Jenny Slate: Being Yourself More and More
Jenny Slate is a writer, actress, producer, stand up, and all around charmer, who is happy to talk about everything from having baby brain and falling asleep between takes to wanting to write a movie that’s about something other than “women acting like guys.” Jenny appears to genuinely like herself in a way that gives us all permission to be weird, fragile creatures too. She is both amused by life and able to take her own ideas seriously. She worked on the Marcel the Shell movie, through marriage, divorce, and motherhood, taking it from a short to a book to a movie. She grounds her work in reality while still being playful and open to new ideas. Thinking metaphorically come naturally to her.
Marcel is one of the most earnest, unforgettable characters ever created. Asked if she is happy with how the movie turned out, she says, “Have you ever just— God, I'm so hungry for something, and you make it, and it's just what you want?” Isn’t that how we all want to feel about our work?
You’re Invited
Do you have a project you’ve been working on for decades? How has it changed? How have you evolved? Are those changes reflected in the project? Imagine your past selves all brainstorming how to move forward with this project, whispering to you what they want to make sure is included. Share your insights in the comments below, so we can cheer you on.
Sources, Samples, and Further Reading
Little Weirds (This book has been a touchstone for me as I work my own.)
Marcel the Shell (Have you seen it yet?)
The Sunlit Night (A quiet movie about creativity)
I Want You Back (A fun romcom!)
USA Today (Who knew?)