Embracing the Creative Journey in Filmmaking

I've been on my filmmaking journey for some time now. I'd say seriously since I graduated with my Cinema Production degree in 2016. It's been a lot of ups and downs and as my mom told me after my Senior Project was shown in front of my peers and I didn't win a single award, "Whitney you picked a very difficult career." I've learned that you must love the process not just the end result. Filmmaking is not one straight path. There is no one really telling you that you need to do this in order to do this and then, whammy, you're a filmmaker. It's different for everyone.

Many times, amidst the chaos of production and the pressure of deadlines, we forget the simple pleasure of storytelling. We forget that we picked up that camera, not just as a profession, but as a calling. As the illustrious Greta Gerwig said, **"Movies have a glorious, magic ability to make you feel less alone."** It's a reminder that your work touches souls, connects worlds, and brings dreams to life.

Creating art is a privilege. It's the ability to evoke feelings, paint pictures with words, and impact lives with stories. As the legendary Ava DuVernay reminds us, **"Be passionate and move forward with gusto every single hour of every single day until you reach your goal."** So the next time you’re on set or brainstorming a script, remember why you embarked on this path.

The phenomenal Agnès Varda once mused, **"Cinema is my home. I think I've always lived in it."** So, let filmmaking be your home, your haven, and your heartbeat. Let it be the place where you feel most alive and most yourself.

In the end, it all boils down to one simple truth: if your art sets your soul alight, embrace it with both hands. Cherish it. And most importantly, never, ever forget the wonder of it. As Mary Lou Cook so beautifully puts it, **“Creativity is experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun.”** So go out there, and create!