Last year proved itself to be rather disruptive and challenging for creatives, especially filmmakers. Productions came to a halt and even though some of them resume, they do so in limited form with precaution. As regulations around the world vary, so do our experiences.
Still, human beings are extraordinarily adaptable and now that we’ve had time to process the situation, we can prepare for the future with a bit more clarity. I see 2021 as a clean slate for my personal and professional growth. People say that most of us don’t stick with our New Year’s resolutions, but for me, setting well-defined goals and writing them down has always worked. I have been thinking about what I want to do each new year and how I can achieve it for a long time. Maybe my resolutions will inspire you to do something similar as well. Without further ado, here are five resolutions I will be keeping in 2021.
1. Watch more old films
To truly appreciate and understand the legacy we were given as filmmakers it only makes sense that we watch old films. It’s completely arbitrary what you consider to be an old film, as long as it takes you on a journey through the history of this versatile craft.
This year, I will watch an old film for every new film I’ve seen. If you want to dive into film history, I can recommend the 1001 Movies You Need to See Before You Die wiki, or if you want a sharp analysis and context, you can follow One Hundred Years of Cinema on YouTube. I’ll also pick up my copy of David Parkinson’s History of Film this year and do a deep dive into a chosen movement.
2. Read!
I’ll be honest: I read 4 books in 2020. It's better than nothing, but this is much less than what I usually read. And I have a feeling that a lot of you might feel this way too; we all know we should be reading more, yet we don’t. Last year, especially, I liked to pretend that I simply didn’t have time or energy, but the truth is I did. So, personally, I’ve vowed to cut down on the time I spend playing games on my smartphone and I’ll dedicate that time to doing some reading. I intend to read at least 12 books (one a month), which is a lower-tier goal. The idea is to set a goal that I can attain with some effort but that’s still realistic for me. If I reach this goal before the end of the year, I’ll just keep going and see where I land.
I’m the kind of reader that likes to read everything: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and graphic novels. Because I’m doing a back-to-basics approach in my career (and you’ll learn why in a bit) I’ll be tackling some film theory books (Robert McKee’s Story, Erik Barnouw’s Documentary) and I’ll be reading plenty of fiction as a source of inspiration. Reading always makes me feel freshly inspired because it fills me with new ideas, especially when I think I’ve hit a creative block. For some cool visuals, I'll also read a couple of graphic novels. I’ll be looking into Grant Morrison and Neil Gaiman this year because I need a little bit of creative madness in the very best sense of the word.
If you think you don’t have enough time to read, try listening to audiobooks. Personally, I like to read a book first and revisit it down the line in the audio version. Also, if you’re finding yourself in a financially challenging situation, you can always take a look at Project Gutenberg for some free books or sign up for your local library.
3. Do at least one personal project this year
One of the consequences of 2020 is that I haven’t worked on a personal project for the whole year. Even though I’ve been extremely lucky to have worked throughout the year, I really started to yearn for something creative that’s mine. This is why in 2021 I will work on at least one personal project.
The country I live (and mostly work in) has some of the strictest public health measures in effect at the moment. It is almost impossible to predict when they will relax some of the measures and what the capacity of the film industry will be when it resumes. The way that I’m planning to tackle the situation is from two angles:
First, I will work on a script for a short film that can be filmed in one location with minimal crew. I'll be stripping it all down to necessary essentials: 1-2 actors, 1 sound person, and maybe(!) 1 camera assist/gaffer. The main idea is to create a film that can be shot in quarantine, just as fellow Tongal filmmaker Matthew Fridg did and shared in this blog post, but still follow a conventional story structure. As a future producer, it is also my responsibility to keep the sets clean and minimize the risk of spreading the virus, which is something I have to prepare for. If you’re planning to work on a film with other crew members, I invite you to think about this as well.
Secondly, I live next to a hill with a very distinct ecosystem. I’ve always wanted to shoot a nature documentary and I think this is a perfect opportunity to do so. I’ll be alone in the woods and I can keep the financial cost at a minimum. All I need to invest is time. Shooting nature can be very challenging because you never know what will happen, which is why I'll start shooting at the beginning of 2021 and re-evaluate the project every couple of months.
4. Attend a film festival (online)
Now, more than ever, it is important to support film festivals. From biggest to smallest, most of them have already adapted to the current situation and offer an option of attending the festival online. This doesn’t only include the option to stream films, but also attend online workshops and discussions and everything else festivals usually have to offer. Even though we’re now starting to see how differently festivals tackle their virtual experiences one thing is sure: they’re still worth attending.
If you want to attend a festival in person but you don’t want to travel, you can always look up a film festival in your area and go check it out. I’ll try attending a couple of local festivals, especially the ones that have already implemented great safety measures. If you feel like you don’t want to pay a full fee for an online festival – there are tons of small-scale festivals, parts of which you can attend for free (this most often refers to short film sections, but not always).
5. Stay fit & healthy
The tempo of our line of work usually requires a certain amount of stamina, especially for those hectic shooting days. Making health one of your top priorities will always benefit you. Staying healthy and fit has always been one of my highest values, but I must admit I fell off the wagon in 2020. Then again, like many others, I was busy attending to a little bit of an existential crisis.
Now, I won’t turn into some sort of a fitness enthusiast, I’m too lazy for that. But I will make sure that I eat well, get fresh air as much as possible, and exercise frequently. I’ve already planned a hiking trip I’ll be taking in the local area, where I’m allowed to move. I’d like to encourage you to do the same if you are in a position to do so.
Bonus resolution: Submit more ideas and pitches to Tongal!
Tongal has continuously provided us with amazing opportunities within our craft, and 2021 won’t be any different. I’ve challenged myself to submit as many carefully prepared pitches as I can. I consider pitching an artform in its own right. Trying to fit your idea into a certain amount of words or characters is very similar to real-life pitching where, instead of the characters, it’s the time that’s restricted. Tongal allows you to do it from a safe space and you gain experience in pitching just as much you’ll gain experience in filmmaking itself (or design or writing) when your pitch gets greenlit.
Put yourself out there, grow, and take every opportunity you can. Whatever you choose to do in 2021, I hope you have an amazing year. Stay safe!
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Note From Tongal: "A Filmmaker's Five New Year's Resolutions" is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Tongal. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here and then Pitch us a topic you'd like to write about for the Tongal Blog!
