Awakening Artistry: Success Stories

Spotlight On: Jane Darling

Changing careers was really difficult for me. I clearly knew what I wanted to do but had no clue how to get there. Coasting along on autopilot, I was living in the white bread world where my engineering job was valid and artists starved -- especially filmmakers. Everyone knew that! But this life didn't fit me. I researched as much as I could by reading books, taking classes, and studying anything that had to do with the film business. I am thankful for stumbling across Barbara Winter 's, “Making a Living Without a Job” and Julia Cameron 's, “The Artist Way.” A friend gave me the inspiring autobiography of Roger Corman, “How I Made A Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime.” I discovered I was not isolated and alone with my thoughts. I carefully selected mentors and studied their careers that always included both successes and failures. I discovered that most of them started out in a practical career and eventually moved into their passion full-time, pushed by invisible forces, becoming self-directed. That was encouraging. I made a good living as an electrical engineer developing software at an aerospace company. On the surface, working on spacecraft with NASA and the military sounds indeed exciting, but I was still showing up to a cubicle and participating in a corporate environment that was totally stifling to a creative soul. I laughed as I identified with Tama 's description of ripping up post-it notes into tiny little pieces and asking herself, ”What am I doing here?” As a single parent with major responsibility for my child, I felt overwhelmed when I attempted to switch out of autopilot. Panicking, I took action and made small changes. I quit going to lunch with my corporate buddies and began socializing with creative spirits outside of work. I simplified my life to free my brain and to not have to work so hard maintaining status quo. We were always creative about having fun so money was never an issue with lifestyle enjoyment. I worked part time as a freelance engineer for many years while I pursued my dream of growing a production company. Bit by bit I learned new skills and acquired good equipment. I started making productions.

My passion had always been a part of me. I never had to find it. I come alive with a camera clasped in my hands and eyeball pressed against the eyepiece studying the composition and light, imagining the sound, music, and action. As a Viking-American, I hope to be buried some day with a camera tucked inside the coffin with me for the final voyage. And maybe a few of my favorite DVDs as well. Did I mention that I have requested a full Viking burial? Well, that 's another story for another time! I needed to pursue my passion like Vikings pursued conquests. My first screenplay got me an introduction to the Vice President of Walt Disney Studios and meetings with “real” production companies in LA so I figured I had a talent for it. I could do this for a career – I just knew it! I never tried to sell my other screenplays since I plan to film them myself. I had been developing my photographs in a dark room since I was 13 years old when a friend showed me how to work the equipment. To this day he is a wonderful photographer and has always been in my corner encouraging my hair-brained ideas; hair-brained in the white bread world but highly imaginative in my reality. Everyone needs a few friends like that! It was always curious to me that my father had a 8mm Brownie movie camera and a film editor. Now what was my father doing with a film editor and why didn't he use it? An unresolved dream? Too busy? Not interested anymore? I wish I knew. But, he gladly loaned his equipment out to me as a teenager and I was grateful for the encouragement.

While looking for a unique domain name for my website I discovered that "spiro" means inspiration or inspiring in Latin. The result was Spiro Pictures. I am passionate about filmmaking because I love movies with compelling stories, talented actors, amazing special effects, and fantastic monsters. I don't even have a favorite genre because I enjoy all kinds of movies. I look at a film and think, “That works!” Or strive to understand when it doesn't. Filmmaking is telling a story with moving pictures. It takes an entire production, from concept to finished piece for it to work. You need a wonderful story or documentary idea, a concept for the presentation (look and feel), a written script to work from, great actors, sets, and artists. The movie comes to life when the filmed bits and pieces are put together with sound and music and while watching it, starts to capture your imagination and emotions. That 's the movie experience. When directing, I get immense satisfaction standing behind the camera, watching the actors perform the words and scenes that I wrote, realizing it looks better than I imagined. I found the right place.

I create all kinds of visual media. I can be reached at spiropictures@comcast.net, 303-466-8084, and have more info on my website at www.spiropictures.com.

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