Digital Filmmaking

A case for saying yes

May 20, 2010 I have a question to pose to you all: are you ready, today, to say yes should a new job opportunity arise?

I’m in New Orleans today, working on the upcoming feature film Green Lantern because I said yes. In fact, this whole chain of events that I like to call my life started with a yes. If any of you read my previous blog entry, you’d see that my first yes was for the film The Surrogates.

Like most in my situation, I had hesitations. My biggest was my day job, which provided me with the security of a steady paycheck. Suddenly, I was looking at an opportunity to work on a movie set, but for only 3 months. What happens when that ends? Would I get another job? We all know the current state of the economy, and while the Surrogates job paid well, it certainly was not well enough that I wouldn’t have to work anymore.

As I weighed the pros and cons, I realized that at times in life, you just have to look fate square in the eye. If she offers you a challenge, you have to be ready. You never know when it’ll appear, and it just might appear out of the blue. “Being ready” also means being specific. I’ve said no to a number of projects because they didn't align with my identity. When you see opportunities, you’ll know they align because you’ll feel it. Let go of your fears and anxieties and have faith in yourself and your ability. Be prepared. Physically. Emotionally. Take the risk.

I know a number of people who end up not doing film work because of their jobs, families, financial situations, etc. But I wonder where their lives would be if they chose to accept the challenge from fate. I don’t worry so much these days when opportunities come to me because it just feels right.

Theres a saying that goes “be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” I had just started an apartment search when I got The Surrogates call. I was moving from NH and would be working in Woburn. I had 3 days to find an apartment. The first apartment I saw that day is the apartment I’m still living in, 3 years later.

I’m also the world's worst networker. But if you have faith and confidence in yourself and ability, those one or two people that you need to impress, will see you. My yes on Surrogates led to a TV pilot, which lead to 3 feature films last year, which lead to union membership, which lead to now, the Green Lantern in New Orleans. I wonder what would have happened had I said no?