You’ve already heard me talk about knowing thyself and finding your strengths. But I think this is something worth exploring again. Ready?
The notion that you should know your strengths is — for me — deeply rooted in the idea that:
- Filmmaking is a collaborative art,
- You really shouldn’t be great at every part of it, and
- Collaborating with talented people is half the fun.
One of the greatest ways to collaborate successfully is to understand your own strengths. Know what you enjoy and what you really prefer not to do. But also know how to learn from others and the things that bring them joy.
For example, I seriously struggle to remember the name of the camera I used to shoot Abandoned Allies. It takes me a while to dust off that memory and spit out “Canon XH-A1” when someone puts me on the spot recently. That’s not because I don’t know it or care about it, mind you. Camera tech talk is just not one of my strengths. (Never has been, even as a still photographer.)
I’d much rather listen to my camera guys* talk about their favorite cameras, lenses, and settings. I work with smart, talented people and I trust them. I thereby feel less stressed about not knowing the name of the cameras because I work people who are incredibly passionate about it. They know their stuff.
Think of it like a sports team. You wouldn’t want a football team made up entirely of kickers or quarter backs. That’s nonsense and you know it. You need a team made up of really talented players in each position. Ergo, a team.
As a producer, I want to build a solid team. That happens when I best understand the strengths and joys of each member of my team — and then putting them to work doing those things. And by focusing on my own strengths I can become a better leader, team player, and filmmaker. Audiences see that in the final result: a phenomenal cinematic experience.
I believe there’s a place for each of us in the film world.
Focusing on our strengths helps us all work together well.
But that’s just my humble opinion.
*Whenever you hear me say guys, keep in mind that I’m including the ladies. That word is not exclusively meant to identify dudes. It’s just a lot easier than the phrase “guys and gals” or something along those lines.