Dance versus destination

Enjoy the journey

I visited a best friend and writing partner’s short film set outside of LA this weekend and it was bigger than any of the feature length indie films I’ve made. The whole thing was set up in the belly of a rented out quarry. It was remarkable, complete with explosions, planes flying overhead, and a whole old timey war setup. There were so many people there to help make the magic happen. I learned a lot as a director and fan of filmmaking—and one moment in particular stood out. We were sitting at lunch and it was boiling hot outside and we were eating fish, of all foods, in the middle of this dusty quarry when we looked around and realized how happy everyone was, despite the hot and difficult conditions.

One of the other writers looks up from his food and he says dance versus destination. Now, of course you shoot a film in order to make a film, but his grin was about the overwhelming positivity and feeling of expression and expansion in the present. Everyone was having the best time making a film they believed in. Every single person. In fact, the why behind the moment was so strong that not even the heat could bring moods down. In fact, the heat only made it more romantic, in a way, because it added to the sense of purpose and commitment that it took to make the art happen.

I’ve heard enjoy the journey, but I haven’t heard it called a dance before. I like it. I’m going to take that with me. Because the point of the dance isn’t to finish the dance. It’s to be in the dance.