| |
Photo: by Julie Soefer
Click
here to read the next article
Click
here to go to the current newsletter |
F.A.T.
FILMMAKERS ARE THE NEW SEX SYMBOL
The first time I read Scott Adams’ (of Dilbert fame) article
claiming men who use computers are the new sex symbols of the ‘90s
I was almost in tears. Such lucid, unarguable truth, you would all
have to agree. Now articles proclaiming that “50” is
the new “35” permeate the health and life sections of
our ever self-conscious nation. Good, now I can feel young for another
14 years.
Well, time for another paradigm shift. FAT is the hot commodity
of the modern filmmaker. More utilized for plucky comic relief than
for serious storytelling, the FAT quotient in the industry really
must change. Morgan Spurlock demonstrated how to get fat (and de-libido’d)
in 30 days, but that’s not my point. Certainly, The Tao of
Steve’s Dex brought more depth to the plight of the plump’s
search for love. Still, the fatness we see in film, from Fat Bastard
to Bridget Jones, doesn’t embody why FAT could change your
career forever.
Last month, we elucidated on the importance of finding good mentors.
“Help you I can, yes, mmmmm,” Yoda announced to Luke
in Dagobah’s swamp. We discussed the advantages and characteristics
of having wise teachers. It is a beautiful thing to find a responsible,
caring, learned forerunner who can help you extend toward your dreams.
The Responsibility of an Apprentice
Everybody needs a Yoda. We need a mentor to show us what we don’t
even know we can be. So easily, we are Lukians, thinking we can
do it already, imagining we are ready to take on the full throttle
dark side, not even knowing how much it takes to be prepared. Most
of the time I don’t even know I need a Yoda.
But what kind of commitment does it take to be a worthy apprentice?
The onus is on us if we want to excel. What do we bring into the
relationship if it is to be enriching? This is why FAT is a valuable
commodity. If you can be faithful, available, and teachable, you
are heading in the right direction. Let me explain.
Faithful
As with everything, you can discern your commitment by asking yourself
some heart-searching questions. Am I content with where my skill
is now? How hard am I willing to work at getting to a next level?
Is the drudgery of the hard work worth it to reach the subsequent
echelon? These questions test your faithfulness.
Determination is the essence of faithfulness. Spurlock had an idea,
but no guarantees on a distributor, yet he still moved forward.
In the film, you see his dogged persistence in calling McDonald’s
reps that give answers to his concerns. He was determined to further
and film his idea, even in spite of obstacles. Are you resolute
to make sacrifices and challenge obstacles that cross your path?
I’ve always enjoyed a simple cliché, “by determination
the snail made it on the ark.” Faithfulness is a willingness
to adore the long-term goal, and cast aside the romances of the
moment. Successful marriages put this into practice, as does any
great endeavor.
Available
I’ve heard a friend say numerous times, “You make time
for the things that really matter to you.” It is easy to see
that I make time to ride my road bike, see films, and catch friends
for as much conversation as they will give me. The dreams that lurk
in back recesses of my mind scream for release and progress, but
I find it harder to give them the time. Why? They seem to be the
ideas that make me feel most alive, the ones that give purpose to
my actions, yet they wallow. My dreams need bigger feet to kick
down my door of complacency, and burst into the front room declaring,
“You’re gonna do something about me now, Sucka!”
Time is the core of availability. Are you giving yourself the time
to develop your ideas? Do you need to get a different job so that
more time can be allotted to your craft? How can you rearrange you
schedule and create an atmosphere conducive to moving your dream
forward? Time with like-minded others will generate concepts, time
with mentors can hone those ideas, and time with your concept can
give life to your dream.
You need to make yourself available to learn, to think, to challenge
yourself, to shoot footage, to storyboard, and yes, even to relax
at times.
But, I’ve only got so much time, and haven’t figured
out how to sign up for more. I know, that’s my problem too.
Like my friend said, “you make time for the things that really
matter,” and there is no time like you-know-what to let the
beast out of the back room. “Get busy living, or get busy
dying,” Red narrates in Shawshank. So, if you need to rearrange,
you have my permission to do so.
Teachable
We’ve seen the learners on screen, and they all look dumb.
The Karate Kid, Luke, Neo—until he gets it—and Bruce
Almighty, all had doofus written on their faces. Why would I want
to be like them? I have no doubt that your skills far surpass theirs,
but there is still much to learn and you know it. Perhaps the most
obvious doofus is the one who is un-teachable—the obnoxious
know-it-all—who is not willing to grow in any way. I don’t
give you permission to be an obnoxious know-it-all.
The essence of teachability is humility. Do you think you have all
the answers, or are you aware that your knowledge base has holes?
Are you being picky in choosing a mentor because you want the perfect
teacher? John Crosby says, “Successful people turn everyone
who can help them into sometimes mentors.” Can you adopt an
attitude of willingness to admit your gaps, and ask someone for
help? “To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being
wrong,” Joseph Chilton Pearce said, knowing our need to move
beyond pride to a position of always learning. If you see yourself
as a student, you will always be in a posture to learn.
A Fat Checklist
It is perhaps notable that I have posed more questions than provided
answers—it seems life does that to us as well. There is much
to learn in order to excel and grow in filmmaking, and the first
question is, “Do you want to excel?” If you do, then
your necessary commodities are faithful, available, and teachable.
The following checklist from the College of DuPage will determine
how much of these commodities you have. I encourage you to take
the time to evaluate yourself honestly. Yoda would be proud!
Melissa is eternally
grateful to Mick Haupt who wrote this article for her, since she
didn’t have time.
Click here to read the next article
Click
here to go to the current newsletter
[to submit an
article for consideration to be included in the next "Craft
Services", please contact melissa@damah.com]
|
