Blog: Christine Rodriguez on The Arrangement (Part IV)

Four

Role models?

By Christine Rodriguez

I tweeted Steve Galluccio on Twitter the other day to let him know about The Arrangement.  To my 

surprise, he replied.  He told me that he was familiar with Espace 4001 as he had self-produced shows in that space many times before.   Me  :)

Am I being a sell-out for wishing for the same kind of success Steve Galluccio’s had – from self-produced theatre to films seen all over the world?  Of hoping for the same kind of success as Trey Anthony whose Da Kink In My Hair went from Toronto Fringe to a Global television series?

The reality is that our gifts to the world are not in programming software, developing new technologies or discovering the origins of the universe.

To be fair, The Arrangement is a labour of love – a collection of artists doing what we love, at way below living wages, with the hope of turning our work into a lifelong, viable profession.  The reality is that our gifts to the world are not in programming software, developing new technologies or discovering the origins of the universe. Our gifts lie in recounting the human experience to anyone who will listen.  One has to wonder, is there a viable market for that out there? Me :(

There is a value in creating something that is new; that surprises the audience; that piques the world’s interest.

Television and film always guaranteed some hope for all of us creators.  But with the advent of the internet and YouTube, who knows what the profit model will be in the future for the creators of content?  You have to admit that with the likes of HBO and Showtime and their unique TV series that many people don’t get to see but sure know a lot about, there is a glimmer of hope.  For those who don’t get cable, critically acclaimed products can still be found on DVD.  There is definitely something to be said for creative content.  There is a value in creating something that is new; that surprises the audience; that piques the world’s interest.

So am I a sell out for trying to figure out if any of us will ever make a profit on our work, earn a living wage from what we love to do?  Does someone need to ‘Occupy’ my mindset?!  Perhaps I need to go back and dwell on a basic artistic premise:  it’s not the result, it’s the process.  It’s not the result, it’s the process.  It’s not the result, it’s the process.

Whatever. I’m going to go meditate now and try to channel some of that Steve Galluccio / Trey Anthony vibe right here.  Me :)

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