Anna Black

Today I am mostly work editing (see “to the left”) Along with bits of “Unconformity” an animation/live action short which I hope to have completed by the end of August and my 2006 Edinburgh Festival self a facing docu which is a long time coming.

Looking back through footage made me personally reflect in a jolly way. It’s been very difficult to be active and creative for the last couple of years. I’ve been on my way back from a serious illness and my brain is faster than my body sometimes. For someone like me this is frustrating!

M.E. / Chronic Fatigue (or whatever name you give it)  pretty much decimated my entire life. Work, relationships, finances, home, and career. I ended up without anywhere to live and turned from an hyperactive lanky bint into a inactive docile lumpy cheese sandwich. (I am more svelte these days )

I lost two years of my life, but in a strange life affirming type-way!

One of the worst things about the whole experience was being informed on a regular basis that I was just “depressed”, or “down”, or even “lazy”. It made it ten times worse having to constantly explain or convince people that I was actually ill – as well as being ill. In the end I just stopped talking to people.

Anyway, I always try to channel anything negative into what I do creatively and use it positively. It’s very strange how out of pain can come inspiration so I’m glad I bought that signed photograph of Arthur Bostrom ten years ago! It forced me to get out of the house and meet people, and probably saved my sanity. (Did I say I’m writing a book? )

So – to paraphrase – I feel very fortunate, and I am now as well as I can be – and back, behind, in front, and inside a camera looking for inspiration! It’s all jolly and it’s all positive!

Cheers, and thanks for sticking with me.

Anna x