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Forget the final product, show me the process

Artists are pressured to produce the final draft, but the best moments of artistic growth don't come on opening night. They occur in spontaneous moments of discovery months before.

Author

Steven Vargas
October 10, 2024

I just recently discovered espresso tonics and I’m hooked. It’s so light, refreshing and sometimes citrusy. It’s the perfect caffeinated drink for the heat. 

Introducing: the process

AMMA (ALEXSA MILES MILES ALEXSA), made up of Alexsa Durrans and Miles Brenninkmeijer, presenting "RECITAL (Arena Tour)” at the July WIP. (Photo by Kate Wallich / Courtesy of WIP)

Nothing is ever truly finished when it comes to works of art, yet we are obsessed with the idea of a final product. The painting is finished but isn’t complete until it enters the space. The actors have rehearsed for a month but there is still more to explore on stage. The dancers have learned the choreography, but every step will not be the same as the last performance. 

This past week, I came face to face with the process. I’m in an in-between space, making small breakthroughs in performance and writing projects. The big picture — the “final product” — looks clearer, but with each new discovery, the steps to get there grow. Attending the latest WIP presentation at G-Son and the Revel Readings at the Broadwater, I acknowledged and made space to accept that these steps — although daunting — are a sign of progress. 

During WIP 011, keilan shared short pieces of work in progress. They were incredibly transparent about it all, laughing and accepting the feeling of being “scatterbrained.” As they performed various portions with their collaborators Annalise Gehling, Shan Hafez, Camila Arana and Kearian Giertz, I could see a subtle throughline. This was no final product, but you could see where it could go. This was a beautiful feeling that every creative is aware of. 

Afterward, Stephanie Dai shared “uretchko.” Her work felt more complete, but in the talkback, she admitted that bits changed from previous performances. Notably, the location. She mentioned that it used to begin at the center of the room. This time, she started at the corner of the studio, allowing her snappy, hyperarticulate feet to pull her away from the wall. It made me realize that even when the work is choreographed, it isn’t truly complete until the applause comes. It will change every time in every space.  

Last night, I went to Revel’s latest reading. Writer Meghan Crumley walked on stage to introduce her pilot multi-cam sitcom “Friends and Family.” During the introduction, she shared how writing comedy is hard on your own. You need an audience for guidance. As people laughed at jokes, especially ones that may seem risky or niche on paper, I got excited for Crumley. I knew that with each laugh, she was one step closer to the final product. It told her what worked and where to go next. 

Being an artist is a torturous thing. You are always working towards something that only you can see. You are fighting for others to understand and praying that the right people will be there to cheer you on when it feels hopeless. As each step becomes clearer, so does the final image. The edges are darker, the outline is no longer fuzzy and the colors grow more vibrant. This is what we work towards. 

There is pressure to have it all together in LA and the capital “I” Industry. We want to share the accolades and the big IG dump of final images. However, that’s never how it works. In these pockets of LA, my heart swells seeing those who appreciate the process. It needs to happen. And truthfully, it’s more exciting than the final product. Every discovery is a celebration. 

Sitting in the audience at WIP, it all came to me: The missing piece to the opening sequence of my screenplay came to me; the textures and movement qualities I wanted to explore in my choreography felt more visceral; that pesky line in the monologue I had been rehearsing suddenly made sense. When I stopped thinking about completion, I discovered gold. That is the beauty of the process. 

This Week’s Top Spots

Daphne Fernberger and Nayomi Van Brunt in “Romeo & Juliet Suite” (Photo by Julien Benhamou)

‘Romeo & Juliet Suite’ @ The Wallis

LA Dance Project has shown Los Angeles bits of artistic director Benjamin Millepied’s “Romeo & Juliet Suite” over the years, once at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and another time at the Hollywood Bowl. Now, the suite is making its LA premiere at the Wallis. Under Millepied’s innovative choreography and direction, Prokofiev’s classic will be presented with a blend of dance, film and theater. The reinterpretation sets the story in a new landscape with alternating starcrossed lovers to depict a wide range of sexuality on stage. 

LOCATION: 9390 N Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210
DATES: October 10 - 12
TIME: 7:30 pm Thurs. thru Sat. & 2pm Sat.
PRICE: $49 - $109
LINK: https://thewallis.org/show-details/romeo-juliet-suite

‘21 & Over’ @ Catch One

The Performance Art Museum presents a three-night performance series throughout October at the iconic Catch One nightclub. The overall lineup includes over 21 local and international performance artists sharing works of dance, art, music, rave culture and more. For example, you’ll see work by prominent installation artists like Paul McCarthy and Nao Bustamante alongside movement artists like Elliot Reed and Sebastian Hernandez. 

LOCATION: 4067 W Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019
DATES: October 15, 22 & 29
TIME: 8 pm
PRICE: $38.37 - $93.99
LINK: https://www.pamuseum.org/ 

Jay Carlon in “WAKE” (Photos by Angel Origgi)

‘WAKE’ @ Don Quixote Nightclub

Choreographer Jay Carlon will join sound artist Micaela Tobin (White Boy Screams) for the world premiere of “WAKE.” The work combines performance and queer nightlife for a one-night-only immersive club experience. The duo will also be joined by collectives QNA and SEND NOODS throughout the night. “WAKE” explores rituals that unearth identity, ancestry and the complexities of the diaspora. 

LOCATION: 2811 E Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90023
DATE: October 11
TIME: 8 pm
PRICE: $35
LINK: https://cap.ucla.edu/event/wake

‘Eldorado Ballroom’ @ Walt Disney Concert Hall

Solange Knowles curated a three-day program at Walt Disney Concert Hall that celebrates Black legacies of performance. “Eldorado Ballroom” features contemporary and historic innovators whose work influenced their art forms. The series begins with an evening of classical, symphonic and opera works before transitioning into funk, soul and jazz the next night. The series closes with a look at the revival of spirituals and devotional art, featuring performers like GMWA Women Of Worship Choir, Moses Sumney and Artina McCain. 

LOCATION: 111 S Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012
DATES: October 10 - 13
PRICE: $45 - $129
LINK: https://www.laphil.com/events/festivals-highlights/92

"Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema," Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. (Photo by Josh White, JWPictures / ©Academy Museum Foundation)

‘Cyberpunk’ & ‘Color in Motion’ @ The Academy Museum

The Academy Museum’s two PST/ART exhibitions are now open. “Cyberpunk: Envisioning Possible Futures Through Cinema” examines the impact of the sci-fi subgenre by looking at the history of cyberpunk films in an immersive gallery presentation. The show will feature props, concept art and production materials from iconic films like “Blade Runner,” “Tron” and “Sleep Dealer.” “Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema” documents the scientific and technological advancements of capturing color on film. The show immerses viewers into the technology with interactive installations and memorabilia like Dorothy’s ruby red slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.” 

LOCATION: 6067 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
DATES: October 6, 2024 - July 13, 2025 (Color in Motion) / October 6, 2024 - April 12, 2026 (Cyberpunk)
TIME: On view 10 am - 6 pm Wed. thru Mon. 
PRICE: $0 - $25
LINK: https://www.academymuseum.org/en/exhibitions/cyberpunk / https://www.academymuseum.org/en/exhibitions/color-in-motion

Things: Spooky Movies

The nights are getting colder, autumnal candles have hit the shelves and pumpkin-flavored drinks are now sold at nearly every corner. It’s officially fall! That also means that Halloween is just around the corner. Here are some spooky movies to get the frightening fun started. 

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