By Van Dirk Fisher
Sometimes life imitates art and sometimes we discover how to be true to ourselves through our art. When Shantell Cargle came across an ad for The Video Diaries Project, she had recently got out of an unhealthy relationship, which caused her to put a lot of her dreams and aspirations on hold. She had decided it was time for her to get back to doing the things that she loved to do like acting and filmmaking. She grew up in Detroit, Michigan and spent her whole adulthood living in New York City. She fell in love with the city and never left. Acting was her first love and she grew to love making films as well. So combining the two worlds was very exciting to her.
As an actress she discovered that she wanted to have more control of the stories that were being told and the type of characters she was auditioning for, so she decided to go to Hunter College, where she received a B.A. in film studies. After graduation she just picked up a camera and started shooting. “I made a bunch of mistakes, but I also learned a lot in the process just by jumping in head first! As for inspiration I think its everywhere, on the subway, walking down the street….there are so many places where you can study people and situations, through that you discover art,” says Shantell.
Working on the documentary FINDING PERFECTION THROUGH ART with Christina Weathersby, her co-filmmaker, has been amazing. “I try to let the subjects mold what the story will be,” says Shantell. “Sometimes you have to shoot a lot of footage before you find your angle, which is different from scripted films.”
“The Video Diaries Project is exciting to me,” says Shantell. “Because I can personally relate to many of the struggles that the playwright, Rebekah L. Pierce addresses in her play Perfect. I am a female who is at war with my feelings toward family and husband versus career. I think many women have similar concerns and issues in our society that is never really addressed by the public at large. I wanted to be able to understand the characters as well as the actors in the play. This allowed me to get some really good insight on how to approach the documentary.”
In addition, working on the project will hopefully shed some light on these issues and in time help to bring some resolve to many people who struggle with the choices they make concerning their career and relationships. You shouldn’t have to choose. But I think Ms. Cargle said it best when she said, “I just want people to know that you should never give up on your dreams, but that you also have to put the work, time, and effort into bringing them into fruition. If you focus on what you really want, you will start to see progress and change in your life. I am very grateful to have a wonderful business partner and best friend, as well as an amazing family that continues to encourage and push me to always be the best that I can be.” In a perfect world isn’t that what we all want?
FINDING PERFECTION THROUGH ART: A Documentary by Shantell Cargle and Christina Weathersby
Featuring: Rebekah Lynn Pierce, Gene Hughes, Kyle P. Carter, Lamar K. Cheston, Vanessa Lovestone, Shaunta Macklin, Dawn Speaks, Clarivel Ruiz and Robert Wright
Screenings:
Featuring: Rebekah Lynn Pierce, Gene Hughes, Kyle P. Carter, Lamar K. Cheston, Vanessa Lovestone, Shaunta Macklin, Dawn Speaks, Clarivel Ruiz and Robert Wright
Screenings:
February 22, 2012 at 8PM - Admission: FREE The Launch Party for the Strawberry One-Act Festival Ripley Grier Studios, 520 Eighth Avenue, 10th Floor, Studio 10D, NYC RSVP for Tickets at RiantTheatre@gmail.com |
March 3, 2012 & March 4, 2012 at 9PM; Tickets: $15 Hudson Guild Theatre, 441 West 26th Street, NYC Between 9th & 10th Avenue For tickets go to http://www.therianttheatre.com/index.php?n=the_video_diaries_project:_a_series |
As the old Schlitz beer commercial use to say, You only go around once. No one wants to be in a rocking chair late in life with regrets for paths not followed. Good for Ms. Cargle. Nothing bad can come from following your dreams and listening to your heart.
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