The Art of Living

Moments and Decisions That Define Our Path

If it were Easy, everyone would be doing it... Survive til 25

This is, by no means a business for the faint of heart. I threw myself, head first into the film industry over thirty years ago now, and to be honest - while I have loved almost all of it - it has been anything but easy. That’s not to say I wasn’t lucky once or twice, but I specifically recall one encounter that’s stuck with me.

I was at a “Pitch Session” at some Canadian film festival—Whistler or Banff, I can’t remember anymore. An LA-based producer had read one of my scripts (Searching for Yargo) and he told me how much he enjoyed it. A broad smile spread across my face. Then he shook my hand and asked me one very simple question:

"When are you moving to LA?"  

In reality, I had always dreamed of moving to Sunny California, especially during Vancouver's dreary January and February stretches, but being born and raised in this far reaching, Northern country, I felt that it might not be that simple as buying a plane ticket. I supposed I was also feeling a little uneasy about somehow saying the wrong thing to an overzealous border guard one day and finding myself on the wrong side of home.

So, my simple reply to this producer was:

"I'm not sure. Does it really matter where I live?" 

His return answer still echoes in my mind everyday:

 "Yes, of course it matters. This is a serious business, made by serious people, in a serious place - LA. So when you're serious about this industry, you can drop by my LA office and we'll talk about your career".

It all sounded a bit pretentious to me at that precise moment - I might have even scoffed under my breath - but, he was right. It was a "sign"!

Most of you who know me, would have assumed I'd have booked a ticket on the next vessel ferrying people south, but in reality, I hesitated - for at least ten years now, and still haven't the faintest idea why I didn't move.

It reminds me of that old joke about the man trapped on his roof during a flood. He prays for God to save him, and soon after, a rowboat and a helicopter come by offering help. Both times, the man refuses, insisting that God will rescue him. When he drowns and reaches heaven, he asks God why he didn’t save him. God replies, “What more do you want? I sent you a rowboat and a helicopter.” 

Maybe I convinced myself I could make it from here. Or maybe it was the comfort of home, the fear of failing in an unfamiliar place... All I know is, the glass ceiling here feels thicker than anywhere else.

Sometimes, I wonder if it's my mother's voice, whispering in my ear, reminding me I should have become a lawyer, a doctor - hell, anything other than a tortured artist - I still don't have an answer. All I do know is that I have worked very hard to make it all the way to the glass ceiling this far north and can't for the life of me seem to break through. Maybe because the only way through, is 1276 miles due south.

I haven't given up by any means. It is 2025! I survived and I am ready with polished screenplays, TV series pilots and presentations, bio pics and yes, even a Broadway musical.

I know my time is coming and I will make it to the cream of the crop even if it kills me... the only problem is I might actually be dead before it has the chance to kill me.

Thank you for taking the time to join me on this journey of reflection and storytelling. If these words have resonated, you might enjoy my second series of essays called, The Vanishing Gentleman.

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