We recently connected with Rebecca Scolnick and have shared our conversation below.
Rebecca, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?
I’ve known that I wanted to pursue a life and career in the arts since I was a kid, making up songs and stories and costumed in my mother’s best scarves. But while studying acting at New York University, I realized that the life of an actor is more accurately the life of someone who auditions. At first, I was devastated. I had all of these skills and passions, and even though the entertainment industry said it wanted multi-hyphenate creators, so much of the traditional path seemed to be spent waiting for someone else to say that I was good enough or ready to make my art. So I decided to embrace the pivot!
Over the course of the decade that followed, I’ve had a wild and wonderful career as an actor, a writer, a filmmaker, an editor, a producer, a script supervisor, and more. I’ve changed titles as often as Mr. Rogers changed his sweaters! I do have to be careful about overextending, but overall, being flexible enough to change my plans and expand my dreams has led to creative projects and career opportunities that I never would’ve thought possible for myself. I’ve worked alongside talented individuals at the top of their craft, worked for brands like W Magazine (Condé Nast), TodayTix, Nike and Nickelodeon (Paramount), and have continued to create my own work. I’ve even been able to blend my skills as a writer with my passion for spirituality, which resulted in my first traditionally published book, The Witch’s Book of Numbers: Enhance Your Magic with Numerology (2022, Hierophant Publishing).
My path has not been straightforward–and I’m not sure it ever will be–but it has been authentic and eclectic! I’m learning to make peace with the ebbs and flows, and believe me, there are ebbs. Financially, I’ve definitely had to get creative and adopt a more “feast and famine” type cycle. Still, it’s been worth it. I would never tell anyone to shy away from putting in the work of achieving their linear or focused dreams and goals, but I will always encourage creatives to step out of their comfort zones, learn new skills, and create a life and career on their own terms.
Rebecca, 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?
My name is Rebecca Scolnick. Some call me Bee. I am a writer, witch, weirdo, and queer human lady (she/her), who uses magic and storytelling to support unlearning work and inspire new meaning making. So much of what we think about ourselves and the world around us has been taught or inherited, and I love working with people who are desiring to ask questions and create a deeper relationship with themselves through art and spirituality. I bring this Seeker energy with me in all creative pursuits, whether it’s more traditional writing or witch-work, and I think my clients and readers are drawn to the ways in which I am able to make philosophical or esoteric ideas accessible, while maintaining a warm sense of humor and an affinity for practical application.
Currently, I work with clients through one-on-one tarot and numerology readings, and I teach workshops on Pythagorean numerology and its many techniques and practices. I write a publication called swimming in the soup, boasts a little bit of this, a little bit of that, all magical and mundane, and can be read on Substack. I’ve also been known to host podcasts, and I make a great guest! But the creation that I’m the most proud of is my first book baby, The Witch’s Book of Numbers: Enhance Your Magic With Numerology, which is now available wherever books are sold. It’s a culmination of over a decade of study into numerology, religion, philosophy, witchcraft, mythology, and much, much more. Sometimes I worry that I said it all in that book, and will never have anything new to say ever again, but of course, new ideas pop in all of the time.
I’ve also had the pleasure of a multi-hyphenate career in the film, tv, and digital video space, where I’ve created content for industry-leading companies and big brands, a handful of non-profits, and dozens of independent artists. As I said before, creativity and embracing the pivot are key values of mine, and I hope to always be pushing my own limits of what I think is possible for my life and career. I’m currently working on another book about numbers, as well as a contemporary, queer, romance novel. I love writing fiction in all forms (novels, short stories, screenplays), and would love to publish more in the future. For now, I’m excited that a piece of my flash fiction will be published this fall, in The Star Issue of The Rebis, a print publication celebrating tarot, art & creative writing.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 illustrated just how much we rely on the role of the artist to keep us entertained and inspired. Sadly, society doesn’t tend to put that love and value into action, and so many arts programs are underfunded. I do think that as a society, we need to be putting more money and attention into our creative ecosystems. This would allow artists to create and expand their skills without the fear of financial survival, which often stunts creative expression and growth. We could also stand to slow down a bit and really separate art from the attention economy. Art takes the time that it takes to be made, and the speed at which our society devours creative work is inspiring, but often results in good work being passed over fairly quickly.
But mostly, artists and creatives need to support each other! There’s so much that we can do for each other that doesn’t involve money, but does grow community and creative trust. Sharing each other’s work online with our respective audiences, referring someone for an opportunity, offering trades or swaps for creative services and support–these are all ways in which I’ve offered and been offered support by other creatives in my field, and they’ve provided some of the most potent opportunities for personal connection and furthering my career. Yes, we are creating for an audience and for society at large, but there’s so much strength in solidarity and creative community and I think we need to spend equal time fostering these relationships as we do trying to market our work.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative person is living life on my own terms, and getting to work on a wide variety of projects. I know that aspects of my life would be a lot easier if I just got a regular 9-5 office job, but overall, I wouldn’t trade the freedom for anything. I absolutely love holing up in my workspace and losing myself in my work, whether that’s writing, working with clients, teaching, or playing another part in a creative project or collaboration. I do spend a great deal of time giving myself pep talks, and the money isn’t totally steady, but my days are filled with topics that excite me, and the space to explore myself and the world around me. I’m grateful for this life every day, and for my fellow creatives who keep me afloat when it gets to be too much on my own. And a huge shout-out to my wife Stacey, who loves and supports me through it all, and isn’t afraid to tell me when I’m taking on too much. She’s a creative as well (with an Emmy and an Oscar to boot!), and it’s an honor to make an artistic life together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rebeccascolnick.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beescolnick/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-scolnick
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@beescolnick
- Other: Substack: https://rebeccascolnick.substack.com/
Image Credits
Allexa Crosson Photography