Messy Community Guidelines

Want to join our community on WhatsApp or come to one of our events?

We’ve worked hard to create a space that is special and fun and valuable, so we ask that you read our guidelines first before joining - and only joining if you think that Messy resonates wit you!

Scroll down to find the WhatsApp invite link!

WHAT IS MESSY!

Messy Collective is a supportive community for women, NB and trans writers and filmmakers - celebrating the messy process of creativity and getting a career in the arts.

The Messy admins are here to help us keep an open and fun space for people to connect with those on the same creative and career trajectory, to celebrate and vent, to share resources and ask for advice, and to help each other along in good spirits. Often with wine.

Cis men are allowed to our events and in our WhatsApp if they are recommended by an existing Messy member. If they go against any of our guidelines or make any of our community uncomfortable, they’ll be asked to leave at admins’ discretion.

Messy is a labour of love, run by a team of volunteer admins around our full time jobs and filmmaker dreams! This community started by accident, and we just want to keep it helpful for the people who use Messy as their first step into the world of filmmaking and writing.

We’ve consulted with the community and decided to publish a refresh of the RULES! We can’t believe that we’ve grown so much that we need RULES, but we want to provide a space that works for the people who built this community and made it what it is.

We always want to hear how we can do better by the communities we represent, so please come to us if you have any ideas.

Rules of engagement:

• BE NICE!

  • No harmful language, mansplaining or aggression

  • People are allowed to make mistakes, learn and grow - we only ask that you listen rather than dig in if the community takes the time to educate you

  • But not too nice: this is not a space for dating and absolutely do not message anyone out of the group unless they specifically ask you to

• Keep conversations relevant:

  • In the general group, stay focused on filmmaking, writing, and relevant culture and media

  • For more specific questions, use designated groups - we have many!

• Be mindful of screentime and don’t overwhelm with notifications:

  • Try to only ask questions where you’re looking for answers from personal experience rather than things you could Google or find elsewhere

  • Keep things to one message rather than a series

  • Use reactions rather than typing out ‘haha’, ‘thanks’, or ‘well done’

  • Don’t reply to things that you don’t know the answer to

  • Friendly chat is fine in moderation but don’t let it go on too long

• No spam or self-promotion for professional or paid services:

  • We don’t like people soliciting Messies for money

  • Always ask an admin if you have a service or product you think is relevant - but don’t be offended if we say no

  • Please don’t clog up the channel with your social media links and introductions to you and your work - instead, please post these here Messy Friend Finder

• No pitches or asking for producers or film financing:

  • Most of the people in our groups are fellow filmmakers seeking producers, money and work so can’t help you, and would share any opportunities and jobs that could help you on the relevant groups

  • Again, this probably isn’t the group to share your crowdfunder as we’re all in the same boat

  • Active and long-term group members should feel free to ask how we can support you if you’re trying to get a project off the ground

• But share things that are relevant:

  • We have specific groups for contests and job openings as we know that these really help out early career Messies

  • We love to hear successes from when it’s actually gone well and welcome celebration

  • Inviting people to engage with your work by sharing links to read, watch, or buy tickets is very welcome! (Just be sensible with it!)
    

Messy Events

We do not allow the following behaviours at Messy events, and you will be asked to leave, or blocked from attending future events, if we are told about this behaviour.

• Overt, extreme or unprompted pitching, taking over conversations, mansplaining

• Attempting to use the events for dating more than professional or friendly connections

• Unwanted physical contact (this can include shaking hands and kissing on the cheek)

• Harassment or pressuring behaviour to maintain contact outside of events, for example premature suggestions to meet or connect on social media

• Use of inappropriate or offensive language that makes members uncomfortable

• Inappropriate sexual comments or behaviours

A reminder to people at our events: please find a Messy Collective founder or admin if you are made to feel uncomfortable - there are always plenty around!

Messy Values

• Messy is a women-first space with a focus on supporting underrepresented filmmakers. Trans, NB, queer, POC, disabled and neurodivergent writers are very welcome.

• Messy supports a free Palestine.

• Messy supports sex workers and the decriminalisation of sex work.

• Messy supports the work of unions fighting for fairer rights for creatives, and this includes a strong stance against the use of AI to replace jobs that would otherwise pay creative workers.

• Messy wishes that all writers and creatives could be paid fairly for their work and so we prefer shared opportunities to come with proper reimbursement, but we understand that lots of projects are labours of love by the creators, and that those early on in their career who are able to may choose to take unpaid or low paid work to advance themselves - this is at the discretion of those involved.

Any posts that don’t align with the Messy values or upset members of our community may be deleted and the poster removed.

Thank you to those who stick to the guidelines and make the lives of the Messy founders & admin team a LOT easier - and thank you all for being here!

With Messy love,
The Messy Women x