Lesson Learned: “Role Model”

It was over. We were done.

After the debacle that was "Adrift," my team and I were so burnt out and discouraged, we all wondered whether or not we were cut out for a life in film or not. The film had taken so much time, energy, and money out of us that we were sure the dream was over before it had even begun. The film itself was discouraging, but even more discouraging was news from some of my cast and crew that they were done working with us as well. No hard feelings, but the film just didn't deliver what they had expected, and they were not ready to invest more time, energy, and money into making another with little to no promise of return.

So that was it, then. We were through.

It was at this point, about four months after "Adrift" officially released, that I had to make a choice. Was I personally going to let this small little film defeat me, or was I going to rise and prove to myself that I could do this? Deep down, I knew I could, but I had gotten lost. So I made one of the toughest choices I've made in film yet: I decided not to quit.

I sat down and began writing an old, dusty outline of a script that had potential, and I set to work. Thus, "Role Model" was born.

Lesson One

Don't quit.

I've said it a thousand times, and I'll continue to recite two words to myself over and over until I've reached the end, wherever that is. I seem to learn this lesson before and after every film, and it is a timeless lesson that will lead to success every time: don't quit. If this is something you want to do, were born to do, will do no matter what, don't quit. Not because of a minor setback, not because of a seemingly insurmountable setback, and definitely not because your own self-worth has fallen. There are always exceptions to every rule, but if you want to keep pursuing a goal, if the goal seems to eat you alive when you don't pursue it, then don't quit. The dream hasn't given up on you, so don't give up on it. It's not over until you lay your instruments down and say you're done. Get back up and don't quit.

Lesson Two

Write from the heart.

Upon reeling from the lack of success of "Adrift," I decided to take stock of what I learned from my experience. Something very profound jumped out at me. I had written and directed the film based on spectacle and what would look cool/be really fun to make and see rather than what would move people. I wrote to exceed our budget so that we could challenge ourselves, but I forgot one simple thing: the heart of the story. Sure, there was story, but not enough heart. So, with "Role Model," I scaled back the script to make it as intimate and deeply explorative as possible. I wanted to take the viewer along an emotional journey and not a physical one. I wanted to stretch myself to write and direct from the heart and not from the head. With that in mind, I drafted the most personal script I'd written to date and sent the first draft to my team. They all loved it, had no notes, and we shot off the first draft of the script, something that never happens. People love to watch the spectacle and the escapism, but it's the stories with heart are the ones that last.

Lesson Three

If you can do it, prove it.

When we set out to make this film, it was not to win awards or even to just have fun. We set out to make this film to prove to ourselves that a) we could make a good film, and b) that we could regain the faith of the cast and crew who burned out on "Adrift." We did whatever we could to prove those two things, and at the end of the day, we accomplished just that. The worst thing that happened to us after "Adrift" was that I stopped hearing the phrase, "what's next?" when talking to others about our films. The most encouraging thing to come out of "Role Model," official selections and awards aside, was when, after months of silence, I finally heard the phrase, "what's next?" It told me that they were eager to see more from us, and I am eager to give it.

Closing Thoughts

I could do this all day.

Sometimes, when you're down, that's exactly the moment when you need to pick yourself up. Sure, you can wait for someone to come along, dust you off, and shove you in the general direction you're supposed to head, but how long will your motivation last? It's like Captain America in any Marvel movie ever: no matter how beaten down he gets, he still tightens his straps, picks himself up, and keeps going, for better or worse. It's that kind of tenacity and dedication that will earn success. Not quitting was the single most difficult and most rewarding decision I've ever made.