“Smile While You Still Have Teeth”
I attended a Writing Workshop by Pixar veteran Matthew Luhn last Friday. My mind is still reeling from the cool people I met, the amazing tips I learned about storytelling, and the fact that I got to hang out with someone who animated and worked in the writers room of Pixar for 20 years.
Meeting experts in creativity never ceases to remind me why I am working to become one as well. The advice they give is always so simple yet so true to the art they’ve brought into the world. Just like I met Imagineer Rolly Crump a couple weeks back I love to takeaway quotes, write them down and store in my mind when the creative juices have dried up. Matt didn’t give me just one quote but six pages of notes about storytelling that will take me quite some time to wrap my head around. He also drew me Carl from UP which is currently sitting on display in my home. Every time I look at him I feel inspired, hopeful and have more than once put the UP soundtrack on to spur my creative thoughts.
That’s really the beauty of stories, of Disney, of Pixar. The ability of creativity to take you to a whole new world of possibility. The possibility of a character to change for the better, for the worse, and how we relate internally to that.
Every time I attend an event based on creativity or witness it through art, film or writing, I remember why I am so passionate about it. It’s not just a trend to me, something our culture is going through because our parents didn’t get to express it. To me it’s a way of interpreting the world and communicating it to others to the best of my ability. It’s a way of acknowledging our world isn’t perfect so we create one that to us, in our own individual ways, is. It’s amazing to see someone else’s view of the world and how different, yet beautiful it can be.
While in line getting an autograph/drawing from Matthew Luhn the people behind me laughed when I said my favorite character was Carl. Matt asked me why and I gave him a silly answer about him being a grump. But to me Carl symbolizes how the world gets the best of you and makes you want to lock up all the doors and windows and keep everything out for fear of getting hurt. But when adventure comes knocking and light finds its way back inside, despite you wanting any of it, the whole world opens up. Life starts over even when you think the best has already played out. It’s creatively a beautiful film, designed by experts in the creative field.
I encourage you to think about that creative project you’ve been putting off, make a coffee date with a creative person you’d love to have as a mentor or if you really can’t get off the couch check out this list on Netflix. http://bit.ly/2cajCjs
Thank you for taking the time to read my writing ! I always appreciate comments and feedback. Please subscribe below, share with friends, and share with me how you get creative.
Until next time!
Susie