Rather than come up with a list of things I’d like to
accomplish next year, I decided to take stock of what I accomplished in
2012. I have never done this, but it
makes sense. Why make another list of
unrealistic goals when I can take a look at what I actually did do instead of
remembering what I failed to do?
Here it goes.
1.
One of my films got into a few awesome
festivals.
2.
I made a new film, shot on film, with a crew of
one.
3.
I directed non-professional child actors.
4.
I finally made a film in Mexico.
5.
I screened at a museum again.
6.
More festivals for the two shorts.
7.
I won a comedy screenwriting competition.
8.
I semi-conquered PhotoShop and designed a poster
for my film.
9.
I learned to use Apple Motion and other features
of Final Cut Pro.
10. I
designed the sound for a film completely from scratch.
11. Got
freelance editing jobs and got paid for them.
12. I
learned what it’s really like to work for a paying client.
13. I
learned to never charge per project because then it’s never done and the client
takes advantage of you. Always charge by the hour.
14. I
made some awesome new friends.
15. I
took an improv class to face my fears and found out some new things about me
while leaving those fears behind.
16. I
started the ball rolling on the financing and planning of my first feature
film.
17. Started
to make art again on a regular basis.
18. I
wrote several shorts and made some headway in a couple of feature screenplays.
19. I
bought a smart television and started streaming. (Believe me, this is an accomplishment.)
20. The
minute I felt safe and happy and content and all that, I shook things up by
taking risks. I know that I can’t grow
and improve without challenges to push me.
21. I
bought a house.
I guess it wasn’t a bad, unproductive year after all.
Weird that I felt it was.
Could it be that I was focusing on what I
didn’t accomplish?
Yes, that’s the way
it always is.
And of course, the regret
is always that I didn’t write every day or even nearly as much as I planned to.
Even after writing the list above, I feel
like a loser.
Not writing every day will
do that to you.
I know I can do better
and I will.
That’s the goal for 2013:
Do better, even if it’s a little bit.
That’s not unrealistic.
Happy New Year and be safe.
