As a creative, my ideas are visually conveyed through film, photography, paint, and ink. The practice of these mediums has taught me about storytelling, composition, color, and space. My inspirations come in several ways, including from others’ creative endeavors. And, when hearing other artists talk about their process, from concept to finished product, I’ve realized that we all share in the experiences of ideation, method, failures, and successes.
What I’ve learned from screenwriters, TV writers, and playwrites in their practice of crafting stories, is creating the pace, tone, characters, and dialog that resonates with audiences. We see, hear, and remember these characters as if we know them. Or maybe the writers know us?
I have a book of movie quotes, published long before the Internet, organized by topic and title, filled with words that deserve memory space. Some of my favorites:
“Story of my life. I always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop.”
Some Like It Hot
Writers: Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond
“Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!”
Auntie Mame
Writers: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
With or without the Internet’s help, I still collect words of wisdom from films and television shows, a collection I like to call “Words to Live By:”
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Writer: John Hughes
“Yeah, it’s like a cow’s opinion. It just doesn’t matter. It’s moo.”
Friends 7.08
Writers: David Crane, Marta Kauffman, and Patty Lin
“Never go with a hippie to a second location.”
30 Rock 2.04
Writers: Tina Fey, Jack Burditt, Tami Sagher, and Kay Cannon
“The business of life is the acquisition of memories. In the end, that’s all there is.”
Downton Abbey 4.04
Writer: Julian Fellowes
These words resonate with me, or simply make me laugh, and are excellent examples of the writer’s creative process: What’s the intention? What to say? How to say it? How many drafts will it take? One? Countless?
I relate to the attention to the process, like a photograph’s exposure or the punch of a letterpress print, but in the recursiveness of writing, editing, rewriting, and repeating. My creative-self appreciates this balance of gift-to-tenacity even more.
In 1994, the year of the first Austin Film Festival, I was there—a volunteer flexing my alphabetical skills stuffing registration packets and wrangling theater lines. Twenty-nine years later, the Festival continues to be my favorite creative place to go. Writers, filmmakers, producers, and show creators bring their wisdom to Austin every October and talk about the craft. Panels, roundtables, script readings, screenings, and Q&As are filled with conversations about careers, processes, the ups and downs, and the results of hard work. No matter where we are in our creative path, we can learn from their journeys.
And while Austin Film Festival is a Writers Festival, I also think it’s a Listeners Festival. We have a front-row seat to stories, words of wisdom, triumphs, failures, and inspirations. Once again, I find myself collecting quotes to remember and live by:
2014, A Conversation with Awardees: Matthew Weiner, Ed Zwick, and Jim Sheridan
Ed Zwick: “Creativity is the ultimate renewable energy source.”
2015, A Conversation with Norman Lear
“At the moment of commitment, the entire universe conspires to ensure your success.”
2016, Queens of Comedy panel
Liz Merriweather: “I think it’s important to let yourself go. Then bring it back and try to gauge how far you can take it without losing the momentum.”
2017, A Conversation with Keenen Ivory Wayans
“You have a vision, and you have to articulate that vision to every single person you work with.”
Every Festival is an opportunity for creatives from various locations and backgrounds to gather with words to hear, share, and remember. Listening is a skill that can be learned and improved. It’s not just about being quiet and not talking. It’s about being present, paying attention, and understanding what the other person is saying. Listening to others gives us insight into their experiences, perspectives, and cultures. We can learn from one another’s ideas, strategies, mistakes, and wins, and use them to guide our creative paths.
I hope you’ll come down to the 30th annual Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference. I think you, too, will find it the place to be inspired, to connect, and share your story. We’ll be together, listening.
OUR 30TH ANNUAL AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL IS HAPPENING OCT 26 – NOV 2!
Click here to see our growing list of confirmed panelists.