Julie is it so nice to connect with you here today. Can you begin by introducing yourself to our community? Where you are from and the mediums you work in?

Hi! For sure. My name is Julie Pacino. I'm a photographer and filmmaker from New York, currently living in Los Angeles. So excited to have found this community!

We are lucky to have you! How did you first learn about web3 and cryptoart in general?

My best friend from high school, Anthony DeMasi, is close with Will Savas. Will helped me get set up with my first drop and has introduced me to some really great people within the community. Very grateful for his support and insight, I almost feel like I'm learning a new language here!

Will is an incredible human and an incredible collector. What do you think about how the relationship to art changes when its being "collected" rather than "commercialized?"

For me, Art is a way to express myself, a way to relate to other people, and a way to inspire more art to be created. Creation and honest expression has a ripple effect. I love when I see a photograph or watch a movie that pulses through me and ignites something inside me. Like some great force that moves me to grab my camera and just GO. So, to me, "collecting art" really sort of honors that philosophy. It creates a more intimate relationship between the collector and the art, as well as the collector and the artist. It opens a dialogue, sparks conversation, and ultimately leads to the most important thing of all: connection.

Love that answer. Let's dig into this idea of connection. Technology, despite its many pitfalls, allows us to connect on a global level at the speed of light. How do you see this continuing to change society, and will it change it for the better or for the worse?

Technology, like everything, is a double edged sword. On one hand, it enables us like-minded happy folks to connect, and on the other it can be used as a tool by negative forces to team up and attack. Personally, this NFT space has really opened me up to the idea that we are, in fact, moving in a positive direction.

The outpouring of support and love that I've gotten a glimpse of from the people in this community is really encouraging. And it's contagious, which bodes well for our future. I'm usually a pessimist when it comes to these types of things but I'm starting to see the glass as half-full.

Well said. Let's talk a bit about your recent endeavors in NFTs. What was your recent project and how did it all unfold?

My recent (and first!) NFT drop is a project called "I Live Here Now". It is a series of 100 photographs that I took at the Madonna Inn, which subsequently inspired the screenplay for my upcoming feature film by the same title. The film is a psychological horror that follows a woman who is dealing with an unplanned pregnancy while staying at the hotel. It's like "Rosemary's Baby" meets "The Shining" with a dash of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas".

This whole project and drop unfolded so organically. I went to the hotel with my close friend and collaborator, Fern Cozine, with the intention of reigniting my creative juices. When we got there, the place immediately spoke to me. It's such a vortex, it was as if we had fallen down a rabbit hole. So we just started taking photos and the movie began writing itself. It was as if the Madonna Inn was guiding us and telling us what the journey of this character was supposed to be.

When I got back to LA, I wrote the script, and began using the photos as a companion to the piece whenever I'd send it out. People were really responding to the material. We had captured something special. From there I was able to solidify a partnership with the Madonna Inn to shoot the film there in February of 2022. I shared some of the photos with Anthony, who then passed them onto Will, and the idea of tapping into the NFT space was born. We started getting excited about the idea of releasing this collection as a way to connect with a potential audience for this sort of unorthodox movie.

As a filmmaker, I make the types of movies that I would want to see: bold, unique, and colorful stories that push the bounds of conventional storytelling. That's what these photos encapsulate. So, connecting with a collective of art patrons who are ahead of the curve, taking risks, and pushing boundaries of their own, was a no brainer. I'm so thrilled to be in direct touch with my collectors. It feels like they're an extended part of our filmmaking team. Bridging that gap between the art world and the film world is really exciting to me.

What advice would you offer to those just waking up to NFTs and also the creative lifestyle in general?

I'm not sure I can offer any NFT advice since I'm so new here and have been entirely guided by people who are much smarter than me (ha!). But as far as the creative lifestyle in general, I've found success in simply focusing on the work. Doing what I can to block out all the thoughts that come with creating something that will be seen - "Will people like this?" "Where will it wind up?" "What will it lead to?" Forget all that. It is irrelevant and distracting when you're trying to tap into deep feelings within yourself.

I love to remind myself of the "why". Why am I doing this? I'm doing it to express, to connect, and to provoke others to do the same. The creative lifestyle can be complex, I'm sure my methods aren't for everyone, but for me it boils down to this: Focus on the work, the rest will follow.

Beautiful. Wonderful advice on all fronts- so glad to have connected here and thank you so much for taking the time to share your perspective with the ALLSHIPS community. To the reader, find all things Julie Pacino by connecting with her via Twitter and her website.