Step Into New Spaces
SPACE 1: In the Room Where it Happens
Screening my short film at The Great Film Club NYC so soon after completion was delightfully rewarding. With the film festivals I submitted to, I would be lucky if I saw a screening sometime in summer 2024. This small event, gathered together upcoming filmmakers for an evening of networking and movie watching. It was the first time I could see if the moments were working and get some feedback. It was my chance to introduce myself as a director for the first time. It was a celebration of everyone who chose to make art this year, no matter the circumstances. I can’t overestimate the amount of support and joy each creator brought that night. We ended up packing up the room ourselves after closing because we just didn’t want to leave the conversation. It’s my hope that every artist gets a night like this next year, where their work is joyfully lifted up by their peers. That sense of belonging and purpose is part of what keeps everyone throwing energy into this wild pursuit.
SPACE 2: Tight Quarters
I often ask myself, am I New York-ing hard enough? Am I making enough art? Am I being social enough? Going to the right bars, restaurants, events? Am I being too introverted in such an extroverted city?
Then I remind myself, if I’m asking these questions, other people are definitely asking them too. I love this city for its endless opportunity for exploration, but I am still the same person with a narrow band-with for stimuli. I am one of the HSP humans - a highly sensitive person. (some scientific reading if you wish) Not necessarily emotionally, rather sensorially. Loud sounds are perceived louder, and in New York the sirens never seem to stop. The more people in a room, the more emotions I process at once. I am constantly taking it all in and I can’t really turn it off. It doesn’t mean I can’t focus, it means I get overwhelmed by activity. This is different than introversion because it doesn’t have to do with whether I get energy from others or get energy from alone-time. It’s based off of how I perceive sensory information. My roommate and I go back and forth about why I hate the 1 train. She says its easy to walk to and she loves that there are elevators at our stop. She gets where she needs to go. I say that standing in an elevator brings everybody closer to my body bringing an onslaught of uncomfortable information. Everybody is breathing. Some cellphone is softly playing music. That man has a cut on his head. That dog is staring at me. She won’t stop clenching her right fist. Their shirt collar is brushing my left bicep. After 15 min of being this close to strangers, I am overwhelmed. So instead I opt for the 30 min walk, where I can give myself as much space from others as needed.
SPACE 3: Where no one knows your name
bts photoshoot on roosevelt island
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Me on HBO's The Gilded Age season 2
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thanksgiving shenanigans
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bts photoshoot on roosevelt island 〰️ Me on HBO's The Gilded Age season 2 〰️ thanksgiving shenanigans 〰️
I recently tried a session with Peoplehood, a new program for releasing emotions and learning about yourself via learning about others through moderated conversation. (It sounds weird and dry, I know, but trust me on this.) I entered a sauna-like environment, complete with burning candles, soundtrack, lowlight, and plushy beige pillows. Everyone was assigned a chair to sit in, and after a quick body scan meditation, we started talking. I can’t call it a conversation because there was no back-and-forth. We answered questions about general life as honestly as we wished. No one can interrupt, insert opinions, or respond in any way. The rule was to listen. I have no issue meeting new people. The issue is the environment. Since Peoplehood designed a practice where I can meet new people in a calm, predictable space, my energy tank remained full. I left feeling rested, heard, and optimistic. (yeah the train ride it took to get there and back still irritated me, but I can’t just not leave the neighborhood, otherwise I wouldn’t have reveled in this sanctuary)