Learning methods and life choices.

So as usual I am starting this blog with an apology for not posting more often. I have changed direction a lot with this blog first it was a general dumping ground for my film thoughts, then it turned into a forum for my worries and concerns about academia and now, I dunno really, it’s just become a general common all garden blog.

I have been thinking a lot about something that Arin Crumley discussed in his blog recently. Arin is a independent film maker, distributor and viral marketeer who very successfully created the award winning Four Eyed Monsters. In his blog entry he posted screenshots of a iChat conversation he had with a graduate considering taking a postgrad course in Animation at the Vancouver Film School. During their discussion the graduate asked Arin what he thought of his plans to attend graduate school. Arin’s response was what has been playing on my mind. His basic response was not to go to grad school and to take a year to himself to travel, learn about his craft, learn about the world and learning by lending his time to professional animators. This approach while sounding like an excuse to slack around and do nothing is actually exactly how I feel about the topic.

As an aspiring filmmaker, god I hate saying that, I honestly believe that you are far better off learning by doing rather than studying something in theory. While I have a lot of admiration for theory and theorists, I can not help but think that they are secondary to the overall process. Without going down the road of calling these people parasites because that is far from what I think, they do, however exist as a result of filmmakers and their art. This lead me to the conclusion, I want to learn from doing. I have always achieved most by this form of learning. However, I do not want to abandon my studies. This is of course a hard choice. Arin’s assertion that you should also give up your job and commit to your art form full time was also reiterated by singer songwriter Amber Rubarth who claims if you have a passion, you owe it to yourself to commit 100% to this passion. Agreed, but how do these people pay the bills?

I have had several opportunities come my way in the last week. They have come fast and I have had little time to digest them. It is important for my future that I take time in choosing which path to take. This is a time in my life when I have to decide to give something up, practice or theory and that’s very hard.

Right, that’s it from me…

K

~ by K on January 12, 2008.