Tanja Lawhead

Writings is something that has always been in the family. From my parents to my grandparents. From poetry to short stories. Story telling was the best way to kill boredom during long trips by car. A great escape from this dull reality.

I used to write a lot. Writing wasn’t enough for me though. I wanted to make my imagination reality. What better way to do that then make a movie? I love a challenge. I live for it. I’m that crazy person who’ll go skydiving with a crocodile “’cause it’s totally awesome!”.

When I was about fifteen I wrote a screenplay and began making it into a film all by me little self. It was shot against a blue chroma key cloth. Since the only actor I could get was me and there were no locations I could shoot in. I played both parts of the villain and the hero. Everything else was created and animated in After Effects. Unfortunately it was never completed and I lost most of it. I did however begin a career in videography and worked for some big names. So what I learned from it payed off.

I know it probably would of turned out to be terrible low budget production that would make Ed Wood cry. It’s the fact that I got off me lazy bum and really wanted to bring this to life that really counts.

Quiting right in the middle like that didn’t sit with me very well though. I vowed to never write again until I had the proper resources to completed a project from start to finished. Over dramatic? Maybe. Just felt defeated and I didn’t want to put my passion into something I knew wouldn’t work.

Sometimes I wish I would of gotten caught up in something other then the movies. I mean, who doesn’t want to be a filmmaker? What pretty girl doesn’t want to act? We are all in it for a hundred million different reasons. Some of us because we love it some of us because we want that oh so pretty fame and glory.

Me? I’m in for the challenge and to finish what I started. I’m taking small steps. Alexis being one of them, but I will. Oh yes. I will finish that damn movie and make it damn awesome. After I do that. I’ll go and make more. ‘Cause I’m crazy like that.

To those chicks who are fifteen or even younger. If you want to make movies, go and do it. Even if you end up making a few you’ll never finished. The earlier you stack up on experience the better you’ll be at it. Working and fighting for your dreams is damn worth it. You might not think so, you might even get suicidal and that whole “don’t give up” will just sound empty to you. It’s a damn hard long way but being able to do what you love, is so worth it.

At the request of the man who we won’t name. Or call nasty names like “Jerk”. I reveal to you, my old “writings” if you can call them that.

At thirteen I’d write and perform short stories and poetry in L.A. You can hear my preteen voice read: Heart of Hate and Deep Under The Bright Green Grass.

Just so you know. I kept that “never write again” vow up until a few weeks ago. Hanging onto the past is for super heroes who mope in dark corners. Not me. I’m skydiving with crocodiles!

Whooooooosh!

ARGH!! it’s got my FAAACE!