Creativity and
Self-Confidence
with Alex Wasiel
image by Field
words by Kaldor(Or On Being Received by Others)
Tom here, one half of Laws of Creativity, with a warning: I’m about to break an important rule of biographical writing, by making the story about me (briefly). Alex is the final subject from our first cohort for this project – and it’s taken me over 2 years to get around to writing this piece. Sure, there are some notable novus actus interveniens to throw into my defence: pandemic, fatherhood, career change. But revisiting Alex’s reflections on creativity, I wonder whether the true cause of my delay was that I’d been more focused on how my article might be received, rather than being confident in my abilities to write it…
When Alex Wasiel was recommended to Laws of Creativity, the citation given for her was “comedian and in-house lawyer”.
So it was a bit unexpected when she produced a mirrorless Fujifilm camera as her “creative object” for the photoshoot.
She must’ve read the surprise in the room: “I feel like I’m suffering from imposter syndrome. I did the deep dive into comedy – but I have many artistic passions, including photography.”
In fact, Wasiel’s view is that her photography is not so far removed from her comedy. “They’re derived from the same curiosity, it’s just a different type of exploration. But in both, it's an exploration of self.” This philosophy may explain why she doesn’t like giving much attention to post production for her photographs. Perhaps the very act of editing takes an image away from being a pure expression of self-exploration – and sends it further down the path of what we think others might want to see.
But no photographer is an island – and Wasiel’s preference for portrait shots is the ocean that surges at the shores of self-exploration. She believes that photography is “all about the interaction”. Crediting the influence of photographer Chris Orwig, Wasiel explains: “The greatest thing I could take away is a genuine connection and experience the honour of being let into someone’s life, because it is quite an intimate thing to take someone’s photo.”
So far, Wasiel develops a very private image of creativity, framed by self-discovery and personal interaction.
Why then do so many creatives seek out an audience? What is creativity without that broader mass of “others” watching on, whether as Instagram followers or from packed pub stools at a comedy gig? (Yes, Wasiel’s on Instagram. She acknowledges how the platform encourages us to measure our creations by the reactions of others. But, for her, it has been “a place of inspiration and supportive community”.)
Wasiel is an experienced performer (including as part of a comedy trio, alongside Justine Rogers) – so of course she cares about how she’s received by the crowd. She even admits that “one of the most satisfying experiences is being able to turn the room”.
But this admission doesn’t mean she’s abandoned her creative focus on self. Turning the room is only possible for someone who has trust in themself and their material. “You come into a room and it's quiet, but you have the ability and self-confidence to push through.” Turning the room is not the aim. It's the reward for fearless self-exploration.
Why then do so many creatives seek out an audience? What is creativity without that broader mass of “others” watching on, whether as Instagram followers or from packed pub stools at a comedy gig?
This lesson was also affirmed when Wasiel changed her lens from private practice to in-house roles in entertainment businesses, first at Network 10 and then with production company Endemol Shine. She remembers that, in the early days of the transition, her focus shifted onto how she would be received by her new colleagues: “You go from an environment where everyone loves the law. It takes a while to earn trust and convince people that ‘I actually want to see you succeed’.”
But, just like turning the room, it was trusting her-self that helped Wasiel thrive in the new environment. Not just trusting her legal abilities, but also her background in comedy and performing:
“It helps because humour just cuts through, cuts the tension, you establish relatability, you convey your message with greater ease. But also because I genuinely feel passion for the stuff that they’re making – and they can feel that as well.”
Wasiel’s commitment to self-exploration has landed her in a unique position. She is a creative lawyer in a creative business – and she has the confidence to trust that what she creates will be well received by others. Maybe even turn the room.
“I am not saying that I’m in the pitch room. But it’s a lot of fun having chats with an executive producer about an upcoming show with a comedy element and being able to hold your own in the conversation. I get a lot of joy out of that.”
Alex Wasiel is a Business & Legal Affairs Executive at Endemol Shine Australia. She started performing stand-up comedy in 2012, was a 2013 RAW Comedy NSW Finalist and had her first solo show at the Sydney Fringe Festival and Sydney Comedy Festival by 2014. She was also part of the “all-star all-girl troupe”, Aggressively Helpful, which performed at the Adelaide Fringe, Sydney Comedy and Canberra Comedy Festivals.