Earlier this month was the 3rd year pitches for my animation course, where I and many other students pitch their films ideas. I pitched my film Backpack Tortoise. It did not get green-lit.
I'm not mad, if anything I'm quite relieved. The preparation for the pitches introduce to all the stress and anxiety you get being a director. I cried wondering if the film is good enough or am I being a good director? I really want to experience being a director one day, I feel like in the future I will be up for the task, but this year I just wasn't ready. Instead I will now focus on improving my animation and art skills in preparation for *dramatic pause* the real working world.
I'm honestly disappointed in myself. I remember not so long ago I was craving for a leadership role and I wanted to be the best director I can be! I wanted to have the most organised project and the most beautiful looking film with the best story, my expectations were so high. As you can see it didn't go as planned. Despite being relieved for not having the directing duties I had for a few weeks before the pitches, I still felt like I let my younger self down. But I know another opportunity will come across soon, so next time I will be prepared for the stressful yet rewarding job of a director.
For the third year I am working for two films, which both have beautiful art work yet are completely to each other story-wise. I really hope they do well and I will be posting work on here that I do for them soon.
You really cannot prepare enough when you show your story to the world, so prepare prepare prepare! Are you working on a project now and you think you've done enough? Keep going! You can so far with this idea! Unless you need to eat or sleep, do those first, and then work. But don't forget to take a break either…..basically, work in moderation, but still push yourself. You've got this!