Chasing perfection in filmmaking is a surefire way to drive yourself insane. Quite simply, perfection just does not exist in film. There are just too many variables and details, many of which are completely out of our control, for us to come anywhere close to perfection. And frankly, what does perfection even mean any way?

Some of the wisest filmmakers I know have learned this the hard way. They agonized over every last detail on projects early in their careers, only to become crippled by anxiety and a fear that their work wouldn’t be good enough. Now though, these same filmmakers have learned to give every project their fullest effort, but they’re self aware enough to know that at a certain point, you have to let go of that project and move onto the next one.

And sure enough, life is often the same way. Many of the things that influence our lives (either positively or negatively) are out of our control. Yet agonizing and obsessing over these things is the norm for some of us. It really can be crippling.

However, what’s always within our control is how we choose to perceive these things and how we let them affect us. When we learn to take responsibility for the things that are in our control and accept the things that aren’t, a good life tends to follow.

Wrapping up

That’s all I’ve got for the time being. I’m sure there are plenty more lessons filmmaking can teach us about living a good life (especially in regards to expressing creativity and being practical), but they’ll have to wait for another day.

-Robert Hardy