Allow me to be a psychic for a second and predict what you’re thinking… “That’s not possible, the word ‘fun’ and the word ‘job’ are antonyms (opposites of each other) they can’t exist in the same sentence… your job isn’t supposed to be fun, that’s why its called a job.” Well, allow me to burst your bubble of pre-conceived notions about how the world works and let you in on a little secret… Everyone on this planet has something that they love to do, and the odds are extremely favorable that (supposing you try to find it) you can get paid doing it.
I learned this lesson myself. As recently as last year I had no goals or aspirations. I hated my job; I hated going to school. I had absolutly no idea what I wanted to do with my life and I was getting nervous about what my future would be. I decided that I didn’t want to be nervous about my future anymore, so I sat down and contemplated. I thought about the things that I love to do most in this world and directly at the top of the list… watch movies. I made the decision… I am going to be a filmmaker. It doesn’t matter whether I make it big and get rich, or whether I have to live in a car. I will make movies, period.
Fast forward to this past June and my first film crew job. I was a Grip/Production Assistant on an ultra low budget film called “Where the Cypress Grows.” I learned a lot and realized that it’s really fuckin fun to make movies. That job ended and I already had another one lined up.
My last day on this job is tomorrow (Oct. 13, 2008). I am a Production Assistant on an independent film called “Respire.” A production assistant is basically the film crew’s bitch. We have to be available to assist any department (whether it be: makeup, wardrobe, grip, electrical, lighting, or camera departments) whenever they need help. The coolest thing about it is the networking I was able to do. I’m working with the grip crew that worked on Eagle Eye, Body of Lies, Night at the Museum II and The Wire, the Director of Photography who filmed a season or two of The Wire and was camera operator on Live Free or Die Hard, and the Prop Master who did props for: Major Payne, Mars Attacks!, Red Dragon, Wedding Crashers, and Transformers 2 (among others). The point I’m trying to make is that I was lucky enough to land this gig where the crew possesses a wealth of knowledge that is easy to tap into by simply working with them. I can say with conviction that I have learned more about making movies by working with all these guys over the past month then I’ve learned in my whole life.
I guess the biggest revelation for me is that this is without a doubt the most fun and exciting job I’ve ever had. It boggles my mind that people actually do this for a living and are able to live a very healthy lifestyle doing it. I would never have imagined that a job of any kind would be as fun, challenging, and interesting as this was. Watching movies has been my number one favorite activity for as long as I can remember, but making movies is quite an amazing experience. I was struck when I realized my primary goal in life… to one day be able to entertain a movie going audience with my movies as much as other peoples movies entertain me.
Anyway, if you don’t know what you want to do with your career, just figure out something that brings you complete joy and chase that. I don’t know about you but I’d much rather do what I love and be poor then be rich and miserable. So, 40 years from now, when you’re working the drive thru at McDonalds (or God forbid, Taco Bell) you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.
Everyone has dreams, but not everyone chases them.
Filed under: Advice/Inspirational Message | Tagged: Career, Filmmaking, Jobs, Misery, Movies
