We asked some of the most talented folks in the community to talk to us about projects they’ve worked on that they still think about, projects that really meant something. Have you had such an experience? Are you looking for inspiration for your next project? Check out the stories below, they are exciting, entertaining, and most importantly – inspiring.
Lori Waetzig
Before diving headfirst into voice acting, I spent years in the tech startup and corporate worlds. Some of those roles gave me a creative outlet, but others were the complete opposite—void of any real space for creative expression. That lack became the fuel I needed to commit to being a full-time creative. In those jobs, like in many companies, you’re often required to complete long, monotonous internal training sessions—whether it’s learning a new program or undergoing compliance training. They could take hours, sometimes days, and honestly, they were soul-draining. Read more>>
Peter Xiao
One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is a theater piece called Don’t Pitch It, Do It, which I was involved with over the summer. It tells the stories of international artists in New York and the United States, focusing on their traumas, challenges, setbacks, and how they overcame them. This project is deeply personal to me because, as an international artist in the U.S., I know firsthand how difficult it can be. We have to worry about visas, work status, and constantly proving ourselves. For instance, there’s a visa called the O-1, which is specifically for artists who can demonstrate extraordinary abilities and accomplishments in order to stay in the U.S. Read more>>
Eric Schultz
After years in the making, I am beyond thrilled to announce the release of my debut album this month. This project is incredibly close to my heart for many reasons, but most importantly, because it’s built on a foundation of showcasing brand new music by living composers. The entire album was intentionally designed to highlight these fresh voices in contemporary music—voices that are often underrepresented in mainstream classical recordings. There is so much music in the world waiting to be heard, music that hasn’t been recorded or shared widely with audiences. There’s a kind of magic in hearing something brand new, something that has never existed in the world until that moment. Read more>>
Ariana Emnace
There have been so many! I would say though, recently I had the privilege of filming a video with some awesome creatives and friends of mine. We shot this piece on Skid Row in DTLA. It basically captures “The Real Los Angeles”.. not the perfect, dreamy, Hollywood version. This film is about finding the beauty in everyday life, in everything, in everywhere. That beauty is about perspective and appreciating the beauty in chaos and rawness of life and unexpected events and circumstances. It’s a unique little film where I’m performing ballet in the middle of the after with a beautiful classic 1946 Chevrolet and the people of Skid Row in the background. There’s so many layers in this piece and it represents so much of myself and the real Los Angeles. There’s so many feels. I’m really proud of this one. Read more>>
Cody Ottinger
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far would have to be a film I wrote & directed called “Jealousy.” The film, which centers around a group of twenty-somethings, that all live at the same apartment complex, explores the various ways Jealousy can plague a relationship, even to go as far as leading to murder. The film is meaningful to me due to the fact that it was the first official feature film I had ever made, but also due to the amazing & talented people I met, who I’ve since worked with multiple times. When I first wrote the script I was inspired by the fact that I had just moved to a new city and was getting to know a group of friends and I felt a little like a fish out of water, but also was observing how they all, as couples, acted and I started to pickup on the jealousy component. The lead character in the film “Paige,” played by Jessica Claire Crosby, is almost from my own personal point of view. Read more>>
Crystal Ruby Juarez
I’d say all my projects are incredibly meaningful to me, honestly. I’m a filmmaker, but I like to think of myself more of a well-rounded artist in general. Whether it’s writing songs to get through my own personal pain, or painting whatever my heart feels deep inside, there’s always parts of my heart and soul I pour into my art. I will say however, the most recent project I’ve worked on that is incredibly meaningful to me is my 2024 short film, “Stalling.” That was my first real short film that I wrote, directed and edited with my first solid, amazing team; especially thanks to the Media Arts Department at East Los Angeles College, where I studied filmmaking and showcased it at their student film premiere. The film encapsulates a strong message about communicating how you feel towards your loved ones before it’s too late. It also deals with multiple taboo and real-life serious issues in the world today. Read more>>
Brendan Page
The band that I’m currently in has to be the most meaningful project I’ve been a part of. When we first got started a lot of the chemistry was already there because we’ve spent our whole lives around each other. Our drummer Cole is my cousin, our guitarist John is my brother and Chet who’s a long time friend of the family is our bassist. I went through a period a few years ago where my whole life kind of fell apart. I had just been continuously losing people, places and things that meant so much to me for so long. It was building up and I needed somewhere for it to go. Read more>>
Anand Varma
The most meaningful project for me was my first story for National Geographic Magazine on mind controlling parasites. When I began this project, I was focused on proving myself to the editors at the magazine and establishing my career. I didn’t really think about the impact photography could have until the story was published on the cover of National Geographic and a reader wrote me a note that said, “I used to think bugs were gross, but now I think they are cool”. It had never occurred to me that I had the power to change people’s perception of nature with my images. It was also a meaningful project to me because it was a significant turning point in my career. I had never photographed a magazine story before and while I had a reasonable toolkit of technical skills, I had not yet defined my own visual voice. This story gave me the opportunity to define for myself what I wanted my photographs to look like and what impact I wanted them to have in the world. Read more>>
Amanda Pluck
The Make it Take it feature at the Philly home and garden show! I started as a creative leader and now I coordinator the feature with the show Manager. We teach all weekend long creative projects that can be put to practical use in your home and life! Read more>>
Letitia Mcintosh
I have been working on a documentary about a man sentenced 51 years for a murder he did not commit. I have been working on it for over two years. When I met Mr. Williams, he indicated that he was no Angel, he has done wrong things when growing up, but that he did not do this and he wants to clear his name before he leaves this planet. I did some research, and I believe he is innocent of this murder. I want to do what I can to help him clear his name. It happens too much, people are wrongfully convicted of crimes and their lives are ruined, and it seems like nobody cares. I feel like it is the least I can do while I am on this planet…help someone that nobody else will help. Read more>>
Emilie Newell
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is undoubtedly my short film, FAWN. This film holds a special place in my heart for many reasons. First, it’s based on the inciting incident from my feature film script of the same name, which is currently in preproduction as we search for producers, collaborators, and funding. The journey to create FAWN began just a few weeks after my father’s passing. His death was a profound reminder that life is fleeting, and he always encouraged me to chase my dreams. Realizing how short life can be, I felt a renewed sense of urgency to bring my stories to life and honor his memory by pursuing my passion for filmmaking. Read more>>
Leslie Martin
“Bubble” is my gallery show collection for my Master of Fine Arts degree. It is the most meaningful project I have created, and is what kickstarted my desire to share my messages through my art with a wider audience. I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 disorder in high school and I have struggled with major depression and manic states my entire life. I have been in therapy most of my life because of this, and I have learned a lot about how to shift my perceptions of unsettling events after the fact so they don’t affect my emotions so drastically in a negative fashion. Read more>>
Caroline Blanks
Dance has always been a huge part of my life. I started dancing when I was two years old, and now I have the honor and privilege to teach the next generation of dancers. Outside of the classroom, I always tell people that I hope to be a dance teacher that the kids look up to, not because of my dance ability but because I am kind and accepting of everyone. Outside of being a dance teacher, I compete in the Miss Georgia/Miss America organization. I currently hold the title of “Miss Columbus 2025.” Last year at Miss Georgia, I had three of my dancers on the stage with me as “belles.” The Belles and Beaus program teaches young boys and girls the importance of community service and personal growth while being mentored by a titleholder. Having my dancers on the stage with me and a support system of even more little dancers back at home truly is one of the most meaningful memories thus far in my life. In every pageant I have competed in since Miss Georgia, I have had various dancers come and support me. It reiterates that I am truly making a difference on and off the dance floor. Read more>>
Chenxu Huang
This book is to commemorate the time when five generations of my family were living together, named 五代同堂 in Chinese. This is my first book design project, I design the book appearence and lay out and also I edited the content. I see this book as a “museum” of my family’s history. In order to create a thick, retro, and formal feeling, the contents of the book are arranged strictly according to the set grid system, and the pictures used are also photos from family interviews and old objects scanned with a scanner. I set up three clues throughout the book, which can make readers feel the integrity of the content of the book. In addition, I symbolized the three types of waves in a day as social environments, which led to one of the clues in the book and the English title of the book: The Men in The Torrent. Read more>>
Darren Brown
The most meaningful is the current project I am working on: The Problem in My Head. It’s a personal project culminating a lot of my own experiences, and weaving them into a visual album Read more>>
Moxie Zhang
For me, the most meaningful project so far has to be the semester assignment I shot during my second semester in USC: a wildly chaotic mockumentary called “Moxie and April Want to Make a Porn”. Yes, the title itself is outrageous, and so is the story. I can candidly describe it as ‘explosive,’ not because it’s some kind of cinematic masterpiece—far from it. In fact, this six-minute short has no production value whatsoever. The lighting, cinematography, and set design are all laughably amateur. But I had so much fun. Read more>>
Katie Manning
All of my projects have been meaningful, but I do think I’ll give the Most Meaningful Project title to my chapbook 28,065 Nights (River Glass Books, 2020). The title refers to the number of nights my Granny was alive, and these poems that I wrote to/about her after her death explore how stories keep us alive, and by “us” I mean those who’ve passed away and those of us who are left in grief without them. I was very close to my Granny, and creating this collection felt like a tribute to her and a gift to my kids, who will be able to know her (and perhaps know me better) through these vulnerable poems. I think it was also a gift to myself. Read more>>
Laura Edgerton
In the summer of 2017, I wrote a personal essay about a past abusive relationship and submitted the piece to Mother Magazine. One of the editors quickly replied, telling me how timely my piece was, and that the magazine wanted to publish it right away. I was thrilled by the enthusiastic response; I wanted to initiate needed discourse on the topics of domestic violence, emotional abuse and trauma. Read more>>
Rafaela Goncalves
So, I just graduated with my MFA in Producing and actually my thesis project so far has been the most meaningful one to me, and I’m so proud to say that other than, of course, being my MFA THESIS project, it also felt like a magical full circle. When I was 14 years old and still living in Brazil, I wrote my first ever book called “SIM” (“Yes” in English). It was a school assignment but writing a book was always a dream of mine since I always loved reading, and so I took the assignment as finally my “excuse” to do it. Long story short, “SIM” got selected as the “best in the school” that year and a publisher invited me to publish it! Little 14 year old Rafaela had her book published! Huge milestone accomplished. Read more>>
Mindy Song
One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is DA1SY D00M. It’s born from seeing so much destruction in the world but holding onto a radical faith that things can change—that there’s always a path toward light, even in the darkest moments. This project is personal because it’s about holding space for transformation. I’ve had my own battles and breakthroughs, and this is about creating something that reflects that process—about finding beauty even when everything feels chaotic or broken. Read more>>
Yinan Shi
My most meaningful project happened in July of this year. I was working as the cinematographer on a narrative coming-of-age short film. It was written and directed by Jiaxin Wang, a director I have previously collaborated extensively with on music videos and short films. Our previous short film qualified for the Cinéma de Demain unit at Festival de Cannes in France. The team on this project had all worked with one another before, the hopes were high and so was the morale. Read more>>
Charlie Griak
In many ways, “The Center”, my first live-action feature film, is the most meaningful project I’ve taken on. Like my earlier dive into animation, it marked a big shift in my creative path and came with a lot of risks. It started when, one New Year’s Eve, I promised some friends I’d finally make the movie I’d been talking about for years. I had a script I’d written long ago but always thought turning it into a film was far out of reach. The project seemed overwhelming. But I hit a point where I knew I had to do something with this story. Read more>>
Sanjana Senthil
The Kathai Teen Literary Organization operates on a multi-program structure. Through the Teen Literary Journal, Kathai Ambassador Program, various contests/essay prizes, and a children’s book, Kathai executes every project with the mission of giving every teen the opportunity to make their mark on the publishing/literary space. Read more>>
Mai Greschner
I’m working on a project to raise money for a comedy class for women to kick-start their stand-up comedy journeys. I was lucky to have excellent instructors who showed me the basic joke structures that helped me create a solid three-minute demo set, which got me gigs at the beginning of my journey. Because of this strong foundation, I became a better writer and funnier in a shorter amount of time. Of course, I took more classes throughout the years to practice writing, but I believe that first class is so important; it encourages you to come back for more, helping you feel less afraid of bombing at open mics and allowing you to progress more quickly. Comedy classes aren’t cheap, and the good ones are not easy to find or access. By signing up for the scholarship, she can attend this class online. Read more>>
Amy Runyen
The body of work I am currently making is the most important to me so far. I became a mother for the first time over 14 years ago and that huge life shift inspired a new body of work that centers on motherhood, the cycle of life, and our relationship to it. My new work dove tailed nicely with my past work because I’ve always enjoyed painting animals and exploring the similarities of how humans and animals experience life on this planet. My past bodies of work explored various behaviors we share with animals in an effort to make empathetic connections with them, and to see ourselves in that animalistic context. I think that we humans have spent so many generations distancing ourselves from nature that we have lost sight of the fact that we are still just highly intelligent animals. We have so much to gain from being more connected to nature and the other animals who live here, so I like to explore these relationships in my work. What things do we have in common with some of these other species? What can those things tell us about ourselves? Read more>>
Xinting Yu
The most meaningful project I have worked on is called Who I Am. This was my MFA thesis project, aimed at helping children find their self-identity through graphic design. I chose this subject because I believe the exploration for self-identity is a timeless topic. Since children may not yet have the ability to think abstractly, graphic design—an effective tool for translating abstract concepts into visuals—can serve as a new form of expression that is particularly suitable for them. Read more>>
Nini Qiao
• Established a pioneering interdisciplinary research field ◦ Introduced an innovative approach combining Chinese literature, linguistics, psychology, musicology, and voice science to enhance performing interpretations and revive traditional Chinese classical literature. ◦ Conducted a comparative analysis on the phonology of ancient Chinese poetry, exploring the characteristics of Mandarin, historical and regional dialects. Integrated research from linguists like Li Wang and Yuenren Chao with principles of articulation and phonation. Read more>>
Meicheng Chi
One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is a zine I created two years ago titled A Love Letter to My Chairs. In this project, I combined love letters, poems, and diaries I had written alongside my drawings. It was an intimate process where I let the most personal and tender parts of myself to be gently read, blending text with drawings of my half-awaken memories. The zine became a poetic preservation of my emotional experiences, a love letter not just to people near or far, but to the chairs created with my pencil strokes, and to the delicate and moist memories that lingered in my mind. Every drawing and text was carefully placed to reflect the raw and genuine emotions I was feeling at that time. Whenever I revisit this little book, those faded memories resurface, float in the air around me, like small water droplets suspended in front of my eyes. Read more>>
Jake Huber
I always grew up around music / documenting the scene in Indianapolis . In 2019, I was brought up to a committee that selected me to make a music series that is going 6 years strong with 3 regional Emmy wins over 10 nominations . Read more>>
Morgan/molly Rondinelli/fishback
One of the gold-standard treatments for OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. Simply put, it involves gradually facing your fears, starting small and working to harder exposures, while resisting doing compulsions. ERP is hard work, but we have both found ERP to be helpful for our OCD, and we love the idea of using art to do creative exposures. In 2020, we created a coloring book to facilitate and inspire exposures. The book is called Color Your Fears: A Workbook Using Exposures to Combat Your OCD. Read more>>
Marina Kufa
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is the Surgery Warriors documentary film. It represents the culmination of two decades of medical experience and 15 years in the film industry. The backstory is deeply personal to me, as it merges my passions for healthcare and storytelling. This project allowed me to launch my dream—documenting real medical missions to developing countries and their life-changing impact. We filmed one such mission in Ecuador, capturing the raw, emotional, and inspiring journeys of both the patients and medical teams. Seeing how transformative these surgeries were for individuals and their communities and being able to share that story with the world made this project incredibly meaningful to me. It’s a testament to the power of hope, healing, and the human spirit. Read more>>
Kerri Honeywood
Kerri Honeywood, an acclaimed author, recently certified Maternal Mental Community Health Worker, and respected Doula with Moon Cycle Mama Doula and Wellness, is making a significant mark in the literary world with her impressive collection of 23 published titles. Honeywood’s works, available on platforms such as Amazon, The Digital Business Bookshelf, and her personal website, offer a unique blend of inspiration, empowerment, and practical wisdom. Read more>>
Roslyn Cohn
I was the first person who’d been in Scientology, left after 23 years and created a performance to expose what they do. That show was performed only 1 night and lives on Youtube as “diffiCult to leave” so I can help others escape and to warn potential new membership. I also published a memoir last year, Who Saved Who, about the amazing shelter dogs who literally saved my life. It’s my hope it inspires people to adopt out of shelters. Read more>>
Sierra Knell
My favorite endeavor this year has been my journey as a beekeeper. When I was little I stepped on a ground hornets nest and got stung all over, ever since then I’ve been terrified of bees, wasps, and basically anything that buzzes and flies. I later learned the difference between bees and wasps and how special bees are and what a beautiful impact they have on the earth. I decided to get bees and learn how to keep them as a way to move through my fear and face it head on. Learning to overcome my fear of bees has been so rewarding and has taught me a lot about how fear tends to survive in the stories we’ve attached to and believe about ourselves. One day I decided I didn’t want this to be my story anymore so I dove into beekeeping and I’m quickly realizing my fear has transformed into one of my favorite parts about myself. Read more>>
Eric Battle
The most meaningful project I’ve participated in is undoubtedly the “Houston Runway” fashion show. I owe my involvement to my close friend Sergio, one of the show’s directors, who recognized my desire to break into the modeling world. He encouraged me to join, assuring me it would be a fantastic opportunity to connect with other models and establish my presence in the industry. As the event approached, I was filled with a mix of excitement and nerves—after all, I had never walked in a fashion show before and had little experience with fashion itself. Initially, I felt out of place, struggling to find my footing amidst the glamour. However, the experience quickly transformed as I connected with other participants. I met so many wonderful individuals who became good friends, and their support helped ease my anxiety. Read more>>
Mike Deeney
Our most meaningful project is, The Adventures of Avery and Masa. Our team has developed an original children’s IP, in which two species from different parts of the world follow their instinct for adventure, find their purpose, and help animals around the planet. Our heroes are AVERY, a red panda, the master of escape, and MASA, a slow loris, who is the greatest loris explorer. We are currently in development for an animated series, have a chapter book series, a children’s theatre/musical show, and a foundation that is dedicated to improving literacy. The most powerful balance in our project is to entertain and engage audiences while creating a positive impact. Read more>>
Neill Fleming
My one man show, Shard has been the most meaningful project I’ve worked on to date. It had a long birthing period, coming from the very start of the pandemic as an ‘online live theatre’ performance, which is something of an oxymoron.. We broadcast/performed it as part of a mini festival in those early pandemic days when no one knew what was happening, or how long it would continue to happen for, hosted by The New Theatre In Dublin, Ireland. It was written for me by a good friend, Stuart Roche, whom I had been hounding for a number of years to write me a piece. It started out as just over twenty minutes, and then we received funding to develop it as a full length (60 minute) show. This had a rehearsed reading which was well received. In fact, it was so well received that it was brought to the attention of BBC radio, who produced it as a radio play in 2022. Read more>>
Brett Leonard
The most meaningful area I’ve been a part of is in the development of the spatial web and spatial computing, which will revolutionize the delivery of all things virtual and immersive. UbiquityVX (UVX) is an example of a company that is developing at the cutting edge of the spatial web, to truly deliver the promise of virtual therapies that have been developed over the past 30 years to great efficacy but have not been able to scale to the larger populace because of the barriers to delivery. Read more>>
Geoff Hodsman
My most meaningful projects have been the releases I’ve done with my project Nachtmuse. The reason for this is, as a songwriter I’ve always written about various genre specific themes and whatever concepts my bandmates want. Nachtmuse however is a project all for myself and so I’ve been writing about my feelings, my life, the things that bug me, the things I need to get off my chest. And in doing so I’ve been being much more melodic and varied with the music as well (I have a background in extreme metal mainly), which is another way I’m putting myself out there when most people familiar with me as a musician wouldn’t expect anything like that. Every Nachtmuse release is very personal. I’ve been able to make myself at peace with things in my life after putting them into my songs, Read more>>
HMBLD
It would have to be this new EP I’ve been working on. I feel more free and not constricted by overthinking on trying to make my songs “sound gospel”. I say that because with my first Christian EP, “Use Me” I didn’t want my songs to sound too secular etc, but now I’m fully embracing how I’m led to worship without worrying about what people may say. I know for a fact that those that hear, and it’s meant for them, the seed will be planted and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. Read more>>