It was such a privilege to be selected for the Raising Film Creative Residency in March this year. Having the time away from all the distractions of home, the school pick up, the washing pile etc. really allowed me to absorb myself in my writing. I was able to meet the goal I had set myself for the week and concentrate on the research surrounding it. Having Kellie and Julie there, the other participants, was great. We talked about our projects, shared research suggestions and spent evenings watching films and discussing them at length. It felt like a very supportive and creative environment and without it I would have really struggled to have made as much progress with my project as I have. The script outline I have been developing centres around some very sensitive, upsetting and delicate subject matter. Being a mother of young children and with various other work commitments at home I find it very difficult to switch in and out of this headspace. Having the time and dedicated space to solely focus on my material (with regular self-care breaks) enabled me to tackle the task at hand in a more meaningful and deliberate way. Thank you so much Raising Films for this gift. It allowed me, for that week, to prioritise the work that is so important to me and which too often ends up further down my to do list than it should. – MW
“I was able to stay in the flow, in the world of a script that I was working on and I came away with fresh insights and pages, that I believe would have taken me many more weeks to arrive at”
I can’t thank Raising Films enough for my week away in Dent. It’s the first time that I’ve had an uninterrupted week of work in, possibly forever. Being able to get up in the morning, go for a walk in beautiful surroundings, my mind already thinking about work for the day – before sitting down at my desk, was bliss. I was able to stay in the flow, in the world of a script that I was working on and I came away with fresh insights and pages, that I believe would have taken me many more weeks to arrive at.
Coupled with this was the opportunity to meet two other writers and share in ideas, meals and films late into the evening, which all fed the soul and creative experience. We even managed to get in a couple of yoga sessions locally, all within walking distance. And not being pulled away to do bath time and homework – (yes, I love my children but there are 500 jobs between a mother and her work:) – was truly invaluable.
I’m so grateful that I was afforded this time. Time and space to work, is all any writer can hope for. – KS
