Getting Bolder and Weirder

I am heading off to Media that Matters tomorrow!

[Confession: I am posting this from the future 👀✨ I wrote this post before I left for the conference last week! I am home now and will share a follow up soon!]

Media that Matters is for "artists, filmmakers, writers, and New Media makers who are expanding their horizons: creators who want to inspire reflection, empathy, meaningful conversation, and ultimately, action.

It is a gathering that aims to explore storytelling, journalism, art, and technology as a bridge across political cultural divides; a one-of-a-kind opportunity to reconnect to the natural world, and to strengthen our human connections.

When I received the invitation to join this year's Media that Matters conference, I said YES! Impact driven filmmakers? In person!? For a week? And it all takes place at Abundance Community Farms?! It felt too good to be true.

The cherry on top was that they were able to offer me a small scholarship to attend.

I absolutely cannot wait to spend time with other artists and have a meeting of the minds!

Each of us has 7 minutes during the conference to share something we are working on, or something we are thinking about.

I've decided to share my children's show idea. IT IS TIME!

Am I nervous...? YES!

I'm nervous to share this dream of creating a kids show with a room full of industry folks who I admire, and many of whom have worked on incredible, SERIOUS documentaries.

But the power of Dressup compels me!!

In order to get my presentation in tip-top shape, I ran my presentation by my mentors.

I met my mentor, Nancy, when I was awarded the Fred Rogers Scholarship in 2013. Nancy is so experienced and generous with her notes. She reminded me of things like don't read your slides; less text and more art (SOLID notes)

But one note she shared really stands out,

GO BOLDER and WEIRDER. BE YOU.

Shockingly - I have SERIOUS WORK TO DO!

Unmasking My Inner Weirdo

The thing about being a weird person who has been masquerading as a 'normie' (or at least trying... and probably failing...to appear normalish...) for so long, is that you've spent so long shoving the weird part back up where it came from, getting it out is nearly impossible.

And then I go do something so perfectly normal that it's almost odd - like finding the best instant-pot recipe for chicken tacos. It's this one, apparently.

Going bolder and weirder requires being SO COMFORTABLE in WHO YOU ARE that you are free. Being bold and weird is a gift, and a challenge.

Despite my performance of normalcy, I try and microdose weird into my daily life 🌈

One way I microdose weird is by incorporating a lot of colour into my clothing. I consider this the not-so-subtle art of colour resistance (Especially here in Vancouver, where all clothing is beige or black or lulucore athleiseure) But really this bare-minimum weird.

But there is always room for going BOLDER and WEIRDER.

As it turns out, parenting is very weird friendly!

I think partially why I'm loving being a parent so much is that parenting is UNFILTERED WEIRD.

Suddenly, these things are acceptable:

-Making up stories

-speaking in silly voices

-Moving around and dancing at random

-Rhyming for no particular reason

-Playing pretend

-Making a quick exit when emotions change

The list goes on.

I feel like 'making it' as an artist is truly the access to the freedom to be as weird as you like.

But before that, one's weirdness (read: personality/whimsy) can impact your ability to get a normal ass job. And when you're a parent, you kind of NEED a normal ass job.

But there's a chance that if you're successful, your weirdness is validated.

So I guess what I'm saying is... Please help me validate my weirdness!?

Speaking of which, my copy of Jibz Cameron's new book, Hell in a Handbag, has been shipped and I cannot wait to read it – a true weirdo icon.

check out this MIT Press intro:

"A freak’s freak, iconoclast performance artist Jibz Cameron is best known for her multimedia act Dynasty Handbag, an alter ego lampooning the tragic absurdity of heterosexuality, queerness, the female body, capitalism, depression, art making, and life itself."

COMEEE ON! SO GOOD!!!

The last thing my mentor said after she gave me that (life-changing?) note was "I love this show. YOU CAN DO THIS."

YOU CAN DO THIS.

[I think I can, I think I can.. my Little Engine that could mantra going into my pitch this week!]

Be Weird. Be Bold. Be you!

Love,

Paisley