dotconnproductions
Well-known member
Good morning!
One of the things that's been really present to me in the last couple of weeks is just how much power I (and many other filmmakers that are in my circle of influence) wield in our ability to communicate powerful and world changing messages.
If you're like me, much of my time is being spent creating media that promotes an idea, product or concept (Our company focuses on nonprofit fundraising / corporate videos). Many times I don't have the time, energy or desire to do anything for myself or my community when I'm done with our client work. To be honest in 20 years in this profession I've not really ever or often poured myself into something that had the possibility of changing my world.
As I watch our communities grapple with COVID, the protests and many more difficult social struggles I'm aware of how on the sideline I've been over the years and so I've been playing around with an idea and wanted to see what you all thought:
Looking at this planet the one thing that really is standing out to me is the distinct lack of compassion and kindness for people who are different from us. Different ideologies, politics, football teams, races... you name it. Sure we'd happily help an orphan or an old woman across the street but see a MAGA hat, Obama t-shirt or a different skin tone... and for many people the compassion for their fellow man disappears. As a community I've seen all of us (myself included) become more tribal, centrally focused in our ideologies and less open to alternate viewpoints and we're seeing the impact of that way of being in ways that cause real pain for so many in our world. (I personally am more aware of my lack of compassion for many in my community (even fellow filmmakers) and for the last year I've been taking on a new way of being towards others).
And so... my idea is as follows:
What if we, as independent and small studio filmmakers, took on shifting the conversation, even ever so slightly, towards a kinder, more loving world?
I don't know what this looks like but one idea I theorized was creating a virtual film festival where independent small studios from across the globe could create 2 minute films in ANY style and topic they choose (Narrative, documentary, music video, stop motion, who knows?!) that would demonstrate or promote a kinder, more compassionate world. These films could then be shared by all of us in the body and with all of our social media channels (again we wield incredible influence in our community). Perhaps it's a contest like a 30 day film challenge. Perhaps RED releases one of the films on their channels or throws a shiny new Komodo in as a prize for a winning short? Who knows?
The ultimate goal - creative self expression within our community that transforms OUR way of thinking as individuals, brings us together powerfully and perhaps even has the possibility of shifting the world around us in some small way. Again I don't have it fleshed out but would love to jump into a conversation with a few of you to brainstorm what we could create together.
I'm hosting a ZOOM call with a few filmmaker friends on Tuesday 6/16 at 3pm MDT (Mountain time) and would love to invite any of you that would like to be a part of the conversation or see something for yourself to be on the call. Email me at*john@stage2studios.com*and I'll send an invite link for Tuesday (Note I'm out of touch Thursday through Sunday so the invite will be sent on Monday).
I know... it's not curing AIDS in Africa nor will it single handedly transform racism in our community. But... it's*something*I can do with my power to impact my world so it's time to clean the lenses and start charging batteries.
Thanks for reading and I acknowledge all of you for the powerful creativity you bring to our world.
I'm blown away by all of you.
John Conn
Stage 2 Studios
www.stage2studios.com**
One of the things that's been really present to me in the last couple of weeks is just how much power I (and many other filmmakers that are in my circle of influence) wield in our ability to communicate powerful and world changing messages.
If you're like me, much of my time is being spent creating media that promotes an idea, product or concept (Our company focuses on nonprofit fundraising / corporate videos). Many times I don't have the time, energy or desire to do anything for myself or my community when I'm done with our client work. To be honest in 20 years in this profession I've not really ever or often poured myself into something that had the possibility of changing my world.
As I watch our communities grapple with COVID, the protests and many more difficult social struggles I'm aware of how on the sideline I've been over the years and so I've been playing around with an idea and wanted to see what you all thought:
Looking at this planet the one thing that really is standing out to me is the distinct lack of compassion and kindness for people who are different from us. Different ideologies, politics, football teams, races... you name it. Sure we'd happily help an orphan or an old woman across the street but see a MAGA hat, Obama t-shirt or a different skin tone... and for many people the compassion for their fellow man disappears. As a community I've seen all of us (myself included) become more tribal, centrally focused in our ideologies and less open to alternate viewpoints and we're seeing the impact of that way of being in ways that cause real pain for so many in our world. (I personally am more aware of my lack of compassion for many in my community (even fellow filmmakers) and for the last year I've been taking on a new way of being towards others).
And so... my idea is as follows:
What if we, as independent and small studio filmmakers, took on shifting the conversation, even ever so slightly, towards a kinder, more loving world?
I don't know what this looks like but one idea I theorized was creating a virtual film festival where independent small studios from across the globe could create 2 minute films in ANY style and topic they choose (Narrative, documentary, music video, stop motion, who knows?!) that would demonstrate or promote a kinder, more compassionate world. These films could then be shared by all of us in the body and with all of our social media channels (again we wield incredible influence in our community). Perhaps it's a contest like a 30 day film challenge. Perhaps RED releases one of the films on their channels or throws a shiny new Komodo in as a prize for a winning short? Who knows?
The ultimate goal - creative self expression within our community that transforms OUR way of thinking as individuals, brings us together powerfully and perhaps even has the possibility of shifting the world around us in some small way. Again I don't have it fleshed out but would love to jump into a conversation with a few of you to brainstorm what we could create together.
I'm hosting a ZOOM call with a few filmmaker friends on Tuesday 6/16 at 3pm MDT (Mountain time) and would love to invite any of you that would like to be a part of the conversation or see something for yourself to be on the call. Email me at*john@stage2studios.com*and I'll send an invite link for Tuesday (Note I'm out of touch Thursday through Sunday so the invite will be sent on Monday).
I know... it's not curing AIDS in Africa nor will it single handedly transform racism in our community. But... it's*something*I can do with my power to impact my world so it's time to clean the lenses and start charging batteries.
Thanks for reading and I acknowledge all of you for the powerful creativity you bring to our world.
I'm blown away by all of you.
John Conn
Stage 2 Studios
www.stage2studios.com**
