Creativity and Serenity
I made another video but this time it’s a tutorial on drawing a face. If you or someone you know is starting a new hobby such as drawing or painting this is the video for you. I will go over the basics of how to draw a face so that you can start with your portraits or character design.
I know I haven’t posted anything for a while and that is because I was lying to myself. I started comparing myself to others and pressuring myself again. I felt like I had nothing to offer to the word. I was doing good “just doing it” and kicking in the mental walls and then all of that came to a halt. I started saying I need to stop and read more or I need to have a good story or I wasn’t feeling it.
I was trying to wait until all my ducks were in a row. That has always been my problem. I like to wait. I dismiss the things I want to do or have a passion for because of how I judge myself. I always say I’m not together or I am not fit but none of that matters. Who am I to say that I am not fit. Sometimes you have to just take that leap and learn as you go, and surprisingly, that is the way that I love to learn.
So stop waiting and just do it!
Janet Jackson’s The Velvet Rope album is one of my favorite albums. It played a big role in my childhood because my mother loves Janet Jackson and we had a copy of the HBO special plus the CD. Both the HBO special and the CD helped me with cultivating my soundscape and visual artistry. The Velvet Rope was sonically ahead of its time and the performances received many accolades but, the most important part of the album is the creative process that Janet went through. This was how Janet freed herself. Through recording this album, Janet was healing from her past.
This album was pivotal to the black community. It inspired many conversations such as domestic violence, STIs, sexual identity and being creatively free. As a young black woman who is very creative, I cherish this album. I want to heal and put myself in my art because of this album. The story behind this album teaches us to work on ourselves rather than try and be someone else, to heal and not care what people think.
Janet didn’t allow herself to be caged as a black sex icon and feeding the stereotype of black women being sexual objects. Through this album, she showed the humanity of black people and what we go through, specifically black women. Like she said, we are invited behind the velvet rope.
Janet also showed us that we didn’t need to be the best or perfect to get something accomplished. Janet is not the best singer but she utilized what she had and it was amazing.
In her HBO special she created an entire universe on stage. The costumes and set designs instantly transported you to another world. She didn’t let anyone stop her from giving birth to something unique.
Through creating something that was authentic she cemented herself as a legend. She was just being herself and standing in her truth.
After thinking in depth about her journey, I am reminded about “seek first the kingdom of God and then all things will be added unto you”. What that means to me is, when we focus on our spiritual health and stop trying to live up to standards of the world or even to ourselves then and only then we will be free and realize the power is within us. No wonder God wants us to turn away from the world.
Let me know your thoughts on this topic and if you heard The Velvet Rope album. I also encourage you to watch the HBO special for the concert.
I may do a stream of the HBO special but you will need to check my Patreon for more details.
Like and Share if you care and live vividly!
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Do you want to learn how to draw a realistic eye? Here is a video for you. Make your drawings stand out with this step by step instructional video on how to draw an eye. Enjoy and come back for more! 🙂
I am a perfectionist. It is hard for me to finish projects because they can always be better. Being a perfectionist also contributes to my inconsistency and procrastination. I put so much pressure on myself to do something great or just be the best. An example that I struggle with is reading the Bible and praying. I don’t stay consistent because I always pressure myself to read every day or I condemn myself a bad Christian. It does feel good the days when I do read the bible and I pray. It feels like a weight off of my shoulder but the hard part is reaching my own expectations for me. I am always trying to be this perfect version of myself at the expense of myself. I’ve noticed that being a perfectionist has inhibited me to have peace within my mind and with myself. I don’t feel free. I am critical of everything and I hold myself back. I wait to have all of my ducks in a row until I can do something that I want to do. So what is the point of being a perfectionist?
It isn’t healthy and there aren’t results. It affects hobbies and things that I would want to progress in. There isn’t a need for it anymore. If you are anything like me you may have these symptoms as well from being a perfectionist.
Here are some reasons why perfectionism isn’t healthy:
Again, there isn’t any worth to keep picking at yourself and plus it is not your place to judge anyone including yourself.
So…..
-Stop condemning yourself
-Learn to let go of the control and give it to a higher power
-Accept yourself and know that it will all work in your favor
Once we take these steps and learn how to be free life will be so much better. 🙂
Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/fmaddox17
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Are you an aspiring film maker or just like movies? Reading scripts helps film lovers and those learning the craft have a deeper connection to the movie. With this blog post I’ll go through why a script is important and where to read scripts. Enjoy!
If you are an aspiring filmmaker or screenwriter, it is imperative that you skip this step in your process. Go read some scripts. It is the first step in anyone’s journey to making or criticising a film. A script is the meat and bones of the film and without it, the film will fall apart. The script is vital to understanding the film and the direction it was taking. I, Within my own process of writing my script, read a few scripts and that helped me feel confident in my writing and working with the script format. After reading a few scripts, you will too. In this post, I will share where I read my favorite script with you.
Awesome Film is a great place to start when reading scripts. They do not have a wide selection, but they feature a lot of cult classic scripts such as The Big Lebowski. There are also some classics such as the Graduate in their collection. The downside, however, is how limited the selection is. One thing to note is that when you click on a script, another tab will not open and you will move away from the home page.
Screenplay Database has a great collection of scripts. There are some more recent additions to their collection like 12 years of Slave as well as classic movies. On this website, there is an Academy award icon that’s next to each film that won an Academy. The downside of using this site is that the library only had 400 scripts,
The Internet Movie Database has a large selection of scripts that are well organized and categorized. Some of the selection are extremely recent scripts like LaLa Land. What makes this website standout are the reviews. I find most of the reviews very helpful and thorough. If you feel compelled to do so, you can leave a review yourself.
Simply Scripts has the most well-organized selection of scripts. You can look for scripts through genres and alphabet. The most unique part of the website is on the homepage, you can see the more recent additions to their script collection. Right now they have the script of The Room and I am sure that will be an interesting read.
Sources and more websites:https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/10-great-websites-download-movie-scripts/
If you would like to see more content let me know but subscribing, liking and commenting. I enjoy reading your thoughts. 🙂
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A script is what makes the film. Many of the best movies have the best scripts and many great directors have written their own scripts. The script plays a major role; it’s imperative not to have one. As I finish up my own script, I want to share some of the knowledge that I’ve gained. This information is valuable to those who aspire to make a film but do not know where to start, those who are in the process of writing a script or someone who critics movies.
Here are 7 lessons I have learned while writing my script:
1. Read other scripts
-When I started writing in Celtx I felt overwhelmed. Even though I had read a various amount of scripts, I still had trouble with formatting and writing. After reading a few more scripts while I worked, I had more confidence while I wrote.
2. Scripts are blueprints for making a film.
– The script includes all of the details such as how the scene should look, feel, what the character is doing and dialogue. When there isn’t a script then a film goes downhill. The script keeps the organization and flow of the story. An example of a film without a completed script is, Myra Breckenridge. The film had many issues that inhibit its completion. The staff was confused about the direction the movie was going in and that issue caused a lot of fights. Not only is this film known for the feuds, but it is also known as a bad film.
Sidenote: I actually like the book and the movie.
3. Writing a script is a tedious process
– A script is (often) over 100 pages. Each page contains transitions, dialogue and descriptions of the scene which include the camera details as well as character details.
4. Changes will happen
-One of the challenges of writing is creating the story. In order for the story to progress, changes need to be made. Some scenes will need to be taken out because they add nothing to the story. Some details may need to be added in to help move the story along.
5. Writing a script can be therapeutic and fun
-As a writer, my inspiration comes from life experiences and dreams. When I use my life experiences to tell a story it is therapeutic; I can examine my feelings and pour out my emotions into something that it healthy. When I use my dreams, screenwriting can be fun because I can explore a new world and get into the mindset of a different character.
6. The opening scene is hard to write.
– There is a lot of pressure to write the opening scene because it needs to grab the attention of the viewers. Because writing the first scene is hard it is also difficult to write the first word! Even though I have 2 outlines finding the way to word the opening scene is still difficult. For my latest project, the opening found me. I stumbled across a song that perfectly summed up the feelings I had for the scene and I wrote it. Do not pressure yourself to write.
7. The Outline is the blueprint for your script
-The outline helps with writing the script, the more detailed your outline is the difficulty of writing it lessens. The outline is like a skeleton for the script and it helps you have an idea of how the story is going to flow.
Here’s a video I want you to watch:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fmaddox17
