On Authenticity
What does authenticity mean to you? I think it gets conflated with vulnerability (which is good, when appropriate) but they are two different ideas.
Whether you are creating a narrative story with realistic or over the top characters, speaking to the camera openly "as your everyday self" or stepping into a slightly exaggerated persona of one aspect of yourself, you can still be authentic. Realize that what you're creating is spurred by your desire to bring something into existence. You may want to build on a concept, share an emotion, or move someone. All of these are real pieces of the human experience, and that is the foundation of your authenticity.
Here's my authenticity test. Am I sharing:
Because it's meaningful to me? Authentic. Because I feel like "I should"? Not.
Something vulnerable that I want to talk about? Authentic. Something that feels private but I don't want to "be fake positive?" Not.
What I saw someone else do and I'm inspired by their example? Authentic. Because I think that's how I "need to do it?" Not.
Something where I look like what I actually want to today? Authentic. Where I'm dressed how I think "I should" present? Not.
Because it's fun to make, or at least to have it out in the world? Authentic. Because "I should"? Nope.
You'll notice "Shoulds" are a pattern for me. What comes up for you?
If you are sharing something that is meaningful to you in the way that feels best to you, that is authentic. If you feel forced to do it through "shoulds" or "have to do it like this person said" or "have to present as..." then it isn't. And I promise it always feels better when it feels authentic to you.
For me, I actually find that I tend to play too small, too safe, and too "perfect" on camera, so authenticity for me focuses on giving myself the permission to be right-sized for any given day and not hold the fun saucy parts back.
So as you go to create on camera, think "Who do I WANT to be today, and what do I WANT to create"? and you'll be your most deeply authentic version of yourself.
