I'm done being out of touch with myself. Are You?
Well folks, it’s February now, and there is a lot to do. (Go Figure)
So what’s a young filmmaker to do this year?
Hmmmm…
Here’s the deal. There is just so much to accomplish on a filmmaker’s to-do list. Whether that is write a feature film script, network with (at least) 100 people, or make a short film - it seems like we just have too many goals. I believe that is because we are spastic. Not in a bad way, but we are constantly looking for the next best opportunity because, let's be real, job security isn't necessarily a trait of a serious storyteller.
So to spare everyone the frustration of reading another lame post about new year crap, this is my short list of some realistic goals I have for this year.
STRIVE TO IMPROVE MY CREATIVE HABITS (AND MAKE STUFF)
That’s it. I’m keeping it simple this year, because I know that if I make too big of a list, I’m going to not make them happen. So instead I’m practicing these two creative habits that will help me stay fresh, up to speed with technology, and fulfilled not only as an artist, but as a film designer.
1. Honestly ask myself how I am doing.
This isn’t just about emotional well-being; it’s about creating stuff. Asking myself, “Did I do something creative today?” and “How much did I actually work on this edit today?” is giving myself the cold hard truth that I deserve. In order to actually make something happen, I have to be on my own tail for productivity. Being your own project manager could essentially boost your amount of productivity. So why not give it a try? That’s why I commit to asking myself these four questions everyday. Thank you Sebastian Michaels and your 21 Days of Creativity Abundance course. You can check that out right here.
a. What am I grateful for?
b. What am I excited about?
c. What am I going to create today?
d. How am I doing? Really
Just writing a short answer to these questions has made me not only productive, but aids me in my emotional intelligence. And that is probably the most important thing we can try to improve in an artist's life. Emotional Intelligence.
2. Doing Something Creative Every Day.
In actuality, this is way simpler than one might think. Striving to do... something. Even if it isn't what you thought, that builds the skills and competencies of the creative side of the brain. That is an amazing thing! That's also why I wanted to spend some time focusing on just that - building those competencies. It doesn't even have to be something major! Even taking a few minutes to color is giving myself room to be creative, and those small little habits will build into skills that will move into all areas of my work. Who doesn't want to build skills every single day in the field that they love?
Like this illustration I decided to challenge myself to complete for a company I work with. Not only did a learn a lot about Adobe Illustrator, I grew as an illustrator and designer. Amazing baby steps towards learning and doing creative work every single day of my life.
You can check out more of my design work here.
That's it. I'm keeping it brief to start off this year. I can't wait to show all my friends and family the types of projects I've been working on. Screenshots and fun-stuff to come. Lot's of fun stuff.
