What a Story Associate Producer at Pilgrim Media Group Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Media Production Industry
Dannia, a Story Associate Producer, learned the importance of emotional detachment from projects, realizing that "it's not my baby," and that prioritizing mental health requires knowing "when to let go" even while maintaining high work standards. This involves learning to "kill the baby"—accepting that sometimes, despite best efforts, external factors dictate a project's outcome, regardless of individual contributions.
Work-Life Balance, Stress Management, Emotional Intelligence, Delegation, Industry Expectations
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Dannia Alfonso
Story Associate Producer
Pilgrim Media Group
NYU - Tisch School of the Arts
UCLA Anderson - MBA
Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Communication and Marketing
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Knowing when to step back and not take on too much work is crucial for maintaining mental health and preventing burnout. Prioritizing tasks and understanding that not everything needs to be treated with the same level of intensity is important.
2. It's essential to learn when to let go of creative projects and accept that not all work will be equally valued or appreciated. The ability to detach emotionally from a project is key to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
3. Don't be afraid to 'kill your darlings.' In creative fields, it's crucial to know when to stop revising and accept a project's completion, even if it's not exactly how you envisioned it. This helps avoid excessive stress and ultimately improves your workflow.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before entering the industry?
I think this applies across the board for a lot of things. It's not necessarily specific to this one situation.
I tend to take on a lot and put a lot on my plate. I make everything feel like the most important thing, and I prioritize it, because I want to deliver and make sure people are happy with what I give them.
But no matter how hard I try, sometimes it doesn't matter. Someone might not value it because it's not needed. It's important to know when to step back, and when not to care, because this isn't my baby. The show isn't my creative idea, and it's not something I'll champion because I believe in it so firmly.
This is a job for me right now. It's not my end-all, be-all, so why am I treating it like that? Why am I treating it like it's this creative darling? I need to know when to let go.
This is also for creative writers, learning when to "kill the baby" and stop touching it. There are no more revisions; it's done. It's knowing when to just not invest so much.
I still deliver all my work and show up on time. My performance isn't downgraded in any way. But the emotional intensity and attachment, I have to let go of that a little for my own mental health.
I think that's important because we fall into rabbit holes. We get tunnel visioned into what we're doing, wanting to be the best and do everything right. Sometimes it doesn't matter for the brightest star; people will be pulled into the black hole anyway, so don't worry about it.
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