Joel Bryant // November 24th, 2024

Have you ever felt that knot in your stomach—the one that whispers “What if I’m not good enough?”

Imposter syndrome is a relentless companion, especially when you're standing at the edge of something new and intimidating. That fear of not knowing where to start? It can be paralysing.

I felt every ounce of that fear recently when I got a call that would change everything...

It’s 3pm on a Wednesday afternoon.

Sitting at my desk, headphones on and music up, I’m lost in my usual flow of work when something buzzes.

It’s my phone.

I glance down, pick it up, and feel my eyebrows raise.

A name I haven’t seen in almost a year.

Dean.

A smile stretches across my face as I answer. After some quick small talk, he dives straight into it:

“I want to share my story with the world… and I want you to film it.”

Now, Dean isn’t just anyone. We first met in Exmouth, Western Australia, and I was immediately captivated by the lifestyle he lives.

Dean is a traveling artist who creates his projects on the road, using natural materials like rocks, sand, and reef to craft stunning acrylic seascapes on wood.

This was my chance, I thought.

I’ve always wanted to shoot a documentary—a real documentary—but the thought of actually doing it felt overwhelming.

Could I pull this off? What if I didn’t know where to start? What if I messed it up?

Those doubts crept in immediately, but something inside me pushed back.

This was too good an opportunity to let fear win.

So, with a mix of excitement and nerves, I said yes.

Fast-forward a few weeks, and I’m on a flight to the North Western coast of Australia. For two weeks, I lived with Dean, documenting his life and art.

What makes Dean’s process so unique is that he travels to the exact locations he paints.

It’s raw. It’s intentional. And it’s deeply authentic.

But stepping into this project wasn’t easy.

Long days in the sun, battling flies and sand, combined with the ever-present hum of imposter syndrome gnawing at me as I tried to envision a project I’d be proud of.

I had to face the fear head-on and trust myself.

There were so many unknowns—how to structure it, how to bring my vision to life, how to tell a story I could be proud of.

But after two weeks of trial and error, lessons learned, and 2TB of footage captured, the result exceeded my expectations.

We created a documentary I’m incredibly proud of—one that tells a story of connection, creativity, and the road less traveled.

Since it's completion, it's even made its way to audiences in Melbourne, where we screened it to two packed out rooms in September ealier this year.

As much as I'd love to share it with you, it's currently under wraps as it's got some more exciting screenings coming up in the new year (I'll share more on that soon).

Now the takeaway from all this, is that it all started with one simple decision:

To begin, even when I didn’t have all the answers.

To start before you know how.

If you’ve ever felt held back by the fear of starting, here’s what helped me push through:

• Start Small: Focus on one step at a time instead of the overwhelming big picture.
• Trust Yourself: You don’t need to have everything figured out—you’ll learn as you go.
• Remember the Opportunity: Fear is loud, but don’t let it drown out the chance to grow.

Reflect on this:​
What’s one thing you’ve been putting off because you feel unprepared? What would happen if you just started today?

Filmmaking Insight:​
While shooting this documentary, I learned to embrace the unexpected. Instead of over-planning, I let Dean’s process guide me, capturing the authenticity of his craft. If you’re a filmmaker, remember: flexibility often leads to the best stories.

To back up this sentiment, I’ve included a video that dives deeper into the fear of starting and how to overcome it:

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Speaking of starting before you know how… this happens to be my very first email newsletter!

I’ll be using this space as a weekly public journal to share my journey as a creative, filmmaker, and human. From daily life to behind-the-scenes glimpses of my projects and the lessons I learn along the way, you’ll find it all here every Sunday.

Thank you for being here. Your support means the world to me, and I hope you have an amazing week ahead!

Feel free to share this email or hit reply—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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Joel