Young Filmmakers And Your Activism

 Assuming you're a young filmmaker in town.

I sort of envy you. Because your goal now isn't to be rich or famous, it's just to be rich enough to make films that attempt to fill that empty hole in your heart. Because, no one cares about being famous. And fame isn't worth much anymore. Everyone has their own little bit of fame. Some are famous that older folks like me don't even know. Don't know who Cardi B is, never heard a song and don't care to know. Is she famous or infamous. Don't know. Don't care.

And I wonder about that. In 2020. Do people even care anymore? Answer: doubtful.

I say this because it's no fun being famous. The minute you are famous, less famous people will find ways to make themselves famous. Notice all the people who try their hardest to destroy celebrity (unless they do it themselves. Which they do with their idiotic political stances...no one cares). We dig for dirt. Belittle them. Call them privileged and idiotic. Is this a life you can endure? Maybe in a Malibu mansion. But even then. Those walls end at the Pacific Ocean. They will never be happy. And neither will you.

These celebrities find causes. Because their success stemmed from hard work but mostly luck. And they know that.

To me, you young filmmakers are VERY lucky. You have no standard to achieve. Or at least you better be focused on your own stories. Getting laid and partying is a distant (but not too distant) reward. But even then, proceed with caution. There are seriously broken people in this town. They spend their entire lives attempting to regain their humanity.

If you have been making movies in your hometown...keep doing it. Hollywood just adds a layer of garbage. And most of it depressing. I'm not saying I had it easy, or I'm even in that pantheon of "success stories." But I am very comfortable and I really want you to be too without having to go through the drudgery I dealt with (still do). Focus on your stories. Don't get distracted with drama. Emotions. Disappointment. But don't deny these things exist either. Don't worry about having your peers approve of who you are or what you do. STOP with the political shit. Seriously, I see a TON of you young folk out there advocating for things now. DON'T. At best, you will put yourself in physical and mental danger. Your activism sidetracks you to your goals. And, sorry to say, no one gives a shit. Also you're blocking traffic, so get the fuck out of the way. IF you think this is your path to doing what you want...you'll fuck yourself. These are the sacrifice you make. Can you juggle both an activist and a filmmaker? Maybe. But unlikely. Or film them. Get free crowds.

In short, FOCUS. Your joy in making movies is to move people. You can't move people if you're wasting precious energy bumping things by the inch. As a surfing teacher once told me, all you do is wear yourself out. Conserve your energy to what is important. If you haven't found that purpose, don't put yourself in harm's way because you think that fixes it. It doesn't. Instead, write and vent and make things. Don't destroy them. You are a builder. Remember that.