20 Comments
Sep 21Liked by Ted Hope

Sometimes accepting that you're feeling kind of bitter is the only way to get through it. We can feel a lot of ugly emotions in this industry, but if we just deny them and clamp them down, then they never get addressed and we can't grow. It's nice to see someone acknowledging them.

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Thanks, it is so hard just keeping on keeping on. And I think you are right that all of us denying and clamping down on our anger and frustration is something that makes it much harder. I wouldn't be feeling this way if I didn't love cinema so much. I watched 4.5 films last night, and it felt really good!

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Sep 21Liked by Ted Hope

4.5 films in one night is a feat!

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This really hit home Ted. Why am I not more bitter? I'm working long hours on films that I love, with little to (mostly) no pay. And I love every minute of it. Also, I'm looking for actual paid work. When you see me tending bar somewhere....maybe the bitterness will kick in?

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I am not bitter, but I am. I am not upbeat, but I am. I am confident of cinema's ability to delight, mesmerize, and motivate, but I am not. I am grateful for all of those like yourself Amy who are making things better. There's never been so many efforts of non-top-down change; just think what will happen if the funders come aboard! Perhaps I am just impressed how we all just keep going, but I am remain unsure if we should.

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Sep 21Liked by Ted Hope

“It’s producers who make the impossible happen, and everyone ignores our role. Don’t you love our business? Sigh…”

Resonates 💯

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Sep 21Liked by Ted Hope

Ted, I really like this new, more readable, format. Thanks.

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“I wonder where I can move? What city has a low cost of living but access to culture?”……If you find the answer to this one or if anyone has any ideas, please share….been wondering this one myself for quite some time.

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I've always dreamed of a bunch of creative people re-locating to an area and helping to revitalize it. Perhaps that can still happen!

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I’m in….and I have a quite a few others who would be interested too!

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I picked Portland! Y'all are welcome any time!

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Michael picked it up on the notes section, and one of my favorite musicians added in her advice! https://substack.com/@michaelmaupin/note/c-69805055

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Sep 21Liked by Ted Hope

Making films is like an unrelenting Groundhog Day. And there is a lot of crying.

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I’ve got a producer story that also ended in deep bitterness and I am trying to forgive, but it’s hard. Not one thank you for producing

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Let's talk about how we can turn that deep bitterness around. It can be done.

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As kids growing up in Milwaukee, Welcome to the Dollhouse and Happiness completely blew our minds, and helped send me down this path to becoming a filmmaker. It’s sad that artists like him can’t get movies financed these days :/ I do agree that the Happiness poster is probably the greatest ever! Was there a version of the poster that they had in theaters that featured quotes on it about how fucked up the movie is, or is that a false memory of mine?

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I think we did a print add that featured the mix of opinions, but all strong reactions. Perhaps a theater blew that up?

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Would like to see this "Happiness" poster that you are talking about. I only see the poster on imdb and it does nothing for me.

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To each his own I suppose 🤷‍♂️

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The Logical Response Is To Be Better! Yes, we can always say it is too difficult, there are too many obstacles in our way. But to go forward with our vision, despite the hoops we must jump through, and the setbacks we must overcome, blazing a brighter path with a project that blossoms along the way, is about studying all our failures and making the changes necessary to build our audience and take a place in a realm of entertainment that can change the world, FOR THE BETTER!

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