 In the moment, it can be difficult to notice any change or progression. One of the reasons I really like this time of year is the chance it gives me to take stock of everything that has happened. This year in particular truly surprised me.
In January I moved to Los Angeles. I began interning for The Kennedy/Marshall Company. It was an incredible experience filled with wonderful people. I spent most of February helping revise Asbury University's script "Damaged Goods." I directed a short film for Visible Poetry and had the chance to go on a rock climbing trip to Red Rock in Nevada--a magical pocket of rock and nature. March brought a visit from family which we spent at Venice Beach. I also taught my first university level course and partook in more pre-production meetings for Damaged Goods. Two of my poems were published in an anthology and The Stranger screened at the TCL Chinese Theater. In April, I had the opportunity to attend the NAB Show and see more filmmaking/media tools than I could ever dream of. I also attended The Florida Film Festival where The Stranger screened and ran my first half marathon. May took me to Kentucky where we shot Damaged Goods in fifteen days with a predominantly student crew! June had a lot of travel. The first half I was in NYC editing Damaged Goods and writing the feature script for The Stranger. Chicago and Albuquerque were also points of visitation to spend time with family. Nikki Lee and I started The New Deal Podcast. July was a bit of a breath of fresh air. I came back to LA to help a friend make his short before returning to NYC to finish up Damaged Goods' edit. While there, I wrote a feature in a week. Sometimes the inspiration just strikes! The Stranger also won a bronze Telly for directing. During July and a little bit of August I had the wonderful opportunity to work for a director. I learned so much in those few weeks and met some incredible people. I also started teaching a undergrad and grad level Directing Narrative Film course. Most of September was spent writing. I pushed myself to finish several scripts this fall. October I had the chance to visit France and Portugal. That was a lovely adventure filled with a lot of walking and pastries. November I worked on two horror films. It was vastly inspiring as I find myself writing a lot of psychological thriller/horror pieces lately. December was spent eating a lot of delicious food, seeing family, and catching up on projects. It was quite the year, but somehow in the day to day I forget all of the wonderful things I've had the chance to experience. In between all these successes there were a lot of moments of doubt, struggle, and failure. I'm grateful for each; it was a year of learning. I discovered more about the sort of stories I want to tell, and more importantly, the person I want to be. Here's to 2019 having even richer memories, greater learning, and impossible adventures.
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