Fear
Fear is something I face everyday as an artist, especially at the turning point I'm at within my career. I'm soon to be 33 years old, in a committed relationship but technically still single by law, no kids, finishing up my bachelor degree and planning to change my career focus within the next two years!!! I'm not just scared... I'm terrified if you want the truth! Terrified that I've wasted my time going back to school. What if my career takes off as a makeup artist and I never get the chance to focus on the shows and movies I want to produce? What if my producing takes off and the man I plan to marry decides it's too much for him to handle or that having kids is no longer an option with such a busy lifestyle?
Then there is the other fear I have of SUCCESS! I was called a few weeks ago by my mentor to go work on a film and I turned it down!!! Not because I was afraid of doing the movie, but because I was afraid to call out from work that day! I had been off for 4 days prior to that call and I was afraid If I took the risk of calling out and my job found out I pretended to be sick to go work on a film, I would be fired! The thought of losing my regular job to go to my dream job scared me and thinking about it now, I have no clue as to why? Maybe it's because my dream job is a gamble when it comes to steady pay and until I graduate I need stability to maintain myself. Now mind you, my regular job falls into the category of my dream job of working in the entertainment industry. Only problem is the company I work for is retail based and they could care less about you working on anybodies film or tv show unless they are getting the credit. So me taking the risk of showing up on that set and running into someone who could report back to my job scared me and I turned it down. I guess my question to myself is: If you plan to work outside of this company after graduation and to go back full time in the film/tv industry after graduation... Why not risk it all for your dreams?
To be honest I don't know what choices I will make in the end of it all, I want the whole pie! I want to graduate next Spring, get married, have a baby, quit my job and stay at home for two years while taking on film projects as a makeup artist until my child is old enough for daycare, and then start producing my first tv project. Is it possible? Absolutely! Is a guarantee to happen in that order if at all? I can't answer that, but I know I'm going to keep working towards it. I've achieved everything I've wanted in my career and life thus far so I figure couldn't hurt striving for the heavens even if I only reach the clouds!