Passion

I've been doing a ton of "research" on career choices and where to go from where I've been. Something I've really become adamant about in a career is passion. Passion for what you do and why you do it. My observations of passion:

• passion can never be faked, the audience can always tell if it's real
• you can see passion in the quality of somebody's work, their willingness to go the extra distance
• passionate people know what they want and like, they often create with their personality
• they are happy with what they do and proud of what they make

I think some of the easiest examples of passion can be seen in music or film. Here is a couple examples where I think you can really tell the individuals are enjoying what they're doing, and it shows in their quality of work.

1) Perfect Cover

For me personally, the song is well done and I have an appreciation for the voices of both individuals. What impressed me most is the feeling you get when you listen to it, like you feel the song actually has meaning. Many times you hear lyrics in a song and they don't mean any more than the melody that comes with it. It might be catchy, but it will be forgotten. It might be trendy, but it will be overplayed. This cover did not give me the impression of mimicking but reinvention. When Pink first released this song, I thought it was catchy, but this cover made me listen to the lyrics and think about what the song was trying to communicate. On another note, although this was a cover, I thought from a film perspective it was decently well edited and spliced together.

2) Strangers Again, Wong Fu Productions

Yes it is the same girl and that is somewhat by coincidence. I saw the short film first and happened to see the link for the cover on the sidebar. This film impresses me on many levels. I really liked how they broke the fourth wall and alternated between 3rd person and speaking with the audience. I liked how the story was simple yet compelling. It wasn't filled with messy details but there was enough character development to make you sympathize with the characters and their path together. I thought the music selection was great as was the directing and editing. Finally, I especially liked the argument scene where it blacks out and comes back. It really summarizes most fights in a relationship where there is just loud noise and no logic.

You could easily look at these two pieces of work and criticize it. The singing is not American Idol (which I think is ridiculous to begin with) quality. The acting, directing, editing, and production in general is not Oscar worthy. Okay sure, but why does it have to be? These are normal people who are passionate and consequently pretty good at what they're doing. Are they going to become famous one day? Who knows and who cares! I think they're both great examples of passion because they leave you with something, whether it be a feeling or an inspiration or simply appreciation for their work.

These two examples along with a plethora of other things has inspired me to pursue something I'm passionate about. Question is, what is that? The answer almost immediately entered my mind after I asked the question. Film. That is really the one thing I can think of that I can spend hours doing. Similar to poker, I find myself able to immerse myself in film and all aspects of it. I appreciate everything about the production of a film from casting to lighting to screenplay to directing to editing. I think it's beautiful and powerful. When I watch movies, I don't really view it through the same lens as others. I tend to pick out details that really impress me and areas I thought were lacking. I wouldn't necessarily call myself a critic (because I doubt I could write a compelling review) but I would readily admit I'm a movie snob.

The problem with my passion is that it is one of the largest industries in the world and everybody is trying to get in. After further thought, I don't think you necessarily need to be limited to a single passion and though film may be my greatest passion, it doesn't mean I need to make it a profession. However, I am going to pursue it in the near future for my own enjoyment. I haven't decided exactly when or what direction I'm going to go with it, but I have begun doing some research on equipment and tools including software to help me. I think I have many ideas that come from all the shorts, videos, movies, and documentaries I've seen. After I get all the necessities together, I will begin experimenting.

I think it will be very fulfilling. I am very anxious to begin.