The Ten Governing Principles That Made My Film Career
Pt 2 Of "The Case For Hope For Film -- Optimism For Cinema"
Last Wednesday I shared with you the first twenty percent of the talk I had planned for Tribeca. It was fortunate; my brother in-law was getting married to his long term sweetheart so I had a reason to get to NYC as the festival wasn’t offering up any travel or renumeration — despite being a for-profit festival.
Tribeca did however deliver a great crowd (in a great space) though and I did deliver the talk… but I only got through that first part that defined the eight recognitions that help me keep my hope alive, as well as this current section on the foundation that allows my optimism to still stand firm. These (now expanded from 8 to 10) “Governing Principles” help me see the world and our industry for what I believe it is as well as how I want to participate in it.
Forty percent completion for someone (ie. me!) with an oversized completion urge is a tad frustrating. The fact I left the other sixty percent in my pocket though means I have the pleasure of bringing it to you courtesy of this newsletter in the days and weeks ahead. Those coming sections will look at what I learned, some “Systems Thinking”, and even more Futurecasting. You won’t want to miss them; trust me. For those of you early birds reading this now before 808A PT, you could still partake in yesterday’s special discount offer (hint, hint).
I started working in this industry as a Production Assistant over forty years ago. If my memory still serves the first gig was holding the bounce card for this poster shoot with Melissa Leo on Streetwalkin’. She was really nice to me and I remembered it when we started casting 21 Grams.
I spent three years in such roles (not streetwalkin’, but close!). Along the way, I started also working as a script reader as well as building business plans for a producer. Things were changing in the industry — a new technology was creating opportunities. VHS Rental Stores were springing up everywhere and they needed product on the shelves. And new aesthetics and movements were taking hold. The American Indie Wave was a rising tide
Although I had wanted to make movies for quite some time, it was hard to get the courage to do so. I knew no one in the business and I had no money. Initially I wanted to be invited in. I had been studying political theory in college but dropped out as I was also eager for action. I had some experience community organizing and in campaign management and lessons from each informed how I approached producing.
In the beginning of most careers, and definitely mine, opportunity defines all. I took the jobs I could get. Yes, I was also trying to push further and have a bit of agency, but initially I only wanted to shape my pursuit in terms of genre and maybe a wee bit of aesthetics too. It took me a while to remember that the way we make things can determine what it is we make. I think I not only first needed to build the momentum for a career, but I also needed to get some financial security to the level that I was not in full fledge panic if I didn’t have my next job lined up.
Fortunately though, when you hold values close to you and actually put the work in to ponder them, those values also seep into the actions you take. When I had some room to breath, I could look back and see aspects of what mattered to me then well lodged in the work I made and how I made it.
Those values shifted over time. New ones entered and old ones were re-prioritized. If time allows, I hope to examine what mattered most and when before I am tossed through our exit door. For now though, we can look at where I currently stand.
I wish I could have gotten to defining all these principles earlier. I think they would have helped me build my career with more direction, and perhaps even speed or certainty. I’d love a world — or just an industry — where more participants held the same principles close, but I can settle for the few that I have found. In fact, I am so thankful for those.
Let me know how these principles fit for you or if you have new ones to suggest, okay?
Also to be clear, these are not the principles that I necessarily hold most dear to me on a personal or even relationship or societal level. I have those too and believe that defining them and consistently reconsidering them are part of the necessary creative practice for building a sustainable and generative career in any creative industry these days, but that’s not what we are looking at today. We are looking at the Governing Principles for our professional work, the ones that might allow us to best prosper in the manner we actually desire. Let’s jump in, okay?
My 10 “Governing Principles”
These “Governing Principles” help me see the world and our industry for what I believe it is as well as how I want to participate in it.
When Ang Lee got back from making Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, I asked him how he’d compare making movies there versus here. He said “In China, the director is The Emperor, but in America, they are just The President”.
Ha!
We certainly have our problems here, as they do there too, but I don’t find any existing system consistently appropriate for the business of art and entertainment. Forget about the Emperor.. I have also worked with even more directors who only wanted the producers to be their general, executing their orders to the troops. Those that think The Art Of War by Sun Tzu is a film manual (many do!) are definitely not playing on the same team as me, no matter what they may think.
Yes, I only want to make films with directors who have strong, singular visions, but the manner I like to work is democratic, where all participants hold appropriate power and care is distributed equally. No kings here please. Good ideas can come from anyone, and although we need systems of communication and engagement, it is all our film. Our priority is the people, particularly those that we invited in. The films I love most also share this value and building outwards is one way to ensure it resonates in the work we generate. Democracy is how people make sure they are heard and encouraged, looked after, cared for, and inspired.
