Defining Independence, Both In Film and Life: A Survey
First thing you bought as an adult that made you feel independent?
Colby McHugh: Still waiting on that one. I’ve never quite felt like an adult.
Jacob York: The first rent check in Atlanta.
Isaac Chasteen: Vacation plane ticket.
Monica Beard: When I signed the lease to my first apartment.
Hudson Phillips: One particular car. A Saturn. Wasn't even my first car, but the first one I bought with no help from my parents. I still remember how it felt to drive it off the lot.
CK Love: TV
Favorite artist who broke off from a group to start a solo career?
Colby McHugh: It hurts my heart saying this as a Backstreet Boys fan, but the only true answer is Justin Timberlake.
Jacob York: “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels.
Isaac Chasteen: Theresa Wayman of Warpaint.
Monica Beard: Beyonce (DUH!)
Hudson Phillips: Gerard Way, frontman of My Chemical Romance, but the solo career I love is him writing comics.
CK Love: Peter Murphy from Bauhaus.
If you could make a living doing anything, what would you do?
Colby McHugh: Tell stories. It’s so vague, but stories can come in any number of varieties and mediums, and I wanna be here for all of ‘em.
Jacob York: Acting and writing. I'm kinda doing it.
Isaac Chasteen: Run my own home furnishing design studio.
Monica Beard: Something where I’m making other people happy.
Hudson Phillips: Writing Marvel movies.
CK Love: Writing.
What was your favorite independent film of 2018?
Colby McHugh: Thunder Road. I could talk about this movie (and the short it’s based on) for hours. You know what, just watch it. And then talk to me about it. Please.
Jacob York: Free Solo. It took my breath away. A friend of mine who is a climber told me The Dawn Wall was a better film, but Free Solo's idea is so easy to communicate. Man vs. Mountain. In one attempt. Fail and die. It's incredible.
Isaac Chasteen: Blindspotting.
Hudson Phillips: Eighth Grade
CK Love: Hereditary and You Were Never Really Here
What have you done this week to explore your creative independence?
Colby McHugh: Forcing myself to write, even though I have no specific idea in mind. Gotta stay sharp.
Jacob York: WOOF. NOTHING. Everything I've written has been for someone else. What a good wake up call.
Isaac Chasteen: Get my moped running again.
Monica Beard: I write for funsies. It's not anything anyone else will ever read but doing it is really relaxing.
Hudson Phillips: Outlined a new movie!
CK Love: Writing my noir thriller and my horror.
How do you define success?
Colby McHugh: The ability to live a happy life and still be able to pay bills and put a roof over my head.
Jacob York: Part 1 - Putting food on the table and keeping the lights on for myself and those I love the most. Part 2 - Garnering respect from artists I respect. (I recognize this one is a little more nebulous and maybe self-aggrandizing, but I see it in myself all the time. I just want people I think are cool to think I do good work.)
Isaac Chasteen: Outlining your own goals, and then meeting them.
Monica Beard: Success is when you have something to look forward to every day.
Hudson Phillips: Doing what you love every day.
CK Love: Getting up every morning. Haha. No really :)
