Just a few thoughts on this article I read in the Washington Post entitled, "Famous quotes, the way a woman would have to say them during a meeting. "

Maybe we just need some women to be "shocking", "angry", or "terrifying" for the world to just get used to it. I know women are still trying to find and embrace their strength and not just emulate the strength of men, but I think we need to stop asking ourselves "what will a man respect". Instead we should ask, "what can I respect? At the end of the day, when I've made my choices, did I give it my best? Did I make decisions I can be proud of?"

I made my first movie poster! I know it's pretty simple, but I'm excited about it nonetheless! I've been wanting to start making these for years, and this was my first go at it.

I designed this simple poster for a film written by my brother, David Wells.  We shot all last summer, with him Directing and I Producing. The film is called "Drifter". Look out for the release this summer!

We're just now closing in on the finish line of this film, having entered it in Slamdance and SXSW, and getting it prepped for it's summer premiere. And we've already started pre-production for the next project!

In addition to wrapping up "Drifter", and getting "Domestic" off the ground, the name of David's next film, I've also started off nicely with my own project, THRIVE - a photographic series exploring the diversity of beauty. I've already shot with 8 of 100 women involved in the project and it's been an amazing experience so far! I am a little behind on my interviews at this point that go with each participant, but I expected that the first month would be a little chaotic as I figured out how I was going to pull this off.

All in all, I'm really exciting about the coming year. I'm really excited about doing more producing and learning more about the business side of filmmaking, excited for my own project, all that I'm learning at my new job doing product photography, and continuing the learn the art and business over at Venegas Studios.

It's gonna be a fab year!

Best Wishes,

Amanda

New stack of books. A few recommended by some other entrepreneurs who are light years ahead of me in this game. 2016 has started out amazing. I'm very thankful for the people who have recently come into my life through business, all the insight and inspiration coming from my THRIVE project participants, a another  huge personal goal that I finally hit that, at times, I thought would be impossible for me. I'm very thankful for everything I'm learning about business, about chasing life, and about surrounding yourself with the right people. I had a few really rough years, but I officially feel on top again. I feel strong again. I had to spend a good few years dealing with a lot of demons from my childhood and learning to grow beyond it and acknowledge things so I could feel whole again and have peace. At times, I felt completely lost and bombarded by all the uncertainties, all the pain, the scarcity mindset, and world views that ruled my younger years. It may sound bad, but 2010 was kind of the begging of my decent into a major valley. 2012-2013, I was in the thick of it. Though 2012 was when a light sparked and I had a direction to go in. But I spent the next few years in the mud, just trying to get to the end of the valley, or at least to the edge. 2014, I had reached the edge and began to climb my way out and 2015, I felt like I was halfway up that valleys slope and could see the light again. It's been a roller coaster. At times my health was very bad, years of emotions that needed to come up, came up. It was not easy, but I'm thankful for that journey, because I'm so much happier with myself, with my life. I feel like I can breathe again, like I can trust myself again and I can carry on with my life now and do the things I was meant to do without all the weight I was carrying around before. I had so many bandaid solutions growing up, but this was a time for things to really heal. A time to find inner peace and be really ok. And now to move on to the things I know I'm called to. I'm very excited for 2016. It's started out amazing and I have some great plans for the year. I look forward to all the new people in my path and I'm hella thankful for the ones currently in it.

Cleaning out my life, evaluating how I spend my time and with who. Every day I'm feeling stronger and truer to my old self. Spending time with those who inspire me and who I feel I can add to their lives. Spending more time with family and close friends and less time with people who make me feel like I'm small. Exercising my ability to say exactly what I want to say. I'm committed to living authentically and sucking the marrow out of life. For those who don't believe it can be done, I gladly say peace out ✌🏻️ I'll be here, basking in the sun. Experiencing love and adventure and gratitude. And the daily blessings that, God, people, plants, and animals have to offer. ☺️