10 Things I've Learned: Part III

Last week I posted 20 things I have learned while working on Abandoned Allies, and I promised you a third installment. Without further ado...

10 More Things I've Learned

1. Take excellent care of yourself.
Like they said on Baywatch, you can't save someone else's life if you're drowning. You may not be saving lives while making your first film, but you won't be any good to others if you're drowning in the process. Take good care of yourself: eat well, rest plenty, exercise. Remember these basics so you can perform at your peak like an athlete.

2. Celebrate milestones.
Take the time to appreciate and celebrate your achievements. Set small, realistic goals so you get excited about reaching them and moving on to the next one.

3. Take vacations.
Drop the film. Get out of town. Spend time with family and friends. Then come back to it refreshed, and you'll find that you can accomplish a lot more.

4. Read voraciously.
Become a consumer of information. Everything is related, even if it doesn't seem so on a surface level. Learn at every turn, and connect the lessons.

5. Watch lots of films.
Watching other films helps you think about how you're making your own. Watch plenty of them, even if you feel you don't have time for it.

6. Have an opinion on other films.
People will start to see you as a filmmaker. Have opinions about other films because that will be your industry, plus it makes conversations interesting and exciting.

7. Share great films with others.
When you find a great film, share it with others so they can enjoy it, too. Your recommendations will stick with others, and soon they'll associate you with something they enjoyed. Positive associations are excellent.

8. Forget about filmmaking.
Do something other than filmmaking because it will help you become a better filmmaker. It will work other parts of your brain, make conversations more dynamic, and give you a point of reference to others unexpectedly.

9. Find peace.
When you are at peace, you can do much more, and do it much better, than when you have discord in your life. Do what you can to find peace and establish balance.

10. Remember to enjoy yourself.
Making a film will be tough, but it's important to enjoy each step. It's a process of discovery, and a path unlike any other. Be sure you're not focused on the end result so much that you forget how to have a good time along the way.