Monthly Mindmeld: June
Sailing life, filmmaking updates, and creative sparks: June brings big moves, Detain Me progress, and new stories on the horizon.
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Hello friends!
Welcome to June! How are we already halfway through the year?
After moving back to the Netherlands, Tim and I jumped straight into boat prep. As some of you know, we live on a sailboat (my time in L.A. was a brief land break), and we have big summer sailing plans. Our boat had been sitting in the Rotterdam marina for a while, so we had a lot to fix to get her seaworthy again.
We set a goal to leave by May 31, and we did it! Last Saturday, we sailed to Stellendam, just south of Rotterdam. It’s not far, but every long journey needs a shakedown sail. As expected, we found a few things to fix (like our wind vane) before we head off across the North Sea...to the UK! We’re planning a full loop around the country, with extra time in Scotland.
It’s been a whirlwind privately, but I’m loving being back on the water. I spent two years sailing the Caribbean during COVID, and I’ve missed it more than I realized. The only downside is that it's so cold here!
May in Review
Detain Me (psychological horror feature film)
Things are moving. I’ve had some promising talks with Dutch collaborators and potential co-producers, and being back in the Netherlands is already opening doors I couldn’t reach from abroad.
We’re still in the thick of packaging and financing... It's slow and grueling, but necessary. I’m hopeful I’ll have concrete news to share soon.
Writing
I’m behind on my monthly short stories (for obvious reasons!), but writing’s been exciting again. I’m starting to feel the pull toward longer-form projects: maybe a novel, maybe a new feature. The short stories have helped break through my blank-page dread, and for the first time in a while, I feel genuinely inspired.
Rise Videos
We’re nearly there! 8 out of 11 videos are picture locked, and our assistant editor is now working on the color grade. This project has been such a joy - deeply collaborative and emotionally fulfilling. A powerful reminder that nonfiction work can be just as meaningful as narrative.
Sailing Documentary & Other Projects
As we sail, I’ve been thinking about what to film - not your typical YouTube sailing vlog (they all feel a bit same-same to me). I’ve started capturing footage and sitting with a few early concepts. Nothing solid yet, but seeds are being planted. I have a lot of ideas swirling right now, it’s a little overwhelming, but also exciting.
What’s Coming in June
More meetings around Detain Me (including a few very exciting ones)
Writing sprint - two short stories this month as I'm behind on my May story
Final stages of the Rise videos
Finally, a short film that I shot back in 2023 is going to go live in June! 2 years under wraps is pretty normal for short films because of post, festival submissions, etc.
Developing sailing doc, some filmmaking 101 stuff, and more.
So many ideas, so little time!
Favorites of the Month
📺 TV Show: The Last of Us season 2. Haven't finished the season yet, but it already broke my heart about five times.
📚 Book: The Ballad of Black Tom - a beautiful Lovecraftian novella set in 1920s Harlem, by Victor LaValle.
🎶 Music: I've been listening to a lot of Veil of Maya
🎙️ Podcast: Listened to Mother Country Radicals this month. Absolutely phenomenal, feels like a bit of forbidden American history, about the collaboration between white and Black radicals in the 1970s. Strongly recommended
🎮 Game: Started playing Cyberpunk 2077!
Thank you again for being here. Whether you’ve been around for a while or just joined recently, your presence, curiosity, and encouragement make this space feel alive. Here's to a month of creative fire, grounded growth, and just the right amount of chaos!
With love,
Manon