Work comes naturally to me. Doing what you love creates a terrible habit. That the internalized narrative is since I’m doing what I love, that is in itself the reward. What a privilege right? The flip side is that I then don’t always put a monetary value to the time and effort being put into said work. This is a poor mindset. Metaphorically and literally. Especially if there are work mates who put in just as much effort and want to be valued for it. Either in the financial sense or at the very least, to be seen and acknowledged.

Recently, our work has been devalued. The very process of research, ideation, thought and effort – considered naught. Some efforts in film making are outsourced to be sure. Art sourcing, wardrobe and production design, music composition. Are they not all creative efforts. The result of years of training, experience and actual man hours. How much more the thought and work process of a Producer, a director, a production manager. These professionals get paid for not just their efforts but their thoughts and planning.

When a project gets cancelled it does not mean work has not been done. It simply means work is done, a sunk cost and if we value the effort and expertise of the professionals, then they have to be paid. So do we as Produers and directors.

Value yourself. And never be afraid to communicate that value to others.