All artists struggle with fear. The following is the story of how Kenny Miracle pushed through his fears. His is one story in a series of stories provided by real artists in the real world. If, after reading this story, you find yourself wondering why you haven’t pushed through your own creative fears, then that’s probably a good thing.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF
Kenny Miracle. 28 years old. Director of Film Dept. & Lead Video Editor at Exodus Cry. Kansas City, MO.
DESCRIBE YOUR ART
This is partly about work I’ve done, but more about work I am in the middle of. Last year, I helped finish the editing of a feature length documentary about sex trafficking happening today. It’s called Nefarious: Merchant of Souls. This year, I signed up to be the editor for another doc with a similar focus. This will be about a two year process, which is a much bigger project and span of time than anything I’ve done to date. So for me, this is more about the process of agreeing to be a part of this new doc that has seemed quite daunting.
WHAT WERE THE VOICES OF RESISTANCE TELLING YOU ABOUT YOUR ART? ABOUT YOU?
Early in the year, I was planning on starting my own video-focused ad agency, mainly producing short web promos. But after a couple months, I was offered this job as editor for this new doc. I couldn’t do both. So I had a choice. Follow my own vision and maybe succeed making promos; or let it go to follow someone else’s vision that seems much bigger – yet more rewarding – than my own.
The resistance was that I know how to make promos. I’ve done it for years, but lead the edit on a doc? That sounds great, but am I qualified? Do I have what it takes? Do I want to be invisible working on a two year project, or produce new content every couple months?
Also, this documentary would address the porn industry, albeit from a Christian perspective (like xxxchurch.com). As a young man, amk I ready for that? Ultimately, where was God leading me? I wasn’t sure for months.
WHAT FINALLY PUSHED YOU OVER THE EDGE, SO THAT YOU CREATED THIS ART?
While at the National Assoc. of Broadcasters, I had a couple interesting convo’s with some fellow video pros. They were older, and expressed their tension between working on commercials or documentaries throughout their careers. Commercial work was more consistent, but documentaries made their hearts come alive because they were about things they cared about.
How many people deal with this? I’ve never met anyone until that moment, which happened to be when I was experiencing the same tension. This was when I felt the tug from God to work on this documentary. To be a part of something bigger than myself.
Let me say – commercial work is great! I enjoy the creative process for them, too. For me, I deeply want to tell stories about real people that can help other people. This desire is from God, and he was opening a door to do it. But I still had to choose. So I instantly stopped all my freelance commercial work. Creatively, it was exciting to start pursuing something I’ve never done before, and that required more of me than anything else had.
DESCRIBE HOW YOU FELT THE MOMENT IT WENT PUBLIC. TELL THAT STORY.
We are still in pre-production, so I don’t know yet 
But for the first documentary, it has been good hearing about people that are positively impacted by it. We’ve even seen it influence parliaments in other countries that are passing trafficking-related laws.
It is not a project I can claim as being my own. I was one of three editors that helped for the last year of a 4 year process.
WHERE CAN WE EXPERIENCE THE ART YOU CREATED?
You can see a trailer for the first doc at www.nefariousdocumentary.com.
