The hottest gift this past holiday season was Wii. Exercise at home in front of the tube. I even played Wii. New Years Eve I bowled an average 110. Whereas a week before I bowled 205 at a live bowling alley. We also Wii golfed. I was relieved to discover that I was not required to manipulate my hands into pretzel-like contortions and swing with stiffened joints et al. On a course, all those things are important. Especially, follow through.
Last October I attended the Creative Screenwriting Screenwriting Expo in LA. I sat under the instruction of pro-writers and teacher for several days. The wealth of information I gained to improve my writing was overwhelming. So much so that I felt that was contorting my hands to deliver my writing under the rigid guidelines of the experts.
Today I finished the first draft of a 15-minute short. After months of floundering in my writing, today the imagery flowed with visual ease. I felt the pleasure of Polymnia as I crafted the emotionally charged story.
Skills learned in association of a craft are vital for achieving excellence and industry respect. The acquisition of those skills can either lead to discouragement, disillusionment, defeat or resilience, achievement, and success. The pivot on the scale of decision is follow through. That will push you on to take action.
You don't need to contort or get all bent out of shape about the structure of your art. You just need to swing and correct. At least you get something done.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Talent Capital
Slow capital is gain earned over time. Fred Wilson, venture capitalist and blogger, suggests five tentets of slow capital:
1) doesn't rush to conclusions and doesn't expect entrepreneurs to do so either
2) flows into a company based on the company's needs, not the investor's needs
3) starts small and grows with the company as it grows
4) has no set timetable for getting liquid: slow capital is patient capital
5) takes the time to understand the company and the people who make it up.
While reading Fred's piece in "What Matters Most," I was struck by the similarity of capital to talent. Unless you are a progeny, the talent inside of you must be cultivated and nurtured.
I overheard a conversation today. One person was in his fifties. The other, a single mom. He remarked about the daughter of other person and her interest in several musical instruments. He noted that as young man he learned the violin, but only got as far learning the novice peice of Twinkle Twinkle. He doesn't play now. Gave it up a long time ago. The regret humg in his voice.
It takes time to become good, let alone expert at anything. Malcolm Gladwell promotes that it takes 10,000 hours. Let me borrow from Fred Wilson's tenets for five tenets for slow talent.
Talent...
1) doesn't rush to a resolution to quit nor expects the heart and mind to do so either
2) flows into daily living based on the room offered, not financial needs
3) starts with small projects, doodles, random ideas captured and grows as the talent host takes action
4) has no set timetable for generating revenue; slow talent is patient talent
5) takes the time to appreciate creativity and those that host talent.
Creative expression is not an overnight gig. It is the journey of life.
2) flows into a company based on the company's needs, not the investor's needs
3) starts small and grows with the company as it grows
4) has no set timetable for getting liquid: slow capital is patient capital
5) takes the time to understand the company and the people who make it up.
While reading Fred's piece in "What Matters Most," I was struck by the similarity of capital to talent. Unless you are a progeny, the talent inside of you must be cultivated and nurtured.
I overheard a conversation today. One person was in his fifties. The other, a single mom. He remarked about the daughter of other person and her interest in several musical instruments. He noted that as young man he learned the violin, but only got as far learning the novice peice of Twinkle Twinkle. He doesn't play now. Gave it up a long time ago. The regret humg in his voice.
It takes time to become good, let alone expert at anything. Malcolm Gladwell promotes that it takes 10,000 hours. Let me borrow from Fred Wilson's tenets for five tenets for slow talent.
Talent...
1) doesn't rush to a resolution to quit nor expects the heart and mind to do so either
2) flows into daily living based on the room offered, not financial needs
3) starts with small projects, doodles, random ideas captured and grows as the talent host takes action
4) has no set timetable for generating revenue; slow talent is patient talent
5) takes the time to appreciate creativity and those that host talent.
Creative expression is not an overnight gig. It is the journey of life.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The Laughing Wall
One of the pages on my site will be dedicated to play. Specifically, the renewal of laughing as a means to release tension and enjoy the moment. I am not sure all of what I want on that page. My sketchpad has not yet revealed to me what the page will look like. However, I do know one element I want to create for my site: a Laughing Wall.
Surfing the other day I came across a "love letter" wall. The page has 400 colored squares. Click on a square and it reveals a jpg of a love letter. Kind of cool. Time consuming and clearly voyeuristic (what isn't on the Net?), but a neat concept.
Having mulled over the idea for a couple of days, I came up with the idea for the Laughing Wall project. The Laughing Wall consists of face imges that when moused over expands and broadcasts an associated giggle, laugh, guffaw, or chortle. Wave the mouse over sections of the wall and the viewer is delighted with a cacophony of laughter. Since I am thinking beyond my ability already, I may as well set it up that a text displays a one word to a sentance response to the question, "what makes you laugh?"
Ambitious I suppose. Especially for a guy that doesn't even know how to do a mouse over in HTML. Even more ambitious in that I want to start with a 10x10 wall with people that respond to me with clips, sound bytes, and pictures. Except for those very melancholy types that thrive on severe mood swings to draw their creative energy, most folks like to laugh. It stimulates good health, tension relief, and shared pleasure.
More to come on how to participate in the creation of the Laughing Wall....
Surfing the other day I came across a "love letter" wall. The page has 400 colored squares. Click on a square and it reveals a jpg of a love letter. Kind of cool. Time consuming and clearly voyeuristic (what isn't on the Net?), but a neat concept.
Having mulled over the idea for a couple of days, I came up with the idea for the Laughing Wall project. The Laughing Wall consists of face imges that when moused over expands and broadcasts an associated giggle, laugh, guffaw, or chortle. Wave the mouse over sections of the wall and the viewer is delighted with a cacophony of laughter. Since I am thinking beyond my ability already, I may as well set it up that a text displays a one word to a sentance response to the question, "what makes you laugh?"
Ambitious I suppose. Especially for a guy that doesn't even know how to do a mouse over in HTML. Even more ambitious in that I want to start with a 10x10 wall with people that respond to me with clips, sound bytes, and pictures. Except for those very melancholy types that thrive on severe mood swings to draw their creative energy, most folks like to laugh. It stimulates good health, tension relief, and shared pleasure.
More to come on how to participate in the creation of the Laughing Wall....
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Too Old To Learn
The old saying that you can't teach old dogs new tricks is crap. Old dogs that can't be taught new things are people that don't want to learn. Set in their ways, the idea of a lifestyle change or trying something new is unfathomable. You might as well ask them to walk on the moon.
Got an old dog in your life or feeling a little like your years are multiplied by 7? There is hope. Put down that book and do some web surfing. Worldlifeexpectancy.com reports:
UCLA scientists have found that for computer-savvy middle-aged and older adults, searching the Internet triggers key centers in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning. The findings demonstrate that Web search activity may help stimulate and possibly improve brain function.
Image Link
Somehow in addition to everything else I am trying to do, I work in a daily surf fix. I search the Web for a combination of written, visual, and audio pages that interest me. I am totally digging the things I have discovered. My brain is popping with inspiration and creative ideas.
Robyn Waters, author of "The Trendmaster's Guide
", encourages surfers in What Matters Most to "leave the screens of your virtual world momentarily behind, and indulge your senses with a real world adventure." Before the Internet, reading was a catalytic resource for inspiring adventures of mind and action. I agree wholeheartedly with Robyn. Get away from the screen and experience real world adventure.
But I will add a point...
Create critical mass in your soul. Make your mind so hungry for real life experiences through the resources you have at hand. I use the Internet to discover possibilities. The creative energy is reaching critical mass and I am very hungry.
Got an old dog in your life or feeling a little like your years are multiplied by 7? There is hope. Put down that book and do some web surfing. Worldlifeexpectancy.com reports:
UCLA scientists have found that for computer-savvy middle-aged and older adults, searching the Internet triggers key centers in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning. The findings demonstrate that Web search activity may help stimulate and possibly improve brain function.
Image LinkRobyn Waters, author of "The Trendmaster's Guide
", encourages surfers in What Matters Most to "leave the screens of your virtual world momentarily behind, and indulge your senses with a real world adventure." Before the Internet, reading was a catalytic resource for inspiring adventures of mind and action. I agree wholeheartedly with Robyn. Get away from the screen and experience real world adventure. But I will add a point...
Create critical mass in your soul. Make your mind so hungry for real life experiences through the resources you have at hand. I use the Internet to discover possibilities. The creative energy is reaching critical mass and I am very hungry.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Most Important Creative Project
Last night, following a gruelingly long 20 hour day, I plopped on the sofa exhausted. After vegging on something mindless, I went to bed. My heart pounded in my chest. Was this an anxiety attack? I hear about that kind of thing all the time. What does an anxiety attack feel like?
Reset the attitude button and start the day on the right foot. The activities that consume my time actually give me a lot of enjoyment. I have nothing to complain about. So where did that overwhelming sense of -- whatever that is called -- come from? Probably the same angst that has driven so many artists to madness over history.
I remember a story that described Michangelo's method for selecting marble for a project. He spent considerable time in a quarry observing slabs of marble. The project would become visible in his mind's eye. His task was then to chip away the excess to uncover the art, so he could detail it, and buff it for public enjoyment.
The chipping process took a toll on me the last few days. Through the process of self-discovery, I am uncovering aspects of my talent that I have not seen in years. My mind is sharper. My patience deepened. Today I even broke out my strathmore pad and colored pencils to play with some new web site designs. Every little burst of creative energy strikes a new neural pathway for my future. 2010 looks promising.
Reset the attitude button and start the day on the right foot. The activities that consume my time actually give me a lot of enjoyment. I have nothing to complain about. So where did that overwhelming sense of -- whatever that is called -- come from? Probably the same angst that has driven so many artists to madness over history. Considering the projects I am working on, there is nothing that might warrant a mini-freak out. The most important creative project I am working on is...me. Coming to that time in a life when the realization that change is possible and necessary can take a very long time. Sadly, a lot of people never realize the potential for life fulfillment through change. Small changes that yield massive rewards.
The chipping process took a toll on me the last few days. Through the process of self-discovery, I am uncovering aspects of my talent that I have not seen in years. My mind is sharper. My patience deepened. Today I even broke out my strathmore pad and colored pencils to play with some new web site designs. Every little burst of creative energy strikes a new neural pathway for my future. 2010 looks promising.
Monday, January 11, 2010
A Creative Leap
10. Nobody I knew could crawl into my brain to see through my eyes. (I love you Charlie Kaufman!)
9. The strategic plan I developed while in college was REALLY over the top.
8. I was a victim of paralysis by analysis.
7. The font choices of ARIAL, HELVETICA, and TIMES NEW ROMAN limited my personal expression.
6. Pre-fab templates felt like wearing bunched up speedos down a water park speed slide.
5. Damned red lights in Colorado Springs got me all worked up over the past four years.
4. I lost my creative mojo in 1981 and it took a while to find it.
3. Voices in the night told me that if I would build it "they would come." Scared the crap out of me.
2. Stick figures are uninspiring (at least that is what I thought until I saw a Life is Good t-shirt!)
1. I was afraid it would look stupid.
For my Masters graduation gift my Dad gave me the gift of jumping out of a plane. It was really cool. The night before I was full of fear and thinking of ways to bail. The morning of the dive, I resolved to do it regardless of my feelings. After watching a video briefing that reiterated several times that "YOU CAN DIE," we drove to the plane. A rickety old thing that probably did this junket 10,000 times.
As the plane ascended with the doors wide open, I watched as the Colorado landscape became smaller and smaller. My fears melted away knowing that there was no turning back. When we fell from the door, I experienced a thrill like I had never before.
My web site sucks. I know it. It won't win any awards as it sits. Then again, that is not my goal. The Internet is like a blank canvas. I never realized how much incredibly cool stuff is out there. Every day I take 20 minutes (if I behave myself) and browse a randomizer for new stuff. I get great ideas on living, laughter, and making my crappy web site better.
Last night I discovered cool little utility that makes a digital character. Even though I used to draw cartoons as teen, I wanted a crisp digital character for my web site. At least I think I do. At this point I can do whatever I want. My creative license is truly universal. I can go anywhere my mind and imagination take me. Despite my frequent and obvious lack of skills.
You just gotta decide to make the leap.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
High Ate Us - Getting back into writing mode
In 2008 I hit the ground running with my screenwriting. I purchased a copy of Final Draft 7, picked up a few books to learn about formatting and jumped right in. I had a couple of good story concepts to work with so it was relatively easy to get started. That first year I cranked out four, still requiring rewrites, scripts.
To test my results in a smoky industry mirror, I submitted a couple of scripts to some contests. That began what I call the marketing phase of my learning curve. Film is business. At least that is what I hear and read from industry pros and secondary minion that try to discourage wouldbe entrants to the biz. Screenwriting guru Robert McKee is so tough on newbies in the first chapter of Story
, that I almost wanted to quit after I read it.
When I take on a project I give it 100% effort and energy. I get rather intense. For one short deadline contest I entered, I had one week from notification to write a feature length script. I got it done. The script was complete, but not good enough to win. Despite the business-side wake up calls, I rode high on my newly discovered talent. Instead of quitting I simply took a hiatus.
Getting back into writing after my hiatus has proven to be harder than I imagined. Today I broke through and wrote three pages of script. Of course that came after several hours of puttering on the Internet yesterday as my procrastination spilled over into today. Not a brilliant accomplishment, but visible progress.
As a regular to the gym, I find that I train better with good rest and regularly planned periods for rest. When I get back into the gym after that kind of break, my muscles ache from the shock. My goal is to complete a first draft of a 15-minute short by January 24. My creative muscles may ache, but it will be worth the push.
To test my results in a smoky industry mirror, I submitted a couple of scripts to some contests. That began what I call the marketing phase of my learning curve. Film is business. At least that is what I hear and read from industry pros and secondary minion that try to discourage wouldbe entrants to the biz. Screenwriting guru Robert McKee is so tough on newbies in the first chapter of Story, that I almost wanted to quit after I read it. Getting back into writing after my hiatus has proven to be harder than I imagined. Today I broke through and wrote three pages of script. Of course that came after several hours of puttering on the Internet yesterday as my procrastination spilled over into today. Not a brilliant accomplishment, but visible progress.
As a regular to the gym, I find that I train better with good rest and regularly planned periods for rest. When I get back into the gym after that kind of break, my muscles ache from the shock. My goal is to complete a first draft of a 15-minute short by January 24. My creative muscles may ache, but it will be worth the push.
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