I just learned that since starting this blog in 2013, I've produced over 1,000 posts. In light of this milestone, I'd just like to thank anyone who has been following me on this strange and turbulent journey.
When I started this blog, I was graduating from SUNY Purchase's Film Conservatory in 2013, and dove headfirst into the production world, dual-wielding as a freelance Camera Technician and Production Assistant. Since then, I've worked on over 200 sets, from multimillion dollar feature films, to shooting tiny UGC TikTok ads from home. I started as a technician and logistics expert, but followed my heart, and found a second life in front of the lens. The industry has changed dramatically in just over ten years, and now appears to be changing by the week.
The Union production world today is burdened by the overbearing interest of everyone above the line, while the rest squabble for what few opportunities are available. The same issues trouble the non-union world. Gatekeeping abound, the entertainment industry has become a very toxic environment, despite the best efforts of many to make it a sustainable and fair opportunity.
Following the word of advice I received from Roger Corman, "The game now is DIY." He couldn't have been more right. As I've continued on my journey to permeate my own stories, over the course of several small projects in the past 10+ years, with varying levels of success, I've learned that the only real obstacles in the way of any artist should be the piece itself, and the will you possess to complete it. Should it not measure up to a bitter end, the you would have been better of not trying in the first place. Of course, without the help of so many creative minds I've collaborated with over the years, none of my projects would have come to fruition--and for that, I'm extremely grateful. It's also the stalemate of today's maker-driven content sphere--DIY vs Collaboration.
I've seen "Skeleton Crews" shave down from a gang of four, to an army of one, as the result of an overly demanding production sphere. I witnessed the injection of the terms "Preditor" and "Owner-Operator", which completely changed the economy and expectations of producers and freelancers alike. Are we being cornered into a DIY driven creative arena by the industry at large, or are the creatives more insular now, more self-reliant, and eager to avoid incorporating the necessary help, the necessary equipment? Innovation has become the paramount skill for every creative on the market these days, as opposed to honing a craft. Gotta be able to free-jazz it, because the client is impatient and insecure.
Now we're moving into dead-end territory with the advances of AI storytelling... Where will we be next year? How will I be viewing my own production workflow? The game is changing rapidly, but I still see a strong initiative from artists to maintain dignity in their creativity as individuals, and the ambition to forge meaningful collaborations and tell original stories. I for one feel very strongly against integrating AI into the creative workflow, but recognize its utilities. Creating standards for ethical use should be a Governmental concern, but this isn't necessarily the administration to be concerning themselves with such topics...
We'll se where America is in four years, but in the meantime, we all should hold on. The industry is experiencing a wake-up call. Viewership is shifting away from theaters and televisions, and instead landing squarely on the smaller screen. Whether or not this is good is beside the point. We're on the cusp of a major shift.
As a professional, I think it's wise to expand your skillsets and think beyond the industry proper. I think I view the process as being more freeingly independent than ever, despite my constraints. Now, the studios are looking outward for the next step, as they've cornered themselves into a plastics assembly line, by producing IP-driven, branded content. To that, I say, 'You can only accessorize Batman so many times.' Meanwhile, outside of the shark tank, independent voices are still thriving. There will always be the art of film, which thrives better off the conveyer-belt.
As for myself, I am laying low these days. I've put a hold on auditions this year, as I reset, and continue to navigate the industry with a new approach... Don't ask me what. I was able to produce and co-direct a micro-short that I look forward to sharing online by the end of the year. It's not my dream project, but a fun project, made with love. I've been wanting to direct a feature film for so long, and it's beginning to look like I won't be able to do that the way it's been done by so many before me, for such a long time. Crowdfunding, proof-of-concept, sizzle reel... We're past all that campaigning now. Nobody wants to give a stranger money to make a first-time feature, let alone your proof of concept piece. Nobody has the time or the patience to hear your pitch. Now, you simply have to make what you can with what you have. Knowing this, it looks like self-producing my first feature may have to wait even longer.
I'm going to be turning my focus inward. I'm continuing to focus on acting, but writing will shift to become my primary focus for the remainder of the year. I don't have the network to self-produce at this time. It's also taken me years of personal growth to find the words to tell the stories that mean so much to me, and now I feel I'm stepping into the next phase of my career. This update is to let you know (whomever you are), that there may be a little less visible activity on this blog in the near future, but it's for good reasons. The wheel is still spinning, but there may be less to show for it. In the meantime, I want to express thanks. Thank you for reading my blog, watching my films. I am so grateful for any attention I can get in this fast-paced world. Please be good to yourself.
Very soon, after it's completed its festival run, The Pennsylvania Leaf Blower Massacre will have its YouTube Premiere. Jonathan and I are still working towards producing The Caretaker. It's been a long journey, but I feel it's important to finish the piece, as I feel it harbors a lot of potential. I'll continue to post updates on both projects here, as they arrive. If you want to see what I've been watching lately, I'm vhsmonster on Letterboxd. If you want to support me, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel @johnmorganfilms . It really encourages me to keep moving forward. Thanks so much for watching.
John
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