Sent the first three outreach emails. Othello Vaasa replied within 24 hours.

I'd been putting this off for weeks.

The pitch felt too vague. The offer felt unformed. I kept telling myself I needed a better reel, a cleaner website, a more developed concept before I started contacting people.

Then I realized I was waiting to be ready in a way that would never come.

So on a Wednesday morning I wrote three emails. Othello Vaasa, a Thai restaurant I'd been curious about, and a cultural venue that runs regular community events. I kept them short. Direct. Clear offer: I want to make a documentary about your business. No cost. You get the film.

Othello replied at 2:14 PM the next day.

The email was three sentences. They said yes. They asked when I was free.

That's it. The thing I'd been avoiding for weeks took 24 hours to start working. I have a meeting with them next Tuesday. I'm not sure exactly what the film will be yet. But we're talking.