The Art of Flexibility
No filmmaker is Midas. None of us can transform things into gold with a simple touch. No matter what you've filmed, it's unlikely that your idea for a movie or your current project is as pure and perfect as you think it is. Flexibility is the key. You must stay true to the original intent of your film, but also be open to making alterations to fit the necessities of production. Filmmaking is a collaborative medium. Usually requiring from ten to 500 people to complete a project, it may be the most collaborative of any art form.
If you're working for someone else and you ignore their advice, you may simply be fired and a new person put in your place. Regardless, the changes will be made one way or another, so it's often better to stay with the project and find an artistic balance with the “powers that be.”
The most gifted filmmakers know that surrounding themselves with talented people will make them look even more brilliant. If the people around you have ideas, consider their suggestions carefully. They might be useful, or they might not, but to dismiss criticism outright is to ignore a chance to make your film better. Consider it a creative challenge to be met and embraced.
