It's your vision dummy

I'm sort of being Steve Brule when I say it that way. If you haven't seen Steve Brule, you're missing out. Funny stuff! He always calls people, "dummy". Any way, my post isn't about being a dummy, it's about telling your own story. See, we've all chosen the story we want to write. We all have a passion for it. But sometimes what gets in the way is that we worry, what if it's not good? What if people judge us harshly by it? But guess what, you can't possibly write with that kind of pressure on yourself. You have to allow yourself to get the story on the page. And the only way to do that is to trust that you have a story to tell. So tell it!

A director/writer friend of mine right now is finishing up a really cool documentary of his. I know it will be good when he's done because the idea is great. But, he's starting to put pressure on himself about how good it might not be. But you can't work like that! So after I got him off the creative ledge, I reminded him, you are telling YOUR story. Don't worry what someone else would tell. Tell YOUR story. Your story will be great. Because it's your vision. If we as writers and directors worry about what other people would tell, we'll end up with crap. That's it. We will. You have to tell your version of your story. That's why you're inspired to tell it! So trust in your vision. Get it on the page. Get it edited. The worst thing, what if it's not as great as you hoped? Then edit it some more! What if it's still not? Okay, worse case scenario it's not your best. Okay, we all have those scripts. But they get us to be better writers. There's never a script that was a waste of time. We learn and grow with each pass. But you have to get it on the page or you'll never be finished. You have to give yourself permission to get in on the page by NOT worrying about the final piece.

So do what you know how to do, which is write. I bet it ends up better than you ever imagined. And if not, there's always the next script.

Tell YOUR story

When it comes to writing your screenplay there are a million ways it could go. A love story could be Romeo and Juliet or Casablanca or Wedding Crashers. Each story is so different and each writer is very different. So when you get the chance to write a story, tell the story that YOU want. That's why when you get hired to write a story, you have to trust your own instincts. It can be scary when you know someone has the power to say yes or no to what you just wrote. But you have to trust there's a reason you want to tell this exact story. It came to you for a reason! So write that story. One of the worst things you could do is doubt yourself and then end up with a mediocre story. Go out with a bang! Write the story that's speaking to you. And if all goes well, the producer that hires you will see your vision and agree with it and want to get it made.

I read somewhere recently that Arthur Miller was given notes about Death of a Saleman and was told what an awful play it was. He used those notes and changed it so much that he hated it! That's when he realized he wasn't going to listen to anyone. He said something along the lines of, "I'm going to do what I want. And if it's no good, at least I wrote what I wanted." Then of course it went on to being the longest performing piece and most acted piece ever.

So that's what you have to do too! Trust that your vision of your story is what needs to be told. Sure take notes, listen to trusted friends. But if they don't see the vision that you are wanting to tell for your story, then ignore it all. How's a new writer to know when to listen to friends and when not? That only comes with experience. But as time goes on, you'll know who to listen to and what notes to listen to. In the end, it's your story and when a producer hires you, they're going to hire you for your style and story telling. So be sure that's what ends up on the page.

What do you do with grand opportunities?

So today I was talking to someone I love dearly and he has this amazing opportunity to work with this huge artist. I'm being vague to protect the innocent, and not so innocent. But let's just say, you and I would give our right arms to be in this person's position. Now he's always wanted to do grander things with his career, and as lucky as he is, it's not the grand vision he sees. Another larger company came along and spoke to the artist he's working with an offered to do this same thing he'd love to be doing. The artist turned them down. I told this person I love, then you do it! And guess what? He got mad. Not a little mad, but didn't want to talk about it mad.

Now, he'll tell you that it was crazy thinking of me to even suggest what I suggested. But I'll tell you why I did and what I hope you can learn from this. Working and careers are all about relationships. This person I love is already working with these people. He already has a confidence and a trust built in. What if he does suggest this grander vision and they say yes? Sure they could say no. But they could say yes! And then guess what? Then he'd have his grander vision come to life! They already like him. They already trust him. What if hearing this from him just makes sense to them?

How many times in life do we sit by the sidelines in these amazing settings ourselves and just don't take those risks? But what do we stand to lose? A person saying no? Big deal. We'll get over it. It's not like this person he's working with is going to fire him for asking. Even if they say no, it would be no skin off their backs. Things would just continue as they are. But he stands to gain so much more if he just asks and takes that small risk.  

So take a look at your own life. Are there positions you're in that you can ask for that next grander vision? Do you think, no way in heck could I ask that from that person? But is there really a real reason or is it just your fear? Fear is such a huge road block. But if we don't get past it, we are living life on the other side of our dreams! One of my favorite quotes is by Neale Donald Walsh about this. "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone". No one said going past that comfort zone would be easy. Life threatening? Never. Scary? Perhaps. But literally, you have nothing to lose! So push past that comfort zone. You just might surprise yourself what open doors await.