A semi-open letter to my creative peers.

Hello!

I hope that you are well and that the state of our country and the world at large has not consumed your spirit, and that you are finding hope, fight, and positive energy where it exists.

If you received this message/link it’s because I specifically chose to send it to you. Despite its form I promise it’s not a “send to all,” it’s because you specifically are an artist that I respect and wanted to reach out to. A friend I haven’t spoken to in a bit, an acquaintance, colleague, or maybe someone I just crossed paths with once upon a time and thought, “Yes. This is an A+ human.”

If you’re glancing down below already overwhelmed, then the TL:DR of this is: I’ve been away for a while, both literally and figuratively, but I’m back, feeling inspired, and looking for others who are feeling the same way, searching for positive outlet for their creative energy.  So if you want to make art or tell stories outside of the pressures of our consumerism, I have technical means and am looking for creative collaborators and projects to fill my cup with, as much as there is room for.

Continue on, per your interest level!

At some point in the last 10+ years I seemed to forget the finer details of why I love telling stories and making movies. Not uncommon or unique, it’s a tired tale of constant pressure to appear “successful”  opposed to being good, effective, or prolific. Between the constant comparison of my career as an artist to my peers’ careers, and the usual self judgement that comes with approaching, arriving at, and then surpassing 40 years of age… eh you get it.  For the most part I’ve put my passion and my talents in a safe, locked them up and stored them away only to be used when some imaginary goal is met, that in reality, likely never will be.

Not that long ago Alexandra and I had to leave LA temporarily for a family matter on the east coast, and what was supposed to be a brief trip turned into a year away. We were lucky enough to be staying with a well-off relative on a big two-house property in a nice neighborhood on the gold coast of Long Island. We had a first person view of Suburban American Success™ for an entire year. And, well… lets just say it was not for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family to pieces, but when it comes to the day-to-day it was miserable. A wasteful, capitalistic corporate nightmare filled with people who seem deeply unsatisfied, endless Amazon deliveries, performative social interactions, and a reality tv version of existence  — and quite honestly it woke me the fuck up to who I really am and what I really want out of my limited time on this earth.

I am SO happy to be back in this city of artists and weirdos and unique spirits with stories to tell and talents to share and I just want to shed ALL the massive ego that this industry feeds into. I am finding that part of myself from 15 years ago who simply wanted to be doing something that made me happy at the end of the day. Maybe its a mid-life crisis, maybe its just a return to form.

What the fuck does this have to do with you?! Great question. I have means! Not financial means, but technical means. I have gear and know-how. Camera, sound, lighting, and everything one would need to shoot something low or no budget, plus 20 years of filmmaking know-how in every department from pre to post to delivery. And I also have a piss-n-vinegar attitude towards telling stories again. 

Yes, this gear and know-how IS how I make my living and I can’t pay rent with our shared good times, BUT, for the time being I have a steady enough post supervisor gig that is allowing me the stability and privilege to play just to play. I’m currently in production for an indie feature of my own, but I still have time on my hands. Time I’d like to fill with even more filmmaking while I can.

One thing I don’t really have anymore though, are strong connections to my peers! Folks like you. I know that there are a ton of you talented people I would be thrilled to reconnect with or get to know better, and to collaborate with if stars aligned.

So if reading any of this has warranted even the slightest head-nod of agreement or resonation then let’s chat! Let’s grab some coffee or lunch and talk about your ideas or your hopes or what you’d like to be doing with yourself that you’re not currently doing.  Maybe you have a short or proof of concept you’ve been sitting on, a scene, a sketch, a pilot, a documentary idea, or a whole damn feature film you’re waiting for permission to make. Whatever it is I would love to hear about it.

Thanks for reading this. I hope to hear from you!

Resist. Fuck ICE. No Kings.
Do good work well.
All the best.

-Jake

631.374.2345
jakelloydbacon.com