Courtney Scott

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Courtney Scott

filmmaker / dj
contributor for CNN, ABC News, MSNBC, Matador Network, Uproxx

http://courtneyscott.tv

http://instagram.com/court_scott
soundcloud.com/courtneyscott
courtneyscott.tv

28/12/2023

On a stormy birthday morning I wake in my family home to all of the traditions, comforts and smells that I have know for 42 years. I wake to the joy of being. To the grace of wisdom. To the strength of a body well cared for. I wake to the warmth of my dog, who decided he had a little more fight in him. I wake to raindrops. To a birthday poem from a lover in my inbox. To a lipstick message scribbled on the bathroom mirror. A tradition my Mom has kept since we were little. I wake in the quiet appreciation of authenticity. In the peace of a life lived freely. In the gratitude of all who have chosen to love me. X

24/12/2023

Finishing the year sharing one of my favorite portraits from an impromptu shoot with the people in in the first few days of 2023. There were about 15 men. One portrait each. This particular young tribesman struck me with his confidence. His posture. His eyes. As if he’d just come off a runway.

But the images we capture don't tell the complete story of the Maasai people. They are are a suffering population, challenged by land encroachment, poverty and very limited access to clean water, walking tens of miles to reach it each day.

On our journey to the Mara we were rescued twice by two separate Maasai men when our car overheated (on the way in and out of the park). They devoted their entire day to helping us, coordinating mechanics and drivers to get us to our intended destination. We were invited into their homes like family. A level of kindness and trust I have never experienced. We’re still in touch with one Maasai family and the resounding message is, 'the need is great.' Thank you , my trumpet, for coordinating this shoot in Swahili with the tribe's elder. We promised that we'd share their pictures and raise awareness. ❤️ 🇰🇪

You can also follow the wonderful who builds schools and wells for the Maasai community in Kenya

01/12/2023

Which do you prefer (1 or 2)?

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02/10/2023

Analog wiener dog 📸

Any dachshund owner knows what a rare delight it is to be loved by one of these guys. They are the most sentient, soulful creatures. They play it tough on the block but really just want to be wrapped around you and nuzzled all day.

In August, Vuki got a troubling and inoperable mast cell cancer diagnosis but he is still an unstoppable force of joy and determination. For those interested, we tried steroids to manage some symptoms from his tumor, but he had an adverse reaction--extremely rapid breathing--so that's been discontinued. I've changed his diet from grain-free, weight-control kibble to (not a sponsor, just a plug) which has brought him major joy and massive energy. He wakes me up at 6 a.m. raring to eat. And absolutely no table food, sugar, fruit or carbs. If anyone has other homeopathic or dietary tips for mast cell tumors in dogs, I'd love to hear from you.

Otherwise Vuki's been living his best days at the beach, swimming, fishing and hunting rabbits. And finally, after 13 years, he's allowed to sleep in the bed. Dachshunds for life. 🤟🏽

27/09/2023

In the eternal now of Italy.

16/05/2023

The smartphone is the modern-day hypodermic needle.

Every day I see a new warning about an AI apocalypse, but I'm haunted more by the real time demise of the smartphone-governed human experience than by the future of AI. As I watch smartphones disrupt every natural presence point we once knew--meals, walks, talks, dates, parenting, bed time, wake time, even toilet time--I'm nostalgic for the life I once knew.

Dr. Anna Lembke, author of Dopamine Nation says, “We’re living in a time of unprecedented access to high reward, high dopamine stimuli. The 4 things that make something addictive are: access, quantity, potency & novelty. Social media never runs out. We can access this drug 24/7, constantly priming our reward pathway. Technology has intentionally made digital drugs as potent as traditional drugs.”

I’ve seen value in returning to IG for my business. Three more clients this week. But to what end? I grapple, as I often have, with my contribution to the dopamine machine, realizing that each time I post, despite the potential for new biz, I may be taking someone away from their presence, their train of thought, their stillness. I’ve been the digitally addicted one, and I’ve witnessed my partner/friends smartphone addictions. It’s a destructive experience on both sides. Layer in ADHD, depression, or loneliness and you really don’t stand a chance against the insidiousness of these platforms.

Italy has always been a place of extreme presence. But at dinner the other night, people dined with a fork in one hand, a phone in the other. Phones were positioned on the table, as if part of the modern-day place setting--knife, spoon, smartphone. In between courses, instead of making eye contact, creating intimacy, couples shared IG posts. We see the same scene everywhere in the world.

Under the guise of 'staying connected' to news and friends, and 'belonging' to WhatsApp groups and digital communities, were becoming catastrophically disconnected--to our hearts, our awareness, to tangible community, to nature, and to the 'essential self' that exists only in a state of presence. This is the devastating paradox of smartphone culture.

(more in comments)

25/04/2023

Sometimes moments seem meant for you. Which do you prefer (1 or 2)?

23/04/2023

It's been a 3 week experiment putting my creations back on Instagram, a platform I had energetically stepped away from because of the toxic way it makes you feel connected and disconnected, seen and lonely, all at once.

However, in the first week and a half of publishing short reels, I got 3 new film jobs and dropped into a flow of creation that felt like a homecoming. There are two revealing lesson here: 1) No one knows about your art and what you do unless you share it 2) the object isn't to make art, it's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.

I still have a cautious relationship with this platform. I've actively disengaged to re-engage with my life and the wisdom within myself. I've been lucky that most of my business at this stage in my career is inbound word of mouth. But there can can always be more work. As a creative, I don't know of a less insidious platform to share art and create new business opportunity. Do you?

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