What Does Hollywood 🎬 and Running A Small Business Have in Common? 🤔

(This was initially published in March 2023).

TL;DR I am sharing a bit of my personal story today as it is Oscar weekend, and award shows are one of my things. 😁

Don't get me wrong; there are a lot of issues in the entertainment industry. Many people are overpaid, and problematic behaviors occur, especially behind closed doors. I am glad we're seeing more diversity and inclusivity, albeit a little late.

My brief exposure to Hollywood was when I was an intern and then worked for two seasons at the Sarasota Film Festival. I loved the work. It was fun; I mingled with exciting people and attended parties my 20-something self could never afford to attend. I am still friends with my former boss and saw her in December.

My favorite memories were during my second season when I got to chat with the filmmakers and talent more as I was housed in the Press and Industry Tent as the Assistant Festival Manager. I met Elizabeth Moss long before Mad Men. I watched a small indie with Jeremey Renner and said hello to him afterward.

But the most memorable part was talking to the filmmakers, who were so jazzed their work had been selected to be shown. They would ask how their ticket sales were doing or just come up and chat with me, and I would make a point to watch their film if I had an opportunity. One of the filmmakers, Sam Chen, actually had an animated short that was short-listed with the Academy. His movie about an elderly artist at the end of his life moved me to tears.

I get emotional watching an awards show because I understand how hard it is to be vulnerable and take a risk with your passion. You're putting yourself out there, hoping people connect with you, your product & vision, knowing there will always be highs and lows along the way. Nothing about a career in the arts or owning a business is linear. You could hit a stride, and the next thing you try fails. You could tire of doing one project or type of work for so long, and when you leave, people don't know how to interpret or react to the next thing. It's a lot of throwing spaghetti at the wall (sometimes strategically) and hoping you made the right decision or that you are on a path that is taking you closer to meaningful work that will let you live comfortably.

As I have completed the 7th month of my year-long program focusing more on pain relief and alignment, I know that getting the message across about this new approach and how it stands apart from traditional fitness will be a bit of an uphill battle. I have chosen not to go the conventional route of fitness = weight/fat loss, even though I am sure I would be ahead of my financial goals right now if I did. Instead, this method focuses on the foundation of alignment before moving on to strength and function.

Many human-first small businesses are like independent films: we run on shoestring budgets, we aren't in it to make millions, we don't want to adhere to a big company that limits our creativity, and we genuinely do it for the love of our craft. We want to tell simple, sometimes out-of-the-box stories about everyday people that evoke authenticity and bravery. We deal with vulnerability hangovers regularly, and most of us are recovering people pleasers. 👋

We are thrilled when our hard work and dedication are recognized and appreciated. This typically means a sale, referral, growth opportunity, or testimonial for a small business.

If you haven't, maybe check to see if there is a film festival near you. Most medium—to big cities have them. They're a great way to see small-budget films and support artists. I like movies that include a Q&A with the filmmakers. Sometimes, the film may get a wider distribution; sometimes, you may never see it elsewhere. Another idea is to search Netflix or other streaming services for documentaries and smaller films from the Academy Awards.

Also, my former film festival colleague Jay Delaney directed "Not Your Typical Bigfoot Movie," which is available on Amazon Prime and filmed in southern Ohio.