Grateful to be sharing this Black History Month Special Edition of Creativity & Storytelling ‘Zine with you; including #TopTen African American Directors of the Decade!
Some of the content featured in this special issue includes:
10 films to watch this Black History Month – Q City Metro “Dear Basketball” lives on as part of Bryant’s legacy as a father, husband, coach, philanthropist and basketball player. Director Ivan Dixon (also an actor in the film) and screenwriter Sam Greenlee…
Blackfilm.com’s Top Ten African American Directors Of The Decade (2010-2019) As a new decade starts, we take a look Black at those directors who in the last ten years had continued to succeed, critically and financially, in making films and uplifting the community to pave the…
The 30+ Best Black Sports Movies Ever Made – ranker.com Black sports movies combine the thrill of competition with athletes’ desire to fight against oppression. The top black sports movies range from completely fictitious comedies to compelling real-life…
This issue is dedicated to my dear aunt Teal (Lucille Turner), who in her youth studied acting with Lee Strasberg in New York City, was proposed to by classmate Al Lewis (Right! Grampa on The Munsters TV show), and was often mistaken for the beautiful actress, Dorothy Dandridge. Rest in peace, Auntie. Read this special issue!
Creativity & Storytelling ‘Zine is a Creator’s Corner publication by The Pursuit Studio featuring creativity, storytelling, innovation, ideas, leadership and influencer content for artists, writers, screenwriters, authors, entrepreneurs, producers, directors, marketers, publicists, coaches, and other professionals in pursuit of creative and storytelling excellence in our fields. Check it out!
Valerie Michele Oliver (The Healing Artist Studio Project) explores the art and architecture of creativity and storytelling in imaginative, innovative, playful and award-winning ways. Tisch School of the Arts (New York University) and The Mystery School (Sacred Center for the Healing Arts) graduate. | Imagine, innovate, create and love this life.
Somewhere along my life’s journey, I received a strong message that stuck in my gut for a very long time: “Do not discuss religion or politics in mixed company (or in any social or business settings) because you are asking for trouble.” I was taught that discussing these topics will create great conflict that will destroy friendships and potentially make me a persona non grata in professional circles that can lead to isolation, and perhaps even dismissal (though that reason would never be cited as the true reason).
Yes, I have seen the damage in other people’s lives; but not in my own.Sure,
conversations have become heated, but I always took the approach that we can agree to disagree because–well, there are so many other things that I often like about people with whom I have a difference of belief or opinion. I learned to value the whole person, and not divorce myself from relationships because of a strong contrast. My oldest friend is a Republican (and always has been). Another dear friend is an atheist.
Perhaps, our relationships would be rather dull and bland without the challenges.
Conflict and Contrast Are Creative Goldmines
As a creative professional and healing artist, I was taught to value conflict and contrast as vital creative tools:contrast in colors, contrast in textures, contrast in lighting, contrast in perspective, contrast in camera angles, contrast in point-of-view, and contrast in characters to create the conflicts necessary for telling an engaging story. Conflict and contrast are CREATIVE tools and principles.
Actually, spirituality and mindfulness is trending (and spiritual practices include religions), and it’s viewed as a creative trend in this and the next decade(see Creator’s Corner on Sacred Geometry); yet, the content in the articles cited that inspired this Creator’s Corner are examples of even more contrast and contradiction. One includes research citing that Millennials are disengaging from religion and spirituality. Another cites that Americans do not believe in God, but somehow believe that Heaven is real. The third article might seem like an oxymoron: it explores the concept and practice of Imaginative Conservatism.
The story of good and evil, of strength and weakness, of love and hate, of beauty and ugliness . . . neither can exist without the other . . .
out of their groupings creativeness is born.
~John Steinbeck
Creative breakthroughs often occur as the result of conflict in many aspects of the human experience. I feel like screaming again because conflict and contrast commands attention. They SHOUT and we all pay attention. The content then engages us for short or long periods of time depending on our interests, desires, emotions, and needs.
2)Share what we discover as part of our content offerings, or use these new allies in content strategy, content marketing, marketing strategy, songwriting, storytelling, or even to become more comfortable in our own psyches and skins with their value to attract, reach, impact and inspire others as creative professionals, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, content curators, coaches, mentors, etc. through the variety of communications and media we use as calling cards and other enduring connection platforms in our careers or missions.
Creator’s Corner is dedicated to sharing ideas that come to mind after reading and selecting articles for The Creativity & Storytelling ‘Zine(as the editor) that may be useful in a professional or personal capacity. Interest in creativity and spirituality as content, for usage in arts & entertainment, and as lifestyle choices for businesses, projects and services (groups that have a way of life that may or may not be included
in their brand identity), can be relevant to anyone anywhere in the world covering a variety of professions.
Valerie Michele Oliver (The Healing Artist Studio Project) explores the art and architecture of creativity and storytelling in imaginative, innovative, playful and award-winning ways. Tisch School of the Arts (New York University) and The Mystery School (Sacred Center for the Healing Arts) graduate. | Imagine, innovate, create and love this life.
The Pursuit Studio 
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