Yes, we're facing a crisis. If you didn't already know that, congrats on avoiding the news, social media, and convos with *anyone* out in the world today.
Personally, I feel that when "times are tough" and "news is bad" that's when our mindset, our mental health, our enoughness setpoint is its most important.
So that's why I'm posting this.
I want to share three links that I think you should follow right now:
~ Barry Friedman's livestream about ways we can thrive in the face of a crisis (this vid from my friend who helps cruiseship and corporate entertainment acts build their business is SO damn good!!)
~ Dr. Stracks' updated twice-weekly info page about the Coronavirus (this is my primary mind-body healing guide and his POV is non-stress-stirring, just-the-facts info from a medical doctor)
~ My post about how ARTISTS (that's us, y'all) heal the world (because WE DO!! And we cannot forget that)
Our work is more important than ever.
Seriously. Our work is more important than ever. And we cannot do our work as creatives if we are feeding ourselves a steady stream of all the scare-tactics ratings-hungry news without putting it into perspective.
How we put it into perspective: Don't buy into the FEAR mongering of all of it. Don't spiral out about what it means that inept and willfully ignorant people are in positions of leadership. (Because WE are leaders too, y'all.) Don't. Become. A part of. The problem.
Stay strong.
Keep showing up for your life.
If you're spending more time at home than usual, update your show bible, finish your screenplay, connect with fellow ninjas online (some of our 100-day challenge members are doing a virtual networking/Brandprov jam — FILL OUT THIS FORM if you’d like to join [yes, even if you aren’t in our GIGFTNT membership yet]), revisit your true north (and get really specific), prep for agent/manager meeting season coming soon, do a new type/brand survey… there is so much you can DO right now! Focus on ANYTHING other than the constant barrage of "news" that's designed to keep viewers hooked to the screen, the feed, the panic.
Tell me what you're going to do… what PRODUCTIVE thing you're going to do. Pop your list in the comments just below. I cannot wait to celebrate your next steps!
You've got this! Your mindset is 100% within your control.
(Need tips on reducing anxiety? Here's a great livestream I did on just that not too long ago [jump to the 27:30 mark to get right to the point at which we got going on anxiety-reducing tactics].)
All my love,
Enoughness is an inside job… and sometimes you need a guide to find your way there. Let Bonnie Gillespie get you started.
[REPLAY: When Habit Becomes Identity and Dealing with Anxiety (Livestream with Bonnie Gillespie)]
Thank you so much for this, Bonnie. RELEVANT!
First of all, for my mental health, I deleted FB, TW and IG from my phone. IG is a little safer because I don’t follow news/activism/politics there, so … but the others were too much. There’s a lot going on in the world and also on a personal level these days. I REALLY want to focus on peace and enjoyment for me. Sometimes social media makes that difficult. Goodbye for now.
Creatively, I’m producing a photoshoot to express my viewpoint through art as you have here in writing.
Craft-wise, I’m taking a hit physically and I’m very concerned. I spend about five days/week in a hot yoga/pole or dance studio normally to remain in condition and develop my craft. I’m making choices right now for that. Hot yoga includes extensive fluid sharing. Pole includes extensive sharing of apparatus next to mucous glands. Dance is safer, but breathing is labored and often the mirrors fog up the humidity and temp from exertion gets so high. I’m still unsure where to go in this direction.
Professionally, I am acting on set currently and choosing not to eat with the cast and crew, to bring my own make up kit and brushes for the muah department and to wash those hands until they are chapped, baby! Moisturizer is the neglected item in all these hand sanitizing statements!
Professionally I also tour and use airports regularly (which are gross anyway!), stay in hotels, perform in casinos and have 1000 seat average audience. I’ve always used masks and sanitizer wipes on planes. I’m now sanitizing my hotel room too. I’m hoping this helps me stay smart and healthy.
As you know, I also own two companies that service / feed big budget sets and just today I spoke with my 1st about how production *really wants to heed our department’s advice* for staying virus-free, and that’s: no one serves themselves at crafty or catering until further notice. It will require at least two additional staff in each department but it could keep the show from closing down ultimately. Because crafts/catering/transpo (with trailers and honey wagons)/locations (same same) are the departments at highest risk of becoming infected as well as most responsible for not spreading any illnesses. We think there are some tangible ways to do that at least with food departments and that’s *no more self service or walk-in kitchens* until further notice. We just want to take care of everyone including ourselves. And it’s vital to remember that those departments mentioned are often headed by the more mature crew members, some going through mature health concerns with immune systems already working on healing on the daily. We must protect everyone on set and we think we can help with these actions. After all, a few additional servers might cost a little more salary, but closing a show down costs way more!
Otherwise, I have two editing projects I’m overseeing that can be done from home and am updating websites after that cause: new red hair! So I CAN stay closer to home in ways. And I did finally shop for a month of food and supplies to limit the number of trips to public places I have to make in the meantime.
Thank you so much for this conversation.
I was just thinking about how to be proactive instead of reactive during all of this.
I’m going to focus on updating my demo reel and creating new content — stories, sketches, screenplays — the sky’s the limit!
Be safe, everybody!
This is sooo perfect timing!
For some reason, I was struggling with creative things to do at home when I’ve been advised to stop my ongoing acting classes today. That hit me rock bottom.
My 90-day plan at home is:
– Finish my revisions for my first TV comedy pilot and continue writing my second TV comedy pilot
– Work on my fellowship essay to submit to ABC and NBC writer fellowships
– Complete my virtual TV comedy 101 class with my mentor this month
– Do a weekly self-tape challenge (every Thursday until I can return to my ongoing acting class)
– Participate in EC’s relationship with boundaries next month
– Read a TV comedy pilot script once a week
– Watch a TV comedy show every day or every two days to break down story and study dialogue
– Show up for the 100-Day challenge virtual networking
– When I’m done with my writer fellowships applications, work on updating my showbible
– When I have free time: watch a classic noir, Hitchcock or a French New Wave film to study directing and cinematography
This is all very inspiring and good advice. But I am very sick right now so I have the double whammy of feeling AWFUL and also hearing all about it. I wish I could do all this but my headache is so bad I can’t concentrate on my show bible or other work type actions. I’m just sick. I feel totally out of the game and that tends to lead me on a compare and despair shame spiral but I refuse to let myself do it, largely because of the work we’ve been doing in GIG thus far. But I had to comment here to say, send some virtual hugs and don’t forget the folks who are right now, just very sick. 🙁
Love to everyone, let’s stay healthy mentally and physically as we can. ❤️
It is a great time to become amazing at those self-tapes!!!
I) Get my demo reel over to my agent so he can put it on his website
2) Start thinking about a new screenplay
This is already so damn good, y’all. Well done! <3
Tonya -- How about some privates for pole and yoga (convert any group classes to privates so you still get the session time you've bought but without the concern of all the people sharing fluids right now) or just doing as much of the workout as you can at home? No it's not ideal, but it's a way to keep your movement practice intact and adapting to accommodate the immediate concerns.
LOVE that you deleted the apps from your most intimate tech device (the phone). YES!
Your craft services plan is brilliant and I just got an email from one of my pole studios mentioning that "we WILL send you home if you show up and we think you need not to be here." I love the authority we're taking as leaders in this industry and in our lives, because right now that is a must.
Ann -- Fantastic! I can't wait to hear more about what you create and how your demo reel shapes up from here! 🙂 Yay!
Anna -- Love that you sprung up from that rock bottom to come up with some fantastic 90-day plan items! This is all so do-able and a great way to allow the energy to continue flowing despite the cancellation of your class.
Kellye -- When I was on bedrest for 3.5 months 2 years ago, my work was to remind myself, "I won't always be here." Because sometimes, that's the best we can do. And while HEALING is our full-time job? That's the work. Sleeping. Hydrating. Listening to Abraham-Hicks. Remembering that a better-feeling place IS possible even if only one teeny degree above the place we feel like we now live.
It's a trick of the brain to make us feel as if "sick is the new normal" when we're sick for even a DAY. That's a primal brain protection so thank your brain for doing its job, to force you to NOT BE ABLE TO DO anything else but heal right now. Because that's all you should be doing. Heal. Sleep. Stay OFF social media/the news. Don't even stress about being productive 'til you feel better.
That is your job!
Nicole -- I wish I had included that in my post! YES! That's a spectacular use of this time!! No excuses! 🙂 See you in the https://www.facebook.com/groups/ninjaselftapechallenge 30-day self-tape challenge group? (It’s free.)
Love you all. This leadership is so dang inspiring! THANK YOU for sharing!
Thank you for that Bon. Maybe it’s a good time to get fully acquainted with Abraham Hicks. Love you all, love this community. ❤️
Awesome, Sean! Go get ’em!
I’m continuing to move ahead with producing The Great Endeavour – Wake Up, Brother John, my first feature.
Chemistry Reads we scheduled for the end of March and the end of March is when we’re holding them.
We’re going about networking with investors and *moving forward* with the project.
It’s on brand, in demand and given all indications, is going to have a monopoly on *new* content thanks to coranavirus Fear-Fever, so we’ll be making out in the deal.
I’m getting back into my journaling.
Starting an acting class on Saturday for the next 3 Saturdays.
Fridge and freezer stocked w healthy food.
Playing catch-up with GIGFNT 2.0.
Napping when I need to.
Thanks for this Bonnie! Much appreciate and I look forward to reviewing your suggested links. I teach in a health club and yoga studio so I am not sure what I am doing about that yet! and I am concerned. Feeling into what needs to happen next on that front and will make a mindful decision. On the creative front I have a script I have wanted to produce so this is a good time to revisit it and do my rewrites, I have a film that I did last year that I can now edit for my demo reel, clean out my office, review all of the wonderful online coaching I have gotten this past year on audition technique, self taping and mind set., dig deeper into my own meditation practice, create short dance vignettes on film… yes so many ways to stay creative during this uncertain time. Self care, self care, self care. Wishing you and all deep healing and wellness! Peace xo
Kellye — What a great idea! Yes! 🙂 I’ve been listening to a LOT of Abraham-Hicks lately. So glad you’re gonna get that goodness flowing more. And you know I love you too. So much!
Zach — Congrats on the film and hooray for soldiering on!
Jaye — Oh man, my journal is getting so much of my attention lately. Yes, yes, yes! And I am sleeping more than ever before. I think that’s my brain’s way of protecting me from the panic of the news. 🙂
Pamela — Good to see you, sweetheart! Maybe now is also the time to look into recession-proofing, pandemic-proofing, panic-proofing your business by creating some video content for people to do yoga with you from home? I know that I begged my Pilates instructor to create an on-the-go workout for me for when I travel! That could be fun to go along with your awesome script, demo reel, decluttering, and so much more! 🙂
Freakin’ love your list, lady! Keep that self-care flowing and be the lighthouse for others who look to you for how it’s done. XO
My humor is coming on strong – hello! – so I’m writing my first screenplay.
Reading and researching other screenplays to gauge fun writers/content creators. Inspiration!
Edited an episode for my web series and am planning out (gasp! Me? Plan?) the next episodes to be filmed.
Doing a lot of mind-body work. The HZ tones you recommended in Get In Gear’s Vault have been SO helpful, Bon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Mzyf_B8rQ&t=2202s
Stay strong, ninjas!
From a dear friend’s page..
In response to the current pandemic, the BGB studios in LA have a wonderful message for Artists. A great read. Enjoy!
“These are strange times. Yeah, on top of everything else, we’re dealing with a world-wide pandemic.
And it is such things that make people afraid. It makes them get small and retreat. Or panic and lash out (let’s buy ALL the toilet paper!)
But an actor stays present. Of course you do all the smart things, take all the precautions. But remember:
Throughout history- and now- your solemn duty as an actor has been to help humanity process the human experience. When it all goes to hell, you gather the kids around the fire and tell them a story to make them less afraid. When calamity strikes, you experience it on stage, living and breathing all the feelings of it, so that the audience process it at arms-length. In tough times, you have a responsibility to tell stories, express your talent, and make people feel.
Our Industry has been affected and will continue to be. We’re all feeling it. But the need to be moved by stories has always been there and will always be there.
You, the actor, can’t let your fear paralyze you. You have to speak it, sing it, dance it, act it, express it… not even for you. But for the world around you. It’s your job.
So, do the work… in the face of an unforgiving Industry, in the face of your own resistance… and yes, in the face of a f@#$ing Pandemic. Create, now and always.
Just wash your hands before, during, and after.”
From The BGB Studio
Risa + Steve
Bonnie – thanks for the inspiration. I am continuing to work on a project for a theatre – The CHicago theatre Project – inspired by the progressive theatre work of the WPA/Federal Theater Project, Theatre of the Oppressed, and Poor theatre (Jerzy Grotowski) . I am relocating to Chicago at the end of the year.
If you’re interested in joining the virtual mixer, please fill out this form!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEaquxj8dkO2rUmaoO97apbsYwdFD8Lunwi5T_2ur16zZtmA/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1