Yesterday afternoon I caught up with a close friend of mine over the phone. Hard to believe we met nearly 10 years ago during a summer training program at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis.
Over the summer he played the lead role in a feature film that received a reasonable amount of press. The movie even screened at Village Cinema on 2nd Avenue in front of a supportive group of friends and family. I was sure the film would be a major turning point in my friend's career.
"Has the film led to newer and bigger opportunities?" I finally asked. He paused before admitting, "Not really." I could feel his frustration through the phone.
It was a stark reminder that we can hope a project will bring us more opportunities but the foundation must be a belief and love in doing it.
Making a feature length film for instance is so difficult that if one's primary objective in making it is to build contacts or advance a career it's more likely to fail.
If however, you are deeply committed to telling a story, or seeing a project through because you believe in its importance and the BYPRODUCT happens to be greater connections and broader possibilities that's something completely different.
First, do it because it matters to you. Whatever happens after that should come a distant second.
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