Chasing Passion, Embracing Change: The Filmmaker's Perpespective

I stumbled on a video on Instagram about a nominee for a category in the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. In there, she talked about how she started as a storywriter and filmmaker. I watched through in admiration of the feat that she had attained at a young age and the path of success she was following. What was interestingly intriguing, however, was that she didn’t start as a storywriter but as a musician.

She used to be someone who was really inclined to music. She was a singer, and she had many friends who played the guitar, keyboard, drums, and bass. She would always be drawn to beautiful sounds—melodies, chords, rhythms—and even more to the artist that creates them. Jonathan McReynolds, Tye Tribbett, Todd Dulaney, and a couple of gospel musicians were her favorites. I knew that because we always talked about them, she and I.

Really old friends—that's what we were to ourselves. I have been playing the guitar for years now, but it was in the early days of learning that we were really close. What I had always thought of her was that she would eventually become a successful gospel singer and songwriter. I didn’t know this side of her—storywriting. Howbeit, she is into filmmaking and growing in success there, with works on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Showmax, to name a few.

I didn’t think much of it all until I was in a conversation with someone today, just moments before Creative Work Hour by @alessandrawhite began. The conversation transitioned from “What’s with the astronaut?” to talking about career paths. And then I received insights from their wealth of knowledge gathered over many years of experience and understanding of life. It was profound, what I learned, and then it coincided with the story of my old friend.

We may not always get to follow the path we design in our minds or find ourselves where we may think, and that’s just life. Wherever one finds themselves, however, they should make the most of where they are, find purpose and meaning, and do their best to excel in that regard. And that was what I learned from that conversation.

I reflected on my life and thought about the times that I was no longer interested in and invested in, like I was once, and then I felt okay. Things may have changed the way they have because of one thing or another, but the very same “searching for value and grinding for passion” goes with me everywhere I go. Otherwise, I would often miss certain opportunities to expand as a person.

In a nutshell, I am reminded today that life is full of unexpected twists and turns. It is imperative that one embraces new opportunities and explores different parts, even if they deviate from our initial plans. Just like my old friend, who discovered her passion for storywriting and filmmaking, we should be open to change and be willing to adapt and grow when necessary. Who nose 🐽, we might uncover hidden talents and find success in unexpected places.

Countdown to a new year, dear reader! 📆