Zigsta
Disney Film Director
Link to original post: [drupal=4381]What Drives Me: Debra[/drupal]
So it hasn't been too long since my last blog, but it's been a while since I did a "What Drives Me" blog, so here goes!
WARNING: THIS STORY WILL LITERALLY MAKE YOU RUN AROUND YOUR HOUSE IN SHEER AND UTTER JOY, AS EVIDENCED IN THE GREAT NIKE20.
I'm a huge fan of America's Got Talent. There's been some truly great acts who are great success stories to boot.
Last season was no exception. One particular singer, Debra Romer (21), had a really unique voice. She ran away from home to attend college and pursue a music career in Michigan, and, needless to say, it wasn't moving too fast.
Cue AGT. This shy girl opened up a lot over the course of the show, and she always impressed me week after week.
She went deep into the live shows. After what would be her final performance, one of the judges said she was "just okay." Another said she wouldn't make it through to next week. She looked crushed onstage.
I'm not easy to rile up, but I was PISSED. Debra reminded me a lot of myself when I was younger--a shy guy. I could only imagine what I would do if someone told me I was "just okay" at writing. I doubt I'd be in the position I am today. I was afraid this truly talented singer would hit a low point in her life.
I've never done this before, but I went online and dug up her website and found her mailing address. And I mailed her a three-page handwritten letter telling her how talented she is. At the end of the letter, I told her I want to write and direct at Pixar someday, and even though a lot of people tell me it's impossible or difficult, I'm gonna go for it anyway. I concluded with a promise: Let's promise to always go for our dreams no matter what anyone else says. And I mailed it right then and there.
Weeks later I return from a trip home (where I met the man who became my mentor, so I was really on cloud 9) to find an envelope on my desk. It was from Debra!
I opened it to find a HANDWRITTEN CD, which, according to her website, she didn't make anymore because it was a lot of work for her. There was also a signed picture of herself with the words "I promise" on it. I'm downright ecstatic. I wasn't expecting anything back!
Now this is where it gets really crazy. So crazy I'm switching to present tense.
I go to Youtube. Apparently she's got a new Youtube video, and it's been uploaded just a few days ago.
It's called "The Letter." It's a cover of an existing song about a guy who gets a letter from a girl and now he wants to take the fastest plane to see her...Debra switches it so a girl receives a letter from a guy.
When I saw that video, I literally lit up. I'm talking biggest smile I've ever cracked. I walked around my apartment saying "HOLYYYYYYYY SHHHHHHH--."
To this day, I keep Debra's picture by my computer. It's a daily reminder for me to work hard to achieve my dreams. After all, now I'm bounded by a promise!
Debra's moved to New York since then and even has an agent and a new CD on the way. She's planning on a concert in California...which happens to be only 30 minutes from where I live this summer.
So it hasn't been too long since my last blog, but it's been a while since I did a "What Drives Me" blog, so here goes!
WARNING: THIS STORY WILL LITERALLY MAKE YOU RUN AROUND YOUR HOUSE IN SHEER AND UTTER JOY, AS EVIDENCED IN THE GREAT NIKE20.
I'm a huge fan of America's Got Talent. There's been some truly great acts who are great success stories to boot.
Last season was no exception. One particular singer, Debra Romer (21), had a really unique voice. She ran away from home to attend college and pursue a music career in Michigan, and, needless to say, it wasn't moving too fast.
Cue AGT. This shy girl opened up a lot over the course of the show, and she always impressed me week after week.
She went deep into the live shows. After what would be her final performance, one of the judges said she was "just okay." Another said she wouldn't make it through to next week. She looked crushed onstage.
I'm not easy to rile up, but I was PISSED. Debra reminded me a lot of myself when I was younger--a shy guy. I could only imagine what I would do if someone told me I was "just okay" at writing. I doubt I'd be in the position I am today. I was afraid this truly talented singer would hit a low point in her life.
I've never done this before, but I went online and dug up her website and found her mailing address. And I mailed her a three-page handwritten letter telling her how talented she is. At the end of the letter, I told her I want to write and direct at Pixar someday, and even though a lot of people tell me it's impossible or difficult, I'm gonna go for it anyway. I concluded with a promise: Let's promise to always go for our dreams no matter what anyone else says. And I mailed it right then and there.
Weeks later I return from a trip home (where I met the man who became my mentor, so I was really on cloud 9) to find an envelope on my desk. It was from Debra!
I opened it to find a HANDWRITTEN CD, which, according to her website, she didn't make anymore because it was a lot of work for her. There was also a signed picture of herself with the words "I promise" on it. I'm downright ecstatic. I wasn't expecting anything back!
Now this is where it gets really crazy. So crazy I'm switching to present tense.
I go to Youtube. Apparently she's got a new Youtube video, and it's been uploaded just a few days ago.
It's called "The Letter." It's a cover of an existing song about a guy who gets a letter from a girl and now he wants to take the fastest plane to see her...Debra switches it so a girl receives a letter from a guy.
When I saw that video, I literally lit up. I'm talking biggest smile I've ever cracked. I walked around my apartment saying "HOLYYYYYYYY SHHHHHHH--."
To this day, I keep Debra's picture by my computer. It's a daily reminder for me to work hard to achieve my dreams. After all, now I'm bounded by a promise!
Debra's moved to New York since then and even has an agent and a new CD on the way. She's planning on a concert in California...which happens to be only 30 minutes from where I live this summer.
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