The Vs. Studio Blog

“The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” -Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

“A flute without holes is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.” -Basho

In the United States Golf Association’s “Rules of Golf,” Rule No. 13 is referred to as “Ball Played As It Lies.” This rule prohibits improving the lie, the area intended for making a swing, the line of play or the area in which the ball is to be dropped or placed. In general, a golf ball should be played where it lands without any change to the overall situation.

As a result of Rule 13, we’ve witnessed incredible golf shots over the years as players adapt and improvise to their existing conditions. To having to “play it as it lies.” Some examples: This one from Tiger Woods. This compilation from the LPGA. And this short doc about what some have called “the greatest shot in the history of golf.”

When we lean in and EMBRACE our obstacles as opposed to merely enduring or worse, running from them, then we can create magic. To put it another way…the obstacle allows the magic to happen.

So, when life presents you with a difficult lie (and it will), you’ve got two choices:

You can do this.

Or this.

You choose.

P.S. – It was only a matter of time before I found a way to incorporate Caddyshack–in my pantheon of great movies–into this blog. (Bonus points to anyone who identifies the character who uttered the above mentioned Basho quote.)

“I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.” –The Little Engine That Could by Wally Piper

If you think you can, you can and you will.

If you think you can’t, the truth is that you still can, but you won’t.

Go make your art.

…But absolutely necessary for your success as a producer. Otherwise don’t bother.

1. Find or write a great script that you’re absolutely passionate about.

2. Nail the casting.

3. Hire great artists you love and respect and want to work with. Give them the creative space and support to do their best work.

4. Produce with excellence and generosity.

5. Work your ass off.

6. Don’t care about being thanked.

If you aim to please others, you will please no one.

Aim to please yourself, and you just might end up pleasing others too.

Go make YOUR art.

Some quotes are just so potent that writing anything more diffuses their power.

Baseball fans know what a “walk off” is. It’s basically a hit that’s ends the game on the spot.

Marrying these two concepts, here’s a “walk off” quote for you:

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” -Teddy Roosevelt.

P.S. – I get chills every time I watch this scene. It’s absolute perfection.

P.P.S. – Got a “walk off” quote? Please send it my way or write it in the comments.

“Hard work doesn’t guarantee success. But without it, you don’t stand a chance.” -Pat Riley

“Sometimes it’s necessary to go a long distance out of the way in order to come back a short distance correctly.” –The Zoo Story by Edward Albee

One of the biggest roadblocks to making art is the fear that you do everything right and things still turn out wrong.

But at least you took a shot. And you did it the right way.

Go make your art.

Anyone who’s ever worked in management consulting or contracting or running a small business knows the importance of a Work Plan. So, what is it? How do you create one? And what does it have to with making art?

Let’s tackle each one of these questions…

A Work Plan is just a document that outlines all the steps necessary to complete a project, soup to nuts. It’s a way to keep you and everyone involved organized and on task. This article has a pretty good definition.

There are lots of ways to create one. In our Vs. Studio Producing Workshop, I advise people to just start with pen and paper. Brainstorm and write down every possible task you can think of longhand. Be super specific and granular. Once you’re done with that exercise, you can start organizing tasks into categories, setting deadlines, and delegating responsibilities. A simple Excel spreadsheet will do the trick. This article has a few more ideas.

For anything you’re producing, any art you’re trying to make, use a Work Plan. I highly, highly recommend it. This and a budget are the two most useful tools in your producing arsenal. You will refer to them all the time. They”ll keep you organized and sane. Seeing everything you have to do, when you have to do it by, and who’s responsible for each task, in one document, is tremendously helpful.

All hail the Work Plan! It can be the difference between giving you and your fellow artists a fantastic, meaningful experience or not. And if you have that fantastic experience, you’re more apt to want to do it again and even better the next time.

Pre-Covid, I was invited to sit in on some rehearsals for a high school production. Besides the immense talent of all the students (actors and designers), I was blown away by their commitment and enthusiasm for the work. Every single one of them wanted to be there. It was so pure. Their joy was infectious.

The director invited me to speak to them after rehearsal. Unprepared for this, I just spoke from the heart. Told them how impressed I was and how fun it was to watch them in action. And that I couldn’t wait for opening night. Several students said they wanted to pursue a career in the arts and asked if I had any advice.

Not really feeling qualified to answer, my only real counsel was “it doesn’t get any better than this.”

Meaning that no matter how much industry success they found, this, right here, this play, this moment, this joy, this commitment, this fun, this team work, this sense of community, this feeling…that’s what it’s all about. And to try to carry that feeling into everything they did going forward.

Go make your art.

And just like the school play, do it for nothing more than pure love of the art.

“I learn the text so deeply that I think it has some chemical effect in my brain…I believe in learning the text which is there. Once you know it so well that you can improvise and make it real, it’s easy. You can’t pretend to know—it’s impossible to, and I couldn’t do it. I’ve worked with actors who don’t know their stuff, and they were just wasting everyone’s time.” -Anthony Hopkins

Fellow actors…

Assuming you’re working from a great script–and I know that isn’t always the case, but assuming you are–what if you just did these three things?…

(1) Learn the lines exactly as written.

(2) Read the script 100-200 times. That’s right. 100-200 times. To yourself or out loud. Or both.

The first two things, while straightforward, will keep you pretty busy.

(3) TRUST. Trust yourself. Your talent. Your training. Your collaborators. Your material.

And then let it rip.

That’s what Anthony Hopkins does. And he’s pretty darn good.

“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world.” -Albert Einstein

“1% better each day, compounded, is 3800% better each year. 1% worse each day, compounded, means you lose 97% of your value each year.” -James Altucher

Prior to the 1986-1987 NBA season, Lakers coach Pat Riley asked his team to just strive to get 1% better in each area of their game by season’s end. The team bought in and they went on to win back to back championships.

It’s great to have big goals and dreams, but they can also be daunting. At times, crippling.

For those times, think of this 1% rule.

What can you do today to just be 1% better than yesterday? Or make 1% of progress?

Memorize a few more lines on the script.

Write or revise one page.

Do one more pushup or situp.

Be a little bit happier. A little bit kinder.

For anything at all. 1%. Day in. Day out. We can all do that, right?

I can’t wait to see what art you make, who you become in a year from now, two years, five years…