Preparation: A Nugget of Wisdom by K.oss

I believe aptitude tests prepare us for life’s tests. As a massage therapist, it became clear early on that I could not think about what I was doing while I did it. The best way to perform a massage is to study and analyze before the session, and then be free to do the massage. Your preparation for the session will be evident, and no amount of “cramming” or over-analyzing will improve that time. This is especially true when what you do requires that you listen. Any performer, whether in dance, music, or theatre, will tell you that thinking during their performance is the most detrimental thing they can do. Just as you are instructed to get a good night’s rest and clear your mind before the SATs, so should you before doing a job that requires your attention. For this very reason, everyone should support the arts because mastery relies upon preparedness, coping and listening skills, and relinquishing the expectation of what should happen in order to embrace what is happening. Every art form requires these skills, and forces its participants to practice them.

Now that I'm pursuing my next career in filmmaking, I can see that these lessons are foundational. There is good reason for an entire part of the process to be dedicated to Pre-Production, and it is rooted in the understanding that producing films is difficult. There are a million things that can go wrong when you're on set, and pre-production affords you the opportunity to prepare for as many of them as possible. Without proper groudwork, even the most experienced filmmakers will have to employ super-human feats just to get through the day. More importantly, poor preparation robs you of the zen-like experience of just being in the moment. Proper planning sets the stage for a clarity of mind and lightness of heart that one might be inclined to call "happiness". And who wouldn't like to experience joy while creating art?

Today's preoccupation with preparation reminds me of George Clooney and his directorial debut, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Even if you're not a fan of Clooney, the film is totally worth it for the directing and Sam Rockwell, who portrays the double-life of Chuck Barris. For those who would watch it simply to study the film, remember to watch the extras, including commentary! In the extras, Clooney reveals that he spent four months just working on the storyboards. FOUR MONTHS! Now, that's preparation, ladies and gentlemen.

Today's Nugget of Wisdom has been brought to you by my confusion of whether or not I could wish a musician "good luck" before a performance. "It doesn't matter", he reassured me. "Whatever will be, will be." What a great zen attitude.