One thing you learn pretty quickly is that Murphy's Law certainly is in full effect.
'If anything can go wrong, it will'.
I say this not to be overly pessismistic, or even bleak, but because I want you to be prepared.
Pragmatic, not defeatist.
Anything worth doing, any piece of work, any great endeavour, any life decision that has the potential to give us meaning (e.g. having a child), has a large element of risk. That's what makes them feel like big moments. It's the act of staring into the abyss, the chance of failure, or pain, or grief, and saying 'it's worth the risk'.
No matter how big or small anyone's life is, we all get to have these moments.
In filmmaking, there are so many elements to bring together, so many people to wrangle, so much good fortune that has to befall you (the weather is a cruel mistress) to allow this remarkable collaborative piece of art to happen, that it can seem like a fool's errand.
In my case, I can simply say that Angelina Jolie stole my cinematographer.
How improbable does that sound?
A Hollywood superstar shooting her latest film in Sydney, and my friend and collaborator gets a job on the production.
At the same time he was meant to be shooting my latest film, pro bono. True story.
What are the chances?
Quite good actually.
Because, if you are serious about making something great, you try your hardest to collaborate with hard-working and talented people.
And hard-working, talented people get snatched up for jobs on major productions with Hollywood superstars.
But that's the point. If you are really aiming high, the risk of problems increases. Great work only comes from taking those kind of chances.
I'm not saying it's desirable to have issues when making a film, or any other something. Far from it.
But I am saying that pushing towards a something that is remarkable is worth the challenges that come with it. It's you that has to be adaptable to overcome them.
Be pragmatic, but not defeatist.
Understand that having more challenges to overcome likely means you are on the path to doing something really memorable.
And, above all, always check whether Angelina Jolie is in town before you schedule your film.
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