Written on 8 February 2019
I usually hated things like this.
Panel discussions where “inspirational people” talked socially about their industry, making the simpletons watching feel hopeful that they, too, will one day sit on a panel and talk about how well they're doing. The cycle will never break.
But this one had Mia Rodriguez and, my word, she is without a shred of doubt the finest director of our generation. Completely unappreciated, she could do more with a fraction of a budget then the rest of the panel could with James Cameron's money. She could get a better performance out of a mannequin than most could draw out of Daniel Day Friggin’ Lewis.
She was evidently fantastically bored by the whole proceeding. You got the impression that they got her in just to pay lip service equality, as they certainly weren't going to her as much as the other Chads on the panel. The crowd asked the most annoying questions as well. ‘Who was your inspiration?’ ‘When did you realise that you wanted to do this for a living?’ ‘What's it like working with Dwayne The Rock Johnson?’ so fucking basic.
Mia, for her part, didn't interject at all, though she performed some fantastic eyerolls in response to some of the answers from the rest of the panel. She audibly sighed when one of them said ‘All you need is a good idea.’ Yes mate, and the $125 million you got to make your last movie.
Still, it was worth going for the final salvo alone. The final question was another fanboy boring-ass question. “Could you give all the aspiring filmmakers in here one last piece of advice?”
Chad 1 - “Don't give up. Work hard.” Blah.
Chad 2 - “Everyone can make a movie now. Your phone, your laptop, everything you need is at your fingertips.” Good Lord.
Chad 3 - “Never stop being creative.” What does that even mean?
Chair - “And you, Mia?”
Mia had already pulled out a pack of cigarettes in preparation of exiting.
“Do your own shit. Don't try and be us. We're hacks. Do your own shit.” and she got up and walked out as the Chads looked affronted and the chair tried to bring it to a tidy end.
It's a simple credo, but I like it. So ever since then I've only done my own shit. And I feel much better for it.