If you have been following our blog from its beginning in October, then you may remember from my first post how much this Southern belle fell in love with the West Coast last summer -- and how much I love film. Naturally, the latter is what drew me to California for my internship. And ever since then I have been eager to get back, until a recent trip to visit a wonderful friend in Atlanta left me rethinking my desired location for my next home.
While exploring the city of Atlanta for the first time it is no surprise that I, being the dreamer and creator that I am, immediately fell in love with it. Much like I have fallen in love with every place and every person I have been with in life. Remember, I have a ridiculous amount of love and passion in my tiny body. I began trying to truly picture my life permanently in a place other than my home town. I have been so against picturing my life in a specific place because I am not sure that I am ready or willing to settle in one particular area. But what I realized during my Atlanta adventure is that I could actually start to see what my life would be like in this city. The craziest thing, is a week later I received an email from a casting agency and booked a job locally as an extra. Now I finally began to believe that this dream that I have to be successful in the film and entertainment industry could be done somewhere other than Los Angeles.
While I was in Atlanta I visited Grace Midtown. In addition to completely falling in love with the vibe and atmosphere of the congregation, I felt convicted by the message that Sunday. At times it was like the pastor was speaking directly to me. All of this time I have been concerned about where I was going in life, where I was going to live and launch my career. But that Sunday, I was introduced to the idea that we should think about who we should live life with, rather than where we should live it. The bottom line is you control your own happiness and success regardless of where you are geographically. If I am so set on moving to a specific region without considering who is supposed to help me in my journey to create these films and media that will challenge the industry and society, then I may not be as successful, or as happy.
In addition to this sermon, my most-recent film adventure (this time, in front of the camera as an extra) gave me some insight on chasing dreams as well. With every new project that I work on, I am constantly introduced to people. People who dream as big as I do, people who believe similar beliefs that I do and people who I never would have expected to meet on a film set, much less in the industry at all. The most bizarre part of meeting these amazing people is that I have met most of them in Georgia. Again this is not sunny and warm California. There is currently snow on the ground as I type. This revelation has just reinforced the idea that maybe we aren't supposed to seek life in a specific zip code, but we are instead supposed to live surrounded by people who are reaching for the same stars that we are.
I know sound like a broken record in recent posts, but what I'm repeating is the only thing I know to be true right now. I am a post-graduate, with a ridiculous amount of love and passion in my body, who desires to positively impact the film and entertainment industry, without any idea where life is taking me next. But at least now I am beginning to grow more comfortable with the fact that while I may not be in LA right now, my impact can still aim to be just as big, if not bigger. It's not that I'm closing the door on the possibility of LA, but I am beginning to open others. Dream on. -J