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Jessica Payne

Creator's Cafe 40. Jerome Kurtenbach - Wear the Hats You Have

Published 3 months ago • 1 min read
Happy Friday Reader,
Ever see someone and just know they look familiar but you don't know why? It's one of those things that gets me in funny situations in LA.
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Do I know that person? I'll go say hi - Oh wait, I just saw them on TV, abort abort! No, wait! I did, but I directed them 8 years ago and have their personal email. It's fine, not weird. Say hi!
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But with Jerome it was true - I saw him years before I knew him. Though Jerome is primarily a composer, writer, and director, his face is the opening shot on the TV hit show "Crazy-Ex Girlfriend," created by his frequent collaborator Rachel Bloom.
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Though they both have done very fancy high-profile work (hello Netflix and NASA!) I am inspired by their drive to create. I agree with Jerome that if you are passionate about something you will find a way to keep doing it. It is when someone is "already doing it" and chose to just make their art in whatever way they can, that's when people start to come along and say, "hey, you're good at this!" and maybe even "Here's this opportunity/funding/support to do it more!" But even if not, you're doing the thing you were passionate about all along.
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So when you're in a creative morass, think of Rachel Bloom and Issa Rae posting to YouTube far before anyone believed in them, and Jerome writing a symphony about traveling while in lockdown. Make the work that works for you now, but please don't let your circumstances stop you. I'll come say hi either way.
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​-with love and waves at cafes, Jessica

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​Theme Music: Our theme music is composed and performed by Kyle deTarnowsky.​

Jessica Payne

Actor, Host of "Creator's Cafe", CEO of Kika Labs

Hi! I'm an actor and host of "Creator's Cafe" podcast, available on YouTube and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe for links to the podcast, and for information on getting more comfortable creating on camera!

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