Success in the World

What is success? What does it mean to me, especially as a filmmaker? Some points were brought up in class on Tuesday about what success is. From all of the many topics we discussed this was a topic that really caught my attention. In a world full of hardship and having to rely on money and work for survival, one may view success as having a stable home, good job, and high pay so that you can live comfortably. Having power and money in the workplace an expensive home, and a wife and family are all things some may consider when thinking about success. To many this is the definition of success. However, on the contrary I find that this is not how I would define the notion of success. I could have achieved all of these things and still I would not have felt successful or accomplished. Here's why: success to me is an idea of fulfillment and accomplishing something I set out to do. To create a work I love and not only for my personal fulfillment, but for the betterment of everyone. I am not concerned with money, power, or even having a steady job. In the world of filmmaking I don't see myself as some kind of studio driven filmmaker who is out for money, fame, and Oscar nominations, but rather I want to be the independent artist who gets his work seen by many without having to worry about a controlling studio or whether I'll make tons of money off of my film. I don't want to be a director like Michael Bay, J.J. Abrams, or James Cameron. Their work lacks much of what independent artists have. I see myself as an Ingmar Bergman, a John Cassavetes, or a Sofia Coppola. Film is my medium and my audience is the world, if people understand my films then I will have achieved my success. Money and power is of no importance to me.