Articles, blogs and what’s happening now at Halp
I’m sick of news headlines…I feel like our collective day to day we’ve experienced so far this decade has been mainline quest after mainline quest after …phew, that was a close one, let’s refuel and stock up on new gear—wait why are all the prices so high?!— oh hey look, a new mainline quest…!
It’s beyond easy to feel hypervigilant about everything going on in games & entertainment…with rapidly advancing tech, layoffs, the constant analysis of what content gets made and why, the economy, how audiences consume media—you name it. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone! I also often find myself lost in the sauce! (If this doesn’t sound like you, don’t be shy, what is your secret??)
So how do we stop carrying that weight on our shoulders? Well, I…don’t have the answer (yet), but I’m certainly on a mission to get closer to it!
I’m using 2026 as a year of reconnection. That means reconnecting with bodies of work that inspired me to get into this business in the first place, seeking out inspiration from independent projects & artists outside of my go-to’s, investing in my community, and finding moments to indulge in art and ditch my neverending to-do list.
I mean just take American figure skater and Olympic Gold Medalist, Alysa Liu, for example. She’s a testament to successfully reconnecting with your art on your own terms. What’s made her such a sensation isn’t just her mastery of the craft—it’s her story. She came out of retirement post-severe burnout and disconnection, only to return shining brighter than ever, now with a gold medal. There’s an unbridled JOY in her MacArthur Park free skate routine; a joy that resonated with many of us (we’ve discussed her a lot in recent classes and events). When we as humans see joy from others, we want to be a part of it. I’m sure that that’s how a lot of us got into games and entertainment in the first place!
Stress is unavoidable. But, life and inspiration is ever-changing, always moving. To quote the Eleventh Doctor (Whovians you’re welcome):
“We all change, when you think about it. We’re all different people all through our lives, and that’s okay, that’s good, you’ve got to keep moving, so long as you remember all the people that you used to be.”
Just because we’re simply trying to get by in one moment, does NOT mean we’re doomed to never thrive again. ‘Tis just the ebb and flow of life and art! We urge you to use this period as a time to read that fantasy book that’s been collecting dust on your Goodreads TBR, replay that cozy game from when you were 8 surrounded by snacks one evening, listen to that new album with the super intriguing cover art, the list goes on!
Tell us about the first memory you have where you realized you wanted to pursue a career in the arts!
Happy Women’s History Month, and we’ll catch ya on the Halp-side!
13 08 26Rest is hard to come by as a creative person. Experts will often tell you to embrace “just being,” but personally, when I try that, a little voice tends to pipe in my head and let me know that I’m falling behind, not doing enough, and then I end up retroactively putting together an in-depth game plan to tackle for when I’m done pretending to “just be.”
09 07 26...networking isn't just about meeting people. It’s about building genuine professional relationships. The challenge is that authenticity has its own etiquette. Industry professionals can usually tell the difference between curiosity and strategy, and the strongest networking happens when the two naturally overlap.
11 04 26I’m curious, if you’re an actor, singer, engineer, composer, dancer, animator — or like, pursue anything in the arts, can you recall a note you’ve received in the past, or a special nugget of wisdom from a mentor that you can say has genuinely helped shape your craft for the better? A note that’s inspired you to strive to be the best artist you can be? On the flip side…have you received a note that felt like a personal attack or perhaps has made you question your worth as an artist?