Where Would You Like to Be?

My wife, Christine, loves to read the credits.
We're the last ones out of the cinema and bedtime can’t happen until we’ve seen every name scroll by.
From Best Boy to Steady Cam Operator 2, she needs to know who did what.
And we marvel at the sheer number of people involved in making a show. It’s like a surprise every time.
I can’t resist my usual wisecrack during any opening credits, ‘Oh, this’ll be good, Reymond DeFriel is the 2nd Unit Director,’ I’ll say, earning the predictable eye rolls from my family.
So why do we fawn over the actors while the sound recordists go unnoticed?
They’re geniuses! Not a mic in sight, yet they capture every word Daniel Craig exasperates as he chases the bad guys.
Knowing a few sound recordists, I can tell you. They like it that way.

Some people are born to be in front of the camera; others prefer to be behind it.

Some write the scripts; others perform them.

Some light the stage; others move the props.

Some market the show and bring in the audience; others keep the books and make sure they balance.

Hundreds of roles.

I wonder... do they love it?

One of the key messages in my How to Be Brilliant keynote is, ‘If you don’t love it, don’t do it.’

I clarify: you don’t have to love every second of your job, but if you don’t love the essence of what you do, perhaps it’s time to find something else?

There’s joy in hearing people, like my mum, say they loved their career and felt it was a privilege to work.

There’s a sadness in hearing, I hate my job, but it pays the bills.

If you’re not enjoying being on stage, maybe it’s time to be a producer.

Do you love what you do?

Did you make a switch?

Have you retired happy?

I’d love to know. You can share your comments below.

Be Brilliant!

Michael