Compassion Shouldn’t Sleep When Passion Runs Deep

While listening to the Director’s commentary, on even movies I hate, I find genuine passion behind them. I respect passion.

I understand that a ‘hack’ can write a script just for the money. A producer can get caught up in a project because his / her movie-star best friend wants to play the lead. An unknown director can accept the job just to pay the mortgage. And a distribution company can pick up the movie just because it’s cheap enough to fit a hole in their line up of summer releases. I understand how total pieces of crap can float down the pipe. Devoid of passion.

But if I know the filmmaker, I know his/her passion is there. I consider all the work it takes to make a piece of crap and remember to be impressed that I know another person with enough desire and passion to put themselves through the process. I praise what I can. We are a community. I want to be known as a supporter.

Now why bother with compassion for Hollywood movies we hate? It’s not like Hollywood cries if we have a hateful thought. Well, think of it this way. When we become well known filmmakers it will be in our best interest to have the habit of expressing our opinions of other filmmakers and their creations with diplomatic compassion.

Once we become a part of the larger, yet still very small, filmmaking community, we will understand how to maintain relationships and spare the burning of bridges. If we don’t learn to curb our blatant hate and discontent toward the creations of our peers, it’ll come back when it’s our baby on the chopping block. But, most likely we’ll just find ourselves friendless wondering why opportunities pass us by.

So, find something you can compliment, keep the peace, and continue to support each other.

- JC Cocker