Audiences Need Fantasies You Can Bring To Life

The reason why I started Akinlalu Productions.

Louise Brings Her Fantasies To Life

Louise is a heroic woman.

She decided to trust her gut and take a chance on moving to Canada. Most of her work experiences as a model and actress had been in Europe, until she moved here this year.

It can be scary to move into a new city, where no one knows who you are. She did anyway.

Plus, if you think about it. Coming to a new city gives you a chance to let your curiosity lead you. You might also re-invent yourself, and if you decide this is the place to bring your fantasies to life, then you can live your best life thanks to the freedom of being in a new city.

One interesting thing I've noticed about people that holds true wherever you meet them is everyone has a hunger for hearing new stories. Whether it's the story of why you moved here, or a personal backstory of growing up in your hometown, celebrity myths with a hint of sinister motives, or the kinds of stories that you learn from with a good moral at the end.

We took this photo after I gave her notes on her runway walk. During which, I remembered a character that I had written for my new film in pre-production, and I wondered if Louise could channel the energy of that character and bring her to life without reading the script.

Auditioning is easier when you can read the script, find time to rehearse and self taping made auditioning far easier for modern filmmakers. In fact, I'd already seen several self tapes sent by actresses auditioning for the same film that Louise told me she'd like to be a part of. Behind the paywall on this website, you can watch some of these film auditions.

But the secret recipe of what makes a great audition, whether it's self tape or live, can be found by answering another question. What's the difference between a story and a fantasy?

People scroll past dozens of Instagram stories every day, because most stories we see are forgettable. On the other hand, people still remember their teenage fantasies. Even as young adults trying to bring them to life like Louise, or as trapped grown-ups facing a mid-life crisis from not indulging enough of those teenage fantasies, whatever they may be.

A story becomes a fantasy when it connects with the audience.

It could be an audience of college kids watching an R-rated art house film as they learn about passion and heartbreak for the first time. It could a story that you tell yourself about a hot colleague that connects you with your own sensual side. Or if you're lucky, the story you tell to an audience of filmmakers or fashion moguls creates such a strong connection that you end up getting hired. The big break is a career fantasy, but how do you get there?

Like I always say, a fantasy begins in the mind. But bringing your fantasies to life requires desire, which is a combination of physical effort and emotional commitment. This combo also creates a certain level of passion, and passion flows where desire goes. The more passionate you become about a fantasy, the more desire you'll have to bring it to life.

As you bring more fantasies to life, you start to believe in your ability to manifest. Most people never bring their fantasies to life because they don't believe in themselves. Plus, there are so many distractions today, hordes of judgmental opinions and toxic people who doubt your abilities. So it's not uncommon for artists to give up on getting their big break.

But for some artists, there comes a time when you suddenly realize how deeply a fantasy has connected with your authentic self. From this point onwards, bringing your fantasy to life is more than indulgence. It's about expressing the desires of your authentic self.

From this point onwards, you see the world in a new way.

You might even start dressing differently with a more provocative flair, or travelling to new cities for epic adventures that can nourish your art and get your creative juices flowing.

There could be a time when your choices start looking crazy to other people. But you know you're not crazy, it's just that they don't understand your fantasies because those people have no connection to your authentic self. This is the time when your artistic ideas and your creative journey needs protection from a world trying to extinguish your authentic self.

The solution is to create or join a group of like-minded people. An inner circle, a secret society where your authentic self is nourished by the ideas of people who think like you.

But some people don't have that kind of access to other artists who think like they do. They might still be isolated in a small town, under the influence of a strict family and a 9 to 5 job. Or maybe they just don't have enough courage to show the world their authentic self yet.

For all these people feeling held back by a repressed world... I created Akinlalu Productions.

I understand the desire to bring your fantasies to life.

I'm rooting for you.