Tuesday, January 29, 2013

What is Success


Success is not a truth—it is not singular.  There are many different areas of success, some overlapping, others, mutually exclusive; there are degrees of success.  As an aspiring filmmaker, this cannot be truer.  Of course, there is always the goal of becoming the next Steven Spielberg or Clint Eastwood, but success should never be defined by some forerunner’s shadow or footsteps. 

The most basic form of success is finding a job and settling down in life—film has one of the worst job markets in the world.  The view of the world from eyes of youth is a rose-tinted one—an optimistic and simplified view of a complex conglomerated system.  Finding a well-paying job, or any job at that, is already a success story. 

Money, however, is only one face of success.  The reason I decided to make films was not because of the ludicrous paychecks and glamorous lights Hollywood is known for, but rather because film is a personal passion.  I love storytelling, and I love making film.  In tandem with the first, it isf absolutely possible to have the dream job but remain frustrated and unsatisfied due to other factors, to actually be happy; to be able to enjoy one’s “success” is a success in itself. 

Speaking of happiness, movies and money cannot be one’s only source of joy.  I long for friendships and relationships; for someone who has “enjoyed” two decades of solitude, “success” is finding someone; finding someone to love, to laugh with, to cry with, and to spend the years together and grow old with. 

But pessimism and underestimation should not dictate one’s life.  One’s blossom of youth is the time for dreams and aspirations.  While it is healthy to regard the world with a certain sense of wariness and preparedness, goals are the driving force behind our lives… The ultimate success that I could wish for: my book—into my film.  

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