When it comes to Film Communities, I have to say, you are the most welcoming and supportive group of human beings I have ever met. From the very beginning I was accepted and encouraged in my career to push and learn further than I thought I was allowed to for my age. Each show I was apart of gave me an opportunity to learn from so many talented and gifted individuals from ALL departments. You took me in as family without question.
Yet, it went further. You cared. No matter what set I was walking onto, I knew someone...small communities can be nice for that reason alone. The conversations were never stuck on the now of work. It was focused on life in adventuring, in climbing, in building dirt course tracks, in family and friends. Focus on setting new goals yet realizing that life is beautiful in the now, away from the cameras, lights and money. There is a realization here that the work we do is fun and we are passionate about it but it's not going to be our end all be all.
I needed that.
For so long, and it still circles back around, my identity has been in the film industry. My emotions would rollercoaster out of control with my self worth if I wasn't on a job. If I wasn't working 70 plus hours a week with a Fraturday, I considered myself a failure. Nashville shifted that mindset.
I didn't have to work every single day from months on end to make a living and enjoy it. The only thing I was required to do was to work hard when I did work and enjoy the days that I had off.
This may surprise those of you who know me but I've been more relaxed, mentally, in the past seven months than I have in my entire career. Even as an A Camera 2nd, I found myself laughing, connecting with others, sitting with my team at lunch and looking forward to Mondays after Friday wraps. Being able to do a great job AND be happy is possible. Dancing with your teammates when your camera isn't rolling to help pep up the late night extras is not only fun but contagious.
Nashville has been so so good to me and even better for me. THANK YOU! I could not have guessed the beauty you have as a community. When I first moved here, I was so confused on the lifestyle and union vs non-union. Then when I started connecting with each one of you, I found it goes much deeper than that...it's about who you are working with. If the environment is toxic, you don't take the job. You see your mental and physical health as much more of a priority than getting the next big credit. Celebrities are people. Country stars are your friends. Doing life with your coworkers is genuine instead of looking for a connection to the next job. I'm truly honored to be apart of such a beautiful circle of supportive, trustworthy, dependable, driven and caring human beings.
With all of that said, my time in Nashville is coming to and end. Many of you know the reason why. Even your love and support on this personal decision has blown me away. Never once did one of you ask about my film career. You asked about my heart, how I was feeling, that you would miss working with me and that, if needed, you had work connections in the area I was moving too. Just another reason why I love y'all!
On March 7th, 2020, a year from when my Parent's and I first came to Nashville to find a home...and a little over 10 months to the date of officially moving to Nashville...I will be packing up a Uhaul to move to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
CRAZY I KNOW.
Even for me, 10 months is a record for the least amount of time I have lived in a state. And for my time here, it has all revolved around family and work.
Truthfully, this has been a beautiful transition space. God has not only worked on my heart, but has broken so many strong holds on the way I view the world. I've grown more in 10 months than I did in eight years living by myself. I've learned about friendships worth keeping, debt worth cancelling, sacrificial love worth giving and family worth everything. I've learned that faith, film and family can all combined into one life and that distance never means goodbye.
I'm typically very private about my life until after the event occurs but I wanted to try something a little different this time around by stating my decision before moving. I'm grateful for each and every one of you. Here are a few questions that I have received from the handful of people I have talked to about moving. Feel free to text or message me if any other's come up.
1. Are you giving up film? Are you still pursuing film? What about film?! Is there film in Philly? What about your film career? (It is the #1 question I have been asked in a million different ways so choose which one fits best for you.)
-Truthfully, film is always going to be apart of my life in one way or another. I have a few Local Fam I have reached out to in Philly that I am looking forward to meeting and connecting with. I'm not sure how the journey is going to go but I am trusting God that he will align what needs to be aligned as I step out in faith in my career.
2. Is your family moving with you?
-Sadly no. It's been a very tough, challenging and emotionally difficult choice to move away from my parents. We are exceptionally close and leaving them is never easy. They are my best friends. There time in Nashville isn't over so until it is, we will be flying back and forth to visit them.
3. Are you going to have a roommate when you move up there?
-Besides my furbaby, Emmie Rae, no. I'm moving into a very cute one bedroom apartment in a town populated by 3,000 people. It's crazy exciting!
4. What are you moving there for?
- :) If this is your question and you don't know the answer, text me! Would be very happy to give you all the exciting, fun, crazy, joyful and God driven details of the ENTIRE thing. If you know the answer but want more details...I've got plenty for you!
5. Are you excited to move to PA? It's cold up there...
Yeah, I'm not too stocked on the cold aspect of Philly but since I'm moving at the start of spring, I've get the optimal weather for the longest possible time this year, lol. I'm excited for A LOT of reasons! The most obvious is attached to #4, but besides that, I'm excited to get to know new people who mean a ton to my best friend. I'm looking forward to pursuing ASL. I'm ready to decorate a new apartment, try new foods, start working, get back into climbing, attempt being vegan, find a church, travel around the north, watch Broadway plays and SO MUCH MORE. Moving is always the start of a new chapter. I'm looking forward to seeing what God does in this one! (Now just to convince my parents to join ;P lol!)
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING NASHVILLE. You have been so good to me! I'll be packing up on March 6th.
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