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EVERYONE NEEDS A YODA
“Always two there are, a master and an apprentice.” Yoda, The Phantom Menace

Yoda, the ancient and revered Jedi Master, had trained Jedi for eight centuries, and was very powerful in the Force. When young Padawans began their first foray into Jedi training, they did so under Yoda's guidance.

So, if you want to be a Jedi, you need a master. But how does that apply to you as a filmmaker? What exactly does a master/mentor do? In a perfect world, a mentor would be a teacher, a guide, an advisor, role model, coach and trusted confidant. I don’t know about you, but I don’t live in a perfect world. I haven’t run into any mentors with eight centuries of wisdom built up. So how does this apply to us?

First of all, let’s quickly define apprentice. The Museum of Science in Boston defines apprentice as “a person who agrees to work for someone else for a period of time in return for training in a trade or art.” Leonardo da Vinci was an apprentice to the artist Andrea del Verrocchio, who taught him many things, including how to paint, sculpt, and design buildings. Apprenticeship solves the Catch-22 of “No experience, no job. No job, no experience.” At the root: Apprentice training allows you to learn while you earn.

“Help you I can, yes, mmmmm.” Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back

So, what are the advantages of a mentor? According to the Army Mentorship Resource Center, studies suggest that those who have been mentored rate themselves as having more influence, power and access to important individuals. They also report more influence within the organization regardless of their gender, race, age or organizational position. Mentees get help in mastering additional skills, knowledge or abilities in specific areas which enhance their prospects for success. Mmmmm. Influence. Power. Success. I could use more of that, how about you?

Like Oscar-nominated film editor Geraldine Peroni, many filmmakers get their first film jobs as apprentices.

“I’m looking for someone.” “Looking? Found someone you have.” Luke and Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back

What are the characteristics of a good mentor? At the University of Illinois, they have created a new award called Outstanding Mentoring Award, recognizing the exemplary efforts by the graduate facility. They have noted common characteristics among award recipients.

1. Respectful and Committed: Good mentors see the apprenticeship as an investment in the future. They view apprentices as invaluable but inexperienced junior colleagues, and are committed to seeing them through the rough spots.
2. Demanding and Proactive: Good mentors have high standards for themselves and their students, and they constantly strive for excellence. Good mentors don’t wait for their students to seek them out, but rather encourage participation in meaningful professional development activities.
3. Adaptable and Available: Good mentors recognize that different apprentices have different needs and strengths. And despite their own busy schedules, good mentors are accessible, and approachable. Their doors are open to their students, and they are available during off times as well.
4. Encouraging and Nurturing: Good mentors encourage students to develop their own ideas, promoting a sense of independence, responsibility, and self-confidence. They encourage students to experiment, and teach them not to fear mistakes.
5. Influential and Role Model: Good mentors practice what they preach. Good mentors have influence that extends far beyond the students with whom they have personally been involved, so that their influence ripples through succeeding generations of students.
But the best piece of advice may come from the Nurses Service Organization. They encourage their nursing students to look for someone who is “generous of spirit,” explaining that mentoring is a gift and requires unselfish givers.

“Size matters not, look at me, judge me by my size do you?” Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back

Is a good filmmaker always a good mentor? No. According to William Silen, M.D., Recipient of the Harvard Medical School Lifetime Mentoring Award, “the truly complete mentor is a rare species.” Not many of us can find a Yoda, with 800 years of experience, able to serve as “an advisor/guide, developer of talent/coach, opener of doors/advocate, role model, interpreter of organizational or professional rules, protector, rule setter/boss—and carry on all of these functions on a long-term basis.”

Maybe like Luke Skywalker, your Yoda falls short of what you expected. Dr. Silen suggests finding several mentors, who can each serve in different roles. He relates about a person who strongly influenced him to become a surgeon. Silen’s mentor was a master surgeon, physician, and teacher, but he wasn’t available to discuss career development or academic opportunities. So, while Dr. Silen could try to emulate him, he needed someone else to offer advice and to open doors. Such a person surfaced in the form of a relatively young faculty person who was instrumental in facilitating his academic career.

Just like Luke Skywalker, we may not recognize our Yoda, because we are looking for a “great warrior.” To which Yoda responded: “Ahhh! Great warrior. Wars not make one great...” There may be filmmakers that we can use as role models, but is there someone right next to you who can give you advice?

So where do you find a mentor? “Professionals do not walk around with badges identifying themselves as future mentors” says Doris Appelbaum, President of Appelbaum's Resume/Career Professionals, Inc. “Be enterprising about finding and keeping mentors.”

• Networking – Join and attend professional organizations in your area. Network with as many people as you can.
• Mentoring Programs – Paid mentoring programs have an advantage: Paid mentors tend to be more committed to the apprentice. Two to check out: www.film-connection.com and www.advancementoring.com.
• Web Sites and Job Boards – Try frequenting bulletin boards, chat rooms, etc., you can develop relationships with like-minded people and gain quite a bit from others’ experience. Also, check out www.monster.com for internships.
• Film Schools With Good Internship Programs – No longer does the question, “What equipment does this school have?” determine the quality of education. With the cost of equipment tumbling, training from a master craftsman becomes much more important.

Take the initiative, and approach the individual who you think would make a good mentor.

YODA: “Only a fully trained Jedi Knight with the Force as his ally will conquer Vader and his Emperor. If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil.”

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