The DIY Era (Recap: July)

I think it's safe to say: it's been stressful.

Hopeless, even.

Personally. Globally. Existentially.

It's literally everything...everywhere...all at once!

Not to mention how trivial it all feels when you zoom out and the full global picture comes into focus.

It's a lot...too much!

And maybe—just maybe—in order to face the big picture, we first need to zoom in and ask: where do I fit into all of this?

It's a time for tough questions.

A collective shift is happening. More and more of us are being pulled into a reckoning (a final reckoning, if you're feeling Tom Cruise-y).

It's happening across all industries and careers. Younger generations, especially, are being faced with hard choices and even harder truths.

Do we continue in this rat race?

Or is it just a hamster wheel?

Do we switch careers entirely?

Or do we buy land with friends and start a commune?

What do we really want?

What do you want?

"If you wouldn't die if you couldn't act...if you can do anything else...do that."

Did anyone else hear that in their acting classes or was it just me? Because that phrase was seared into my mind.

When I heard it, my young, little Virgo brain took it completely to heart. I thought, "Well, damn, I wouldn't DIE and I'm smart enough to be a doctor or an accountant if I wanted to. Shit. Am I not an artist?"

After many years and experiences, I realized that it's not about life and death, but rather how I want to live my life. It's not that I would die if I couldn't be an artist, but I wouldn't feel like I was truly living.

So how do I continue being an artist in such a chaotic and volatile world?

The rules of the game keep changing, the shit's hitting every single fan, and we're exhausted trying to keep up when it feels like all we're really doing is falling behind.

And so we're faced with...

Hard Truth #1: You might not "make it"

I know. That's a hard pill to swallow. Like...what's the point even?

Here's another phrase that's also seared in my mind:

A lot of actors don't want to act...they want to be famous.

Oof. Sit with that one for a sec because I think it's a very fair question to ask yourself.

Do I want to be an actor or do I want to be famous?

This is not to say you shouldn't shoot for a place amongst the stars...but it's important (for your mental health even) to figure out what you truly want.

Imagine this: you're living in a smaller town. It's peaceful, you go to rehearsals and perform at the local theater. You earn enough to pay your bills and spend your time making your own films, and doing other things you like. You're not famous, but you're doing what you want, and don't have to worry about money.

Is that enough? Are you happy? Or do you need to be a superstar?

What is your definition of success? It's okay (and very normal) if it has changed!

Again, I'm not saying this to discourage anyone from chasing their dreams. Absolutely go for it! You should do what makes you happy! But if you find yourself feeling miserable because each day that dream feels less and less attainable, make sure you're doing it for the right reasons.

Because...

Hard Truth #2: You do not have control (over everything)

If you work hard, you will reap the rewards.

Or so they said.

The entertainment industry has always been rooted in gatekeeping.

Aspiring actors take classes, send postcards, pay for workshops, attend networking events, get new headshots, do auditions, work for free, etc. etc. etc. in the hopes of "breaking in" (all while staying afloat thanks to a shitty job...or two or three).

While all of that is being "proactive..." most of it is a lot of waiting.

You wait to get an audition, you wait to get a callback, you wait to get a booking, and then you wait to get the next one. "Hurry up and wait."

Everything is waiting for someone else to give you the green light. Therefore, you do not have control.

So, what can you do?

You can wait for someone to cast you—or you can cast yourself.

Jack Innanen - TikTok to FX comedy series.

Caitlin Reilly - TikTok to being signed by WME.

Sara Echeagaray - TikTok sketches to Disney show.

Cole Anderson-James - TikTok to The Office reboot.

Boman Martinez-Reid - TikTok to development deal.

Make. Your. Own. Content.

Hard Truth #3: You should DIY

You're at the grocery store buying oat milk.

God...why is it so expensive? And what the hell are all these ingredients? Ugh. Is this brand owned by a corporation that does shady shit?

So, instead, you decide to buy a bag of oats and some dates. Back home you whip out your old blender, throw the oats and one of the dates in, you blend it with some water and a pinch of salt. You get all the liquid out using the metal strainer that was buried in the back of your drawer and end up with some decent oat milk of your own.

It's messy, but it's fun (and pretty tasty, if you might add).

You like it and do it enough that you decide to upgrade. Thankfully, the tools you need are really good and super affordable nowadays. You swap out your strainer for cheese cloth and buy yourself a Vitamix (no, this is not a branded post). The whole process gets easier and faster and you enjoy your homemade oat milk.

The best part: you have control over what goes into it and how you make it!

So, make it. Make your own oat milk!

Make it alone. Make it with friends. Make it to feed yourself. Make it to feed others. These days, there are many places where you can share your oat milk and grow your oat milk fan base.

If you make delicious oat milk that people want and enjoy, it's possible to make money from it!

Who knows? An established oat milk company might take notice and you could end up working together!

Regardless...you're making oat milk—and if you're making oat milk, you're an oat milk-maker. Period. Full stop.

Whether or not you're happy will depend on what your definition of success as an oat milk maker is.

July Challenge: Make oat milk (a.k.a. Make that damn movie)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of a messy idea you can’t stop thinking about

• 3–5 creative friends who are down to shoot on weekends

• A handful of cheap-but-good gear (use what you’ve got)

• 1 tablespoon of “fuck it, we’re doing this”

• A pinch of YouTube tutorials

• Optional: free locations, borrowed costumes, and snacks

Instructions:

1. Soak your idea.

   Let it sit. Journal. Voice memo it. Test a scene with friends. See what rises to the top.

2. Blend with your people.

   Call your group chat. Someone’s good with a camera. Someone else has editing skills. Someone just wants to make art. Perfect. Blend all your talents together.

3. Strain out the fluff.

   Keep it short. Keep it clear. Don’t try to win Sundance—just tell the story. Make it doable with what you have. (No CGI dinosaurs)

4. Add flavor.

   A signature tone, a weird character, an unexpected ending, a humanitarian ingredient. Whatever makes it you. Whatever you want to share!

5. Bottle it.

   Export your film. Throw it on YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, or submit to a microfest. Send it to that producer you met once. Use it as your calling card.

6. Serve.

   Invite people to watch. Post about the process. Be proud of your homemade oat milk. You made something.

7. Repeat. Improve. Remix.

   Every batch gets better. Try new things. Get weird. Get original. It's your oat milk.

   
   

   You don't need permission.

   
   

   You only need a blender and a dream.

#stayfocused