Before I studied how to be a good leader I often had it thrust upon me and just felt my way through it. And that’s how I learned to do it.
Being considered a leader has always felt like an honor to me. It is a way that I best can serve those that rely upon me.
For this reason, I felt compelled to learn how I could serve them better, so I studied leadership.
Directing and Producing requires strong leadership skills. It’s not just about the art, nor is it just about the technical side or the business side. Leadership is people skills, making decisions that are best for the group (not just you), solving problems and moving everyone towards an agreed-upon vision or outcome.
This, in my opinion, is how movies get made. And you must step into that roll.
Sometimes people will call upon you to lead, but most of the time it starts with you leading yourself first (initiating a project) and then others coming along to join in on the vision.
This will happen more easily if (1) you are a good leader, and (2) you have in your mind the intention for the greatest good of all, to benefit all participants and serve them and their greatest good, not just by standing on the shoulders of others without giving in return and (3) your vision is compelling enough to enroll others to give their time, money and/or energy to that vision.
I feel that the ability to see the best possible choice and to guide others or a group toward it is a way to serve others. I feel that I am able to be objective in making decisions, and my objectivity benefits the crew, the cast, the producers, and, most importantly, the production.
True leaders are those that are at service to all of those that they lead, and the only reason they should be leaders is because they have the best chance to get the most people in the group the closest to where they want to progress to.
This is true in a business, in government, on a sports team, in a family and. ideally, on a film set.
