Monthly Mindmeld: March
Here's what I was up to in February of 2025, and what's in store for March. Close to wrapping on a big project, and some big changes ahead.
This is a repost from my free newsletter on Patreon.
Hello Friends & Video Village!
Welcome to March! The year is already flying by, and February was packed with creative momentum, deep dives into projects, and some exciting new developments. I can’t wait to share what’s been happening and what’s coming next. Let’s get into it!
February in Review
Creative Progress
February was all about keeping the momentum going. Here’s where things stand:
The RISE Project
My work with RAND and APLA has continued full speed ahead. It’s been intense but incredibly rewarding to collaborate with counselors, scientists, and individuals living with HIV. We traveled to Alabama to film more interviews with people locally, and I may share a brief Work in Progress video I created for our client with my paid members this month. Seeing this project come to life has been a reminder of how filmmaking and storytelling can create real change. This project was in full swing in February and absorbed the vast majority of my time.
Detain Me is progressing, and discussions about filming in the Netherlands are getting more concrete. This project has been a long journey, but I feel like doors are finally starting to open - in part because Brenda Gilbert came on board as our Executive Producer. She is a film industry veteran: she is the former president of BRON Studios and has well over 40 Oscar nominations under her belt. It has been amazing to see how just her involvement has been opening doors for us. It's so exciting!
My February short story, Verdant Hollow, has been submitted to a few magazines. I'm waiting to hear back, and I am sharing it here soon. It's a story I'm incredibly proud of!
What’s Coming up in March
Deep Writing & Development
This month, I’m focused on:
Wrapping up the last bits for Rise - filming B-Roll around LA and recording narration.
Advancing Detain Me’s production planning and locking down key elements, including cast.
Writing another short story for Patreon.
Planning new content for YouTube.
And this is huge: we're leaving Los Angeles and are moving back to The Netherlands. This is going to absorb a lot of my time this month.
New Patreon Member Shoutout!
A huge welcome to our newest members! I’m so grateful to have you here and excited to share this creative journey with you. Give them a warm hello in the comments!
✨ Yuna! ✨
Favorites of the Month
🎬 Movie: I didn't have much time to watch movies in February, but I did finally watch Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises, which was beautiful.
📺 TV: SEVERANCE!!! Omg!
📚 Book: Re-reading Brandon Sanderson's Elantris
🎶 Music: I've been listening to a lot of Bleed From Within!
🎮 Game: Same here, haven't had much time for games but I've been playing Hearthstone in my spare minutes.
💡 Other obsession of the month: Benn Jordan's Youtube channel. I've been steadily working through his catalogue and I'm learning so much! I wish I could make videos like him. Also, his integrity is amazing.
As always, thank you for being here, for your support, and for sharing in this creative adventure with me. March is shaping up to be an exciting month, and I can’t wait to bring you along for the ride.
Much love,
Manon