This story is a visual and tonal representation of the competing voices in my head. I moved away from home 15 years ago to pursue a farfetched dream in the arts. I had everything you could ask for: a roof over my head, 3 meals a day, and an incredibly loving and supporting mother. Now, both of my parents are dying and I’m questioning every decision I have ever made. 

My father doesn’t have long to live at all, and my mother has been battling every type of ailment you can think of for the past few years. This new life development has forced me to ask myself “have you really made the right choices?” One side of me says yes, of course you made the right choice. You are an aspiring artist, and art is important to people. The world needs people like you to bare their hearts to the world in interesting, empathetic ways. The other side of me scoffs at that idea and tells me to move back home with my loving mother and get my priorities straight. Life is about family, loved ones and the time spent with them. What the hell am I doing making movies in LA while my parents die on the other side of the country? When they’re gone, I’ll have nothing of substance and I’ll regret this.

It’s difficult to discern which voices to listen to. So I did what every confused artist does: I made a piece of art to reflect these feelings. At times, being an artist can make me feel like a silly little jester performing tricks into the ether. So I materialized that idea and made my character an aspiring magician. I gave him an incredibly loving and supportive mother, a dream he wants to fulfill, and the golden opportunity to fulfill this dream. Then, I placed him in the middle of a comedic and complex dance of blind hubris and crippling self doubt. I hope this story can speak to you in some way, and I hope to make you laugh and think, in equal measure.