Having been riding a wave of developing new ideas and concepts for films and/or business, I’ve been reading through Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit. She’s brilliant on attaining discipline and a thick skin for developing creative work, and her stuff on how an artist deals with failing is amazing.
Twyla gives five categories of Failure:
Failure of Skill – your reach exceeds your grasp. The answer to this kind of failure: get back to work, develop your talents, keep at it.
Failure of Concept - beginning with a weak idea. Think Star Wars Christmas special here. Or Sock Puppets in a tiny room with no atmosphere. Her advice: it’s better to abandon a bad idea than to sow silk ears on a pig, if you get what I mean.
Failure of Judgement - Ultimately, an artist (writer, creative, business person) will be judged on projects they initiate. Don’t give in to dissenting voices out of weakness.
Failure of Nerve - “You will look foolish if you pitch this idea, so don’t”
Failure through Repetition – an over-reliance on formulas. A sit-com that doesn’t know when to quit. Relying on what worked in the past rather than try new ideas.
In each category, the artist has lots of opportunity to build and transform his or her work, it’s just a matter of having the wisdom, strength and skill to move ahead. The Creative Habit gives a lot more than the average “making failure your friend” message of self help books, it encourages a creative to explore their work on a daily basis, in practical ways.
I’ve created a channel for the short documentaries I’ve produced on the Creative Process. The films explore how artists think, from where they get their ideas, and at times how faith plays into the act of creation.
I just finished a series of films interviewing David Shadbolt on the gift of prophecy: it’s uses, abuses, and the journey of what one goes through in receiving the gift.
Paria Kamyab did a fantastic job on her Canon 7D, bringing with her a wide assortment of lenses.
My interview with premiere radio’s big breakfast show is now online. I had fun on this, Lizzie Crow and Dave Gilpin are lots of fun and true pro’s. Just click here, and scroll halfway down the page to listen. It’s about a 20 minute interview on the process of filming Lakeland: The Movie.
I like working with my friends, especially when they are talented like Alex & Juliet Herd. This is not my typical sarcastic impro, it’s more broad, and written by the talented Daniel Johnson of Daniel Johnson films, inc. Shabazz Graham photographed, with music from @liquidjourney.
However, Jonny Elwyn deserves a BAFTA for his work editing the film. Demonstrating character, visual style, and a great work ethic. He cut Lakeland: The Movie for eight weeks on a shoestring budget, just because he believed in the project. In the middle of real paid work. With no complaint.
Sven Nygaard spent weeks creating an intense and beautiful soundtrack, and mixing audio and voice over on a very raw sounding film
Geoff Harris spent not months, but years looking after the film.
Jeremy Higham pastored the project and helped to get it revved up after a couple years of sitting on the shelf.
Miles Blackley sat with me for days to get the writing of the film up to speed- I learned how to communicate the deeper stuff in a documentary style.
Paria Kamyab spent not days, but months logging footage
Neil Edwards made some killer trailers to promote the film.
Not to mention all of the amazing crew here we had a blast filming, thanks guys. Thanks to all of you.
