First acting experience: Playing a warrior queen in the forest!

Before we start: In case you didn't know how much of a proud nerd I truly am, I've got to set this post to the beautiful music of Bear McCreary, which was admittedly in the back of my mind during this whole experience 😁

So, what do you get when a dear childhood friend from California who is studying filmmaking visits you in Oregon for a long weekend of hiking, conversation, and fun? Well, what I got specifically was my first experience acting a monologue on camera for Janelle's short film—and it was liberating in the most unexpected way!

I may be a bit too shy to share that just yet, but here are the stills my friend took after the filming was done:

The lighting was good, and Janelle is an incredibly skilled photographer, which made 'pretend time in the forest' even more joyous.

I've always been curious about acting, but am naturally quite introverted, which has led me down a path of writing, poetry, visual art, and more quiet critical thinking vis-a-vis activities like journaling. But this experience, getting into character as a warrior queen, opened a new form of self-expression that was super empowering. I immediately went into the character's frame of mind, finding the tears well up and the character's emotions roil through me as if they were my own. It was a unique, commanding experience—as if I really was that character.

I can't speak to any real talent, but I had a ton of fun! Thank you to my amazingly talented friend, Janelle, for inspiring me to step outside of my comfort zone. ❤️