Chapter Twenty Better Edited
Subject: Questions for Mal!
From: Russel, Sam
To: Mal
Hey Mal!
Here are those questions we talked about tonight. If you could get them back to me ASAP, that would be rad.
Spookily,
Sam.
What made you want to start MixxedMedia?
How did you learn to make zines?
How did you find your workspace?
How do you fund the project?
Where do you see MixxedMedia going in the future?
Subject: Questions for Mal!
Thursday, October 31 | 4:47 AM
From: Mal
To: Russel, Sam
Hi Sam,
Here you go. Let me know if you need anything else.
Best,
Mal
1. What made you want to start MixxedMedia?
I didn’t really want to do this, if I’m being honest. But I had to, so I did. And I think out of that necessity, we’re making something really Important. With a Capital I.
2. How did you learn to make zines?
Emerson taught me. She taught all of us, really.
She says that’s part of what makes it so punk rock—the “DIY spirit of it all.” I didn’t know when I first signed on that she’d mostly just watched a bunch of YouTube videos about it, but with a little trial and error (and some help from you, Sam), it’s worked out.
3. How did you find your workspace?
The Haus was Emerson’s suggestion because she knew there was unused space and then we kind of just… never stopped going, I guess. Now I think we’re just an extension of what the Haus already does: become what the community needs. We needed this space, so we made it.
4. How do you fund the project?
We started with a loan from Emerson’s mom (which she didn’t know about, so maybe don’t run that part?), but now we’re self-sustaining.
It’s been challenging, since we’re not supposed to sell them at school (maybe also don’t run that part, since we fully do).
Since our first print run sold out really fast, we’re doing a Mini Zine Fest to raise more funds and expand our print runs.
5. Where do you see MixxedMedia going in the future?
I want MixxedMedia to keep going. Sometimes I wish it didn’t have to—that we hadn’t been canceled.
Colleges take official, school-sanctioned activities much more seriously than hobbies when it comes to applications.
But if there’s not a place for us there, I want to keep building one for us here.
What we have to say is important, even if traditional institutions say it’s not.