This week’s blog is from Mindi Morall, renaissance woman, nature lover, bridge builder and now film maker. Read on as Mindi shares a day in the life of someone who thrives on making things happen. FYI – The Creative Coast’s blogspot is Savannah’s sounding board for local thinkers, innovators, wanderers and wonders. Guest bloggers share their thoughts, opinions and creative noodling from all over the map…
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Life is so fleeting…why do we take it for granted? Every day when we wake up we think there will be another day ahead of us — the audacity. What we have is today if we are lucky, no promises. Think of your life that way and you won’t be disappointed. Spread only the happiness of another day.
I’ve wanted to make films for years. It wasn’t until I embraced this philosophy of today that I decided to change the “want” into “doing.”
As with everything in my life, I expect to succeed and these expectations make it easier to do so. I had no experience in film making except the desire to do it. Once I made a decision to capture the day, making the film or as it turned out, a web series, was easy.
I needed to come up with a creative strategy. I had been following The Creative Coast in a peripheral way. I saw the
FastPitch program and applied the night before the deadline…so like me. Give me a deadline and my best work is done five minutes before it’s due. I was thrilled when I was accepted.
FastPitch is similar to the Shark Tank program you see on TV. You have three minutes in which to convince the judges that your concept is viable. The volunteers on The Creative Coast team coached us through the process. The brainstorming was integral in formulating a future plan for my web series.
Did I mention that I am very afraid of public speaking?
Not only did The Creative Coast FastPitch program help me through my fear of public speaking, but two days before the contest,
1 Million Cups needed a speaker since someone had dropped out at the last minute. The feedback and support I got from the 1MC group that day allowed me to turn my fright around two days later.
No, I didn’t win the grand prize but I showed up and that made me a winner. By the way, I attended the
Big River Film Festival in Savannah earlier this month where my web series was chosen to be shown.
How important is it that you follow your dreams? It is the choice you make to seize the day.
Mindi]]>
Mindi, You have so nailed it!! I’m a CPA up in Atlanta–I just love Savannah, and I’m a newbie with Creative Coast. You have done what less than 5 percent–probably less than 3 percent–of the people do. Which is sitting down, and charting out the first and then the second…and then the third steps toward achieving their dreams. Uber-congrats to you! We especially love helping new business owners, whether it’s a professional practice, or something fun and creative like what you are doing. Maybe you can pay it forward, and help a friend or acquaintance that has been living with “deer in the headlights” syndrome for half their lives. I hope you’ll do future posts and keep us abreast of your efforts and what’s going on with you. For now, once again, mega-props to you, and warmest wishes on your success!!
Thanks for the kind words. My film will be at the Blue Ocean Film Festival in St. Pete this weekend with the likes of National Geographic and BBC filmmakers . . . . every day is a pay forward day and a day of gratitude.