~ ‘Ian's Film Talk’ ~
Inspiration. Something that is said to come and go at its own behest, and not at ours. Sometimes true; and in my experience, sometimes not.
Inspiration, for me, is often a matter of getting down to it. It’s my understanding that many writers (for instance) get “writer’s block.” Well, when I’m writing, at least for the past 7 years, I don’t have any problem actually writing. The words come. The trick, for me, is getting to the computer. I get, “sitting down at the computer” block.
One way to combat that is to have a regular schedule for writing. Every morning for a half hour, or every evening for an hour, or, if you simply don’t have the time, 20 minutes every other day. I had a teacher once, in Chicago, named Dr. Robin Herndobler. She was an amazing woman, and really the strongest “womentor” I’ve ever had. She taught English and writing and women’s studies. What she told us was something along these lines: “If you can’t find at least 15 minutes, every day, to write, then you shouldn’t be a writer.” Strong words, but I think she’s right (for the most part). A writer writes. That’s it. Getting published – and getting paid – are wonderful. But they do not make you a writer. Writing does that.
I adore being a creative person. If I thought that I could no longer create…that would be a bad, bad day for me. Part of the trick about running this business is allowing my learning about the business to be as creative as possible. Simply enjoying the newness – the creation – of the business. Tricky for me, sometimes, but worth it. This is the path, and it’s a way for me (and my lovely lady wife / CEO) to make our dreams happen.
So here I am, sitting at the computer, and pounding it out. It’s creative – and I hope inspirational for you all.
Best,
Ian Carruthers
Filmmaker
www.foolishtreefilms.com
Let’s make a movie!
Part 3 of 3 in a vlogging series done around a fabulous day location shooting. The day ended at Baker Beach here in SF, with some amazing shots of the Golden Gate.
Part 1 of 3 can be found here: www.foolishtreefilms.com/blog/ian-blog/iansvlog1/
Part 2 of 3 can be found here: www.foolishtreefilms.com/blog/ian-blog/iansvlog2/
Thanks so much for watching the vids, and please be sure to rate, subscribe, and comment. Thanks!
Ian Carruthers
Filmmaker
www.foolishtreefilms.com
Let’s make a movie!
Part 2 of 3 of a fabulous day location shooting. Includes gorgeous shots of the presidio and the bay, along with a review of a tuna melt from the Bean Bag Cafe on Hayes and Divis!
Part 1 of 3 can be found here: www.foolishtreefilms.com/blog/ian-blog/iansvlog1/
Part 3 of 3 can be found here: www.foolishtreefilms.com/blog/ian-blog/iansvlog3/
Thanks so much for watching the vids, and please be sure to rate, subscribe, and comment. Thanks!
Ian Carruthers
Filmmaker
www.foolishtreefilms.com
Let’s make a movie!
I’m an independent filmmaker. And that means that lighting is critically important to me. For instance, if I can’t separate my foreground subject from the background that subject is in front of, I’ll have a muddy image that no one will want to look at. Well, it might be an artistic curiosity, but it won’t be a clear image. And most of the time, what I want is a clear image.
This is also true in my life as a whole. If I can’t see what I’m doing, it makes it a lot more difficult to get it done. And lately, around here (San Francisco), it’s been overcast like Seattle, which has made it a heavier prospect keeping my eyes on my dreams. The light coming into my eyes and into my skin (killer vitamin D source, don’tcha know) helps make it possible for me to lift up my eyes – and my head – and look ahead.
And the truth is, because of my ability to keep going, and hold that light inside me, I’m living a number of my dreams right now. I’m in an amazing relationship – personal and business – with the partner of my dreams, my wife of almost 12 years. Wow! I’m making movies for a living, writing scripts, shooting film and editing like a madman. Yes, there’s an enormous amount of administrative work that goes along with that, and yes, sometimes that’s a drag…but the light of the dreams I’m actually living in help keep me going.
So, anytime you’re having a hard time keeping your eyes on your dreams, because it looks pretty dark around you, find what light you can find. Don’t worry if it’s not a light anyone else can see. That’s not the important thing. Not that having other folks support your path by being on a similar one themselves isn’t wonderful and wonderfully helpful; it is. But it’s not as necessary as the truth of that light for you. If it’s true for you, then it’s true enough.
As Brian Setzer sings, in his song “We are the Marauders:” “Life is one tall order / You gotta do what you wanna do / You gotta do what you were born to do / But this whole life is way too short / If it feels right to you / Well, there’s a start.”
Light your way, fabulous ones!
Ian Carruthers
Filmmaker
www.foolishtreefilms.com
Let’s make a movie!
The first of a 3-part series on an excellent day of location shooting, here in San Francisco. In this post, we visit John McClaren park (a gorgeous, relatively unknown piece of land in SF), and get beautiful, moody shots of the south side of the city, Mt. Davidson, Bernal Heights and more.
Part 2 of 3 can be found here: www.foolishtreefilms.com/blog/ian-blog/iansvlog2/
Part 3 of 3 can be found here: www.foolishtreefilms.com/blog/ian-blog/iansvlog3/
Thanks so much for watching the vids, and please be sure to rate, subscribe, and comment. Thanks!
Ian Carruthers
Filmmaker
www.foolishtreefilms.com
Let’s make a movie!
