Perfectionism might try to convince you that you need more time. That your short film would be better if you had another week to work on it. I'd argue that getting better requires more failures. You need to write that experimental novel you always wanted to try and gauge how people react to it. Then … Continue reading Need more time →

I'd say the waiters at the Shelbourne can spot a voucher user from a mile away. The excitement must radiate off them. It's like they've won a competition or successfully snuck into the VIP section of a concert. They're trying to hide that they don't belong but their nervous energy ensures they stand out. I … Continue reading Upper class for an afternoon →

It's a very hard thing to do a good sequel I think. First of all there is the very tricky job of trying to replicate the unique combination of factors that made the first one a hit. Then second of all, not only do you have to replicate, you have to go bigger in each … Continue reading Sequels 2 →

I think one of the keys to creative productivity is being comfortable with 'good enough'. If you can handle publishing an imperfect piece, you will be an efficient artist. If you're more concerned with creating a flawless product rather than hitting the deadline, you will never hit the deadline. Because there will always be something … Continue reading Creative productivity →

They were going to spend the whole day lounging about anyway but when they found out they had to (by government decree) stay indoors, all of sudden the living room, their perceived safe haven, became a prison. Similarly when the isolation period was up, when the COVID sentence complete, there wasn't a huge celebration for … Continue reading The living room prison →

Mental laziness is a thing. All you have to do is know what to look for. Any decision avoidance like a cluttered desk or a chaotic closet or an unorganised filing system - they all count! Unfinished documents - easy! Blurred boundaries between job roles - absolutely! A half baked idea - on the pile … Continue reading Mental laziness →

I think one of the key distinctions between artists and the rest of the world is the level of observation. For example if I were to hang out with my friend Dave as a marketer. My observations would be extremely basic - That is Dave. He is there on the couch. But if I were … Continue reading The artist’s lens →

'I wonder if they're really friends off set.' Is it useful to wonder this? Does it help to speculate like so? Does it shatter the illusion of the show to investigate this? I think, at it's a core, this question is a symptom of a craving for authenticity. I think once we realise that TV, … Continue reading Friends off set →

What's interesting about makeover shows is that the person about to be transformed never needs convincing. They already know they need to make a change and not only that, they can accurately pick specific areas in which they need to change. Wardrobe, diet, exercise. The readiness with which they provide these answers makes me believe … Continue reading Makeover shows →

It's funny I would've thought burnout was only possible for those high pressure corporate city jobs with the insane salaries. But a recent episode of 'Queer Eye' showed a woman who ran a non-profit farm for animals with disabilities who declared herself on the verge of burnout. It seems that the venue or occupation doesn't … Continue reading Burnout possibilities →