This past year, I have tried a lot of things that were very new to me. One of which was producing and directing a short film. Not something I really planned to do, or thought I would ever do. But seeing a project through from beginning to end has given me a sense of empowerment that I would wish for every artist to experience.
You really can do anything you put your mind to, and very possibly you could do it tomorrow. But an important factor of learning and accomplishing any goal, is mentors that understand your work and are deeply rooting for your success. This support is absolutely invaluable, and arguably is the greatest gift one can receive in artistic / freelance industries.
There are two types of mentors I have encountered, which have completely altered the trajectory of my life:
Someone who trusts your instincts and nurtures your relationship with your intuition.
The executive producer of our recent short film was my mentor throughout the entire process. And as I met many bumps in the road, I was always expecting your traditional constructive criticism (e.g. finding what needs improvement, identifying errors, etc). But with my mentor’s detailed knowledge of their journey as a producer, and their knowledge of me, I was only ever met with trust and encouragement. This was jarring, but I realized that what I needed to learn was to trust myself. My mentor actively and verbally supported my decisions even when I did not. Vocalizing, when I felt lost, “you know what you need to do, trust that feeling.” And consistently, when they showed belief in me, almost immediately a solution would pop into my mind. I am so grateful for this wisdom and guidance. It absolutely changed the way I think and operate. The right mentor helps build trust with instinct and intuition.
Someone who believes you are ready before you feel ready.
It sometimes feels impossible to take a risky jump into your next journey. I have found myself stuck, many times, not feeling ready or prepared enough for the next chapter. This feeling is hard to overcome. A previous mentor, in university, on many occasions would encourage me to do things I was, at least in my mind, not ready to do. There is a moment of hesitation before big changes that can really limit growth and exploration. And whenever I met this fear and wanted to step back, or miss an opportunity, she would encourage me to go boldly through that discomfort. This mindset has guided me to so many great opportunities, helped me start producing, and ultimately led me to drama school.
It is so powerful to acknowledge that asking for support from the right people, who see your potential in moments that you cannot, is pivotal in engaging with new and challenging opportunities.