“Making films is all about — as soon as you’re finished — continually regretting what you’ve done. When we look at films we’ve made, all we can see are the flaws; we can’t even watch them in a normal way. I never feel like watching my own films again. So unless I start working on a new one, I’ll never be free from the curse of the last one. I’m serious. Unless I start working on the next film, the last one will be a drag on me for another two or three years.”
– Hayao Miyazaki, director Spirited Away [source: Fast Co.]
Yes, I’m a perfectionist. Even though I’d vehemently deny such a thing in person.
Perhaps it comes with the territory. I’m an artist, businesswoman, and an overachiever. It’s hard not to be a perfectionist.
Push, push, push.
Go, go, go.
Better, better, better.
Is this healthy? Probably not. I’m just hard-wired that way. So I’ve stopped fighting it.
Instead, I’m working hard to better manage it. You know, use that to my advantage without letting it cripple me. That kinda thing.
That’s something I desperately want for you, too.
Perfectionism, as we all know, can have some pretty negative side effects. It can lead to wasted time, money, and energy. It can make a project suffer. It can harm relationships with collaborators and clients.
The consequences are pretty high, in other words.
In small doses, however, perfectionism can be a really powerful tool for a filmmaker. It can lead to some amazing things. The key, therefore, is to find a way to tame that beast so you’re heading in the right direction together with ease. Not fighting against one another.
In the Illumination Experience last month, I listened as cinematographer Shane Hurlbut talked about perfectionism on set. (Check out the related blog post here.) It was refreshing to hear a seasoned pro talk about something like perfectionism, not just the logistics or artistry of being a director of photography.
Shane Hurlbut on the Illumination Experience Tour | Charlotte, N.C., September 30, 2014
Hurlbut discussed perfecting the lights with stand-ins, so that when the actors and director are ready to go you’re not still tweaking everything. Tweaking like that can break the rhythm of filming and can cause trouble. No sense in perfecting some small detail when the talent is geared up and ready to deliver the scene. Because, ultimately, the performance is what keeps the audience “in it” when they watch the finished piece.
At some point, you have to just stop tweaking and be OK with what you’ve got, whether your’e on set or in post-production. It’s a challenge. But it’s a great thing to master.
Lately I’ve been thinking about my own perfectionist tendencies and how I’ve learned to manage them. A few mantras have helped tremendously. I thought perhaps these could help you in your filmmaking journey, too.
1. “Keep it simple, stupid. (AKA: KISS)”
Filmmaking is a complicated, collaborative art. Seriously. There are often so many people involved that things get confusing rapidly. Simplify the process whenever possible and you won’t regret it.
2. “Set the bar low, then jump over it.”
If you’re doing something new, don’t make it even harder to accomplish. Filmmaking is already complicated enough. (See above.) Therefore, set the bar low and then exceed the goal with ease. These little victories are steps in the right direction. They’ll build your confidence, experience, and enthusiasm for the next challenge — which you’ll own like a boss.
3. “Start small, then continue.”
Do yourself a huge favor and start small, then go from there. You can always add more or pick up shots later on. Simplifying is the trick, not making it bigger and harder and more impossible to do. (There’s plenty of time for that during every step, I promise.)
BONUS: “Good enough!”
There comes a time where you could do “just one more take” and get it just right, spending countless hours tweaking to perfection. More often than not, however, there are times where the thing you’ve got in frame is “good enough” and it’s time to move on. The key, here, is to find the sweet spot in between the two and own it.
Conclusions
Artists like us can be an obsessive, finicky sort, right? There are plenty of opportunities to improve, tweak, and explore. The trick is to find a way to satisfy that craving without being a slave to perfectionism.
These mantras have helped me recognize my perfectionist tendencies and curb them a little, so that I can meet deadlines and keep people happy in the process. You’ve gotta pick and choose your battles. Nothing will be perfect but you can continue to improve as a filmmaker.
Every time you do improve, celebrate the victory! This stuff ain’t easy.
Question!
Do you battle perfectionism? What are some of your ways to manage it during each step of the filmmaking process? I’d love to know so please use the comments section to share!