![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1624834620602-CJRXJEOUFK90R4O1LDJD/Screen+Shot+2021-06-27+at+5.56.38+PM.png)
Writing
Stories about my process as an artist.
Creating an Independent TV Pilot: Finding Locations
Scouting dozens and landing on nine different filming locations was no small feat.
![Attending Catalyst Content Festival](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/a13657d9-2db8-4052-81e0-37d0c3b32082/IMG_2861.jpeg)
Attending Catalyst Content Festival
One of my goals for the grant that funded DS Birch Carlson was to build my network at the Catalyst Content Festival in Duluth, Minnesota.
![Creating an Independent TV Pilot: Writing the Script](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1714791248587-U8ZB7PZVO5YJLPSQOF01/Screenshot+2024-05-03+at+9.53.52%E2%80%AFPM.png)
Creating an Independent TV Pilot: Writing the Script
The idea for DS Birch Carlson had been baking for years. Chance brought her to the page and circumstance brought her to life.
![Post-Production: Music Improvisations](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1677452878079-OJOUW7Y1N36NXP4S6BKH/unsplash-image-L1uHQ8-T8eU.jpg)
Post-Production: Music Improvisations
The final step of post-production was to screen the film cut for musicians to improvise their element of the score.
![Post-production: The Rough Cut](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/14f79977-2781-4e71-8ae9-dca7e730f3b4/Screenshot+2023-02-12+at+8.59.55+PM.png)
Post-production: The Rough Cut
To begin the editing process, I worked to create a rough cut of the dancers’ performances to prepare for screening for musicians.
![Production: The Shoot](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1675646165671-RC6G2N5TDUN40LWG0IYE/carson-moving-5.jpg)
Production: The Shoot
Every shoot has challenges that the team can overcome in order to make the magic of production happen.
![The Technical Side of Pre-production for an Improvised Short Film](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1674092342237-779OVEUEPT3PFLDBWF2X/shari-prod-still.jpg)
The Technical Side of Pre-production for an Improvised Short Film
With casting and the process decided, it was time to think through all of the technical considerations.
![Setting the Stage for Production](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/f168df23-3ddf-429f-bd99-abf7256e8127/audio-setup.jpg)
Setting the Stage for Production
How do you move from a great plan for a short film towards production? Here’s how I assembled my team and approached pre-production on “Improvisations,” a short dance film.
![Improvisation & Performance Anxiety](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1673220081755-NO8LP7T7B60OMFKI70UD/unsplash-image-SPTh4rzR6xQ.jpg)
Improvisation & Performance Anxiety
As a performer who struggles with anxiety, I thought maybe arts performances weren’t a fit for me – until I started to experiment with improvisation.
![Exploring Creativity Through Dungeons & Dragons](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1642988863435-1ATN9HI0429NUVK9I6U2/unsplash-image-JzDB79tc6ic.jpg)
Exploring Creativity Through Dungeons & Dragons
Did anyone else pick up how to play Dungeons & Dragons as an adult over COVID? This girl did, and boy was I surprised.
![A New Kind of Directing](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1639357328230-AXWDR7PKT3A0A4IG90Q2/design-progress.png)
A New Kind of Directing
As part of our June 2021 monthly intervention, I collaborated with fellow artists and activists of Say Their Names Northfield, leading participants in a fleetingly beautiful collective work.
![COVID-era Filmmaking](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1627264137687-QW6R8FYJRK286DZ6W09R/birch-headshot.jpg)
COVID-era Filmmaking
The challenges of a pandemic hitting during production of my short film, “The Dinner Party.”
![Cinematography Boot Camp](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1627263836301-M109I8QQQ200JMFO1KSU/unsplash-image-ZmrNTMZJfao.jpg)
Cinematography Boot Camp
Lessons learned from attending Jeremy Wilker’s Cinematography Boot Camp at FilmNorth.
![The Color of Film](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1627263296171-XVDXFNJOBEQ6E7HP59EP/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-09-23%2Bat%2B6.15.05%2BPM.jpg)
The Color of Film
One of the goals for my SEMAC grant is to develop my color grading skill in filmmaking.
![Permission Granted](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1627262978793-IKYCFKZWJBBTJW0A8LNA/unsplash-image-5OUMf1Mr5pU.jpg)
Permission Granted
SEMAC has awarded a grant for me to make the short film, “The Dinner Party.”
![Brunch Brunch Brunch!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1627262379436-9FAEP0BFZ200KBUZOHSZ/unsplash-image-bHoBMkArD5k.jpg)
Brunch Brunch Brunch!
Our first collaborative planning meeting for the logistics of producing the web series “Lady Parts.”
![On Creativity](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1627261063336-A3DIFSPLV8XQYSAZSCQY/big-magic.jpeg)
On Creativity
Nurturing creativity and lessons learned from Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic.
![Developing a Web Series](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1627261677858-PAA0VIEOWX5V75QU41NH/unsplash-image-UQZvynxNuqg.jpg)
Developing a Web Series
A journal entry about developing my first web series, “Lady Parts.”
![Filmmaker Beginnings](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60d7dbe0fd55e11745ce2a88/1627261981610-C0TW3HOTQ5IDUMP7KYNX/unsplash-image-oqStl2L5oxI.jpg)
Filmmaker Beginnings
Describing my excitement and anxiety about my first filmmaking venture.