NEWS
INTERVIEW WITH CANVAS REBEL
November 6, 2024
“One of the most impactful ideas I’ve heard about creative work is a quote from an episode of This American Life with Ira Glass, often referred to as “The Gap.” He talks about how, in creative work, you get into the game because you’ve got great taste but your skill level might not allow you to reach your full potential yet. So, you constantly feel the discrepancy between the work you are currently making and the work you want to be making, and all you can do to close that gap is just to make as much as you can, and you will improve…
When I first heard that, it was so reassuring to know that that’s not only normal — it’s pretty much necessary. That’s because it teaches you to enjoy the exciting, horrible, volatile thing that is the creative process. I constantly see that proven true as I reflect on my past work, and it reminds me to learn from past creative mistakes and incorporate them as part of the larger story of my artistic journey.”
INTERVIEW WITH BOLDJOURNEY LA
August 13, 2024
“I’ve always known I wanted to be a storyteller of some kind — ever since I starred in my preschool’s stage production of The Grouchy Ladybug, which featured my 4-year-old rendition self’s of Aretha Franklin’s “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” in front of the entire school, I was hooked. There was something incredibly freeing about discovering myself and building up my confidence through performing, and the level of connection I established with audiences and castmates throughout the years taught me about the power of empathetic storytelling to affect the lives of others. As a kid, I was miserable every time I wasn’t in a show, participating in a choir, or writing a play, so it was clear early on that nothing would light up my life quite like my artistic pursuits.
And, of course, as an avid consumer of theater, film, television, and music, I have been sustained by certain pieces of art and media during every high and low. When it came time to make choices about my career, I knew that if I could even partially be responsible for creating a similar experience for another person, whether I’m producing a documentary, singing in an a cappella group, or performing on a stage (ladybug costume or not), I am confident that I’m fulfilling my purpose.”
INTERVIEW WITH VOYAGELA
August 26, 2024
“In my work, I’m interested in collaboration and storytelling through an empathetic lens. I have a distaste for ego… I think so much creative work gets bogged down by an inability to work with others to serve the demands of the piece. I think this outlook comes from my time in the theater, where the harmony (or lack thereof) of an ensemble can make or break a show. I can be a team player, and I can be a star. I can lead a team to make my vision come to life, and I can respect and foster another person’s vision, even if it doesn’t align with my own in every way.
I’m interested in small, human stories that tell larger truths — washed-up actors stuck in a community theater, a group of friends who can’t open a wine bottle, two online gamers who form a strong bond from afar. That’s not to say I’m not interested in bigger stories… but as a creator and consumer, I always find myself gravitating towards nuance and subtlety. I’m interested in the roots of pain and sadness, of feminity, of violence, of power, of love, in all its many forms.”