My 10 Creative Priorities for 2025

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Hey, Reader,

I really can’t believe it’s 2025. I remember when it was 2000. What a time. And time has flown by.

And it will continue to fly.

So we might as well do the thangs. Whatever they may be.

My personal theme for 2025 is GO FOR IT. There are still ways in which I hold myself back or care too much what people think or tell myself no before the world does.

It’s played out.

I’m going for it in 2025.

Strategically.

Because the ultimate goal is autonomy. I want HONEY CHILE to be autonomous and sustainable.

And I want to reimagine my relationship with Hollywood.

In order to do that, here are my creative priorities for 2025:

1. Prioritizing My Ish: I will be prioritizing my projects this year. I wrote the most I've ever written in my life in the span of a year in 2024. But most of those were open writing assignments or projects that came to me. They weren't projects that I originated. So for 2024, I’m focusing on writing Felicia Pride and HONEY CHILE projects.

2. Directing My First Feature: I HAVE to direct my first feature this year. It has to happen. It will position me to direct studio features. It will position me to direct more of the features that I write. Lately, I've been essentially giving away scripts for studio features to other directors because studios don't think I am ready to direct a studio feature. Enough.

3. Working with Brands and Agencies: I want to help brands tell their stories. I want to partner with brands to connect with the HONEY CHILE audience. And I want to consult on media and entertainment projects. Before coming to LA, I ran an impact consultancy for many years where I collaborated and consulted on a range of media entertainment projects across audio, documentary, experiential and more. So I want to get back to some of that work.

4. Innovative Fundraising: I’m going hard with the HONEY Fund to raise money to make projects. I want to get more philanthropy dollars allocated for scripted work. If we want to talk about impact, entertainment projects are HUGE in reach and influence.

5. In my Creator Era: I really want to be in my creator energy where I am creating more work across the board and not just long form work and scripts, but social media, editorial, video, digital content, etc. There will be a lot of experimenting. Some failing. But I have learned that consistency is the name of the game.

I am also going to be in my creator energy from the standpoint of understanding that I am the creator of my life. I’ll be leaning into that power and responsibility.

6. The Media in Media + Production Company: I’m also doubling down on HONEY CHILE being a media company. We are going to be developing more editorial, video, digital and other media formats, including our podcasts, additional audio projects, and our newsletter. We want to position ourselves as a robust platform, in addition to a production company.

7. Getting My Linkedin On: In the latter part of the year, I started posting more on Linkedin and have not only been enjoying it, but have seen the benefits, from growing this email list and connecting with some of you to selling The Build Bundle. So I'm doubling down on using LinkedIn as a way to build my platform, continue to provide value, but also be positioned for opportunities.

8. Becoming a YouTuber: At HONEY CHILE, we’re doubling down on YouTube. We posted our short film, tender in December 2023. And mind you, we produced tender like four years ago. A year later after posting on YouTube, it has 425,825 views. Our short film helped us to get monetized on YouTube.

Sidebar: The Build Bundle has an entire workshop on making your short film. This is just one of the additional reasons that it may be time for you to make your short film.

Now, we are figuring out our YouTube strategy because it's a whole different beast, but I'm excited to do so because our goal is to build a robust distribution channel for HONEY CHILE work.

I do think that YouTube is the future. Last year YouTube surpassed Netflix in viewing. So it is a place where I'll be spending time learning and developing.

9. Thinking Globally: I want to find ways to think and operate globally, connect with storytellers around the world, partner with international production companies and tell stories across the African Diaspora. We’re also considering ways to make work abroad, especially in Africa.

10. More IRL: I want to gather my community and Honeys in real life (and virtually too). I think IRL events are going to be increasingly important with the advent of AI and other technologies. I also think community building in general will play an important role in HONEY CHILE’s autonomy.

What about you? What are your creative priorities this year?

BTW: If you’re looking to expand what you think you’re capable of in 2025, The Build Bundle is designed to help you build a profitable and PROLIFIC career as a storyteller. I pulled together all the resources, tools, insight that I have used over my decades-long career in media and entertainment. The ultimate cheat code. Enroll today and make 2025 your best year yet.​

BLUEPRINTS

What I’m reading, consuming, thinking about, or inspired by…

Lots of industry predictions for 2025. Here are Indiewire's.

An epic look (takedown?) at Netflix.

Eva Longoria's betting on hyphenates.

​Spec sales are back? This may require a subscription to The Ankler. I do recommend one.

​Breakdown on the various paths in the book publishing industry.

Felicia Pride TV Writer. Filmmaker. CEO. Building HONEY CHILE, an indie media company serving Black women 40+, and empowering other niche storytellers to tell their stories and reach their audiences.

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BTW: Bring your community along, forward them this email and encourage them to subscribe.

The Build Bundle All of the tools you need for developing your writing craft, pitching your tv/film projects, making your work, and strategizing for a long-lasting career. It's what I wish I had starting out and even mid-way through my career—tried and true tactics, examples, and strategies to help you accelerate your journey. ENROLL TODAY

The Creative Comeback Workbook by Felicia Pride It's time for you to start writing again and tell the stories burning within. Through 30 prompts, you'll discover your why, develop a writing schedule, outline your projects and unearth what's holding you back from the career of your dreams. These are the exact steps I took to make my creative comeback. Purchase on Book Shop.​ GET THE WORKBOOK

tender: the official script book by Felicia Pride Specially designed, the script for Felicia Pride’s award-winning short film tender! Also includes an original essay by Felicia and never-before-seen behind-the-scenes photos. A PDF eBook sent immediately upon purchase. GET YOUR COPY

LOOK BACK AT IT: The Official Script Book by Felicia Pride Specially designed, the script for Felicia Pride’s award-winning short film LOOK BACK AT IT! Also includes an original essay by Felicia and never-before-seen behind-the-scenes photos. A PDF eBook sent immediately upon purchase. GET YOUR COPY

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING...

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How do I stay organized? I feel like I've tried all the productivity software girls. And none can really compete with Notion. She has it all. It takes some time to learn, but chile... once you do! You can build custom databases (we track contacts, projects, more), create custom pages and more. I LOVE it. Here's my Notion affiliate link.