When Creatives Collide

      Jason Abrams                                          Dan Bush                                           Me 

Okay. We didn't actually collide. And it started like a case of mistaken identity. The story goes like this: I had posted a photo of Jack Black because in my imagination my character Elijah Smith looks like him. (Note: Please, if you imagine that Eli looks like someone else, don't let me influence you! Characters in novels should look the way the reader imagines them.)

So, anyway, at one point, I received a request on Instagram to follow a guy named Jason Abrams. I learned he was an actor/producer and checked out what he had done. Sure enough, he was the real deal. Also, there was something about Jack Black in his feed.

So we followed each other on Instagram, only to learn that neither one of us knew Jack Black. It clearly was one of those "My brother? I thought he was your brother" things. But, really, who wouldn't want to know Jack Black?

Anyway, Jason and I hit it off on his Instagram feed. I'd comment on a photo or reel. He'd comment back. And basically, we would create amusing, weird little scenarios and be jokey. I became part of what Jason calls his "family," the people who follow and support him. Believe me, actors who are trying to break into television and film need all the love and support they can get. So do struggling authors, by the way. (Hint, hint...)

One day I mentioned that Dan and I were planning to visit New York City for a week. Since Jason lives there, he suggested that we all get together for coffee. And so we did. Last Wednesday.

You can see the video here:

Jason is a dedicated social media person, something that is necessary these days to promote himself and his skills. So he came armed with his trusty phone and put us all on video for posterity. Okay, maybe not posterity. Maybe for just a momentarily amusing reel.

But it was so much fun to meet up with him. We learned a lot about what it was like to fight for a role only not to get it in the end, about how social media is such a big part of getting oneself "out there," and more from Jason. In return, I hope we gave him a little idea about what we're up to and why.

Anyway, I hope and pray Jason reaches his goals. And I was inspired to get back to blogging and posting again. That side of being an author got swallowed up when the pandemic hit and the pastor and the folks on the church staff, including the assistant minister (yours truly), had to improvise and remake everything like mad.  We're still doing it, by the way.

But I realize that I need to carve out more time for returning to writing, blogging, and posting. And, thanks to Jason, I have recovered the drive to do it.

SO! Look forward to some posts about and excerpts from the new novel, which finally is in the beta reader stage. I also plan to post excerpts of the script Dan and I wrote together.



Meanwhile, in Bill and Ted's immortal words: "Be excellent to each other."

Later, gators!

Janet R. Stafford