Lights, Camera.....

     A few weeks ago I was at Universal Studios in L.A. For a souvenir I bought myself a sweet t-shirt. On the front it has the Universal Studios logo and on the back it reads “Director”. The other day, while wearing my new t-shirt, a girl in my bowling class asked what I was the director of. I smiled and said, “my life”. 

In films, it is the directors job to guide and help the actors and the crew. The director is in charge of the creative, artistic, and dramatic aspects of the film. The director has virtually free rein in taking the film wherever he/she wants it to go.....as far as the producer will allow of course. The producer delivers the idea and script to the director, and oversees the vision of the film. The director can take the script and story and make it what he/she wants. However, in the end the only one with the power to change the story is the producer. 

     In life, we are the directors of our films. Our “crew” are those around us. We help guide and direct them the best we can. The vision of our film is influenced by our crew. We have control of the creative elements of our films and the freedom to change the flow of the film in any given moment. We take the script and interpret it how we like. However, in the end we cannot change the story. Try as we might to make the story something else, we know that power lies only with the producer. 

     I came across a definition of a producer that claimed it is also his/her job to preserve the integrity of the film. I’m a control freak. I hate that I do not have control and knowledge over everything in my life. But in the end I am grateful that someone is looking out for the integrity of my film. For now I am happy to just make this the best dang film I possibly can. 

Action!