Sep
29
“Creation” film
Filed Under Uncategorized | 4 Comments
For the second consecutive time, I walked out of a cinema before the end of a film. In both cases, it was the result of my expectation falling way short of reality.
With “District 9″, I was expecting a Science Fiction film. You know, something supernatural or intergalactic. But instead, the futuristic context was merely a backdrop to a film focussed on edgy scenes of horror or discomfort.
But much worse, in a different way, was “Creation”. A film about Darwin and his ‘On the origin of species’ book and the controversial ideas contained therein sounded intriguing. Instead, apart from a few moments that actually bore any relation to the title of the film, it was, in essence, a desparately slow, dull story centred about the health of Darwin. It was well acted, but nonetheless, simply a period drama,with merely a passing nod at the subject of the title.
If I were to have submitted this story about Darwin’s position in the theory of Evolution vs Creation, I would have received a fail grade. The only explanation I have is that Hollywood’s excessive prioritising the making of money ahead of film quality gives them carte blanche to hijack an appealing concept regardless of whether they deliver or not. The customer will get drawn in regardless. Fundamentally, it is not a repeat product business.
Creation reminds me of the Thunderbirds license. They totally missed the whole point of the original series, distorting it into something hopelessly limp in comparison.
Sep
7
Worry
Filed Under Life, Psychology | Leave a Comment
That we know when worry is achieving precious little is rarely leverage enough to stop it in it’s relentless tracks.
So it was tonight. I had received an email from a couple whose Wedding I had photographed. They had complained that there were not many photos of whole tables at the reception. I had taken many single and couple photos at tables, but previous few stepping back and capturing all at each table.
I generally do not do this because the depth of field of my camera on low light is small - so only a few people in the photo will be on focus. And those near to me - on these round tables will be overexposed by flash and have their backs to me, unless I get everyone to swing round.
But excuse or not, my immediate reaction to the complain was a heavy sinking feeling. A heavy sense of fear. This always happens when I receive criticism. The feeling kicks in very quickly and swamps me. I know that the degree of feeling is generally out of proportion to the problem. But I have no direct control over the feeling. It has a life of its own.
To deprive it of oxygen, I have to think through the whys and wherefores as to the cause, how to have avoided and how to avoid in future the problem causing the worry - to learn from the problem.
And then I must let the resolution to change override the past failure.
It takes time, but gradually the feeling of dread fades. It does so in waves - kicking back in like a persistant toothache.
But I do wonder what life is like for others, bereft of such a delicate emotional constitution. I would guess that many would simply ignore the complaint and remind the couple of who was in charge, and how good the photos they did take were.
I keep assuming, naively, of course, that I will suffer less causes for worry as I grow older. But my genetic instinct for worry is likely to sty. I was starkly reminded of this by my 86 year old neighbour. Her family do everything for her, and she has virtually no responsibilities. But she tells me that she still worries a lot.
So I take heed from this, and the acute awareness that my worries are regularly overstated, and pay much less heed to the worry feeling. It will serve me well. And the best part of the process of sending worries packing is to eke out of them a lesson and improvement for the future. Let the cause of worry be a cause of growth. As time passes, each worry then triggers the worry feeling and shortly afterwards, the feeling of growth. The inward turning feeling of worry is countered by the outward and onward looking feeling of learning from the worry.
Postscript : my night of sleep was punctuated by anxiety and worry, with an early awakening, as my subconscious span around and around on the problem. It was with great effort that I managed to release its grip and slip back to sleep. Up and about for the day with a down beat mood. So, a tendancy to worry creates a rollercoaster emotional state as well.