It's been months since my last newsletter, a testament to how easily life can derail our creative intentions. Between work, family, and countless responsibilities, I began to lose sight of my writing. 

With technology right at our fingertips and free editing software, I currently use CapCut on my mac book pro laptop, and love it. Alongside with the free Blackmagic Camera App where you have lots of freedom to manipulate your ISO, Frame Rate, Shutter Angle and lots more, I have no reason to film almost on a daily basis.

Every filmmaker has their own process for bringing a film to life, and for me, as a writer and director, the journey is often full of surprises. Lately, I've been keeping busy with various writing projects—short scripts, a treatment, and revising one of my existing scripts. But there's been one idea that's been simmering in my mind for the past year. After bouncing it off other writers and friends, it just kept coming back to me.

For many years I've used Instagram to film “moments” I felt compelled by, but recently I was listening to Martin Scorcese give a talk of the late Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami's work.

Embarking on my first feature film as a writer and director is both an exciting and thrilling experience, but it also presents challenges that test my determination and confidence. Making The Wild Dreamers is a huge responsibility—I not only direct the film but also serve as my own cinematographer and sound recordist, all while continuously rewriting scenes with my non-actor cast, who bring more to the project than I could have imagined.

Such a simple phrase, yet so powerful for anyone looking to create something. 'Just Do It' became one of Nike’s most iconic ad campaigns, showcasing athletes at their peak performing incredible feats of athleticism. Even after its debut in 1988, this three-word mantra still resonates, especially in a time when we're bombarded with endless options and 'how-to' guides for everything.

I officially submitted my film The Wild Dreamers to The Montclair Film Festival. As many filmmakers have advised, having a solid marketing strategy is crucial for success. I have come up with a rough plan that I will outline here for my own reference, but if anyone reading this has any suggestions or better ideas, please reach out to me at melvinthehemit@gmail.com.

There are days when, as a creative person, you find yourself cruising at 80mph in the creative zone, and then suddenly with no warning, you twirl over a cliff and plunge into cold, dark water.

One thing I've learned is that while waiting for that big project to come together, or when you're deep in post-production on your film, it's crucial to keep honing your skills as a filmmaker. And what better way to do that than to dive into the world of one-person filmmaking - writing, shooting, directing, and editing all by yourself.