conformity...

I feel like I've uploaded this picture picture.

I'm certain that I've blogged on this before.

I know that I need to hear this again...

If I'm not careful, I'll end up doing something just because it's what I do.

We're having a bit of a rough time as our kids age with managing the expectations of some of our neighbors, and casual acquaintances.  The root of it?  We homeschool our kids and I'm self-employed.

That means that by ten AM each day my kids are outside playing and I'm sitting with my wife having our second cup of coffee.  The rest of the neighborhood is empty, the parents off to work, the kids off to school.

And we're out there whooping it up.

It seems to me that, sometimes, we push back against people or systems or things that are different from us not because the different thing, person, or system is deficient in and of itself but because the difference between that thing and us illuminates something that's missing in us.

And, Lord knows, if there's a thing we don't like it's the dark parts being illuminated.

So you get this pressure to conform, to be just like everybody else.

'Cause there's comfort in numbers and misery loves company.

That's why our kids, who are being raised to learn to do what they love not what they must, are rubbing some of the folk around us the wrong way.  And my sweet wife is feeling a bit conflicted about it--'cause at heart she likes to be liked and likes to please those around her and is duty-oriented and responsible--so I had to remind her that the whole point of our life is to raise our kids to be the opposite of conformists.  

So we drank our coffee and I gave her a pep-talk and I thought about you.  Thought I'd remind you that you live one time and that that life is best spent in-love rather than on a treadmill.

I hope it's working out for you friend.

T

resisting change...

It occurred to me today how resistant we are to change.

I was at the supermarket, buying cheese, just cheese.  So that meant I was headed for the eight items or less line.

I checked the other lines, none of them seemed to be moving any faster, and you know you've got to check for that 'cause sometimes everyone heads for the eight items or less line leaving it slower than the others.

Anyway, I joined the eight items or less and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

I kept looking over at the closest 'normal' line and it looked like it was moving faster.  The other people in line with me were also looking.  You could tell we were all thinking the same thing, " 'Gee, that other line is moving faster.  Maybe I should move.  But once I move it's sure to slow down..."

So we all stayed put.

And I realized I had to write about it.

'Cause that 'waiting in line thing' is true not just at the supermarket.

We're reluctant creatures we humans.  We don't want to risk, we don't want to change, we tend to pick the path of least resistance--even with something as innocuous as buying cheese.

How much more then will that same thing be true of our audiences at Church, on TV and at the Theater?

I think the point is this...

You get one or two chances to 'hook' someone.  They're going to check out what you do and in that first or second touch you're either going to gain a fan or not.  If you do gain that fan, you'll probably keep them forever.  If not, you'll probably never see them again.

We're a loyal bunch.

That's why you'll go see a movie with an actor you like in it because that actor is like your favorite cheese.  Or watch a new series from a Producer whose work you've like before.  You trust him/her and assume they're going to be in something you'll end up liking 'cause you've liked what they've done before.

Which is why, when an actor, or a preacher or a producer disappoints us we feel that disappointment deeply.

Which is also why you and I need to be very aware of the first and second impressions we make on people.  

Which is also why we need to keep doing good work, no matter how hard it gets.

Which is why we need to think very hard about cultivating our audience--staying with them--staying in relationship with them over the long term.

'Cause once you've got 'em, you've got 'em.  They'll probably stay in line with you, even if the other ones look like they're moving a bit faster.

T

the love...

I'm on-set this weekend, a huge screen backing me, wicked graphics filling it.  I turn around between takes.

"Yo, Lawrence!  Can you grab me Karl's SLR real quick?"

L-stat (Lawrence's nickname) brings the cam, I turn 'round, widen out, snap this.

Cool right?

Another reminder to keep your eyes open--you never the coolness that's all around you 'till you start looking.

On that...

I was made aware, again, this past weekend of the process involved in making it in this business (film and TV) or any entrepreneurial endeavor.  Here's what hit me.

You need to love EVERYTHING you do because it's only things that reek of love that will get noticed, and...

Most of the things you try to do won't work no matter how much you love them.

In order to truly LOVE something you must fully open yourself up to it, give yourself to it, making yourself vulnerable in the process.

Like a relationship.  You can't have love without risk.

So, if to make love you must be vulnerable and if most of the things you make--despite the love dripping from them which is the thing that gets you 'in' the door--will ultimately be rejected for no particular reason that means--if you're looking to live a life less-ordinary, a life that makes an impact--that you are setting yourself up for a life of pain.

How you like that?

Nice right?

But I just can't see a way around it.  

I was reminded of this commercial featuring the man MJ.

Failure.

It hit me that I need to remember to embrace failure.  We tend to avoid anything that's likely to fail but it seems to me--the longer I do this show-biz thing--that it's THROUGH the failures that the open doors come.

You keep at it, keep loving, keep giving, keep staying enthusiastic, keep getting hurt and keep getting back up and--slowly, slowly--things start happening.

Like today.

A call out of the blue looking to have me produce/direct a documentary on the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.  Looks like I'll be flying to Vancouver April 7th to meet with representatives of the Chinese government.  Looks like they'll pay for everything--I just have to pay for post. We're calling Networks as I write this.

Heavy right?  Yesterday I had no idea this was coming today.

But yesterday I was deciding to keep working the love, and today I'm keeping at it working on things that I LOVE that are likely to fail.

But not everything fails.

See?

T

this weekend...

The logo for the special I shot this weekend.  Courtesy of Creative Director Chris Jones and his team.

Real quick weekend. 

Flew out Saturday morning.  That was cool.  Flew on the new 777 and was really impressed.  I don't remember ever really being comfortable on a plane--except for the couple of times I've flown business class.  This beast was comfortable everywhere.  The bathrooms have faux mosaic floors and enough space to stand up straight and then some.  The overhead bins have more space than you'd ever use (try that on for size) and the ceilings, accented with violet decorative lighting and so high you feel the opposite of claustrophobic.  

Arrived in Vancouver to the first sunny day in almost two weeks.  Got to my hotel and went walking.  Stumbled across HMCS Regina (a really cool Canadian Navy Frigate) and sat staring at her for an hour or so.  Went to see 'Knowing'.

Next day, up and out for breakfast by 6:45am local.  Sat by the sea for two hours, like an old man.  Studied, prepped my questions, hit the studio and shot for four hours.  The shoot went well.  Walked home (home?) walked back to the theater and saw 'Watchmen'.

Up at four AM today, in the air by 6:00am local.  Home by 2:30pm EST.

THRILLED to see my wife and kids.

Here's what hit me on the weekend...

1) The only thing people talk about on the street is relationships or work.  Seriously, listen in on them as you walk.  Relationships and their work.  Why do I mention this?  Because if you're a communicator you want to connect and to connect you have to know what your audience is thinking about.

Relationships and money.

That's what they're thinking about.  Just so you know.

2) Life is all about undulations.  You're up and you're down and you're up and you're down.  But if you look closely you'll see that--through the ups and downs--you've made some headway.  I left the studio Sunday feeling very nonchalant about what we'd just done.  No big deal.  Another day, another nationally televised one-hour special.

See it?

Since when did I get nonchalant about producing and hosting a one-hour special that will be televised in prime time across the entire country?

I would have KILLED for that opportunity when I was 24.

It really hit me that life--despite the fact that most days I still feel 22--is progressing.  I am--despite the ups and downs of my net worth--making headway and am further along today then when I started.

Another example.

I got an email on the weekend that's a significant step forward on 'DEATH'S DOOR' the dramatic TV series we've been developing that I mentioned here a couple months back. If you remember those posts (or check 'em out) I had pitched the series to a big local network and it didn't seem to go well.

I was feeling a little down.

Anyway, as of this weekend, we're signing a co-development deal with a production company in NYC.  Said prodco has a dramatic series currently airing on ABC.  They're in the real stream.  

So, how do I feel?

Nonchalant.

And why's that?

Well, for one I know that it 'aint NEVER over 'till it's over.  Once we finish episode 78 and get the first syndication strip contract signed and I cash my cheque and take my wife and friends out for dinner with it, THEN I'll take a deep breath and enjoy it.

That'll be ten years from today.

Until then, I'm just determined to get to work.

Thankful for every opportunity certainly, but very chilled out about it.

Tomorrow I'll hit you up about the necessity of loving every pitch while knowing that most of the things you love will die.

For now--it's red wine and my wife.

T

pizza and movie night...(kinda)

So what we really watched last night for 'Pizza and Movie Night' was (you guessed it) HSM3 and I'll be knackered if I do ANOTHER review on that one--no matter how much I cried first time I saw it...

This morning I flew to Vancouver.  Great flight on the new 777 beastie.  Huge, very comfortable plane.  Actually a good experience which has not been the 'norm' for me where Air Canada (cue evil emperor music from Star Wars...) is concerned.

I'm here to shoot a TV special tomorrow.  

Anyway, as I'm wont to do when I hit the ground in Vancouver I went to see a movie.

"KNOWING" starring Nicholas Cage.

I really don't want to spoil it for you so I won't really say anything particular about it except to say...

1) It does thrill.

2) It takes an interesting turn (genre-wise) about halfway through.

3) The set-pieces were spectacularly executed with a kind of grit and realism you usually don't see in this kind if big, genre-flick--really impressive.

What you'll see, if you see it, is that it flirts with some pretty iconic imagery near the end and the problem with iconic imagery is that it comes loaded.  Loaded with meaning.  Loaded with connotation. 

Loaded with possibility.

And the problem with possibility is that it's possible.  It's possible you'll do something great with it but it's also possible that you'll screw it up--cheese it up--go on the nose with it.

It's such a fine line.

And I find that's the case with storytelling from pulpit or screen or at work for the sake of building a vision.

Case in point...

Say you have a dream.  It's a real dream.  It's a good dream.  You want to inspire your staff with it.  You can't stand up in the boardroom and say, "I have a dream..."

Why?

Because the second you use those iconic words it conjures up images of the Lincoln memorial and MLK Jr. and thousands upon thousands of people responding to a speech delivered with passion, intensity and a weight of life-experience that's way above your pay-grade.

Which means your people--even if it's unconsciously--will tune you out.  They'll assume you're blowing smoke and will write you off.  You'll have lost your chance to move them for no other reason than you casually used an iconic phrase.

But say you're sitting with your sweetheart, by a river at sunset.  You take her hand and--without looking at her--say, "I have a dream..."  Real soft and gentle like.  She'll probably say, "A dream of what?" And you'll say, "A dream of playing with our babies in that water someday..."

You say that, you got her.

Same thing with movies, same thing with sermons.

You have to choose your imagery (whether spoken, or scripted or shown) very carefully.  If you hit it right you stand the chance of blowing your audience away and really making an impact on them.

Still not sure if 'KNOWING' hit it exactly right.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the film, it was totally worth the time and money but...

Gonna' have to sit on it a bit.

Check it out, maybe drop me a line, and lemme' know what you think.

T

the 14-year test...

It's amazing to me how similar the two parts of my professional life have been.

Making movies (or TV shows) and Planting Churches.

I spent a couple hours today talking about the Church Planting side.  My 'coffee date' (I had Perrier) is in-charge of Church Planting for a National Denomination.  He's been tasked with creating a Church Planting movement for his Denom.

He wanted to pick my brain.

It's like he's an executive at a Studio tasked with putting together a slate of pictures for the next six years.  Six pictures in six years.

Nearly impossible.

Even one movie every two years (and six to twelve per year for a full-fledged studio) is breakneck pace for your average filmmaker.  It's not uncommon for it to take two to five years to get a movie set up, then two years from the start of preproduction to release, then another seven years of working it through its likely earning cycle.

5+2+7=14

14 years.

It occurred to me after the meeting that I should blog this in case he sees it.

If it takes between 10-14 years to give life to a movie, is it wrong of us to think of planting a Church over a similar timeframe?

If you're a Church Planter or someone meeting with (or screening) Church Planters you should think on that number.  Are you (they) willing to commit 10-14 years of YOUR LIFE to bringing that Church to life?

How about your movie? 

Your business-idea?

Framed that way, any kind of entrepreneurial endeavor takes on some seriously added gravitas no?  Is the idea that's been keeping you up nights big enough to keep you getting up and out of bed every day for more than a decade?

Can your passion withstand the 14-year test?

You better be sure before you start 'cause that's probably what it's going to take.  

Lemme' tell you, I'm going to be holding my dreams up to that lens with exacting focus.

Given my age, I've got three cycles of 14 left before I'm too old to go at that kind of pace anymore.

Sobering AND encouraging 'cause if ever you were looking for a reason to START TODAY, well friend I do believe I done just went and gave it to you.

BOOM!

T

oh yeah...

Yes, yes, y'all.  That's what happened right there.

Last night.

Oh the exhaling that's happening around here.  Whooosssaaahhh....

The thing is, you just want a chance to keep getting chances.  This one contract we were waiting on was to be the foundation of what--we hope--will be four or five more this year.

It's the old 'prime the pump' thing.

You need work to keep working.  It's easier to get a job when you have a job.  You can't create unless you're creating.

Whatever.  Pick your phrase.

The truth of it--it seems to me--is that you need to be doing what you hope to be doing.

(that's why we were so keenly anticipating last nights signage, it was the link we needed to get back to work for the next 18 months or so)

Meaning, if you want to be Pastor of your own Church you should probably plant a Church sooner rather than later.  I can't even begin to count the number of guys I've met in my career who've said to me, "Yeah man, I want to plant a Church...eventually."  

Eventually?

(the second you hear that 'e' word you know they're a poseur...)

There are some things in life that you just need to do.

"Yeah, I'm thinking of venturing off on my own at some point..."

"Yeah, we'll have kids, at some point..."

"Well, at some point I'm going to get down to writing that script..."

"I'll direct my movie, eventually..."

At some point?

How about today?  How 'bout you get started?  How 'bout you get busy livin'?  Yes (believe me) I understand that sometimes there are things (like contracts waiting to be signed) beyond your control that you need to wait on before really getting up and at 'em but may I remind you to be very careful with your waiting.  It seems to me it's a fine line between 'productive waiting' and procrastinating.

Hey, that rhymes.  Serves you right for blogging while listening to Funkmaster Flex.

D'you know what I'm saying?

Some say you should give yourself ten years of focused dream-pursuing and, after that decade, if things haven't begun opening up for you, you should adjust.

Thing is, with Church Planting, business building or movie making the focus and commitment needed almost necessitates a burning of your bridges.  It's almost a sure thing that after those ten years you'll be entirely ineligible for a high-paying job a RIM.

So...

1) Focus like a mofo.  Make that magic.  Pay that piper.  Leverage ALL your skills.  Make it happen like it matters.

2) Live cheap.  Don't buy fancy clothes or fancy foods.  Keep your luxuries in-check.  Let your furniture get old.  The more financially flexible you are the more likely it'll be that you can retain the freedom necessary to make the moves you must make to make it.  And if the ten years pass and you have to adjust, you'll have some savings to give yourself time to retrain--and take RIM by storm...

3) Be sure that the thing you must do is THE thing you must do.  You don't want to waste a life in the pursuit of a dream but you don't want to waste a dream just because life-happened.

You know?

You KNOW?

Hit it.

T