So timely you have posted this. There is currently a debate on Linked In as to whether folks would rather work with ‘A great director who screams at everyone’ or ‘A nice director who can’t deliver good work.’’
Amazing how many people in the industry believe this has to be a binary choice. You are living proof that you can be a great director who values everyone and your work is a testimony to the power of that approach in the art you create, the change it makes, and the community it inspires.
May this be the norm we all aspire to in every creative endeavour.
So lovely and thoughtful. Truly made my day. As a fan of films I love when creators talk about their process. As a fan of ARRAY I see the same names on credits all the time so I know you are the Mayor of a happy town! Looking forward to this series.
I am one of those people who marvels at what it takes to make something appear on my screen. Truthfully, I sometimes give the credits more of my attention than the show/film 😬🤣
Actually Ava I am not surprised by this essay. I thought about you today as I watched ORIGIN for maybe the 30th time.
I thought about what Henry G. Sanders said to me about the respect he felt on the set of QUEEN SUGAR.
I also thought about the fact that my 64-year-old self knows the names of more Black women directors and women directors than the names of men who direct. I never thought that would ever happen in my lifetime.
You celebrate the team you work with; and that has made all the difference.
The movie world needs more folks with your vision. So glad there are folks like you out there. I recently wrote a book about growing up Aspen in the 70's-80's and when I started my podcast of where are they now graduates of Aspen high I found out that a lot of us are in the entertainment industry and so I started a Growing Up Aspen - Movie Chat podcast hoping to inspire others. Folks honestly talking about the ups and downs of the industry. Our industry is in such a flux right now that its spirits like yours that are keeping this industry alive. Keep on keeping on!
Sounds like a wonderful and fulfilling project! I love how now we have all kinds of tools and platforms, like podcasts and Substack and others, to have deeper and longer exchanges and conversations with folks. Curiosity and discovery is a beautiful thing!
Yeah.. in my chapter of the book are QR codes... it makes your modern day cell phone a time traveling tardis. Readers get to go back in time to the 70's-80's. Its so cool its now up to the creative folks to inspire others. Thanks for responding. Love your work. Recently I have been writing here on substack trying to capture old Aspen parents perspective. Our yin and yang of local fathers ranged from the likes of John Denver to Hunter S. Thompson. I feel like generations respect is kind of diapering. So I have created voices from the past talking about the present to try and inspire a better future. Here is the most recent John Denver tribute. https://open.substack.com/pub/growingupaspen/p/how-your-vote-can-shape-a-kinder?r=2g93c&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
I love this! I am an amateur filmmaker and I have spent all of 2 days in the middle. But they were the best 2 days of my life! Though I was focused on the work, I was almost always on the brink of tears. The people around me loved and believed in me enough to take a chance on a script I wrote agot down in the trenches with me to go to work. There have been some personal setbacks that have caused a delay in the film's completion. But I can't wait to get back to the middle (shouts India Arie).
Beautiful! As someone who grew up playing sports all the way through college, I found the team atmosphere of theater, tv, film to be just as powerful and honestly less toxic. Such incredible micro communities of people working together to create something. I love it.
Hmmm. Yes, sports teams. Another crew atmosphere. I can see the similarities as well as the challenges. And “micro communities” is a great way to put it. It extends the idea to other teams of people. Super interesting. Thanks!
I was just speaking with someone the other day about the fact that my favorite work experiences have had little to do with the actual "work", but the people I worked with!
Off Book. Great title. Reminds me of your first film about caregiving. (I just remembered the title. "I Will Follow." I have seen photos of Aunt Denise. Beautiful. Your films are about....care and caring....and showing up. The Ministry of Showing Up. ARRAY. All of it.... Something integral to humans about caregiving. At least we hope so. Am off book facilitating multiple family caregiver support groups.And it does get messy in the middle. Tears. Fears. Regrets. We have the cookie lady, the person who hums, the foot tapper, the hugger. And they all show up for each other with love and compassion. What we are making is a network of support. A Village of care. We begin as strangers. I have yet to have them throw water or dump ice on each other. Maybe at some point. Am now facilitating 4 groups a month. Best conversations ever. Real. A total respite from haters. Best, Paula Wolfson, Dominguez 71. Sista friend.
This is what I love about being part of a crew. I have produced projects where I had to do everything from casting to location scouting to styling and props. And that is a great way to learn and appreciate everyone’s role. But there is nothing like being a part of a film crew. It is everything you mentioned and whether I have worked as a PA running down the street with my walkie to get fingernail polish for HMU on or I am 2nd AD driving all over town trying to find food for the crew to avoid a late night meal penalty - (picture KFC saying what do you want - and me saying everything!!!) The friendships, bonds, memories and magic that are made are priceless. I can watch something back and what is on the screen isn’t even as interesting as what it took to make it - set up, execute and pull off a scene. Film sets are truly a special place!!
The power of individual magic, threads, thoughts, convictions, fear, strength, courage, woven into the inevitable. Sounds like unraveling, learning, and symbiosis on an advanced plane. Thank you for realizing and being a vessel of the truth of what it means to be a human being, unconditonally.
So timely you have posted this. There is currently a debate on Linked In as to whether folks would rather work with ‘A great director who screams at everyone’ or ‘A nice director who can’t deliver good work.’’
Amazing how many people in the industry believe this has to be a binary choice. You are living proof that you can be a great director who values everyone and your work is a testimony to the power of that approach in the art you create, the change it makes, and the community it inspires.
May this be the norm we all aspire to in every creative endeavour.
Oh wow. Such kind words. Thank you, John.
So lovely and thoughtful. Truly made my day. As a fan of films I love when creators talk about their process. As a fan of ARRAY I see the same names on credits all the time so I know you are the Mayor of a happy town! Looking forward to this series.
Aw, thanks Ingrid. Being the Mayor of a Happy Town is an honor to me. I never get over it. A blessing!
Oh my goodness that video brought the best tears of joys to my eyes. Thank you.
I love that video so much! It’s filled with such joy! And people who wonder what folks do on a film set now get an inside look!
I am one of those people who marvels at what it takes to make something appear on my screen. Truthfully, I sometimes give the credits more of my attention than the show/film 😬🤣
Lovely insight into how it is never just one person's genius, but a passionate intentional community that builds something beautiful.
Exactly!
I agree
Actually Ava I am not surprised by this essay. I thought about you today as I watched ORIGIN for maybe the 30th time.
I thought about what Henry G. Sanders said to me about the respect he felt on the set of QUEEN SUGAR.
I also thought about the fact that my 64-year-old self knows the names of more Black women directors and women directors than the names of men who direct. I never thought that would ever happen in my lifetime.
You celebrate the team you work with; and that has made all the difference.
👏🏾👏🏾👊🏾
The movie world needs more folks with your vision. So glad there are folks like you out there. I recently wrote a book about growing up Aspen in the 70's-80's and when I started my podcast of where are they now graduates of Aspen high I found out that a lot of us are in the entertainment industry and so I started a Growing Up Aspen - Movie Chat podcast hoping to inspire others. Folks honestly talking about the ups and downs of the industry. Our industry is in such a flux right now that its spirits like yours that are keeping this industry alive. Keep on keeping on!
Sounds like a wonderful and fulfilling project! I love how now we have all kinds of tools and platforms, like podcasts and Substack and others, to have deeper and longer exchanges and conversations with folks. Curiosity and discovery is a beautiful thing!
Yeah.. in my chapter of the book are QR codes... it makes your modern day cell phone a time traveling tardis. Readers get to go back in time to the 70's-80's. Its so cool its now up to the creative folks to inspire others. Thanks for responding. Love your work. Recently I have been writing here on substack trying to capture old Aspen parents perspective. Our yin and yang of local fathers ranged from the likes of John Denver to Hunter S. Thompson. I feel like generations respect is kind of diapering. So I have created voices from the past talking about the present to try and inspire a better future. Here is the most recent John Denver tribute. https://open.substack.com/pub/growingupaspen/p/how-your-vote-can-shape-a-kinder?r=2g93c&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
I love this! I am an amateur filmmaker and I have spent all of 2 days in the middle. But they were the best 2 days of my life! Though I was focused on the work, I was almost always on the brink of tears. The people around me loved and believed in me enough to take a chance on a script I wrote agot down in the trenches with me to go to work. There have been some personal setbacks that have caused a delay in the film's completion. But I can't wait to get back to the middle (shouts India Arie).
Wonderful!!!! Keep going! 🫵🏾
and got* down in the trenches
Beautiful! As someone who grew up playing sports all the way through college, I found the team atmosphere of theater, tv, film to be just as powerful and honestly less toxic. Such incredible micro communities of people working together to create something. I love it.
Hmmm. Yes, sports teams. Another crew atmosphere. I can see the similarities as well as the challenges. And “micro communities” is a great way to put it. It extends the idea to other teams of people. Super interesting. Thanks!
I was just speaking with someone the other day about the fact that my favorite work experiences have had little to do with the actual "work", but the people I worked with!
Off Book. Great title. Reminds me of your first film about caregiving. (I just remembered the title. "I Will Follow." I have seen photos of Aunt Denise. Beautiful. Your films are about....care and caring....and showing up. The Ministry of Showing Up. ARRAY. All of it.... Something integral to humans about caregiving. At least we hope so. Am off book facilitating multiple family caregiver support groups.And it does get messy in the middle. Tears. Fears. Regrets. We have the cookie lady, the person who hums, the foot tapper, the hugger. And they all show up for each other with love and compassion. What we are making is a network of support. A Village of care. We begin as strangers. I have yet to have them throw water or dump ice on each other. Maybe at some point. Am now facilitating 4 groups a month. Best conversations ever. Real. A total respite from haters. Best, Paula Wolfson, Dominguez 71. Sista friend.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
This is what I love about being part of a crew. I have produced projects where I had to do everything from casting to location scouting to styling and props. And that is a great way to learn and appreciate everyone’s role. But there is nothing like being a part of a film crew. It is everything you mentioned and whether I have worked as a PA running down the street with my walkie to get fingernail polish for HMU on or I am 2nd AD driving all over town trying to find food for the crew to avoid a late night meal penalty - (picture KFC saying what do you want - and me saying everything!!!) The friendships, bonds, memories and magic that are made are priceless. I can watch something back and what is on the screen isn’t even as interesting as what it took to make it - set up, execute and pull off a scene. Film sets are truly a special place!!
Ha! “Everything!”
I love, love, LOVE what you do - here and elsewheres.
The power of individual magic, threads, thoughts, convictions, fear, strength, courage, woven into the inevitable. Sounds like unraveling, learning, and symbiosis on an advanced plane. Thank you for realizing and being a vessel of the truth of what it means to be a human being, unconditonally.
🌞🌞🌞
SWEET!!! I love your Substack and your films!
No, YOU’RE sweet for sending this. Thanks!
I love all of this so much!!! ❤️
I love this. And I love my "family" crafted from decades of working together as a collaborative, uber smart, creative organism.
Yes! I love that feeling!