Amy Grace sits down with Elana Camille from Elana Camille Creates to discuss how she has managed her business and life through a pandemic and global tragedy in regards to systemic racism.
Thanks to Screen Nova Scotia, I was able to attend Media Xchanges Storytelling for Screenwriters workshop series with John Yorke.
An honour to be allowed to learn and dig deeper into my storytelling skillset. Something I have been seeking the next right opportunity to grow professionally. This turned out to be exactly what I needed.
What I’ve learned so far…
I learned to think more in-depth into the structural dynamics of the typical story/screenplay. Many screenwriters and writers, in general, have structures they apply to their work or writing. Three acts, five acts, beat sheets. All commonly used methods of mapping out a story. In this course, we explored not just a five-act structure but the deeper meanings and intentions behind why a structure can boost a story.
We saw this practically through examples and by applying it ourselves to commonly known work and creating our interpretation of a plot in group work. I was amazed by the joy and camaraderie I felt in the group work.
It was apparent everyone was happy to use their creative skill sets, bounce off ideas and work together. Seeing that collaboration is something I need to find and seek out more often. It's easy as a writer/creator to stay insular, but these moments of collaboration remind you why you do what you do.
To connect, share and find meaning. It's what drives storytellers.
How I am processing it & what I hope to work on in the next month…
John Yorke's Roadmap to Change structure technique was a mind-shift for me. You can know things intuitively, but having the words for them is also essential. That is something that I hope to hone in on and practice more in my craft over the next month and beyond. I believe I have a knack and skill set for a story, but I have lacked the vernacular to discuss the weak points, the strong points and the overall elements of a story.
Gaining this skill set is a massive part of what I have needed and am excited to be growing in.
Until our next session in two weeks, I’ll be putting this knowledge to use.
Top centre - Clockwise: Facemasks | Mothers Day Gift, Bye Bye Undereye - It Cosmetics | Sephora, Rythmns of Renewal - Rebekah Lyons | Amazon, White/Gray Knit Sweater | Winners, Femme T-Shirt | Dynamite, The Fiery Cross - Diana Gaboldon, Brown pleather Purse | Modcloth.com, Hunter Rain Boots | Softmoc (birthday gift from my parents), Yellow Rain jacket | London Fog, White/Grey Pants | RW & Co, Blue Crop Pants with White Ribbon | Aritzia, Tan Turtle Neck | RW&CO, Girlfriend Jeans | The Gap, SOJO Bluelight Glasses | Amazon, White Linen Shirt | Old Navy, Spring Anthologies | Amazon, Brown Pleather Keds | Soft Moc
Entering Spring during a Pandemic introduced some challenges. It changed my goals for the spring Capsule and it quickly showed me that my lack of waterproof (non-winter) footwear was an issue. Along with more lightweight pants and sweaters that were still warm but not suffocating.
New to Me
White/Grey Sweater | Before the pandemic hit Nova Scotia, I went to winners on a whim with my daughter and saw this hanging on the rack. Already a good eye and sharp shopper, she said “this would be nice for you mama”. I had to agree. Knowing that our damp spring days and my love for walks outside would make this sweater a great addition to an admittedly older and worn hoodie that I wear for those times. (I still have that old hoodie…campfire days are perfect for the old raggedy ones)
Femme T-Shirt | I am finding that I have a budding love for the simple white t with words that corroborate with my values and vision statements for work. This one is simple and to the point.
Rain Jacket | My old rain jacket (not seen here) was black, long and form-fitting. It was from a store called One Tooth (Canadian Yoga wear company) it has sense moved/shut down. That jacket was purchased over a decade ago and has seen me through college, theatre school and every outdoor adventure possible. Due to it’s broken zipper and permanently stained front I decided to retire it and invest in this lovely London Fog when it went on sale. I love it so much already. I hope it lasts longer than my last one.
Rain Boots | As with my rain jacket, my old pair of rain boots from winners I purchased during my first ever professional job in 2010 split open and were irreparable. I managed for a year without rainboots. For my birthday this year, my parents helped me purchase this pair of Hunter Boots. I like that they are mid-length. They do the job and hopefully, they last as long as everyone says they do.
Tan Turtle Neck | RW&Co has a variety of turtlenecks. Once I knew my size and the style I liked, I bought a few more when they went on sale for future work outfits in the winter and autumn. This tan one was a great addition to the colder days in early spring. (the rest I packed away for Autumn.)
Still Going Strong
Leather Brown Keds | I adore this pair of Keds. I will wear them to the ground before I let them go.
Girlfriend Jeans | This pair from the gap is a perfect fit for my body type. Again, will wear till they fall apart.
Yoga Clothes | Not seen here my 3 pairs of yoga tops and 3 pairs
Time to Go
*not seen here:
Rain Jacket from One Tooth. It lived a long life with me. Worth the investment in ‘07/08’
Claire sits down with local podcast creator and host Ruth McMullen from Optimistically Depressed to chat about being a creative and mother during a pandemic and what that means for productivity, work and the real-life expectations we hold over ourselves.
May was full of events and other such to-dos… reading was enjoyed as an escape but not as much time for it as I would have liked.
Still, these are hefty books to have finished this month:
The Fiery Cross | Diana Gabaldon
I completed this fifth installment of the Outlander series as the fifth season of Outlander on STARZ finished airing. Diana Gabaldon continues to deliver with every read. At 979 pages, this read was chock-full of the description on history, character development, everyday living and, of course, epic adventures and happenings that could only happen in a book that is all genres in one. The Fiery Cross covers the lead up to the American Revolution, how Jamie and Claire Fraser, along with their extended family, manage while also knowing what is to come. The Outlander Series continues to be an incredible example that it is possible to capture the growth of a relationship over the decades.
The Testaments | Margaret Atwood
Having read The Handmaids Tale, it seemed fitting to see how Margaret continued the story. Jumping ahead of time, we are given multiple characters' perspectives both in and outside of Gilead.
I have always found The Handmaids Tale an intriguing take on the patriarchy, especially after hearing Margaret Atwood explain in an interview that people’s distaste for this world is in, fact, a direct reaction to the true happenings in our world. It’s easy to think this writer fluffed up a story with horrific details against women, but in fact, she researched and has only ever created the world of Gilead based on true experiences women have experienced either in the past or currently in the world. To have to be met with those truths, even in a fictional world, is jarring and helps me remember why I stand up for myself when actions towards me have gotten out of hand. It is not about creating a scene, but about continuing to create a world in which it is safe to speak up, choose and make mistakes as well as successes as women and for the future women.
To summarize, I was expecting more of a diabolical ending to The Testaments, but either way, Margaret Atwood gave us another piece of fiction to ponder over the words and actions of others and even ourselves.
Amy Grace talks to long-distance bestie, Artist and Community Events Coordinator Jasmine Alexander about how she’s adjusted and found joy in her work and life during the COVID 19 Pandemic.
INSTA LIVE LINK <——-
Claire Fraser sits down with woodworker, entrepreneur, mother and homeowner Denika Coakley from DC Woodworks to talk about how she is navigating her life and business around the social distancing regulations and experience around COVID 19. We get some great insight into navigating business starting new projects and being forgiving to not only ourselves but to those around us.
INSTA LIVE LINK <——
Amy Grace sits down with Lizane Tan, flight attendant and graphic designer of Lizane Tan to discuss how the social distancing measures have affected her work both in the air and on the ground.
Insightful thoughts, rebrands, laughter and a cat crashing the chat!
INSTA LIVE LINK <——
Claire Fraser sits down with Autumn Grant from Flo Meditation and Wellness to talk about how the social distancing measures have affected Autumn both personally and professionally.
Grounded conversation, pups, empathy and a bit on meditation!
Insta Live Link <——
It’s not just COVID-19.
It’s everything on top of it.
It’s the deaths in the family, the tragedies in shootings, the loss of life when helicopters crash and the missing of those we cannot see.
Nova Scotia, my dear province, lost 22 people in our countries largest mass shooting.
In less than 24 hours, 22 people lost their life. An unthinkable thing. A tragic thing. A no explanation but despair thing. And we are here with our tear-stained cheeks wondering how and where do we go from here? What more will happen? How will we move from this?
It got me thinking as my heart was heavy, burdened with the death, the loss, the deep well of emotion when life is unsteady and unreal.
What do we do?
Make moves for peace.
How?
First, we listen, and we feel.
Feel the agony, the weight and the unsettledness.
Then, as the day moves, we move too. We make moves for peace.
Quiet, steady, one at a time, moves for peace.
For me, this meant:
Calling out toxic behaviour that surrounded our home.
Filling my ears with music that uplifts.
Watching media that welcomes peace such as Mr.Rodgers Neighbourhood
Almost daily chats with those who create order in my spirit.
Quiet activities, like walks, journaling, yoga & reading.
Praying.
Reading the Psalms.
What are your moves for peace?
Amy Grace sits down with Jenna Oosterholt from The Ville Caffeine Bar to talk about how the social distancing measures during the pandemic has affected Jenna both personally and professionally.
Real talk, coffee, laughter & a healthy dose of optimism!
Insta Live Link <——
Mary Poppins | P. L. Travers
A read from March I forgot to record. Mary Poppins was a blast to read aloud as a family and was a great lead into watching the Disney classic. As a parent, you start to realize that Mary Poppin’s sensibilities were always slyly put in places the belonged the most. And usually, always about the world needing to shift and shape up and letting the children, be children.
Rhythms of Renewal | Rebekah Lyons
After hearing Rebekah interviewed I quickly ordered her book. I find anyone who wants to study the rhythms of seasons, creativity and spirituality combined is someone I want to hear from. This book has not disappointed. Her approach to her faith and how she lives a more balanced life is refreshing.
Dawn of a Distant Shore | Sara Donati
The second in the Wilderness series. Dawn of a Distant Shore didn’t disappoint, although I found it a bit less engaging as the first. It’s always fun to read when characters come into my dear home and native land as Canada and even reference or come into the Halifax area. That being said, the most interesting character arc in the story for me, was the adolescent daughter. Her perspective on their journeys was always what I wanted to flip to.
We are so proud of the women we have featured over the past year and a half.
As we came to the end of the interviews we had backlogged before our provincial shut down for social distancing, we discussed how we could serve others and bring support to those we know, those we haven’t met yet, and those who follow us.
How Instagram Live Series will work:
*unseen technical difficulties notwithstanding
On Monday’s
We will announce and introduce our feature guest of the week.
We will share the exact time of the Instagram live chat
On Wednesday’s
We will host the Instagram live interview / chat
We will share the live video on our feed post-interview
On Friday’s
We will share a takeaway from the live chat
Shower the week’s feature guest with love & support!
How you can get involved
Follow us on Instagram! <——
Join in celebrating various creative/entrepreneurial women by sharing and liking their work.
Join in on our live chats.
Share with us the various brilliant women you know and love!
Halley Davies
IATSE 667 Camera Assistant & Freelance Director of Photography
Halley can be found giving her whole self to her union and freelance work behind the camera, while also finding ways to honour her busy and quieter seasons through various creative outlets.
Halley is passionate about working on projects that have value to the viewer and takes great care in how she prepares approaches her work both physically and mentally.
She also happens to bring a healthy reflection in what she accomplishes and communicates, allowing herself and others to shift perspective and see differently.
MORE HALLEY
As I look at the songs that I have gathered for this season’s playlist, I was hit with the realization of how the COVID-19 pandemic affected my choices. I was already in the process of curating the list when COVID hit our country and my province. In knowing that, there are many songs on this list that I may not have otherwise included. The few from Mary Poppins and Into the Woods, being from musicals would have been songs I would have nixed before the list was completed or left just one. But the words in those musicals, the point they are making seemed to say something to me. About unknowns and uncomfortable places.
Spring 2020 Playlist <——-
Standouts*
Clearly | Grace Vanderwall
A cross between a cover of “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash and a new song, Grace’s words in Clearly give hope in times when life is uncertain. Where can we find hope today? How can we accept what we cannot change?
8 | Billie Eilish
I love these few songs from Billie that sit on the surface of your skin and make you listen deeper.
The Blessing | Kari Jobe
I have always found peace and rest in traditional hymns and songs. This was sent to me by my Dad amidst the grief of a loss in the family and the following shock of the effects of COVID.
A Spoonful of Sugar | Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins)
With the adjustments and inability to hug those we care about, the words of this song hit me as we introduced it to our almost five-year-old. These lessons are invaluable.
Since March 19th, I have been getting up Monday - Thursday mornings at 6 am.
I pull on my robe, grab my phone & headphones, turn on a podcast and listen as I let the hot water boil for my coffee or tea.
I light a candle, sit down with my warm drink, switch from podcast to music and write.
So far, during these write mornings over the past three weeks, I have edited and arranged 21 pages of a project I am passionate about & drafted up half of a short film.
Some mornings it comes easy.
Falling out of my fingers like a waterfall.
Other mornings
I stare at the window beside my desk and seek the light that comes brighter every minute.
I have learned that there are some moments in these sessions that I should listen to my antsy body.
One of those times, I made myself sit through the two hours with cramps distracting me.
I should have taken my laptop, tea and settled on the couch. I should not have worried about the potential of being found out by my four-year-old and just embrace what needed to happen that morning.
Another time, up at all hours with a fevered child, I told my spirit that today was not the day to wake up at 6 am and force it.
Sometimes, you have to appreciate what your body, mind and soul are saying.
The skipping is about protecting creativity, not abandoning it.
Find something equally challenging and exciting for you & show up for it.
Never in our generations have we been so restricted.
Not since the World Wars have we been encouraged to stay home, confined in our movements and asked to put the needs of others before our own. This just points out the privilege that we have been born into and daily have.
As the weeks progress, people are losing their jobs either temporarily or entirely, missing out on surrounding a loved one as they die, postponing weddings and funerals, losing the opportunity to have a doula supported birth, experiencing loneliness in a new way…
This is real.
Nothing I could ever say or suggest could minimize the weight that we have to journey. So rather than minimize, here are a few prompts of things one can do to hopefully aid in peace, groundedness and a bit of enjoyment.
Keep a Schedule
Whatever you do, don't slip into a non-scheduled life. (unless it’s the weekend) For me, it's a mix of time slots I upkeep for my work & a running list of daily activities that I do before the day is out. (daily chores, workouts, lessons with the preschooler)
Identify Professional Projects
Kick-starting new professional goals and projects That you can work on at home can be motivating and something to boost confidence.
Identify Personal Projects
Taking on my daughter's pre-school activities, enjoying the Home Edit mini-challenge, Spring cleaning, and preparing for her 5th birthday are ways to keep me occupied.
Get Relational
Relationships require an intentional back and forth. It takes work. Being able to identify those who are invested in the back and forth and creating a routine or natural rhythm of communication during this time of social isolation can do wonders for your heart. Currently, this means 'face-timing' with a good friend every Monday night when we would have been on my couch and watching a show. Now we do it separately while still experiencing it together. 'Facetiming' grandparents, always telling my aunt when I finish a book, staying close with my cousin while we grieve our grandfather and journey this uncertain time across the country from each other.
Move Your Body
In Nova Scotia, we have been told not to leave our communities and seek out nature, but are allowed to walk in our own neighbourhood, to limit the community spread of COVID-19. Thankfully, this means my daily walking routine is not limited and getting out for fresh air, distancing myself from neighbours that also walk that route has been an excellent time for me to separate from the emotions. Youtube and the broader internet is full of free and subscription-based workout videos of every kind. Personally, I adore Popsugar & Yoga With Adrienne.
Prepare food with Intention
Every meal matters. Turn on music, set the table, light candles, prepare with creativity. Eating alone or with those in your house in an atmosphere brings so much joy.
Document
Some do this by taking photos on their phones for Instagram, others by video and others by journaling. However you document your thoughts and experiences; do it. It's a form of therapy.
“In every job that must be done,
there is an element of fun.
You find the fun and Snap!
The job’s a game.” - Mary Poppins
I didn’t realize that as we introduced our almost five-year-old to the musical Mary Poppins that the songs would become something of a little lesson to our hearts. Finding our lives restricted and altered by a death in the family and COVID-19 pandemic shutting our provinces and cities down on unprecedented levels.
There is an air of unknowns and worries. There are also many things that I am doing to further my work.
I have made a few commitments this spring to help me with the honouring of and getting a handle on specific projects I have on the go.
Getting up at six am four mornings a week and writing for two hours.
Learning how to use a Sony A77.
Learning how to use Final Cut Pro editing software.
Setting aside time for the creative muscle to be challenged differently: daily walks, ukulele and piano practice, weekly baking.
If there were an overarching intention for this new season of Spring 2020, it would be to embrace my love for creativity. To renew how I interact with it in all, it’s forms. In all it’s expressions.
“The honey bee that fetch the nectar
from the flowers to the comb
Never tire of ever buzzing to and fro
Because they take a little nip
From every flower that they sip
And hence
They find
Their task is not a grind.” - Mary Poppins
Homework | Julie Andrews
Written with a literary and sleight of hand with wit, Julie Andrews, along with her daughter, craft each chapter to give the reader a full perspective of the personal and professional aspect of Julies Hollywood years. I find in her age, Julie reminds me of how my paternal grandmother used to talk. It could be the British and proper influence with stringing sentences together, or it could be the sly snarky two cents that Julie adds for the reader to hear. (Which, my grandmother often didn't leave to question) Whether I found threads of my grandmother in this memoir or just the comforting voice of a woman whom I watched in my childhood, it was a read that was timely during a time that has been full of emotion, loss and unknowns.
Becoming Mrs.Lewis | Patti Callahan
Still working my way through this book, it reveals a fictional but fact-based take on the woman who became C.S.Lewis' wife. Without knowing much about C.S.Lewis' personal life, this is a surprising read.
The Art of Money | Bari Tessler
Always ready to look at our financial wellness in a new way. Bari posses new ways to assess how your finances, be them secure or severe, can become a freeing experience.
Do Less | Kate Northrup
A book packed with ideas on how to look at life differently with different exercises. In retrospect, this read was a significant lead into the COVID-19 season.
Films / TV Series of Note
The Marvellous Mrs.Maisel S03 - For the exceptional talent and collaborative mediums in the art of storytelling
Veronica Mars S01 - For the review of an early 2000's TV show that stands the test of time. Although filmed with those kitschy drama methods, the plot and character development stand.
The Farewell - An American raised Chinese granddaughter grapples with her family's choices in dealing with her ailing grandmother.
Mary Poppins - Our March family movie, which seemed perfect for ushering in Spring.
Aren Morris
Fine Arts Specialist, Facilitator, Writer, Mom & Wife
Aren can be found working with schools to create space for students to explore fine arts, facilitating the 'Creating Space' retreats, while also embracing her role as a wife of fifteen years and mother to two young boys.
Aren is wholehearted about channelling creativity in all that she does as an arts specialist, writer, and especially as a mother where she takes great care and energy in helping to create an atmosphere for her children to grow and discover who they are.
She also happens to carry a fantastic ability to ground herself in the present moment and find words and concepts to share that bring awareness, creative ideas and insight to the surface of all that she does and to everyone she interacts with.
MORE AREN
WEBSITES
https://sites.google.com/gnspes.ca/fineartspecialists-halifaxwest/
https://www.facebook.com/creatingspaceretreats/