In a small town like ours sometimes it can feel suffocating, it can often seem so isolated from the rest of the world, and the task of making a name for yourself outside of the town, or making something that people outside the town are able to see is almost impossible.. Especially since there’s not many spaces to share interests or hobbies with other people, and with word on how AI and industries are falling apart, it can seem very discouraging to get out and try and create. Creativity is extremely important to our communities and our souls. It’s what keeps most of us together, and if we lose that, we lose our spirits. But as time goes on, it only feels like there’s less and less hope for a successful future for some. So, what can we do to combat this discouragement? We can create our own spaces!

I wanted to make a community of fellow creatives to hopefully inspire people, and help raise spirits about their creative potential, so I came up with a film challenge where people had to make films under a specific theme and timeframe (similar to a game jam.) and it’s safe to say that it was a success! I had so many people try to make films, people were sharing equipment, acting in each other’s films and sharing encouragement along the way. When we finally went to share our projects, everyone was laughing and smiling, and they all left with high spirits, and high hopes.

Creativity is the lifeblood of our community. Even when it seems like there’s nowhere to go, carving out your own space can create new opportunities. This not only allows you to grow your abilities but also inspires those around you to rediscover their creative potential.