By Karen Connor
Connecting the dots
The last two and a half years have been a whirlwind. It feels like all the artistic creativity I had forgotten about came flooding back at once.
About 2.5 years ago, my best friend asked me to go to karaoke with her. I had never gone to karaoke in my life or sung in front of a crowd, although I did try out for a band once. I went with her, and with a friend beside me, I got up to sing one of my all time favorite songs: Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses. After the thunderous applause, I was hooked. From that moment on, I planned and practiced the songs I wanted to sing every week. I realized how much I loved performing — and how much I cared about doing it well.
The more I sang, the more I wanted to create. I started writing my own songs and ended up with nearly a dozen. I shared some at open mics, singing a cappella because I didn’t — and still don’t — know how to write music. After a few unsuccessful attempts at hiring someone to compose music for my songs, I shifted gears and decided to write my first memoir.
I believed my childhood experiences were worth sharing, and I hoped they might help or inspire others. My first book, I Almost Blew Out the Light, was self published just over a year ago. It’s even carried at Chapters in Fredericton, which was a huge accomplishment for me. That achievement reignited my desire to help others who have lived through similar things and fueled my passion for storytelling.
As I mentioned in Part 1 of my story, my uncle was one of the first people in town with a satellite dish, and he recorded scary movies for me. I’ve always had an affinity for thriller and horror films. One of my favorites is Poltergeist, where a powerful spirit tries to lure Heather O’Rourke’s character, Carol Anne, into the ghost realm.
After releasing my first book, I began writing a sequel. I’m about halfway through, but I’m unsure if I’ll finish it because my creative focus has shifted. I’ve also partially written several thriller style short stories and had planned to release them as a compilation, similar to what Stephen King and others have done. The more I write, the more ideas come to me, so I jot them down before they disappear.
Last year, I began seriously considering becoming an actress. I worked as a background actor for Revival Series 1, filmed in Saint John. Soon after, I started imagining my short stories as short films and became excited at the thought of bringing them to life on screen. At first, I pictured myself acting in them — after all, who knows my stories better than I do? With no formal training, I began taking acting classes with Mariel Hunter of Fort Heart Productions in Saint John. After about eight months of classes and workshops, Mariel suggested I join the NB Film Co op.
I joined, along with the NB Casting Call Facebook group and a few others, hoping to catch auditions. I’ve created several self tapes and have auditioned for around six films and theatre productions so far.
Through the NB Film Co op’s recorded workshops, a desire to direct began to grow in me. The idea didn’t feel like a stretch — I already had several short stories partially written, and the leap from story to script felt natural. I’m also comfortable making decisions and leading alongside people who have expertise where I don’t. I’m not afraid of guiding others or being the center of attention. My seven years as a government manager gave me confidence, and running my own art business taught me how to create reels, advertisements, and promotional content for Facebook and Instagram. I’ve also organized and hosted a book reading and signing at a local pub, taught a paint and sip event, and even tried stand up comedy and improv a couple of times.
I’m not afraid to take risks to make something amazing.
I’m also an extremely visual person, so filmmaking feels like a better fit for me than writing stories alone. I’ve written my first script for a short film and have several others in progress. I just need to complete my 30 volunteer hours before I can direct my first short.
Everything I’ve accomplished so far has led me here, and I’m incredibly excited about the possibility of working with a talented team of people who love making films. My goal is to put New Brunswick on the map — to show people that we’re not messing around, and that you don’t have to live in Hollywood to create powerful, emotional, high quality films and television.