By Mary Beth Gentle
Inspiration. It doesn’t matter if you are the Director, the Writer, the Producer or even the lowly Cube Dweller; inspiration is a hard thing to come by in Hollywood. By definition, inspiration is the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. I used to feel that way on a daily basis. Just walking on the Studio lot would fill me with the inspiration I needed to continue down the path I had chosen, to see my stories play out on the big screen.
I had already jumped so many hurdles and completed so many tasks to even get a job on a Studio lot. The inspiration I found there should have lasted forever. Then something I had not expected happened; I began to take it all for granted and I lost my inspiration. This past weekend I was reminded of the creative forces and creative community that I am a part of when I attended an event at the Directors Guild of America honoring Francis Ford Coppola. The event was titled, “The Impact of Francis Ford Coppola on the Next Generation” and he was interviewed by directors David O. Russell (Three Kings, The Fighter), Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen, Twilight) and Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Punch Drunk Love). Each one of those directors has achieved success in their own rights, but they sat there much like those of us in the audience in awe of one of the men that has paved the way for them to follow.
Francis Ford Coppola is one of the most innovative Filmmakers of our time. He is best known for directing the Godfather Series and Apocalypse Now. His films have earned multiple nominations, and he has won Academy Awards for his screenplays on Patton, The Godfather and The Godfather Part II and for his directing on The Godfather Part II. He founded his production company American Zoetrope which is where he helped launch talents such as George Lucas and where he continues to produce his own independent films.
The event at the DGA was filled with film clips of Mr. Coppola’s work. He shared stories on the making of his iconic films, and he reminded everyone in the room that filmmaking is a big gamble at best, but if you don’t play, you won’t win. He talked of days where movies were made without charts tracking potential ticket sales. He talked about the importance of the art form to him and his own need to explore its possibilities. And he talked about taking that gamble, no matter the cost, to achieve our own creative goals.
From now on when I walk across the studio lot I know I will again feel that old surge of inspiration to be a part of the movie making process and to one day take that risk to achieve my own creative goals.
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