It’s a time of awkward transitions again. Everything is changing for me. Perhaps that is what defines adulthood (or being an artist): the constant state of change.
When we’re in school, we have obvious milestones: first day of school, holiday breaks, and graduations. After college we have fewer milestones: purchasing something big (computer, car, or house), getting married, or having kids. It seems like milestones are perhaps bigger but less frequent after school.
I suppose that’s the rhythm of life.
As an artist we have milestones, too. We go through phases or explore themes. I tend to mark milestones by the films I’ve been working on and the stages they’re in.
Behind-the-scenes photo from our Brewconomy shoot at Farm Boy Farms in June 2014. Photo by Shane Johnston.
When we started Brewconomy in 2012, for example, I was wrapping up Abandoned Allies. While making Brewconomy I got engaged, married the man of my dreams, sold a house, and built a house with my husband. I also made two short films, Trophy and Landfill Dogs: Behind The Scenes during that time. Almost everything about my life has changed since we started making Brewconomy — and it’s all intertwined.
That’s a lot of change and joy to pack into a few years! I feel like such a lucky woman.
Derek and I built a house together in 2013.
It hasn’t been easy, of course, but I knew this could be an uphill battle. When I chose to become a filmmaker — armed with nothing but blind ambition and blissful ignorance — I agreed to those terms and conditions. And looking back on all of those awkward transitions, I recognize that the only way big things like this are possible is with the help of a lot of great people.
Really great people will forgive your awkward transitions, support your dream chasing, and keep you in line. I’m so thankful for my friends, family, and colleagues. I never cease to be amazed by them.
Shuffling release forms on the set of Brewconomy in 2013
Now I’m in the midst of more transitions. We’re finishing Brewconomy, which means I’m starting a new documentary. It’ll be my fifth film.
Many folks don’t fully grasp the rhythm of making films, which is why I don’t talk about this new project often. I respect the opinion that you should work on one thing at a time — but it’s not how I operate. It seems I have never worked on one thing at a time. I’m hard wired to focus on the task at hand but have multiple projects going at once.
Besides, the phases of production are so different, you almost have to start one before the other is finished. It keeps things moving, which means I can be a prolific filmmaker. Putting new stuff out into the world — at the highest level of excellence and integrity, of course — means you can be more relevant / engaged with your fans. If I only put one new film out every 10 years it might be tougher to have a deep, meaningful relationship with my fans in today’s fast-paced, attention-depraved world. That’s my theory, at least.
This is why I’m revealing details about my new film next week, even though we’re still in post-production on Brewconomy. I’m only sharing it with my fans who are subscribed to my monthly emails — and only there. For now, anyway. Why? Because it feels like an intimate space shared with my closest fans, where I get to be myself without ridicule and judgment from passersby who don’t fully understand what I’m doing.
If you want to know more please join the email list by signing up below. I can’t wait to reveal the details of everything that’s happening right now. It’s incredibly exciting!