We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erin Luna a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Erin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

There are a million ways to learn writing or filming. I loved writing when I was younger, but it took experimentation and curiosity to get further. Ask questions. Talk to others. Most importantly, try– if you fail, try again. Embrace failure. So many scripts, articles, and films of mine did not make it past my laptop. That’s okay. I would recommend people to read books like Wonderbook by Vandermeer to learn fiction. As for film, break it up into pieces. Experimentation should follow after learning something, whether it be lighting, camera work, screenwriting– try to experiment after learning something. Of course, this is just what works for me. Find what works for you and also, try to get some equipment so you aren’t as dependent upon others. It’s okay if it isn’t the best stuff.

A friend once told me that he viewed each goal as just getting his foot through the door. One after the other. Don’t think about creating success; look at it in terms of steps. You just need to get your foot through that door. Worry about the rest later. If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be to just focus on doing and forget perfection. I spent a lot of time stressing and backing down from roles out of fear of failure. People will only trust someone who trusts themselves.

Erin, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi! My name is Erin Luna. I am a writer and a filmmaker. From blogposts to screenplays to poetry, I’ve written it all. I have also written for others as well in varying genres For example, I have ghostwritten music videos and worked as an editor in 2022. Writing has taken me to all sorts of places, if I am honest.

When I am not writing, you can probably find me on a film set, scoping out the crafty table. Besides writing, I work in film as a camera assistant or in production as an AD. I’ve even acted! It truly depends on the film set. I love exploring roles and helping a project come together!

In any project I do, I set out to perfect the story that resonates with my client the most. I try to lead with curiosity and compassion.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I want to create stories that people resonate with. Not just happy stories, but stories that stick with you. For most of my life, I have been intrigued in the morality of people. I hope for my stories to entice people to reflect on their own decisions, to question what is better, and to look through the world with excitement, not dread. Currently, I am writing a longer fiction piece.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Oh, I’ve already mentioned it before, but I used to panic so much on set. It’s good to be aware, but I constantly overthought what to do and when to do it. Asking questions is great, but there’s a point where you have to just trust yourself. For example, I would constantly ask, “Are you sure?” More importantly, when people recommended me for jobs, I would hesitate to accept a position of leadership. When I was asked on a set to assistant direct, my anxiety kept me up at night. On set, I had a hard time reminding people of the time and being ‘not nice’. Then, one day on a friend of a friend’s set, I came in to help as an extra. I wasn’t a paid AD, actor, nothing. And from the moment I got there, I just felt comfortable. I remember how everything just flowed, because I wasn’t constantly worried about upsetting someone or looking bad. They later reached out to have me back on their set. It sounds like such a small detail, but it was a tremendous moment where I realized that I was creating way more pressure on myself. It is true that sometimes people can be harsh. However, not everyone you encounter is going to be this way. Furthermore, even if they are…It’s not worth driving yourself to insanity in order to please them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Luna_Jade_
• Twitter: @Jade_Luna_
• Other: For book reviews and other shenanigans, you can follow me at @sleepie_luna

Image Credits
Photo credits — Aaron Gil and Dawn Elizabeth