When I moved to Los Angeles two years and 7 months ago, my experience in the business they call show was limited to one podcast and a public access appearance my senior year of high school to talk about the senior service projects. (I didn’t realize, until that broadcast, how much I said “um” and nodded. I still do the nodding thing. I hope it’s endearing, because it’s not going to stop.)
Within a year’s time, I was hired as a producer for an amazing company, One Economy Corporation. In my time at the company, I learned how to edit, how to do wardrobe, and how to do all things producerish, from paperwork to handling the talent. I love producing. It’s really something I’m good at. I feel comfortable pre-production, on set, and post-production. I get an amazing high from producing. I even love it more than (yeah, I’m going to say it) writing.
But there is one thing I love more than producing. (Not counting heirloom tomatoes, hot sauce, and my kids) And that is directing. I recently got to direct an episode of a new series on Public Internet Channel. The series, Front Seat Chronicles features the writing and directing of a handful of people, all presenting the intense moments that can happen in the front seat of a car. Broaching topics like unemployment, cancer, alzheimers, and more, this series is an opportunity to start a larger discussion, and that discussion is: “How do we fix this?”
So often we come across a bit of video, visual art, a song, a story or poem, and we are moved. We relate or we are made to see something we knew little about, and we feel connected. In the same sense, all too often, we feel helpless to handle the very issues we are faced with. So, why am I saying that this series is any different?
Each episode of Front Seat Chronicles is accompanied with a discussion guide for the episode, as well as a list of resources that are available related to the topics covered in the episode. We didn’t just say “Hey, isn’t unemployment hard?” We supplied a comprehensive list of employment and unemployment related resources. And that’s how we roll with all of the things we do at Public Internet Channel.
And so, while this isn’t my directoral debut. (That would be Real American Family) It is the first time I have written/directed/produced/edited a dramatic piece. I even got to use a jib. I’m really proud of what I made, really happy about the people I made it with, and more than a little bit stoked about the way this will hopefully impact people, both in raising awareness and in providing help for those who need it. Be sure to check out the episode here for the resources and discussions.
Tags: addiction, director nikol hasler, jail, meth, nikol hasler, prison, public internet channel, work