This newsletter spent 2024 asking novelists, filmmakers, and comic book creators from around the globe to weigh in about how they create and navigate their industries - now it's my turn to answer!
I have so much respect for creatives who are also parents. Not only are you braving the super craziness and emotional/mental exhaustion of making a living through your creative work, but you’re also juggling a 24/7/365 job. Two of the most important and difficult jobs in the world!
Thank you for sharing your perspective on these questions and facilitating discussion!
Thanks so much for this, Cole. That last answer is something I've really been struggling with recently. I'm still finding my feet creatively, and everywhere I look, people are saying the only way to be successful is to focus razor sharp on one medium or genre or craft, but I have SO many ideas in SO many different areas, I really don't want to do that. Reading this was a really validating moment for me, and I really appreciate that.
Side note - I've nearly finished reading The Strange Case of Mr Hyde after finally grabbing a copy last week, and I absolutely love it so far! If not a movie, I could see it working fantastically as an animated series.
I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying the HYDE series, Debs! As for that answer, interesting to note that I have an upcoming conversation with Christine Boylan, the showrunner of the Netflix "AVATAR" live-action series, who goes on quite a helpful rant about the importance of storytellers pursuing their stories in multiple crafts -- if only for how this builds their skills in different, unexpected ways. Taking a broader approach isn't for everyone, but I think it's increasingly difficult to pay your bills as an artist doing only one "thing". Most major writers I know are certainly being paid from multiple sources, so I don't know why we don't tell emerging writers how necessary this is to get by.
Ozploitation films, which were prevalent between 1975 or so and the late-80s, are a wonderfully wacky section of the country's film history. So much innovation bred by desperation. I mean, the world wouldn't have George Miller or Russell Mulcahy or Phillip Noyce without them. If you a haven't seen this doc, I highly recommend it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_Quite_Hollywood:_The_Wild,_Untold_Story_of_Ozploitation!
Thanks, Dylan. Here's a list of Aussie horror that I think is worth your time (in no particular order): THE BABADOOK, WAKE IN FRIGHT, CARGO, RELIC, NEXT OF KIN, WOLF CREEK, TALK TO ME, LONG WEEKEND, ROAD GAMES, RAZORBACK, PATRICK, and PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK. Lots of others, but these are good places to start!
Totally agree about the need to be a jack of all trades. I find it surprising that I'm often the only person working on a novel or interested in graphic novels and other formats when I chat with other folks either working in or aspiring to work in the screenwriting space. In such a volatile industry, it's good to have different options to fall back on creatively and financially.
I have so much respect for creatives who are also parents. Not only are you braving the super craziness and emotional/mental exhaustion of making a living through your creative work, but you’re also juggling a 24/7/365 job. Two of the most important and difficult jobs in the world!
Thank you for sharing your perspective on these questions and facilitating discussion!
You're welcome!
Thanks so much for this, Cole. That last answer is something I've really been struggling with recently. I'm still finding my feet creatively, and everywhere I look, people are saying the only way to be successful is to focus razor sharp on one medium or genre or craft, but I have SO many ideas in SO many different areas, I really don't want to do that. Reading this was a really validating moment for me, and I really appreciate that.
Side note - I've nearly finished reading The Strange Case of Mr Hyde after finally grabbing a copy last week, and I absolutely love it so far! If not a movie, I could see it working fantastically as an animated series.
I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying the HYDE series, Debs! As for that answer, interesting to note that I have an upcoming conversation with Christine Boylan, the showrunner of the Netflix "AVATAR" live-action series, who goes on quite a helpful rant about the importance of storytellers pursuing their stories in multiple crafts -- if only for how this builds their skills in different, unexpected ways. Taking a broader approach isn't for everyone, but I think it's increasingly difficult to pay your bills as an artist doing only one "thing". Most major writers I know are certainly being paid from multiple sources, so I don't know why we don't tell emerging writers how necessary this is to get by.
A great read! Thanks for sharing your insight. Out of curiosity, what are some of your favourite Australian horror films?
These are great choices! I'm not familiar with Patrick so I'll add it to the list
Ozploitation films, which were prevalent between 1975 or so and the late-80s, are a wonderfully wacky section of the country's film history. So much innovation bred by desperation. I mean, the world wouldn't have George Miller or Russell Mulcahy or Phillip Noyce without them. If you a haven't seen this doc, I highly recommend it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_Quite_Hollywood:_The_Wild,_Untold_Story_of_Ozploitation!
Thanks for the rec! Will definitely check it out
Thanks, Dylan. Here's a list of Aussie horror that I think is worth your time (in no particular order): THE BABADOOK, WAKE IN FRIGHT, CARGO, RELIC, NEXT OF KIN, WOLF CREEK, TALK TO ME, LONG WEEKEND, ROAD GAMES, RAZORBACK, PATRICK, and PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK. Lots of others, but these are good places to start!
Totally agree about the need to be a jack of all trades. I find it surprising that I'm often the only person working on a novel or interested in graphic novels and other formats when I chat with other folks either working in or aspiring to work in the screenwriting space. In such a volatile industry, it's good to have different options to fall back on creatively and financially.
Absolutely!
And thank you for reading, Sally. I enjoyed writing these two pieces quite a bit even though I'm not mad about screaming about how I do things.