Musings: The Musical
(Pre-Production)
DONATE
Make a tax-deductible donation to Musings: The Musical
Logline
A quitting songwriter gives in to the pressures of real life, as an ancient muse desperately tries to reach her or face extinction, with the fate of all human creativity resting in the balance.
Synopsis
From their headquarters at Creative Co., the last of the ancient muses are carrying on their mission to inspire humans. In a modern world that has all but forgotten the value of art, Cleo, Thalia, and Calliope try desperately through song, dance, and fax machines to reach any Prospects on earth who may still be listening.
It all comes down to Tara, Cleo’s Prospect, who is an aspiring songwriter and single mother struggling to balance her passion with her career. Cleo urges Tara to believe in herself, sending ideas into the stream, but Tara refuses to listen as she gives into the pressures of real life. When all is said and sung, the fate of all muse-kind, and human creativity as we know it, rests in the balance.
Specs
- Year: 2026
- Language: English
- Director: Elise Rodriguez
- Writer: Kathryn Parks
- Executive Producer: Kathryn Parks
- Producers: Kathryn Parks and Elise Rodriguez
- Starring: Kathryn Parks, Ariel Blue, Chase Shellee, Martina Long
- Composer: Kathryn Parks
- Arranger: Sergei Glushonkov
Director's Statement
In this story, the fading of the muses speaks to the subtle, often unspoken dilemma so many of us face in today’s world: the quiet drift away from creativity. The demands of productivity and conformity have pushed aside the kind of artistic exploration that was once a vital part of the human experience. And for those like myself, from backgrounds where survival and practicality take precedence over dreams, the creative path can feel even more distant.
This story delves into that quiet loss, reflecting a broader societal shift where the freedom to create feels threatened by the constraints of routine, technology, and responsibilities. MUSINGS: THE MUSICAL explores that tension: the internal conflict between our innate desire to create and the external forces that steer us toward the mundane. And while the film seeks to capture that sense of loss, it offers a gleaming path toward rediscovery.
My directorial approach to this story is focused on creating a symbiotic relationship between the fantastical (and funny), mythological world of the muses, and the familiar realities of our contemporary world—underscoring the tension between what is possible and what is often left unrealized. By gradually intertwining these two worlds, we see that the two are not mutually exclusive.
My goal is to allow the fantastical and the everyday to coexist, grounding the film, while still tapping into that sense of wonder. So, the musical element is meant to go beyond its usual tropes of grandiosity and theatrical flair; it is present to evidence how art can bring the human experience to life in a nostalgic and satisfying way. The film itself moves at a rhythm that mirrors the creative process: fast-paced when inspiration strikes and slower when ideas need space to breathe.
Ultimately, this project seeks to evoke a sense of possibility in the audience. It is an invitation to reconsider their own creative paths and to see the potential for art in the everyday—even in the midst of what feels ordinary and uninspired. MUSINGS reflects the potential for reclaiming that lost connection to one’s own inspiration, a reminder that our creative passions are always within reach, and an invitation for the viewer to “go on, go out and get your dreams.”
