Below, I stand with the cast of The Ripple Effect in the curtain call of our closing performance on Sunday night. I began The Ripple Effect in June where I auditioned actors and for the month of July and August I wrote the script. It has been a 5-month journey. I’m sure many of you have heard it said that it is about the journey not the destination. That couldn’t be truer for this play.
This was not an easy play to mount with a bunch of problems popping up. My patience was seriously tested throughout. Unfortunately 3 actors dropped out well into rehearsals (one was replaced just 2 weeks before we opened) and there were nagging technical issues that seemed to not go away until right up to the dress rehearsal. Add to that a massive set which really was stunning but it took actors a bit of time to get used to their new surroundings. It wasn’t a smooth ride and it really started when I began writing the play back in the summer. It was a struggle to incorporate 11 actors into one story (side note: Because this is a volunteer production, I audition actors first then wrote parts for them so that I could write to their strengths).
Throughout it all I never once took my eye off the fact that I was confident in where we were going to end up. I knew that once all the pieces (acting, lights, sound, set, band, choir) came together we would have a solid show. And we did. Did everyone like it? Of course not….but many loved it. And I sensed while watching the show that audiences were genuinely moved. It’s so important to remember it is always about the journey getting there…the destination will take care of itself as long as you take care of the journey. There were times I had to grin and bear it and move on.
People often ask me about my writing and whether my screenplays will be made into films. I optioned my screenplay Play Ball back in August of 2014…and many have wondered when that script will make it to the big screen. It takes time…it’s the journey. Pat Patterson, producer of Play Ball, hopes to begin filming next summer (2016), but I know there will likely be many obstacles to overcome/conquer along the way. And once it does actually get filmed, it will likely take another year for all the post-production to happen…so you’re looking at sometime in 2017 before you will see Play Ball on the screen. That’s my hope…that’s the journey.
Don’t lose sight of the journey in whatever destination you seek. The journey is where you learn about patience, disappointment, heartache, strength, joy…it’s where your destination is shaped, so that when you get there, you can say with confidence that lots was learned along the way…and it was good.
Romeo, your steadfast faith and endurance through the process of creating and producing the stories God has put on your heart in spite of the obstacles and difficulties continues to inspire and give meaning to keeping on keeping on. As you’ve said in a variety of different ways, the journey is very often what kindles in your fellow writers profound nature of what God has asked us to do. For your audiences, it enlivens hope and joy that they are not alone on their journeys either. As you go forward into the New Year, I pray you would continue to know the profound presence of God in your life and journey!
In spite of the blood, sweat, and tears during this journey, the outcome was definitely worth it in that a beautiful story was told. Whether the audiences “loved” it or not, there were aspects everyone could relate to, since we are all on a journey in this life. And the journey is felt by all those involved, from the actors on down. Those challenges required people to dig deeper into their performances or skills to help it all come together -which it did. The journey of this production has added another milestone to each participant’s own personal journey.
Although inspiration is desired and necessary in all creative work, as you demonstrate time again, persistence, hard work, love for the craft, and optimism are equally, if not more, important for an artist to nurture while on the journey. I’m in awe of your productivity- you are the model working artist.