Kevin Gregg sits down with various guests to discuss ideas, insights and inspiration. This episode, Mark McConville (Superego) to talk about his past, work ethic and how you get really good at improv when you do it a lot. Click here to listen. 76 minutes mp3
I had an idea for a scene that I wanted to shoot. It would be relatively quick and wouldn’t involve much strenuous effort.
When the time came to shoot it at my house, I started getting in my own way.
“Well, the house should be cleaned first.”
“I should really get some rest, I have a long day tomorrow.”
“I haven’t been spending enough time with my wife and kids.”
Valid excuses?
No.
These are things that need and should happen, but I was putting them to the forefront so I could push my creative thoughts away.
I used these other things as scapegoats for why I wasn’t doing the work.
I finally decided to man up and shoot a test of what I wanted to do for my short scene. I used my wife , and guess what? It looked pretty cool.
It stirred the fire and stoked the coals of confidence.
I’m shooting the scene next week come hell or high water.
Because it needs to be made.
The house will get cleaned. I’ll get the rest. I will spend quality time with my wife and sons.
And the idea will be created.
vel·le·i·ty (vəˈlēətē) noun formal 1. a wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to action. "The notion intrigued me, but remained a velleity."
What an interesting word. ” A wish not strong enough to lead to action.”
How many fanciful thoughts have I had running through my head? I keep coming back to them again and again, because in my fantasy they seem cool.
But I don’t do the work to bring them into being.
It’s safer to keep them as an idea, because God forbid, once I take a step I have to see if there is substance to it.
The rubber has to hit the road at some point.
The hardest moment is making the first move, shooting the first frame of film, writing the first words.
Pull the trigger.
Because here’s an idea that’s going to help you out…
You won’t get it right the first time. You never do. This is not about attaining perfection instantaneously.
It’s about putting in the sweat and exercising the muscle.
Get velleity out of your head and start breaking some ground.
