Recapping… I did this in February of last year (2012), and got a few response, so I figured, a year-and-a-half later, with the site’s audience now larger than it was back then, that I’d try it again.
I know that a significant chunk of S&A’s audience comprises of actors, actresses, directors, DPs, editors, etc, etc, etc. Some are able to earn a paycheck utilizing their artistic and/or technical skills; others – and I’d say the majority – are what we’ve labeled the proverbial *starving artists*, working diligently, relentlessly, struggling to climb this incredibly steep hill, trying to reach some pinnacle of success – whether personal or professional. And still others exist somewhere between the former and the latter.
Where do you fall? And, as the title of this post states, what’s YOUR story, and would you like to share it with the rest of the world?
Think of it as an extension of the successful S&A Filmmaker Diary series we launched almost 2 years ago. I’m looking for your individual stories of struggle and/or success, regardless of what rung on the ladder you are currently on, after all, not only is S&A just a source for news, its goal is also to become a community of cinema lovers where we can all share/debate/discuss/learn/teach/commiserate/etc.
Here’s your chance. You might learn something; you might teach someone something.
What’s YOUR story? You can email me (obensont@gmail.com). You can submit your story in any format – written, or even documented on video. I’ll post as many of them as I can. Substance and presentation are key for consideration.
And be sure to attach a photo (large size) for me to include, and if you have samples of your work, include them as well.
It could be a story about a current situation you find yourself in; or it could cover several days, weeks, months, or years of your career. It could be that you just want to vent your frustrations; aspects of, or people in this business that piss you off; aspects of, or people in the industry that encourage you. It doesn’t have to be all negative, nor all positive. We’re complex people, and so I assume our stories are as well.
Today, here is writer/director Karlton T. Clay, sharing his story below:
My name is Karlton T. Clay, and I am 27 years old, and I love to write. I have always loved to write, but it wasn’t until my time at Davidson Fine Arts School in Augusta, GA that I began to get involved in production and wanting to use my gift of writing as a career.
However, on March 18th, 2002, at the age of 16, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoma leukemia. However, instead of succumbing to this terrible disease in my life, I decided that I was going to persevere. During my time in recovery, I grew closer to my family and my relationship with God strengthened. Also, from this experience, VICTORY PRODUCTIONS was born. I graduated from Davidson Fine Arts School in 2004, and from Georgia State University in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in film and television production.
Now at 27 years old and in remission, I have written, directed, and produced several original mainstage plays include Leukemia & Me (2004), Judgement Day (2005), Judgement Day 2: Temptation Island (2006),Judgement Day III: Redemption Song (2007), The Lord’s Prayer (2008), Surrender (2009), and Turn Around High School (2011). Judgement Day III: Redemption Song was nominated for the “faith-based” film category during the 2008 Agape Award ceremony held in Atlanta, GA. The Lord’s Prayer was the first play I toured at different churches and venues in the Augusta and Atlanta area from August to December 2008. During that time, I received the Pillar Award for Youth Role Model from the Metro Courier Newspaper in Augusta, Ga. Surrender toured different churches and venues in Georgia and South Carolina from September 2009 to March 2010 and was a participant of the 2009 Westobou Festival.
I also wrote, produced, directed, and starred in an internet drama entitled College Daze, which began in September 2007 and ended in January of 2011 after five seasons. The show aired on television as well on the Open Student Television Network, which is based in Ohio, from August 2006 to May 2008 and WBEK, an independent television station in Augusta, GA, from August 2009 to March 2011. College Daze was the first original scripted program that aired on WBEK since it became an independent station.
Currently, I am now in production for season five of my second web series entitled The Lyons Den, which focuses on the lives of a broken family who are trying to figure out what to do next with their lives after a tragic death. The Lyons Den was accepted into the 2013 L.A.Web Fest and garnered several awards including Outstanding Supporting Actress for Victoria Wilson, Outstanding Supporting Actress for Reishal Monique, Outstanding Ensemble Cast, Outstanding Producing, and Outstanding Writing.
