Who's Film Is It Anyway?

I keep thinking about creative authorship.

When I sign onto a project - any project, I immediately take ownership.  That does not mean that I agree with every decision, or that I so not share the ownership - it means that the project is my baby.  I give it the best I have to offer, all I have to offer and I work tirelessly to make it as good as it can be under the given circumstances of constraints in which it exists.

I am partner to the other creative members of the team.  We don't always agree, but we always consult, we share, and we work to do the best we can.  We do not do these things because other bestow the right or ability on us - we do them, because we take pride in our work , and we believe in what we are doing, and we respect each other.

This process is not flawless, nor without its challenges, but when they arise, we address them, with truth, honesty, respect and discretion.

My questions to each of you (regarding the films you are shooting) are:

1) Who's story is it?

2) Who's film is it?

If the answer to #2 above is not "mine"  then you need to examine what is going on.  It is up to you to make it your own, to accept responsibility for those things that involve you, or should involve you.  If you are not part of the solution, you need to get involved.  

This is not about ego.  It's not about being pushy or controlling - it is about creative collaboration - respect for self, respect for others, respect for the project and the process.  It is about giving all you have to offer, and embracing a willingness to risk failure.  Not worrying about playing it safe, but rather about finding solutions to difficult challenges - to working with your team - even if you don't personally like them - you are charged with working with them to make a film that in the end is better for your having been part of it, than it would be without your involvement.

When I do a film - I own it.  The work is mine.  I may be proud of it, I may wish I had made different choices; but there is no mistaking that I did what I did and I sleep well at night knowing that under the circumstances with which I was faced, I did the best work possible.  

Hind sight is always 20/20 - and thankfully it provides us a portal through which we can look, learn and grow.  So that in the future, when faced with new challenges, our choices will benefit from being informed by our past performance.

Who's film are you making?