Your Stage : The Film Making Saga by Samuel Chambers

Entry 015

Sometimes, I have to remind myself to breathe. This past week, I’ve caught myself overthinking The Timid Bunny?—and honestly, everything else in my personal life. It’s exhausting. I put in the time, the effort—I’m making progress—but if I keep obsessing, I’ll drive myself crazy.

I love this project with everything I have, but I also need to step back and enjoy life as it is right now. Once this takes off, my normal will change. I’ll be working on a whole new level, doing everything I’ve dreamed of.

It reminds me of when I was younger, wishing I had a beard. Then, when it finally grew in, I realized I had to keep maintaining it. It became another responsibility—something I had to keep up with. That’s how I feel about TTB? now. I can’t wait for it to fully take shape, but I know there will be stress, exhaustion, frustration—moments where I’ll want to quit. But that’s the price of attracting something great.

Got feedback from our pitch session with Emily Jackson. I had a sense she might pass, but I really wish she had scheduled a follow-up call instead of just sending written notes. After all, that’s what I paid for, so I take responsibility for that. A quick conversation could’ve cleared up a lot.

The good news? She liked Tony. She found the mix of sports movie tropes and an anthropomorphic lead in animation interesting. But she had questions about the project’s goals—whether the short film was meant to be a proof of concept. That’s something I would’ve preferred to discuss directly.

She also wanted more clarity on the animation’s visual style. I included comparisons, but none of them were animated films, which might have been confusing for her. It’s understandable, though, given that context. Then there was a question about world-building—whether the world is fully populated by animals or if humans exist. I don’t think it should have been a dealbreaker, but from her perspective, it seemed to be. Honestly, I was a bit confused by it.

Her feedback on Tony’s conflicts didn’t quite align with what I envisioned for the character, and it felt like she might not have fully captured his depth. It makes me wonder if she had the chance to read through the entire pitch, particularly the second page.

In the end, she passed, citing concerns about tone, animation style, world-building, and conflict. Frustrating, but her suggestion to provide more specific details in future pitches is useful.

I’ve already reworked the pitch, and honestly, it’s stronger now. I do regret sending different versions to multiple people at once, though. Still waiting on feedback from the second pitch, but I’ve learned my lesson—no more sending out unfinished versions simultaneously.

For now, I’m waiting to hear back and hoping for a different perspective. Having a development producer on board would help so much with refining the script and film. This whole process is about adapting, learning, and staying open to feedback.

This past week wasn’t all work. I almost skipped an art exhibit due to a ride issue, but I made it work—and I’m glad I did. Someone I want to collaborate with on TTB? mentioned the event, so I figured it was worth checking out.

The exhibit was great, but one piece stopped me in my tracks. It reminded me of one of my characters. The price tag, though? $200, maybe $300. Yeah, we’ll have to circle back on that one later. But meeting the artist was a win. We vibed, I shared TTB?, gave him my card. Networking like that just feels right when the energy is there.

After that, I treated myself to some fire pizza. It’d been a while since I went to that spot, so it felt like a well-earned reward. Then I ended the night at Kava Lounge, where a DJ set completely stole the show. His energy was crazy. Right away, I knew he’d be perfect for my campaign’s intermission event. Got his number—this is going to add something special to the experience.

The rest of the week was slower. Just research, reflection, and some downtime. Days like this remind me why I keep pushing forward.

Earlier this week, I came across a TikTok creator talking about PodMatch—basically Tinder for podcast hosts and guests. The idea intrigued me, so I gave it a shot. Pitched myself to a few hosts, hoping to land some interviews.

Now? I’ve locked in four podcast appearances, with a fifth in the works. The fact that people want to talk about TTB? still feels surreal. It’s one thing to grind in silence, but when others start showing interest in what you’re building? That’s when you know you’re making real progress.

It’s exciting but also a little nerve-racking. Five podcasts is a lot—but it should be seven. Got two more to secure.

This is about getting the project out there. Telling my story. Making people see what The Timid Bunny? is.

I’m ready. Let’s make it happen.

1/29/25