This website, Brat Powr Media Center, has been a long time in the making. I tried it back in 2020. It wasn't good, so I ended it quickly. I always knew I would try again someday—I just didn't say anything about it. I spent 2022 & 2023 secretly redesigning an entirely new platform that would launch at the start of this year. The process was exhausting and emotional, but with every final decision, I was just bursting with excitement—ready to show ANYONE how my plans were coming along, but alas, I kept my cards close to my chest...
"Moving in silence" is too dated of a term to still even take seriously in 2024, although the ideology behind it has fully permeated the mindsets of a select handful in our modern society. For a while, this was just something cute to say that encouraged staying present and general disengagement with social media, as a means of maintaining inner peace. Over time, it's warped into being told that you're wrong—an outcast, even—for seeking validation from your peers or being vulnerable at all on the Internet. You shan't plaster your half-baked plans or raw emotions all over social media—the inevitable outcome being public embarrassment, when your expectations fall short. You've jinxed yourself. You weren't focused enough. You had no protection from the evil eye of wayward haters. But what happens if you keep everything to yourself, and things still don't work out? What purpose does moving in silence serve, other than isolation?
I'll be honest, part of why I didn't tell anyone about the new Brat Powr Media Center, which I spent years developing, is because I didn't think anyone would care. It can be difficult getting friends to support small ventures and that's OK, because I want the world that I'm building to grow beyond my inner circle. Although, even after creating a brand new platform, the most frightening part of putting this great accomplishment of mine out there for the world to see, was still worrying about whether all of it would actually satisfy me or not. I did everything I was supposed to—keeping my ideas safe for nearly a year and a half and working tirelessly on my digital passion project. However, rather than keeping secrets as a sorry means of asserting my independence, what I really needed was time, community, and to stop being so goddamn embarrassed of my work.
Truth be told, doing anything in the creative industry is embarrassing, but why? Why is simply trying to exist in our industries so embarrassing? Why is failure? We know that every Forbes Boy Wonder has cited repeated failures as one of the driving forces that motivates their persistence, yet there's still so much causal fear mongering surrounding any possibility of failure. While leaving the idea of "moving in silence" in the past, I think the better approach is a lot of planning. I also think means planning means planning for failure or disappointment—no matter how far you are in your career.
Those who promote moving in silence have also said that doing so helps prevent losing any momentum. On the contrary, I'm a big believer that documenting and sharing your process can be beneficial for both yourself and others. It builds more ideas, promotes collaboration, and creates a strong creative community. One thing I'm also never going to do is "move in silence" when it comes to sharing my good news or achievements with loved ones, on the off chance that things don't work out the way they originally thought. All of this is just living in fear and I don't think you should let any of it stop you from being excited and wanting to put your work out there. However, also keep in mind that the more serious become about your craft, the more you're going to want to protect it's integrity—which will eventually involve keeping some level of confidentiality until the timing is right—and this is OK! In the meantime, network, get help, and put your work in front of eyes who show a healthy and genuine level of interest in your mission. You're allowed to brag and shout about your achievements and upcoming projects from the rooftops. You're also allowed to not being embarrassed when plans fall through, because shit happens.
Speaking of shit happening... I feel like I should explain why I haven't posted since May. I lost one of my grandfathers this year and am about to lose my other grandfather, who has been sick for a long time, very soon. I was supposed to have the next installment of the Gilmore Girls Retrospective out on Fathers Day of this year, but it was too hard. I'm sorry and I'll be returning to regularly scheduled posts again very soon.
My happy news is that Brat Powr Video Network, our brand new YouTube Channel, will be launching in 2025. This is a big reason for the hiatus. Trust me when I say a lot of work is being put into this, so stay tuned!!! You don't want to miss out.
Thanks for reading and supporting our publication.
xo!
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