Constraints

Guest: Tom McHale

Industry: Theatre

Project: Outliers Theatre Collective

In this, the final episode of Constraints, Tom McHale of the Outliers Theatre Collective and I talk about the creative drive needed for the project of independent theatre and the post-project-blues that is common to all creative activities - this podcast included. Theatre was a fitting industry to end this series with, as every interview felt like a live performance. Stay subscribed to this podcast for announcements about future podcast projects from Hi-Fi Handiwork Inc. related to project management and creativity. Learn more about The Outliers Theatre Collective at outlierstheatrecollective.ca, instagram.com/outlierstheatrecollective, and facebook.com/outlierstheatrecollective.

Guest: Rebecca Rogers

Industry: Film

Project: Financing an Independent Film

Well, we’re almost at the end of Constraints - just one more episode left after this one. So it’s fitting we get a guest from a repeat sector to allow a bit of a deeper dive into a particular creative industry. Rebecca Rogers shares the details and challenges of the development and finance phases, and describes how creativity is as much a part of those as in the production and post-production phases. Learn more about the expansive producing chops Rebecca has at www.rebecca-rogers.com.

Guest: Reverend Joe Hopkins

Industry: Streetsville United Church

Project: Expanding the Circle

When each generation is so different and geographical distance creates varied cultures that then intermingle through immigration, how do religions communicate in a way to appeal to everyone? Reverend Joe Hopkins faces that challenge in just one region of the Greater Toronto Area, and shares his navigation of a new vision statement, enlarging his circle of followers, and preparing for the United Church of Canada’s 100-year celebrations.

https://streetsvilleunited.ca/

https://youtube.com/@streetsvilleunitedchurch8286

Guest: Jesse Singh

Industry: Stand-up Comedy

Project: Making it in Canada

What obstacles could there possibly be to making it in stand-up comedy? Interestingly, being Canadian doesn’t actually help. Jesse Singh discusses this further, and describes what ‘making it’ actually means. Follow Jesse on Instagram and TikTok @punjabitimbit and listen to his comedy special Baby Goat on most streaming platforms.

Guest: Cheryl Thompson

Industry: Academia

Project: Writing an Academic Book

Dr. Cheryl Thompson’s new book, Canada and the Blackface Atlantic: Performing Slavery, Conflict, and Freedom 1812-1897 comes out this month, and we discuss the creativity inherent in finding the story that ties together facts in an authentic and truthful way.

Find out more about Dr. Thompson’s work at:

www.mobaprojects.ca

www.drcherylthompson.com

@theblackcreativelab

www.linkedin.com/company/mobaprojects

Guest: Serkan Özkaya

Industry: Conceptual Art

Project: David Inspired by Michelangelo

What is a conversation about constraints when it comes to creating art? Well, like the advice you get if you don’t like the weather in the Maritimes, just wait five minutes. From time, to cost, to scope, it’s not a matter of whether Serkan Ozkaya’s artistic vision will be realized. No matter the how, when, or how much, it will happen.

https://serkanozkaya.com/

Guest: Jagger Gordon

Industry: Culinary Arts

Project: Feed It Forward

Chef Jagger Gordon has dedicated his life and career to saving food from being needlessly wasted and is building an empire that includes restaurants, markets, programs, books, and whatever other tool he can use to spread the message about the inordinate amount of food that is thrown away each day. And it’s working. Combining a clear vision, dedication, and energy he is proving that when it comes to food rescue, if you build it, they will come.

Visit these links to learn more, get involved, and contribute:

https://myhouseinthejunction.com/

https://jaggergordon.com/

https://feeditforward.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/feeditforwardofficial/

Guest: Edison Chung

Industry: Protest

Project: 2019 Hong Kong Protests

Don’t think protest movements fit in a podcast about project obstacles in the creative industries? Well, challenging our understanding of what a creative industry is, is one of the mandates of Constraints. In the wake of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party’s decision to disband, participant of change Edison Chung describes the “shared emotion” that brought 2 million people out to the streets of Hong Kong to protest in 2019.

Guest: Gillian Steinhardt

Industry: Film & Television

Project: Music Videos

Sometimes you just aren’t given the freedom of creativity on a particular job that you would prefer; but when you love the process of dressing an actor to help them realize their character, you learn to advocate for your vision no matter the circumstances. And when the freedom is there? Well, that’s why Gillian does what she does.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0826062/

https://gilliansteinhardtjewelry.com/

Guest: Nick Dagan Best

Industry: Astrology

Project: Following His Passion

Do historians work in a creative industry? Their product is the narrative of historical events told through their unique perspective, and in as much as there is creativity required to produce each unique explanation, so too can we say that the output is creative. For Nick Dagan Best, his calendar mind has always viewed Astrology as a way to narrate history, and over the last thirty years, has made a career out of his passion for viewing the world through the lens of the position of the stars and planets through time. His obstacle? Society’s ever-changing perspective on his passion.

https://www.nickdaganbestastrologer.com/