How Can We Better Give All That We Truly Want To Give?
Where pondering gives us the latest edition of HopeForFilm First Principles
I initially offered an earlier version of these tenets for this newsletter last year, here. Granted, it was buried in a rather long post where I walked through an entire practice of why setting tenets or first principles are absolutely necessary. I still wonder if any one took that advice.
Are any filmmakers working backwards and designing their creative and professional practices around first setting those principles and then deciding the tenets and tactics they need to maintain them? I’d love to hear how that’s been working for you if you have. It is one of the reasons I bring you these newsletter each week. I think if you tried that it could help you with your work and your life. It may not be the answer, but it may nudge you towards something that works for you. There is no harm in giving it a try.
When I first offered my initial tenets, I wanted to not just let you know what I hoped to express here on my newsletter, but I liked the idea of having some guardrails in place for what may come next. That said, looking at them now, they really are more “First Principles” than tenets. Tenets would be the foundation for why I think these First Principles deserve to be what I structure my weekly musings around. The principles are what we stand for, and the tenets being what stand on. Yes?
Beyond setting those guardrails, I think we need to regularly re-examine the things we do and the reasons behind the things we do. Don’t you? Shouldn’t all of us adopt such a practice? Why do you think we don’t? Do we think we just don’t have the time to do anything more than all we already do? What if I told you that by investing some time now, and then adding a little to it every year, it would pay off in big dividends? Would you then? Well, I am. I am telling you that now.
An annual exercise of this can keep you from being in a rut. Why are you doing the job you do? Why do you even want to make movies? Could you be doing something else that would prove even more satisfying? What will help you feel better about all you do, if in fifteen years from now, you are essentially doing the same thing? What would the best professional situation for you look like and why? That sort of thing. Ask the questions now, while you still have time. Seriously. You will move faster towards the things you have actually chosen. And time is short. So there’s that.
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