Friday, 12 November 2010
Chicken And Eggs
Dealing With Criticism
Here's a question from a blogger member called filmmusic100, who writes this new blog.
Although I have such a big heart for filmmaking, I cannot sugarcoat that its environment is harsh. I personally think that filmmakers should not be criticized for their film because little is known of how much work, effort, and time they put into it, and no one can really understand enough how much a filmmaker loves what he/she does. But I know that criticizing isn't gonna disappear and, in a way, it is needed. I want to know how, if you had been criticized for your work, you deal with it and how you react to other people judging your scripts?
This is a great question. And before I write a bunch of answers - let me first say, I don't really know what I'm talking about. Sometimes I feel invincible, and sometimes criticism can wreck me. It's a strange thing. There have been times where people have slammed my work in a big way and I've handled it incredibly, and then other times I've had a conversation with my Brother where he says something like "Do you really think the line about the fish is worth having?" and I've gone a bit insane and convinced myself I should give up altogether; and what he said wasn't even criticism it was just a question about a fish.
Another thing to remember is that even Shawshank Redemption has its critics. There are people out there that think it sucks. The difference is that when you're starting out, you don't have that buffer of success, accolades and dollars. You just have you, and people telling you you're terrible. But the critics are there every step of the way. But if you're getting criticism; you're doing something RIGHT. If nobody is criticising you, then you're probably not doing very good work.
To be truly creative, is to do things that haven't be done before - or at least, to do them differently. So of course, when you're doing something that hasn't been seen before; people are initially uncomfortable with it and they like to criticise it. The problem is that, after you've heard criticism enough times, it becomes internalized in a really strong way.
Think about it. You're a writer, or a director, or an actor. And from the age of four or whatever, you're made to do Maths. You're made to stand in line. But you wanna write a story or you want to do a little drawing. And pretty soon you're fourteen and people are saying "what do you want to do with your life?" and you can't say writer or artist or actor because people will laugh at you because it's not real work, or because it's too competitive, or whatever it is that your teachers/friends/society project onto it.
Then you're eighteen -- and you're doing your drawings or making your short films or writing your stories; but you're shy about it, because society is telling you to learn more about Maths or go and do a degree with an 'ology' in it. Our society doesn't support creativity. Society thinks that if you're up at 4am writing down ideas, you've got a sleeping problem, they don't think that you've got a problem in act three or a problem getting the right shading on your drawing.
So when everyone around you finds it hard to support you, you're going to find it hard to support yourself. Standing up and saying "I am a film director" is HARD. Everyone thinks you're insane, or dreaming. Worst of all, they see dreaming as bad!?!?!
Every time I read a bad review it bothers me not because I think the critic is wrong but because secretly I think they're right. "How did the lady from the Bergen County Shopper's Guide get it right but not the guy from the New York Times."
Meanwhile you want to write a movie about giraffes who land on Mars, or you want to be an actor even though you have a strange face, or you want to write a novel about flowers--- but you look around you and all the actors look like Megan Fox or Jude Law, and the people giving seminars say there's no market for Mars giraffes and your friends keep telling you only old people will read a book about flowers.
The point is -- it's hard! We've been socialized this way and it is difficult. It's difficult for people to support what we do, because they don't understand, and because they wish they could do what you do, and because they can't comprehend how a book about flowers or a movie about giraffes that land on Mars will inspire people. THAT'S YOUR JOB. Your job is to show people the world through the eyes of you; you'll give them a different angle. That's what artists do. Make us see our lives in a different way, or help give us some release from our complicated jobs, relationships, and lives.
People will criticise you and you'll criticise yourself. But then, so does everyone else. And you probably criticise people too in ways you don't even realise. Just remember; there will always be criticism. And people will always disagree with what you do, or have an opinion, right up until they point they love what you do.
Although I have such a big heart for filmmaking, I cannot sugarcoat that its environment is harsh. I personally think that filmmakers should not be criticized for their film because little is known of how much work, effort, and time they put into it, and no one can really understand enough how much a filmmaker loves what he/she does. But I know that criticizing isn't gonna disappear and, in a way, it is needed. I want to know how, if you had been criticized for your work, you deal with it and how you react to other people judging your scripts?
This is a great question. And before I write a bunch of answers - let me first say, I don't really know what I'm talking about. Sometimes I feel invincible, and sometimes criticism can wreck me. It's a strange thing. There have been times where people have slammed my work in a big way and I've handled it incredibly, and then other times I've had a conversation with my Brother where he says something like "Do you really think the line about the fish is worth having?" and I've gone a bit insane and convinced myself I should give up altogether; and what he said wasn't even criticism it was just a question about a fish.
Another thing to remember is that even Shawshank Redemption has its critics. There are people out there that think it sucks. The difference is that when you're starting out, you don't have that buffer of success, accolades and dollars. You just have you, and people telling you you're terrible. But the critics are there every step of the way. But if you're getting criticism; you're doing something RIGHT. If nobody is criticising you, then you're probably not doing very good work.
To be truly creative, is to do things that haven't be done before - or at least, to do them differently. So of course, when you're doing something that hasn't been seen before; people are initially uncomfortable with it and they like to criticise it. The problem is that, after you've heard criticism enough times, it becomes internalized in a really strong way.
Think about it. You're a writer, or a director, or an actor. And from the age of four or whatever, you're made to do Maths. You're made to stand in line. But you wanna write a story or you want to do a little drawing. And pretty soon you're fourteen and people are saying "what do you want to do with your life?" and you can't say writer or artist or actor because people will laugh at you because it's not real work, or because it's too competitive, or whatever it is that your teachers/friends/society project onto it.
Then you're eighteen -- and you're doing your drawings or making your short films or writing your stories; but you're shy about it, because society is telling you to learn more about Maths or go and do a degree with an 'ology' in it. Our society doesn't support creativity. Society thinks that if you're up at 4am writing down ideas, you've got a sleeping problem, they don't think that you've got a problem in act three or a problem getting the right shading on your drawing.
So when everyone around you finds it hard to support you, you're going to find it hard to support yourself. Standing up and saying "I am a film director" is HARD. Everyone thinks you're insane, or dreaming. Worst of all, they see dreaming as bad!?!?!
Every time I read a bad review it bothers me not because I think the critic is wrong but because secretly I think they're right. "How did the lady from the Bergen County Shopper's Guide get it right but not the guy from the New York Times."
Creator of THE WEST WING, Writer of THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Meanwhile you want to write a movie about giraffes who land on Mars, or you want to be an actor even though you have a strange face, or you want to write a novel about flowers--- but you look around you and all the actors look like Megan Fox or Jude Law, and the people giving seminars say there's no market for Mars giraffes and your friends keep telling you only old people will read a book about flowers.
The point is -- it's hard! We've been socialized this way and it is difficult. It's difficult for people to support what we do, because they don't understand, and because they wish they could do what you do, and because they can't comprehend how a book about flowers or a movie about giraffes that land on Mars will inspire people. THAT'S YOUR JOB. Your job is to show people the world through the eyes of you; you'll give them a different angle. That's what artists do. Make us see our lives in a different way, or help give us some release from our complicated jobs, relationships, and lives.
People will criticise you and you'll criticise yourself. But then, so does everyone else. And you probably criticise people too in ways you don't even realise. Just remember; there will always be criticism. And people will always disagree with what you do, or have an opinion, right up until they point they love what you do.
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Your Questions, My Answers!
The other day, I said a hello to all the new readers here by asking some questions as a way of getting to know you, and said that, if you had any questions for me, feel free to ask. And many of you did. So here are all your questions and hopefully some of my answers will be of interest! Thanks for the wonderful questions!
Sometimes I swear the melodrama will destroy me........
Two things, 1.your breaking in story, how you got to where you are, is it who you know, or talent that gets picked up these days? and 2. What inspires you? I need advice! Mine's dried up!!!
'Breaking in' is such a strange concept. I think believing in it immediately puts you on the outside; and you feel like you have to be extra special to smash through a wall to 'get in.' But in reality; there's just people making projects. And of course, it's hard to get involved in a big project when you're fifteen and living in Sweden or something. So you do what you can, maybe you make a little movie. And then it gets in a festival. And then you do a bigger film, and so on and so forth; and more and more doors open up... not because you have the magic password, but just because: you're doing the work.
Industry secret: Most people can't be bothered to turn up in a freezing cold field at 3am to be on an unpaid film shoot. If you DO do it, people will like you. And their next project will pay 50 euros/dollars/pounds a day. And they'll still like you. And then on and on and so forth. It's about showing up, constantly working on your craft. Most (not all) actors and directors struggled MASSIVELY for a LONG time. That's what the journey is. Here's a quote from my interview with LAWRENCE SHER, who's now one of the best DOP's in the business; " The year that I made 'Kissing Jessica Stein' was one of the first years where I decided I would not do any more camera assisting even though that was basically how I was earning a living. What a miserable year, it was my only job all year and I think I made $7,000 on the whole movie. So, here I was, a 30 year old guy and I made $7,000 that year."
Is it talent or who you know, you asked. Use whatever you've got. If you happen to know Spielberg, great! What a wonderful privilege! If you don't -- then use your talent. But make sure you use your talent; and you don't pander too much to someone else's idea of what your talent means, cause then you'll lose your focus. That's my experience at least. As for what inspires me; new experiences mainly. New places, new faces, new blog readers! :) Or just put a pretty girl in my life and get her to not reply to my messages and it'll give me enough angst to inspire three screenplay's...
Laura
Sorry if you've answered this in a post already... I haven't read through them all... but if you could've written any movie or acted in any movie... what would it be???
I'd love to have written 'The Apartment' - just because it's such a perfect screenplay. There are many technically perfect screenplay's, I guess, but The Apartment is some kind of magic -- it's just amazing how much joy I feel when reading it, and how beautifully it's put together.
I'd like to have acted with Jimmy Stewart. Or Ginger Rogers. Actually-- no, most of all, I'd LOVE to have been in a scene with Mr. Chaplin.
Xero
How different is what you are today from what you wanted to be/thought you would be as a child? Are you where you ultimately want to be or do you have a wish to climb higher?
I am where I want to be. I have bigger ambitions, of course; but I don't stress about them otherwise I'd be stressed all the time and feeling incomplete. As for the difference from when I was younger till now. I think my creative life, my writing and directing, is going the way I always hoped and expected--- but what's different is that, I find myself very interested in helping other people be creative. I don't mean by giving script notes or telling them what to do, because I have no idea--- but I like reminding people of how talented they are, and making them feel a bit better and more confident. Sometimes I can succeed in that! I'm not sure where it came from.
Matt Zurcher
What's your favorite movie?
Cinema Paradiso.
TB
I really don't know anything about you yet! Are you a working screenwriter? Have you written anything I would know? I love your blog so far! :)
Sorry to tell you this, but I'm not Charlie Kaufman. But I am a screenwriter. You probably haven't seen my work, but who knows? I was once standing outside a building in the Lower East Side, in Manhattan; after a screenwriting thing, and this girl came up to me, as she'd heard my name mentioned-- and she knew all about my film work and really loved it. But that's rare. I'm like one of those Bruce Springsteen bootleg's that only about twenty-six people own. Most people don't know he recorded them, but those that have them really like them! :)
ENZo
what i want to know about you? your least favorite movies. we may hate the same ones lol
The American Pie movies that came after the third one -- what were they thinking?!
Rhi
What do I want to know about you? I want you to answer those exact questions!
I knew someone would make me do this! ha
What is your favorite movie?
Cinema Paradiso.
What is the movie that you secretly watch five times a year even though it's way too cheesy/terrible?
'You've Got Mail.' Or 'One Fine Day.'
What inspires you?
New York.
Castor
What do I want to know about you? Your blog is so inspirational day in and day out. Just keep up the good work Kid!
Wow - Thank You!!
Miki
What do I want to Know? Do you believe that the story or the actors make the movie? Just curious, heh
I think the story is the most important thing. Otherwise what's the point? There's a reason we don't go back very often to watch Tom Hanks in 'Joe Versus The Volcano.'
T. Knowley
What would I like to know about you, What was the first movie you remember seeing in the theater as a kid and did you like it?
I don't have a good answer for this! Most writers and directors, when interviewed, have these amazing stories about being three months old and jumping out of their Mother's arms, stealing a car; and hiding out in a cinema watching French New Wave films. I don't have that, at all. I don't remember anything. I have no idea! And it bothers me!
Jess
What movies/shows do you hate?
Scrubs. I don't get it.
CrazyStar180
I am working on that whole passionate part. I am just so lost right now trying to find my way... The one question I have for you is How did you become so passionate about movies?
I used to find it really exciting to sit in my room, in my early teens, and just watch movies non-stop. I just loved it all - I loved the stories, I loved seeing great acting, I loved laughing, I loved the shape of the frame, it just felt right to me. The rest of the world was all Math's book and girls who wouldn't talk to me and boys who were into smoking and I just didn't get it. But I got movies. They were important to me.
Draven Ames
Your dreams and aspirations. Do you like horror?
I like the layout of your blog and congratulations on being put in the spotlight! Wow! Surreal?
I would pretty much never choose to watch a horror. I do like them though! I just don't like bad ones. And I think most of them are bad. But it's not my thing. My dreams and aspirations; in regard to film; are to be like Woody Allen -- to be able to have a modest budget, year after year, and to be able to write and direct the projects I want to do.
And yeah; it's surreal! my blog hits was in the hundreds each day, and suddenly it's in the thousands (I realise this boost is temporary) -- but I felt suddenly silenced! Like, eeeeeeeeeek - what the hell do I talk about? I'm sure all these masses of people won't want to read my weird stories about tea drinking.
Roy Hutabarat
perspective, i guess.. since u surely won't give me some money.. hahaha, kidding.. perspective is what i'm looking for by blogging.. it helps me see thing in a better eyes..
My perspective is that we really suffocate when we think about money! Especially when it comes to creativity.
Martin
I want to know if your as sick as me of all the latest hollywood garbage..i also dont really care how much the latest superhero film took ;]
I used to feel like that. But now, my perspective is a bit different. I don't really pay attention to a lot of the big releases. I mean, I'll take a look at a trailer and if I'm interested, I'll go. But, if there's a trailer for SAW 19, and it looks terrible; what does it have to do with me? Nothing. People will go and see SAW 26, just like they'll rot their teeth with Pepsi. We're human, we like dumb shit. But rather than lose sleep over it, the truth is that if you write an INCREDIBLE screenplay, or if you make a GENIUS low-budget movie; you'll be fine, people will respond to it. Look at 'Once,' look at 'In Search Of A Midnight Kiss' - they're not miracles, they're just pieces of art that people decided to make.
Tim Riley
Question for Kid: What was your original plan when you started this blog?
I don't know if you can relate to this, but I find that; for anyone who's creative-- everyone always has an opinion, and it's often quite personal. If I see a plumber do a job; I don't really know whether it's particularly good or not. But if a Plumber sees a film I've made; he'll happily tell me I'm a useless sack of shit. Back when I started the blog-- I was tired of putting myself on the line; and I wanted a place where I could go back to the essence of being a little kid who was excited by the movies. And I wanted to write from that perspective, without my best friend telling me "your dialogue is a bit stiff" y'know? So that was my initial reason, I think.
Cecilia
Question for you: What was your favorite interview you've done?
Eeek - how can you make me choose? There's two really exciting ones coming up that I'll be posting very soon.....
But, let's see. Of the ones I've done. The four that are on the left side bar of this blog are probably my favorites. Scott Rosenberg is a real screenwriting hero for me. I think 'Beautiful Girls' is a perfect movie. And what I like about Scott is how he can talk about writing for Jerry Bruckheimer without any ego, or bullshit, he just explains things and you realise that Scott isn't a God, he's just a man. An extremely talented one. He's awesome. I hope you guys have seen his TV show October Road. It only lasted for two seasons but it's really wonderful.
Josh Malina and Giuseppe Sulfaro were great-- I love their work. Lawrence Sher is also brilliant. He also took the time to speak to me at length about my project, and he was full of advice and ideas.
--- Thank you all for the questions, I hope the answers are interesting! And feel free to join the Facebook Fan Page!
Kid In The Front Row
Promote your Page too
Sometimes I swear the melodrama will destroy me........
Two things, 1.your breaking in story, how you got to where you are, is it who you know, or talent that gets picked up these days? and 2. What inspires you? I need advice! Mine's dried up!!!
'Breaking in' is such a strange concept. I think believing in it immediately puts you on the outside; and you feel like you have to be extra special to smash through a wall to 'get in.' But in reality; there's just people making projects. And of course, it's hard to get involved in a big project when you're fifteen and living in Sweden or something. So you do what you can, maybe you make a little movie. And then it gets in a festival. And then you do a bigger film, and so on and so forth; and more and more doors open up... not because you have the magic password, but just because: you're doing the work.
Industry secret: Most people can't be bothered to turn up in a freezing cold field at 3am to be on an unpaid film shoot. If you DO do it, people will like you. And their next project will pay 50 euros/dollars/pounds a day. And they'll still like you. And then on and on and so forth. It's about showing up, constantly working on your craft. Most (not all) actors and directors struggled MASSIVELY for a LONG time. That's what the journey is. Here's a quote from my interview with LAWRENCE SHER, who's now one of the best DOP's in the business; " The year that I made 'Kissing Jessica Stein' was one of the first years where I decided I would not do any more camera assisting even though that was basically how I was earning a living. What a miserable year, it was my only job all year and I think I made $7,000 on the whole movie. So, here I was, a 30 year old guy and I made $7,000 that year."
Is it talent or who you know, you asked. Use whatever you've got. If you happen to know Spielberg, great! What a wonderful privilege! If you don't -- then use your talent. But make sure you use your talent; and you don't pander too much to someone else's idea of what your talent means, cause then you'll lose your focus. That's my experience at least. As for what inspires me; new experiences mainly. New places, new faces, new blog readers! :) Or just put a pretty girl in my life and get her to not reply to my messages and it'll give me enough angst to inspire three screenplay's...
Laura
Sorry if you've answered this in a post already... I haven't read through them all... but if you could've written any movie or acted in any movie... what would it be???
I'd love to have written 'The Apartment' - just because it's such a perfect screenplay. There are many technically perfect screenplay's, I guess, but The Apartment is some kind of magic -- it's just amazing how much joy I feel when reading it, and how beautifully it's put together.
I'd like to have acted with Jimmy Stewart. Or Ginger Rogers. Actually-- no, most of all, I'd LOVE to have been in a scene with Mr. Chaplin.
Xero
How different is what you are today from what you wanted to be/thought you would be as a child? Are you where you ultimately want to be or do you have a wish to climb higher?
I am where I want to be. I have bigger ambitions, of course; but I don't stress about them otherwise I'd be stressed all the time and feeling incomplete. As for the difference from when I was younger till now. I think my creative life, my writing and directing, is going the way I always hoped and expected--- but what's different is that, I find myself very interested in helping other people be creative. I don't mean by giving script notes or telling them what to do, because I have no idea--- but I like reminding people of how talented they are, and making them feel a bit better and more confident. Sometimes I can succeed in that! I'm not sure where it came from.
Matt Zurcher
What's your favorite movie?
Cinema Paradiso.
TB
I really don't know anything about you yet! Are you a working screenwriter? Have you written anything I would know? I love your blog so far! :)
Sorry to tell you this, but I'm not Charlie Kaufman. But I am a screenwriter. You probably haven't seen my work, but who knows? I was once standing outside a building in the Lower East Side, in Manhattan; after a screenwriting thing, and this girl came up to me, as she'd heard my name mentioned-- and she knew all about my film work and really loved it. But that's rare. I'm like one of those Bruce Springsteen bootleg's that only about twenty-six people own. Most people don't know he recorded them, but those that have them really like them! :)
ENZo
what i want to know about you? your least favorite movies. we may hate the same ones lol
The American Pie movies that came after the third one -- what were they thinking?!
Rhi
What do I want to know about you? I want you to answer those exact questions!
I knew someone would make me do this! ha
What is your favorite movie?
Cinema Paradiso.
What is the movie that you secretly watch five times a year even though it's way too cheesy/terrible?
'You've Got Mail.' Or 'One Fine Day.'
What inspires you?
New York.
Castor
What do I want to know about you? Your blog is so inspirational day in and day out. Just keep up the good work Kid!
Wow - Thank You!!
Miki
What do I want to Know? Do you believe that the story or the actors make the movie? Just curious, heh
I think the story is the most important thing. Otherwise what's the point? There's a reason we don't go back very often to watch Tom Hanks in 'Joe Versus The Volcano.'
T. Knowley
What would I like to know about you, What was the first movie you remember seeing in the theater as a kid and did you like it?
I don't have a good answer for this! Most writers and directors, when interviewed, have these amazing stories about being three months old and jumping out of their Mother's arms, stealing a car; and hiding out in a cinema watching French New Wave films. I don't have that, at all. I don't remember anything. I have no idea! And it bothers me!
Jess
What movies/shows do you hate?
Scrubs. I don't get it.
CrazyStar180
I am working on that whole passionate part. I am just so lost right now trying to find my way... The one question I have for you is How did you become so passionate about movies?
I used to find it really exciting to sit in my room, in my early teens, and just watch movies non-stop. I just loved it all - I loved the stories, I loved seeing great acting, I loved laughing, I loved the shape of the frame, it just felt right to me. The rest of the world was all Math's book and girls who wouldn't talk to me and boys who were into smoking and I just didn't get it. But I got movies. They were important to me.
Draven Ames
Your dreams and aspirations. Do you like horror?
I like the layout of your blog and congratulations on being put in the spotlight! Wow! Surreal?
I would pretty much never choose to watch a horror. I do like them though! I just don't like bad ones. And I think most of them are bad. But it's not my thing. My dreams and aspirations; in regard to film; are to be like Woody Allen -- to be able to have a modest budget, year after year, and to be able to write and direct the projects I want to do.
And yeah; it's surreal! my blog hits was in the hundreds each day, and suddenly it's in the thousands (I realise this boost is temporary) -- but I felt suddenly silenced! Like, eeeeeeeeeek - what the hell do I talk about? I'm sure all these masses of people won't want to read my weird stories about tea drinking.
Roy Hutabarat
perspective, i guess.. since u surely won't give me some money.. hahaha, kidding.. perspective is what i'm looking for by blogging.. it helps me see thing in a better eyes..
My perspective is that we really suffocate when we think about money! Especially when it comes to creativity.
Martin
I want to know if your as sick as me of all the latest hollywood garbage..i also dont really care how much the latest superhero film took ;]
I used to feel like that. But now, my perspective is a bit different. I don't really pay attention to a lot of the big releases. I mean, I'll take a look at a trailer and if I'm interested, I'll go. But, if there's a trailer for SAW 19, and it looks terrible; what does it have to do with me? Nothing. People will go and see SAW 26, just like they'll rot their teeth with Pepsi. We're human, we like dumb shit. But rather than lose sleep over it, the truth is that if you write an INCREDIBLE screenplay, or if you make a GENIUS low-budget movie; you'll be fine, people will respond to it. Look at 'Once,' look at 'In Search Of A Midnight Kiss' - they're not miracles, they're just pieces of art that people decided to make.
Tim Riley
Question for Kid: What was your original plan when you started this blog?
Stimulate Photography
What made you start this blog?
I don't know if you can relate to this, but I find that; for anyone who's creative-- everyone always has an opinion, and it's often quite personal. If I see a plumber do a job; I don't really know whether it's particularly good or not. But if a Plumber sees a film I've made; he'll happily tell me I'm a useless sack of shit. Back when I started the blog-- I was tired of putting myself on the line; and I wanted a place where I could go back to the essence of being a little kid who was excited by the movies. And I wanted to write from that perspective, without my best friend telling me "your dialogue is a bit stiff" y'know? So that was my initial reason, I think.
Cecilia
Question for you: What was your favorite interview you've done?
Eeek - how can you make me choose? There's two really exciting ones coming up that I'll be posting very soon.....
But, let's see. Of the ones I've done. The four that are on the left side bar of this blog are probably my favorites. Scott Rosenberg is a real screenwriting hero for me. I think 'Beautiful Girls' is a perfect movie. And what I like about Scott is how he can talk about writing for Jerry Bruckheimer without any ego, or bullshit, he just explains things and you realise that Scott isn't a God, he's just a man. An extremely talented one. He's awesome. I hope you guys have seen his TV show October Road. It only lasted for two seasons but it's really wonderful.
Josh Malina and Giuseppe Sulfaro were great-- I love their work. Lawrence Sher is also brilliant. He also took the time to speak to me at length about my project, and he was full of advice and ideas.
--- Thank you all for the questions, I hope the answers are interesting! And feel free to join the Facebook Fan Page!
Kid In The Front Row
Promote your Page too
The Richness Of Our History: My Personal Experience Of Remembrance Day 2010
I often despair about how my generation is so willing to disregard the past. Yesterday, thousands upon thousands of young students took to the streets of London in protest at the Government rising tuition fees. The protests weren't peaceful; they were violent. During a week when a large percentage of the population are wearing red poppies, I found it quite upsetting that with our freedom, we turn to violence. Whilst some would say "it would only a very small minority" there was a much larger, silent minority, that were cheering them on and supporting them.
For me there is a big link - between what was happening yesterday, and what was happening today as me and my friend Raz made our way to a local remembrance service at a site that's historical significance has mostly been lost to the younger generations. I was saddened to see that me and my friend were the youngest people by about 40 years. Where were the other people of my generation? Where was everyone in between? My friend, Raz, was in agreement. And we felt quite sad about it. But then something changed in me-- which I'll mention in a bit but first let me talk about Derek and Bryan.
Derek came up to us before the service and, I guess, mistaking us for nine year old's asked "are you from the school?" We explained that we weren't -- and we got chatting. He began sharing many stories with us from when he was a young kid during the war. Like so many, his home was bombed. Like so many, he was so nearly killed. Like so many, he was injured in a way that has affected him his whole life. Like so many, he was evacuated as a child and taken away from his family, with no way to contact them. His stories were so amazing; at times inspiring, at times upsetting, but more often than not just extremely EXCITING! He was a young boy during wartime. And he had some great times. But he also had some very bad times -- and his emotions ranged from ecstatic and excited to deeply moved and emotional. Here was a man, in his late seventies, remembering vividly being a tiny kid in London.
I said previously that something changed in me. It was perspective. It came during the remembrance service as many incredible people stood up and shared a part of a story, a part of history, a part of themselves with the gathered crowd. I realized that, in terms of my generation and remembrance, the important people aren't the millions who don't show up. The important ones are people like me and Raz. That's what it is now. That's how history lives on, through two people or four people or one person or one school project that does something to help it live on. That's more powerful than a mass crowd. 30,000 students descended on London yesterday and smashed some buildings up -- the issue was lost, we were left with destruction. But two friends surrounded by warm and inspiring war veterans is something more powerful. My friend, Raz; is a very open, sensitive, and passionate Muslim man -- who came along on this cold, wet morning; to stand side by side with lots of old white people. Because he knew that color wasn't the issue. It's bigger than that. And there's me, a writer and a film director. If I go to a remembrance service but the 300 Facebook friends I invited didn't--- it doesn't matter. It's not about them. It's about me. It's about people like me. It's about showing up.
Who cares? It's in the past!? Have you ever heard that one? History is not in the past -- it relives itself every day. We can see history all around us. Today, as I connected with Derek and Bryan; they talked and they laughed and they cried, and so did we. They told me stories about the places I grew up --- places I know as parks and fields and shops but they know as airfields and command offices and places they'd find interesting bits of shrapnel.
Today was important, because we were able to say we're here. We're listening. We care. Our generation doesn't do that enough. We sit on Facebook, we write on our blogs and we send our text messages; but we don't have a great deal of awareness about what people have gone through in order for us to have those privileges. Derek was telling us stories today about people like the RAF BOMBER COMMAND, who had 55,000 aircrew KILLED during World War 2. Nothing has been done to commemorate these people. And to commemorate is important. That piece of cement in the ground, it needs to be there so we can say WE CARE. WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID. WE LOVE ALL OF YOU. What could be more important? The most I've volunteered to do recently was look after my friend's daughter for a night so she could have a night out. These fighters volunteered their lives, FOR US. FOR YOU, FOR ME, for everyone who's ever felt a moment of freedom in their lives. From the RAF Bomber Squad website "They died in blazing, crashing aircraft whilst fighting against the enemies of our free world. It is nothing short of a national disgrace that Britain has so far failed to properly recognise this brave and talented group of individuals." That's just one example of people who aren't recognized as much as they should be. There are many more. I'm sure you'll have examples, and people that are meaningful to you.
Today was a good day. I felt a shift in the world, in my world. It's not about the apathy of those who don't take time to remember, or of the school who are ACROSS THE ROAD from the memorial who didn't respond to their Remembrance Service invite. It's about those men and women who were there. It's about those who fought, those who looked after our children, those who worked in factories contributing to the effort. It's about those who died and those who survived. And it's about me and you, in whatever way we can, REMEMBERING. And SHARING. And engaging people who have the capacity to be engaged on this topic; the topic being to remember. History is present all around us. There is a lot of pain, for a lot of people, and by taking the time to hear their pain you are giving them so much, and you are being given so much. There is also a richness and beauty to their memories; the joy, the victories and the camaraderie that they felt and still do.
I'm glad you're all here.
Derek came up to us before the service and, I guess, mistaking us for nine year old's asked "are you from the school?" We explained that we weren't -- and we got chatting. He began sharing many stories with us from when he was a young kid during the war. Like so many, his home was bombed. Like so many, he was so nearly killed. Like so many, he was injured in a way that has affected him his whole life. Like so many, he was evacuated as a child and taken away from his family, with no way to contact them. His stories were so amazing; at times inspiring, at times upsetting, but more often than not just extremely EXCITING! He was a young boy during wartime. And he had some great times. But he also had some very bad times -- and his emotions ranged from ecstatic and excited to deeply moved and emotional. Here was a man, in his late seventies, remembering vividly being a tiny kid in London.
I said previously that something changed in me. It was perspective. It came during the remembrance service as many incredible people stood up and shared a part of a story, a part of history, a part of themselves with the gathered crowd. I realized that, in terms of my generation and remembrance, the important people aren't the millions who don't show up. The important ones are people like me and Raz. That's what it is now. That's how history lives on, through two people or four people or one person or one school project that does something to help it live on. That's more powerful than a mass crowd. 30,000 students descended on London yesterday and smashed some buildings up -- the issue was lost, we were left with destruction. But two friends surrounded by warm and inspiring war veterans is something more powerful. My friend, Raz; is a very open, sensitive, and passionate Muslim man -- who came along on this cold, wet morning; to stand side by side with lots of old white people. Because he knew that color wasn't the issue. It's bigger than that. And there's me, a writer and a film director. If I go to a remembrance service but the 300 Facebook friends I invited didn't--- it doesn't matter. It's not about them. It's about me. It's about people like me. It's about showing up.
Who cares? It's in the past!? Have you ever heard that one? History is not in the past -- it relives itself every day. We can see history all around us. Today, as I connected with Derek and Bryan; they talked and they laughed and they cried, and so did we. They told me stories about the places I grew up --- places I know as parks and fields and shops but they know as airfields and command offices and places they'd find interesting bits of shrapnel.
Today was important, because we were able to say we're here. We're listening. We care. Our generation doesn't do that enough. We sit on Facebook, we write on our blogs and we send our text messages; but we don't have a great deal of awareness about what people have gone through in order for us to have those privileges. Derek was telling us stories today about people like the RAF BOMBER COMMAND, who had 55,000 aircrew KILLED during World War 2. Nothing has been done to commemorate these people. And to commemorate is important. That piece of cement in the ground, it needs to be there so we can say WE CARE. WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID. WE LOVE ALL OF YOU. What could be more important? The most I've volunteered to do recently was look after my friend's daughter for a night so she could have a night out. These fighters volunteered their lives, FOR US. FOR YOU, FOR ME, for everyone who's ever felt a moment of freedom in their lives. From the RAF Bomber Squad website "They died in blazing, crashing aircraft whilst fighting against the enemies of our free world. It is nothing short of a national disgrace that Britain has so far failed to properly recognise this brave and talented group of individuals." That's just one example of people who aren't recognized as much as they should be. There are many more. I'm sure you'll have examples, and people that are meaningful to you.
Today was a good day. I felt a shift in the world, in my world. It's not about the apathy of those who don't take time to remember, or of the school who are ACROSS THE ROAD from the memorial who didn't respond to their Remembrance Service invite. It's about those men and women who were there. It's about those who fought, those who looked after our children, those who worked in factories contributing to the effort. It's about those who died and those who survived. And it's about me and you, in whatever way we can, REMEMBERING. And SHARING. And engaging people who have the capacity to be engaged on this topic; the topic being to remember. History is present all around us. There is a lot of pain, for a lot of people, and by taking the time to hear their pain you are giving them so much, and you are being given so much. There is also a richness and beauty to their memories; the joy, the victories and the camaraderie that they felt and still do.
I'm glad you're all here.
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
New Visitors..
This blog was chosen as a 'Blog Of Note' by the Blogger team a few days ago, and since then, there's been an incredible amount of new visitors, which is amazing to see! I'd really love to know more about you all!
What is your favorite movie?
What is the movie that you secretly watch five times a year even though it's way too cheesy/terrible?
What inspires you?
What do you want to know about me?
Welcome to Kid In The Front Row - I hope you all stick around!
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