favorite shows – Shark Tank and this one entrepreneur said –

“To build wealth it’s all about proximity, you hang around four broke people… you’ll be the fifth. You hang around even just one billionaire that proximity can impact your life.”

Which brings me to my letter topic of today and it’s about calibrating skill set and occupational goals. While my artistic career isn’t necessarily quantifiable like wealth/money are – the growth rules still apply and it all has to do with looking for work in the right wheelhouse with the right trajectory and timeline.

The difference between a goal and a dream is that a goal has a timeline, so what’s my or I suppose OUR timeline for our careers? How does that work with writing?  If writing is rewriting and if you’re a writer you’re a writer because you like to write and you write everyday and keep honing in on your craft whether or not you sell... Then how does this timeline/deadline target work for a goal such as ours?

I suppose that is the major question…

Maybe that’s why you and I are together writing this blog and sharing this experience with each other and all those that decide they want to read and share in this journey with us.

Back to the grind,

--Row
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DEAR ROW: 

I could not have said it better: Dreams are goals without a timeline. Nicely put. But I do believe writers can have a timeline. I’m a fan of baby accomplishments:

Accomplishment #1: obtain an MFA – you can check that off

Accomplishment #2: move to Los Angeles – ditto

Accomplishment #3: get an internship – ditto

Accomplishment #4: and a start-up directing gig – ditto

You have a working timeline. And you’re moving and shaking. Writers have timelines. Sometimes it’s internal, and sometimes it’s the deadlines we give ourselves and post on walls. And other times it's the deadlines given to us externally. Regardless, give yourself your own timeline. We can only plan so much of what happens outside of our writing caves, but we can plan how productive we are within our caves.

But I really do feel you have the rest covered...

Write me back,

Chanel 

 

Nose to the Ground - #8

DEAR ROW:

I used to be a pretty spirited teenager and twenty-something activist ready to pounce on the nearest or latest social injustice. I went to law school with high hopes of alleviating any kind of social injustice for good. Naïve. Definitely. Arrogant. Of course. Elijah-complex from the Bible, thinking I’m the only one who cares enough to right wrongs. Had it badly then. I often had it so badly I was stifled by my overwhelming righteous indignation. I suppose then it was just indignation.

Law school was supposed to fix that. Give me the tools to put my righteous indignation into actionable steps. It didn’t. It only confirmed how much I abhorred these institutions/systems that claim to be working for the betterment of society. I couldn’t run from the courtroom fast enough and back into another graduate program. I became Superman and Flash, flying and running, running and flying all the way to O-hi-o.

And as I find myself in a program that affords me the avenues to explore my passion and the tools to advocate for alleviating social injustice, albeit through a different lens…there’s still something missing.

Picking up a serving spoon and spooning a heavy serving of mashed potatoes on a displaced person’s plate is direct. It’s instant. Opening up my MacBook Pro. Finding my Final Draft file. And typing dialogue for a made up character seems mighty remote from that displaced person’s talking stomach.

I miss the human interaction that advocacy often brings. I miss being an ear to someone to share their stories with. I miss helping put a smile on a child’s face by playing a competitive game of Checkers with them. I miss lobbying for a cause for a local community.

And I know. All of this can still be done. Right now. I can partake in all of the above this minute. But I often grapple with efficiency v. over extending myself. Finding that balance. And isn’t my writing eventually going to help someone? Say something?

Eventually? I want do something now!

Well…There is a need for diversity awareness and sensitivity in my school program (in most schools, in most office environments, in most cities, in most nations, etc.). 

[Cue the melodramatics.]

Chanel: Could an opportunity for advocacy been staring you right in your face, but you've been too self-absorbed and unwilling to shoulder any blame, that you've pushed any idea of you being a helpful conduit for eventual progress aside? 

Self: Yes, girl. How are you just now realizing this?

Chanel: ...

Self: Shame. You don't even respond to yourself. Well, did you at least read Shonda Rhimes’s recent comment about the DGA diversity award she was given? They still don’t understand that this kind of award only highlights the lack of_____ in their institutions? 

[Cut the melodramatics.]

This is how much I need to put my nose back to the ground and advocate for something, Row. My internal dialogues are now appearing without warning in public. Not good.

Write me back, 

Chanel
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DEAR CHANEL:

Josh Whedon has a similar response when he’s continually asked why he makes strong female protagonists and female centric content (Buffy the TV show) – he always replies with… the fact that you ask me this question every time I get interviewed is why I do it. 

I think that if you’re being asked or provoked to ‘represent’ and be a focal point for diversity – you should take it… it may feel tokenesque, but if it means progress, why not? While you might be overextended, when in your life is it ever BAD to be busy? Are you afraid you’ll suffer exhaustion and be checked into a rehab center? Lol. You’re in graduate school, you’re in academia and it’s basically the best learning and growing platform you will have. I say just stay busy and use any outlet you can for exposure and use every tool, trait, angle to your advantage.

I think that your writing accompanied by good press/publicity can be a fantastic way to bridge the outreach gap you feel from writing on your computer to real interpersonal interaction. I agree that a righteous naiveté without direction is dangerous, but so are silent protests through words that will never get read or produced/published. It's just as ineffectual.

I think you’re plenty forthright to lead the charge. I think your demeanor of being intellectually and selectively vocal is exactly why you were probably moved in this direction. The question of diversity is silly. I applied for a program through a Big Network and the essay question was “Describe how your diversity has worked to your advantage” – which I found ridiculous because the program was targeted to diverse individuals – so clearly it couldn’t have helped us THAT much if the network created and is implementing the program… 

In closing, I say keep on grinding and pressing forward but don’t forget to pick your head up once in a while and look around. You might be grinding that nose for so long you don’t realize how far ahead you’ve gotten.

--Row

Represent - #7

DEAR CHANEL:

So I’ve been working at this prodco – which consists of one man, BM #1 and his ‘actress’ girlfriend… that’s how all the prodcos in LA are…  “We” are a production company – cut to: One dude in his studio apartment with interns sitting at his alcove kitchen table on their own laptops sucking off his free streaming internet from his apt bldg.

I’ve recently been ‘promoted’ which means I didn’t quit after the first month and I’m working more on development.  What does that mean?  He has ideas and what I do is translate them into legible and composed words on paper for treatments, one pagers, show bibles and the like.  Sometimes I even get asked for my input or get used as a sounding board to challenge and poke holes in his story like a Red Team… have you seen Newsroom?  I love that show, anyway I’m his one (wo)man red team and sometimes I win and others I just end up writing what he wants.

It got me thinking… while the activity of development with BM#1 is basically what I’d like to do (aside from directing… which I’m actually excited about but that’ll be for another letter) only on a much smaller scale, more on spec and most importantly for projects that I don’t care about.  He makes no qualms about selling TV as a commodity (which it undoubtedly is) you won’t get any arguments from me about art vs. business.  I am one of the first to say that show business is exactly that: a business.  If it ain’t making money it’s not worth anyone’s time, at least in Hollywood.  Indie projects are a different animal.  But what that means for me is… if I’m doing this for some guy for minimal pay and little to no autonomy… why don’t I just look for a manager myself and work on my own writing and do what I want to do which is get staffed on a sitcom next year?  Why am I starting here at this point with this dude?  Is it because I think I need to pay my dues for crappy work and chump change pay?  Particularly when BM #1 disputes hours that I legitimately log?  He’ll ask me what he owes me and when I tell him he still pays but not after a few hem and haws like I’m taking the shirt off his back for the 10 hours I worked.

I have an MFA, I have transferrable skills and I completely understand the format and structure of screenwriting.  I’m not some hack who woke up one morning and THINKS she can write. Yes, the urban myth is very true – because I’ve met these people – more to follow but yes there are people who seriously wake up in middle America, quit their steady job pack it all up and chase their dream to Hollywood – without a plan or skills.  

But I’m different; I actually have a POV that is unique and distinct.  Based on the DGA article: http://www.studiodaily.com/2013/10/dga-to-women-minorities-in-tv-its-not-getting-better/ - I’m a commodity myself.  In fact one that many shows would love to have because I’m not only a female and a minority but also gay which is a triple threat!  Which is something that this industry needs.

Thoughts? 

--Row

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DEAR ROW (a.k.a Triple Threat):
I don’t have many words in response to your letter, mainly because I do feel as if you have done the therapy thing in your five hundred words. You came to the conclusion at the end. You solved the puzzle, girl.  

But I will ask: Do you want to be a commodity? Because the late/great Janis Joplin says, “you are what you settle for.” And I don’t want you settling as a commodity. You are a gift. (Here Chanel goes being spiritual again.) But you are. You bring diversity of race, gender and sexuality to the writing world. Your touch isn’t to be sold like a Chiquita banana. It’s to be gifted to the world like one of Oprah’s favorite things. Now another Seth Macfarlane spin off show about Brian the dog or Stewie, that is a commodity. He is a commodity.

Because you are bringing something new and what the world NEEDS—a different effing perspective, so we can stop hearing about WPP—I don’t see that as being commodifiable. Maybe my logic is skewed. I need apples, and they are commodified crops on the stock market. But just because things are commodified, doesn’t mean they should be. (For the record, I do not believe homes and crops should be traded on the stock market. You hear that, Janet Yellen, newbie Fed Reserve chief?)

I guess I’m an outlier. I am an outlier. I know this. Because I’m horrible at self-branding, quite possibly because I don’t believe in it. Not as I understand it to be. If I do any type of marketing—and I struggle to type that word—it’s out of sincere belief that there is a higher purpose that could perhaps save a child from getting shot. (A little too dramatic, I’m sure.)

Alls I’m saying is that I don’t believe a gift can be commodified. And you have a gift and needed perspective. THEY will commodify it, sure, but I hope that you’ll have some artistic license in how. Can one even maintain artistic integrity and still be a commodity? I don’t know. But if you do want to be a commodified, I’ll shut the eff up. (I’m running in circles anyway.)

Write me back, 

Chanel 
the non-commodity (maybe)