I thought it would be a cool idea to use this space to outline something that I learned and really valued from my experience of making my first short film.

Well, let's start with this one because it was a bit of a hard learned lesson.

One thing you are hounded with over and over in animation school is how important deadlines are. It is true. But I never really got the weight of it till completing my own film.

Not wanting to ramble, or go into details, I just want to outline what you stand to lose when you miss a KEY deadline.

Let's paint the picture first... you are doing something you LOVE. You are doing something you believe in. You are doing something that is literally, an extension of your soul (if you have one) So you put all this effort into creating this wonderful honest piece of art or whatever it may be... but you miss a key deadline...

 

 

THAT is a REALLY STUPID MOVE...

When you miss a deadline, you either miss out on Money.. which sucks..

 

but you're an artist.. you don't care about money right? Well, you miss out on other things, that are VERY important too. You miss out on attention, you miss out on publicity, to which of course you reply that "hey, I can get publicity or attention when I'm done".. yes, you can you stubborn nincompoop. But, you're missing out on momentum. A deadline is created for a reason. In this context, I am referring to a screening; a preplanned, obvious, set screening, that many many people know about and will attend.

This will be a big gathering of people and a GREAT opportunity for you to burst outta the box with a great deal of momentum. Your film, or piece of art can really use this turbo, or boost to propel it. You almost determine the trajectory of how far your art can go on whether you hit these key checkpoints.

To which you reply, look, I'm an artist, I do this for myself, I don't care about money, or about the attention. Well, that's nice, you idiotic nihilist.

So what, you don't believe in Money, and you don't believe in creating art to gain attention... well your whole exercise seems pointless...

My belief, and one I have heard from many others as well, is that once art is created, it doesn't belong to you, it is part of the world, the masses, and belongs to them. What I am getting at is if you create art, and you love it, your duty isn't done by keeping it in your basement... Art/Music.. those things keep the world moving, and truthfully make life worth living... if you just create it, you're only doing half the work. You gatta make sure it hits as MANY people as possible because you can't measure the impact it has on them.. it is invaluable.. and if you were gifted with the ability to create art, then you should share it... otherwise, crawl into your little hole and die.

Solution? ANITICIPATE EVERYTHING. Plan Plan PLAN with incredible OCD, sacrifice your social life and get it done! as I said... I learned this the hard way.

Well, that's my rant. That made sense right?... that got to SOME point right?... hmm.. no one get's anything right the first time..

 

Manu