The Impending Paywall
Things around here may look different for a month or two.
A forthcoming post will mark the first time I utilize my publication's “paid” feature. I am deeply grateful that anyone bothers to read these posts, much less signs up to have them foisted upon their inbox, and the fact that I already have paying subscribers is astounding to me. Despite how much I’ve enjoyed building this page and the genuine effort I’ve put into it, I still do not think of myself as a writer, at least not enough to justify charging money for the privilege of reading my rambles.
But what I am is a filmmaker, and as this post goes live, I am currently in Latrobe rolling cameras on my second feature film, Saint Mick. Principal photography will run for about seven weeks and will occupy the entirety of my energy and brainspace until we wrap in June. As such, I doubt I will have the time or alertness to finish currently in-progress essays1 or begin new ones. For my readers who have subscribed or follow for the theological digressions, I beg your patience for a little while; they will return once I do.2
However, this page will not lie dormant. I intend to attempt a production journal of sorts, offering little updates and perhaps the occasional sneak peek of the film as we go. These posts will be much more blogish in nature, but I am choosing to paywall them because 1. by nature of production and marketing, it would be better not to have some details of the film publicly available, and 2. It provides an active opportunity for people to support the film. Saint Mick is a self-funded indie of indies, fueled by pocket change and passion, so every little bit helps. As such, we also intend to launch a fundraising campaign during post-production to complete the movie, so apologies if it feels like I’m asking for your money with some frequency this year (and please feel no obligation to contribute).
For the curious, the film’s plot description is as follows:
Set over the course of Holy Week, Saint Mick is a contemplative and offbeat dramedy that follows Michaela (“Mick” to everyone who knows her) a novitiate nun living in a quiet, secluded monastery. Thoughtful, creative, and deeply spiritual, Mick also harbors a secret: by night, she sneaks out of the convent to volunteer at a local arthouse movie theater and play bass in a small indie rock band.
When her double life is unexpectedly exposed, the surprise ripples through the monastic community. Mick’s honesty about her divided identity spurs curiosity and quiet rebellion among her fellow sisters, as they each begin (or have already begun) to explore their own questions of purpose, belief, and what it means to live a life of devotion in the modern world.
As the week builds toward Easter, Mick must decide whether to take her perpetual vows and stay in the monastery or step fully into the world beyond its walls. Blending humor, heart, and moments of quiet wonder, Saint Mick is about meeting people in the tension of uncertainty, beholding the beauty of the sacred and the ordinary, and seeking God in the mess of everyday life.
This film is the most substantial artistic endeavor I have yet embarked upon and, God-willing, shall be my calling card for years to come. It is the exact kind of art I want to spend the foreseeable future pursuing, as it is the exact kind of subject matter I have spent the better half of the last decade contemplating. I genuinely believe this film is more true to my artistic voice than anything I’ve yet made, and I’m hopeful that through it, I’ll have something worthwhile to say.
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.
My deep dive on Pelagius will have to wait, alas.
I’ve recently updated my publication to include sections, categorizing my posts by subject. If you would like to opt out of receiving the production journal updates, you can toggle them off in your subscription settings.
Seriously cannot wait to see this film…it sounds incredible.
This is so much fun! I like fun!