“Quiet on the set!” The booming voice of the first assistant director would echo through the location of our student film production. The entire crew would be huddle up against the wall, strategically position around lights, cables and booms as if playing some alternate version of Twister.
The director would focus on the only people with room and adequate lighting, the actors, posed for the next scene on his cue.
“And . . . action!”
The characters would launch into their movements and dialogue. There were times they nailed it the first try. And other times we were up to take 21 before the director decided something had to change.
My student filmmaking days was 18 years ago, but I still say “And . . . . Action” several times a day.
One of the biggest battles I encounter every day is inertia, the tendancy to do nothing or remain unchanged. I can even hear the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?” in the various voices of my relatives.
Why change direction? Why alter what appears to be working? Why seek ways to push us outside our comfort zone?
Because those daily habits, rituals, ways of thinking, of being — creates the ruts in our lives. Without continual growth, we carve ruts in our lives that prevent us from shifting directions . . . even when we want to. Even when we have to.
Changing something we do daily is how we make changes in our lives. It’s how we get out of the ruts.
Inspirational speaker Mel Robbins book entitled “The 5 Second Rule” is about counting down from five to motivate you to lift off and do what you have to do.
Larry the Cable Guy’s catch phrase is “Get ‘er done!,” which is just another way of saying “get off your butt and get shit done.”
“And . . . action” is what I use when I have to roll with a new scene, start a difficult conversation (like saying sorry or asking for help) or taking the first step on a project.
It’s how I quiet my mind, pull my resources together and launch into the scene.
How do you propel yourself into action? Into doing what lies outside your comfort zone? What is the words you say to yourself to get shit done?
Or do you need to find one?
“And . . . action!”