I know, I know. We’re almost in February. But my very first goal of the year was to set my other goals… mission accomplished!
Here are my goals for this 2014:
Professional goals:
My professional goals are simple. I just finished my latest feature film script, Nexus. And I’m really happy about how it turned out.
I want Nexus to go somewhere else than people’s drawers and inboxes.
After getting some feedback and coverage, I will submit to agents, producers and some festivals. I’ve been at this point before with a finished script, so I know it can be an uphill battle. This time I’m more prepared that I’ve ever been before though, so bring it on!
Nexus has some crazy concepts and ideas in it, which is a good thing and a bad thing. It’s good because it helps it stand out. The bad side is that it’s a bit harder to grasp while you’re reading it and it makes it feel a bit risky for investors.
With that in mind, I made a short version of it that I want to direct as a proof of concept. It’s the same characters and idea, but with a different, much shorter plot.
Personal Goals
This year my personal goals seem more pressing than my professional ones. Usually is the other way around.
My main personal goal for this year has to do with my connection to others and vulnerability.
I’ve always been really good at figuring how things work, with people, I’ve had a harder time. The classic nerd.
Luckily I realized this was a problem several years ago, and I have consciously been working on it ever since.
I’m really happy that the younger version of myself took that decision. Now I’m more confident and spontaneous than ever before.
I already knew how to be professional, but that somehow made me cold and aloof. Now I have a better grasp at balancing being professional with trying to have fun with the people i’m working with.
Even though I’ve had fun on the shoots, I always kept some distance from the rest of the crew. I’m not sure why, it feels stupid when I think about it now, but I think it was a side effect of me trying to be very professional or a combination of that mixed with some buried insecurities.
Now I want to break through that. And I actually dipped my toe in the water already. I was in Miami this last October, and I made some friends that I still keep in touch with.
Amazing right? I know, most people take that for granted. But years earlier I would’ve become friends on Facebook (or MySpace if you go back far enough) with some crew members and never talk with them again unless it was for another project. I just didn’t get close to people on set.
If you met me personally you probably have noticed that I am (or at least try very hard to be) professional, polite and honest. I try to find the right mix of honesty and compassion but sometimes I err on one side or the other.
Depending on when you met me, I was either very serious or very silly. I was very serious when I first started and lately I’ve been moving toward being more silly and spontaneous.
Those all sound good, right?
I’m not sure what other people think of me, and frankly I don’t really care that much anymore. I realized it’s none of my business.
What I do care about, is about making stronger connections, and that’s really what this year’s goal come down to.