I have just completed the article for Moviescope magazine, which has turned out rather well. I had 1200 words (two pages in the magazine) to deliver and knew that I needed ten times that amount to get it all across, so I had to choose carefully what I wrote about. I finally settled on the most important aspect, that of choosing the biggest dream you have, the one that keeps you awake at nights, and following that with passion to its logical ends…
Here is a short except from what I wrote…
…whatever you choose, you will always do the very least you consider is needed to get the job done. It’s human nature, and commonly called the path of least resistance. So really, my success or failure on Gone Fishing would lie in the choice of logical end to my endeavour, and also in knowing that I would ALWAYS choose the path of least resistance to that end goal – so the trick to success lies in the choosing of that goal – a small hill or the highest mountain? Failure is an almost certain statistical outcome, but failing to climb a hill creates few new opportunities, whereas failing to climb a mountain will certainly open up a new world. So the greater endeavour becomes an almost certain win win proposition. Win if you make it, win if you fail to make it.
I announced that my goal would be to win the 2009 Academy Award for Best Short Film. That I felt, was about as big a goal a short film could score.
As I made the announcement I felt the immediate pressure. I needed to be at the very top of my game, with top cast and crew, 35mm film, and a narrative that would reach out and connect with audiences in a positive way...
…and like all great stories, it’s not the outcome that is compelling, but the journey undertaken. And I knew that if I involved people in my journey, they would feel like they were themselves part of that Oscars bid too. In that way, whether we get nominated or not, whether we win or not is unimportant, it’s that we try our very very best. David and Goliath is always compelling, and we always align with David…
I recently figured out that we have a great press hook in the Goliath angle, it just makes for great headlines IF we get the nomination on Jan 22nd…
Onwards and upwards!
Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author
www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]
