Patience isn’t Passivity

Our last contributors to the first week were Drew McOnie and Ana Garanito.

Ana as Head of Scripted brings her expertise and experiences in story development, structuring stories and working to widen the opportunities for a greater breadth of people to be included in film, media and tv and stories to be told. Drew as a Director, Choreographer, theatre and film maker simply says his job is to tell stories. Both brought key perspectives and experiences into our Festival. It was a beautiful and inspiring end to a rich week.

Drew gave us simple – but powerful tips for making spaces more inclusive to bring a diversity of talent, and ensure equity – his Company had been founded to find new ways to support talent in dance: “The thing I am most proud of is the environment in which something is being made , and everyone in the space feeling as if they own part of it.” He spoke of patience – a recurring theme – and he reflected on this in terms of dance vocabulary: “Every step is about laying the foundations of where you want to be – the long phrase”. He gave us a strong image of standing in a river and having the choice to go with the flow or stand against the current and build new tributaries. His work as a Company Director as well as an artist – and negotiating ways forward “Dealing with the gatekeepers who are very, very used to being heard, but not very good at listening.” “90% of collaboration is listening… compassion is my work”.

Ana talked us through her way into film and tv and how through Green Door Pictures and as Head of Scripted she worked to ensure stories are well told – and how she and the production company worked to tell stories that may otherwise be lost. She spoke of the need to bring together a team and how to tackle the gatekeepers, particularly commissioners. There was reflection on how decisions on what is commissioned were made, and the reliance on data to make decisions to predict what would gain high audience ratings, and yet audiences want to be surprised and the tensions around decision-making and who ultimately are the gatekeepers to which stories get told. There is huge optimism around the changes happening, even if slowly, disruption and change is happening.

We reflected on the potential of themes for films still leading, but the importance of amending and making work more culturally appropriate for the settings of the work and doing this with integrity “Compassion is authenticity”.

A powerful week of insights from cultural and creative disruptors – showing the importance of faith, patience, compassion and optimism.