"But why am I here?"
About a year ago I was
meeting a friend in LA for coffee.
He had recently graduated and wanted to discuss general advice about
navigating the film industry and the journey toward becoming a filmmaker.
A visual analogy had been rattling around in my brain for a couple years
but before this meeting I had never actually
said it out loud largely because it was so random and bizarre.
It harkens back to a movie I had
only seen once and yet for whatever
reason burned into my subconscious
Yes, I'm here to argue how Pokémon: The First Movie
Now 20 years old, includes a
metaphor for the film industry
Released at the peak of the phenomenon the Pokemon movie was a must-see in the moment.
Prior to making this video I hadn't
revisited it and I wrote my first draft
of this before I rewatched it.
Now, the metaphor for the film industry, as I shared with my friend, goes like this:
In an early sequence a mysterious character
lets out a call to all Pokemon trainers
with some kind of promise of opportunity
on an offshore island accessible only by
ferry.
Every trainer flocks to participate
but a massive storm causes
trouble, cancels the ferry ride and
indicates there is no way to get there.
Facing this rejection the masses give up
but our heroes are not deterred
They decide they'll do anything to get to that island
What follows is an intense death-defying
journey through the ocean against the
storm.
There was only one image I could perfectly recall
all three characters
holding on to Staryu for dear life
Upon arrival we discover that only a few
trainers made this decision
"Aren't we going to wait for the others?"
"Only the trainer's capable of braving the storm have proven themselves worthy in my master's eyes."
This was a way to narrow
it down to only the most committed and
from there, the plot really begins…
No matter where this material comes from
there's a specific similarity to the
path of becoming a filmmaker
This journey is neither transparent nor
straightforward
at first it seems open to anyone
and then very early on armchair
critics and other detractors will tell
you that it's impossible
"I warn you, the waves will be savage, 
you will never make it"
they'll throw seemingly
legitimate excuses your way and tell you
to turn around to the starting line
Unlike careers with a clear roadmap, even very challenging careers,
there is no single clear path to becoming a career filmmaker, especially for directors.
What I've found to be true is you have to forge your own path
and those who really want it
will find success
it's a game of tenacity and requires you just stay with it even when massive obstacles are
thrown at you or when there is no clear
end in sight
I share this piece very happily on the journey and there is so much more to be learned along the way
I started this channel as a way to share
my film observations and point out
details to help people enjoy movies more
My output is lower than my peers because
simultaneously have been building my
career as a director and a documentary filmmaker.
Every subscriber increases my
ability to prioritize these creations
over other potential work projects and
you can keep up with my other work on my
website and on Twitter
it's also worth
mentioning that I did rewatch the
Pokemon movies specifically for this
video and I can confirm that no matter
how much nostalgia is baked into it, it's
really bad.
I mean, this is the title sequence:
One last bit:
In Pokemon: The First Movie
even upon arriving at the island it's
really the beginning of the challenges
which reminds me of what I've heard
directors who have finished their first
feature describe.
Like in the movie
where the plot takes off after the
treacherous journey,
reaching the metaphorical island is more of a
beginning than a destination.
"To them this is just one more challenge"
"they follow their hearts that is what sets them apart"
"them apart and will make them Pokemon
masters."
No matter what obstacles come next,
I continue to keep these principles
in mind and I look forward to weathering the storm.
