Pragmatic Optimism in Filmmaking
Envision your movie ahead of time and then go make it happen
Welp, I didn’t mean to take such a long break between posts, but here we are 🤷♂️
I got really busy with post production on a couple of films, and then when the WGA went on strike, all of the posts I had planned seemed a bit out of touch. Then SAG-AFTRA went on strike and the whole industry completely shut down, and we spent months in an existential crisis without a clear light at the end of the tunnel.
There were so many other people writing about the strike that I didn’t think I had much to add, and it felt strange writing about anything else.
Now that the WGA has officially approved it’s new 3-year deal with AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA are deep in renewed negotiations, it feels like the light at the end of the tunnel is finally shining fairly brightly.
So I’m here to write a post about optimism and why it’s especially necessary right now. Well, let’s call it “pragmatic optimism.”
I found a definition online that says:
“Pragmatic optimism is about having a vision for the future as well as embracing your current reality & the potential obstacles.”
This is basically how I try to live life every day, but I think it’s especially applicable to the film and TV business, particularly at this time of uncertainty and change.
We have to be optimistic to believe that there’s a future to be built with a sustainable business model that rewards creatives appropriately while also creating a positive audience experience.
However, we have to also acknowledge it will take a lot of work, collaboration and innovation to get us there.
Every film project feels like a micro version of this. You have to be able to envision the finished film and truly believe it will happen, otherwise you’ll never have the confidence to get started on it. You also have to be pragmatic about the steps it will take to get there and the hurdles you’ll have to navigate along the way without getting completely discouraged.
It can be a bit of a tightrope walk, but I think both parts are necessary.
Many times, the director plays the part of the optimist and the producer (me) gets the job of being the pragmatist, but I try to also maintain optimism throughout, and experience really helps with that.
Once you’ve done “the impossible” time and time again you realize it’s actually all possible.
And that’s the real point here - it is all possible!
If you don’t believe me, find someone who does and let them be the optimistic voice whispering in your ear during your creative journey.
And until you find that person, I hope this column can help serve that purpose for you 😊
P.S. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my new film that was just released on VOD - SNIPER: G.R.I.T.!
This project was incredibly ambitious and felt impossible many times during production, but my goodness did we pull it off! We filmed entirely in the beautiful country of Malta, and it was the adventure of a lifetime.
Here’s the trailer:
It IS all possible!