There are many places outside of your office to pitch your ideas. Writers Digest has many books on present producers and other personell that are looking for new talent. You could work on the documentary as well as your present job until things take off. You must love what you do so you have that going for you. I am an unpublished writer who chose the medical field for fifteen years to support myself but now that I am in my late forties I am working day and night of the three most important projects besides raising my son. Everything does not have to happen at once I have found.

I too am a very creative person and married my "professional" and "artist" selves by launching my own consulting company. Each client is different and needs something unique from us, so I get to be creative every day. And our marketing materials are the bomb! It's definitely do-able, go for it! :)

Your new boss sounds great. Keep talking with the boss, as well as keeping a notebook with you at all times to write down your ideas. Then share your ideas with other co workers and your boss. I hope to see your documentary sometime. I'll be watching!

Dawn, If you love your job, you are very lucky indeed. I like that you recognize that you do not have to give that up to pursue your creative aspirations. You will undoubtedly discover the proper balance of the two. As far as producing a documentary, I would begin by writing up a comprehensive description of what you envision so you have your thoughts organized as you approach avenues to production. Begin researching African-American organizations, Women's Suffrage organizations, American History organizations, that might have an interest in contributing to the development of your project. Colleges & University film programs are great resources, too. There are many talented students itching to be involved in a project like yours (that they can use for some independent study credits as well!). Best of luck!

Dawn, congrats for thinking outside of the box and figuring out what it is you actually want to do. I think that is great, and I think there are a lot of people who do not take the time to do that and just kind of wander through their lives. I hope that you decide to step out on faith and take a chance. There are a lot of resources availible out there. Colleges and universities sometimes have documentary programs that are run through the school but are on weekends and things like that if you feel you need that-I am not sure what your experience or education level is as far as film goes. You may also want to consider enrolling in a film program. That would give you access to the equipment and a lot of people who would love to be involved in a project like that. I wish you the best and I hope you decide to follow your dreams. Best of luck to you.

I love my kids, but it is hard being an instant mom.

I met my husband while working overseas in Kabul Afghanistan in 2005. I knew that he had two small boys and that his wife passed away.

I had never been around children or baby-sat much. So a few days after christmas (2005) at 4 am in the morning having two little boys yelling "Mommy we are home!!!"....was a little frighting.....

Sounds like your answer is already emerging. Don't fight the flow!

Your new boss sounds like the one who can help you combine your two loves. Continue pitching your ideas, you never know what it may lead to! I am a stay-at-home mom with 3 kids ranging from 16 to 2. I have always worked and found myself at home with my youngest because we moved to another state and I didn't know anyone and didn't trust anyone with him. There's really not much in this town either and I became bored at home, I wanted to be creative (I felt like I had it in me to do something but didn't know what) and there was little culture here. Being from NY, I was always surrounded with culture. So, I started designing my own t-shirts with English/Spanish/Spanglish phrases, etc and now sell them online through my website www.jusnata.com. It fulfills my creativity, keeps me busy, but I'm not earning a whole lot of money yet. I would love to land an account with a huge dept. store or something ... but it all will come in good time. Being home, I also started a Yahoo group for Latinas and have met some great people. I read a lot of magazines and pass along some great info. Just by bringing these women together from all over the country that would not have never met otherwise, it gives me a satisfaction that we are there for each other, if only via email. But that led me to meet a woman in AZ who started her own newspaper and she asked me to write a monthly column! So, opportunities happen once you get started. Currently the local tv news has called me wanting to do a story. I think that would be great exposure for my business.

Open up a home studio. That is my suggestion. I take art class in school and I bought some canvas and acrylic paints and brushes, and LOVED it. With practice, you could become really good and sell your art. I suggest that you get your kids a movie to watch and start painting!

Dawn, Our stuggles are not the same but I feel your pain. I'm a 34 stay at home mom with 2 kids. I feel like I have all this talent bottled up inside. Not one specific thing but a bunch of things I think I would be great at. I love my kids but I need something more in my life. My new year's resolution is to go for it. Try to find a way to just do it. Otherwise I think we'll regret it. I'm looking foward to seeing your documentary and I hope you'll know who I am one day as well. Good luck.

Dawn, I totally understand your desire! My last employer was an accounting firm, where creativity was frowned upon. I left, started my own gardening business, and now I get to create EVERYTHING. I'm a heck of a lot happier, still don't have millions of dollars, but it gets less important. Good luck and think big!

"Dawn." Today is the dawn of your dream becoming a reality. I will be watching for your documentary on public television or HBO. You have the vision to make it happen and are doing so this moment.

Dawn I think you might like to teach video production with youth at your TV studio, and also make documentaries. As a creative person you might like discovering new ways with young people who try things in new ways. I think you can combine all your past training/experiences and forge a new path. If you were to work in a school you would also have a similar schedule as your kids.
Blessing on you as you look to the future.

You are headed in the right direction evidenced by the fact that you are thinking about how to activate your options. It is a real plus that you have a direction, that of involving your creative side in your work. Do a data collection discussion with five of your "smartest",best, and most honest friends on how to involve your creative side in your work. Be sure these friends have a good understanding of your work and that you can trust them to remain confidential about your discussion. Keep the discussion focused on what specific courses of action you can take to work with you the next day. Take them to work and implement them. If you are anything like the rest of us one of your worst enemies is inaction so you will have to be willing to act and there will be all kinds of reasons not to act such as, " what if my action blows up in my face?" You never know if an idea is going to work unless you put it to work. Also, you sound a whole bunch more able to behave creatively in your work than you give yourself credit for. I do not think you have a problem integrating work and creativity or even a problem being creative in your work. Rather, I think you are intimidated about expressing by acting on your creative side. Also, be sure what you mean by the word creative and that your action is consistent with the elements of your definition. It is one thing to say, "I am creative" and another to actually know what one means by the statement. The definition has to be created out of the inside of you. It does not exist anywhere. And if the discussioin idea does not work email me and we will come up with some ideas that do work for you. You can do this work creativity integration thing probably because you already have. You just need to find out what is stuck in your craw so to speak.
Michael

Dawn, I think it's great you are in a job that would allow you to live out your dream of producing a documentary. You have access to resources, and you need to continue to follow up with the people you work with to figure out who can help you live out your dream. I think so many people have a vision without having the resources, but you have a vision and work for a TV company. I think in any company, persistance is the key. You probably know the right people to talk to, but make sure you are indeed talking to the right people. Put this on your calendar and follow through with it, treat it as an appointment, and you will make it happen. Don't let this just be a dream! Good luck!

I spent years moving a dream into a reality in my life. I wanted to be a writer and a psychotherapist. I am a psychotherapist. I started by writing for free. I took a class at a writers center. Then, I joined a writing group which helped a lot. IT helps to hang out with people struggling, failing and succeeding but doing what you are envisioning. then I started submitting small peices. Now I have finished a book, say a prayer for me that my agent sells it, and am in the midst of another. I still don't make much money but just giving that part of me voice; I feel blessed. Here is what I wish someone would have said to me; look around and find people who can help you, who are doing what you want to do, hang out with some filmmakers, take a class, work on a documentary for free. Here is a great line I am repeating lately to my self and my kids. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Good luck!

My grandmother is my inspiration. She raised 6 children on a budget, has always been a voracious reader, and gives back to the community.