From Film to Food

I'd love to talk a little about why having this business is so much more satisfying than writing a TV show or being an actress ever was for me. 

There’s a glamourised version of the film industry for people who aren't in it. But for context, most creatives (actors, writers, directors) in Australia are out of work for long periods of time. The pay is good for the jobs when you get them, but jobs are few are far between. It’s a very small amount of people who make a decent living. 1%. They’re either massive stars, highly successful in their area, or on long standing shows, so the work flows in. Most people work other jobs (cafes, construction, teaching) to supplement their income so they continue to work in the industry. Or they live a very frugal life. My parents were in the successful camp, but my story was turning out different.

At 30, with 15 years in the industry and a film and writing degree, I had a pretty run and got close to some "life-changing jobs", but it wasn’t enough. As a new mum, I had an epiphany, that leaning lines for auditions for shows I wouldn't want to watch, and then not even getting the role, was not only exhausting and a consistant beating to my confidence, it was a complete waste of my time. When auditions landed in my inbox, I felt a sinking feeling in my tummy and anxiety crept in. My body was the first to tell me, “I don't like this. I don't want to do this anymore.”

I felt that I couldn't keep pouring everything I had into a career that didn't give enough back. You don't get paid for auditions. And people at the top, who hold the power, they know how desperate people are to get a role or a show made, and so manners and common curtesy goes out the window. You can be left feeling ghosted, after weeks of talk about deals, the potential of your show being made, only to be left with absolutely no idea why it didn't happen. Some people can handle that kind of rejection and disappointment. But I’d reached my threshold. The only thing keeping me in this was the idea what I was "talented" and deserved to make it. But that was just my ego. I wanted purpose so much more. 

It took time to work out where I would go next, with a few attempts and failures. But I believe this business was where I was always supposed to end up. Funnily enough none of my time in film was a waste. Some of my best friends were made on sets, or on long stints in LA. Many of the skills I honed as an creative and storyteller transcend to this business. The difference is no one gets to tell me “no”, “not you”, “maybe next time”. I make my little videos on social media, with the hope they put a smile on your face while pushing our business forward. It might not seem as “glamorous” as being in film, but it’s amazingly fulfilling.