Hi guys. Something I struggle with sometimes is feeling like my work will never be as good as the things I see in movies and on TV. I know this feeling can creep up on a lot of students in the media field. Having access to thousands of movies through streaming services shows students how far along some pros in the industry are, and how much catching up we amateurs still have to do.
This can be worse for some students than others. I try to stay positive about the work I make. Then I turn on Ms. Marvel and see Disney creating PG-rated kids’ shows with production quality I couldn’t touch with two ten-foot poles taped together. Experiencing the audio-visual masterpieces that Hollywood creates today can lead a lot of us to say “why even bother?”.
These feelings are understandable, but if you don’t think the people creating today’s movies looked at the films being created when they were your age and thought the same things, you’re dead wrong. Technology has continued to improve, which means movies become even more stunning to look at and listen to. You have to accept that creating films like the Marvel franchise takes an amount of both time and money that simply no individual has access to. Watch the end credits in a Marvel movie. They get you to stick around with post-credit scenes for a reason. There are hundreds and hundreds of people working on every blockbuster film. You aren’t going to be able to compete with the production value of a studio that spends hundreds of millions of dollars to create its films.
Comparing yourself to yourself is the better strategy. I’ve talked about this before. The only person you can control is you. Comparing your newer work to things you’ve made previously will truly show you what you have accomplished and how your skills have improved. Your background music isn’t going to be as polished as a Hans Zimmer score, but maybe you’ve gotten better with balancing audio and have chosen more appropriate musical accompaniments over time. Look at your progress and stop comparing yourself to everyone else. There is only one you. Focus on being the best version of you that you can be.
No one is perfect alone. Not a single person working on a blockbuster film could create the film alone. Surround yourself with other people who share your goals. Working on productions with other talented people will allow you to learn from them and become better yourself. You can also achieve a much more polished final product by having the help of others. You’re not alone on your journey in media. Don’t be too prideful to ask for help when you need it.
By working with others and focusing on bettering yourself you wouldn’t believe the things you could achieve. Who knows, maybe one day your name will be in the credits of a Hollywood blockbuster. Anything is possible when you put your mind to it. What will you do to start bettering yourself immediately?
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