On April 28th, 2023, Joriemar released her 7th Episode story: "The One That Got Away" to an eager audience. However, the journey to this project began nearly 2 years prior at a time of bleak uncertainty for the author. THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: a memoi...
The hiatus I sought was short lived. I soon began brainstorming, dreaming, and romanticizing ideas in my head as I accustom to do when I yearn for an escape. Dealing with the heaviness of everything going on in my life at the time was burdensome. I oftentimes would log into the Episode portal, create a new story, and code random scenes of ideas that I had floating in my head. Occasionally, some of these ideas would garner momentum, like a wild fire, quickly developing into intricate plot lines that I became engrossed in exploring. But all my efforts resulted in more frustration, feeling lost, and unmotivated. I realized that I had to focus on my life and prioritized the things that had to be worked on. This became a consistent struggle thereafter. I'd get creative highs then crash at full force to the ground. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth.
To satisfy my desire for creative escape, I decided to return to my original role as a consumer of art, a reader, and student. Something that I had deprived myself for years since becoming an Episode author. I began reading many stories on Spotlight, Episode, and Wattpad again. My love for film reignited and I found a whole new appreciation for visual art and music like never before. "30" by Adele became the soundtrack to my life at the time as I learned how to invest myself spiritually and creatively into a whole musical album. I was consuming so much and found myself at an all time high inspirationally. I forced myself to hold on to it though. I wanted my next release (no pun intended, ha!) to be monumental and cathartic for my inner being. Looking back, I realize that I simply had no authentic way of articulating all that I was amassing yet. I allowed myself to be guided by fate and let the world itself be the one to pull the trigger on the creative bomb I was harboring within.
As the holiday season came around that year, I had the opportunity of spending many nights in the company of my family and a few friends. Cookouts, movie nights, or simply chatting over coffee became signature activities for weeks on end. One night, while my sister, my kids, and I lounged all around the living room couch, we scrolled endlessly through Netflix, HBO Max, and Paramount debating what would be good to watch together. We went back and forth between Christmas holiday movies, rom-coms, to murder documentaries, but we simply couldn't settle on something that everyone would enjoy. Right before giving up and resorting to the shuffle option on Netflix, my son opened up Paramount Plus and randomly came across the much beloved and iconic musical film: "Grease".
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"A lot of my friends at school have seen this movie. Have you seen this mom?"my son curiously asked.
If I was being honest, I had never seen "Grease" before in my life. Of course I was aware of some of the catchy songs and knew that John Travolta was one hunk of a man during that time, but I'd never really been a fan of musicals in that way. This odd fact about me was one that would always make people gasp with disbelief: "You've never seen Grease?!!" I guess I just never had a reason or a yearning to see it. When I explained to my son that I had never seen Grease but knew what it was, he was a bit taken back as expected. My sister chimed in as well saying that she had only gotten to see the movie in parts; mainly the iconic dance breaks and songs like "Summer Nights" or "You're the One that I Want". Obviously after such confession about a widely known and loved film, we decided on watching "Grease" for the first time together. I went into the experience with an open mind but I was neither excited nor bummed to be watching this. I do admit that I was a bit curious to know what it was that has made this movie a classic. It might've been the creator in me that itched to figure out and interpret the recipe of making something larger than life and impermeable to time.
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I took it all in. Watching the film, bopping to the catchy music, and giggling to comedic elements sprinkled through out the story woke something in me. I was mesmerized by the costumes the actors wore, the movie sets used, and the entire late 50's retro aesthetic that defined this masterpiece. During Olivia Newton-John's interpretation of "Hopelessly Devoted to You" outside Frenchy's house, I swooned at the passionate down pouring of love that Sandy showcased for Danny in that one song. I could feel that same emotion passing through my veins as I watched closely. All the special elements that made "Grease" what it is today profoundly inspired me. That is something I've always wanted to achieve with my own work. Watching that movie was magical. I thoroughly enjoyed being taken back in time on this adventure of teen romance, post world war 2 pop culture, and a world free from the technology choke-hold that exists today. I wondered:
"Gosh, how neat would it be to have lived as a teen or young adult in this time period?"
Upon finishing "Grease", I couldn't help but to research and immerse myself in this time period for weeks. I would look up images, listen to music and watch videos on YouTube from this era in hopes to get a better grasp of American life in the 50's. "Put your head on my Shoulder" by Paul Anka was on repeat at my house for months to say the least. I even ended up watching "Grease" a second time by myself! Something about this classic decade in American pop culture and history resonated deep within me. I became fond over how love and romance appeared to have been so easy; effortless and sincere in the way it was shared between couples. Love letters, kisses on the forehead before midnight, chivalry -- all the things we overlook and seemed to have lost in today's generation. The same thought would cycle back in to my head over and over: "how neat would it be to have lived in this time period?"
And as with all of my past stories, something clicked inside of me.
