Always putting off your creative work? You’ll enjoy Aleksandra Kingo’s ode to procrastination

Chatting with creatives day in and day out, I hear a lot of “I love my job.” Most don't get into how exhausting it is to try to be creative 24/7. Let’s face it—creatives have idea droughts as much as writers get writer’s block, which is why I appreciate this funny but honest film from director Aleksandra Kingo. Created as a personal project inspired by her own experiences, “An Ode to Procrastination” shows what being a creative is really like much of the time: twiddling your thumbs and waiting for the next big idea to hit (likely in the shower) while pretending everything is fine. The short film follows the thought process of a young artist, Sarah (played by Sarah Sayuri Hare), who is trying to create what she thinks is the project of a lifetime—which she expects to be acclaimed as “disruptive” and “iconic”—but procrastinates as she struggles to start. The film takes on an edge as Sarah finds random, and at times absurd, things to occupy her. The viewer can sense anxiety and unease in her voice as she tries to dismiss her struggles with motivational quotes. It is a depiction that reflects the director herself, Kingo said in a statement. “This film is an attempt to meet my own creative struggles, packed in a comical, slightly absurd form. I know too well about procrastination and creative doubts—being scared to start something that you truly love is definitely a form of torture,” she said. “But just like Sarah, I have mastered the art of pretending everything is just fine and shrugging things off. In a way, Sarah is me, but she is also every other stuck creative out there. I wanted to create a film that is relatable and therapeutic, without being patronizing or mocking. “Thinking of how much I was procrastinating when starting this script on procrastination, it’s also pretty meta, which makes it even more special,” she continued. Kingo’s aim was not only to entertain but to provide insight into the mental health struggles of those in the creative profession, especially considering the pressure many creatives experience. Her perspective is particularly poignant as she is a photographer, director and mother. The project published online on April 25, but has received recognition at screenings including Berlin Commercial, Aesthetica Short Film Festival, 1.4 Awards, Conero Film + Advertising, Kinsale Shark Awards and ADC Awards.

Always putting off your creative work? You’ll enjoy Aleksandra Kingo’s ode to procrastination

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