Reminders

I am obsessed with little notes and aphorisms. They are like tiny portals that are capable of evoking many ideas with just a few words. But when I read Umberto Eco‘s critiques of Oscar Wilde‘s aphorisms, I got a bit disappointed. Eco pointed out that some of Wilde’s sayings can be transformed into exact opposite meanings that still make sense. He called them transformable aphorisms and even re-wrote some of Wilde’s sayings with opposite meanings to prove his point. And, interestingly it worked. Here’s an example:

Everyone can be part of history, but only a great person can write it.

Everyone can write history, but only a great person can become a part of it.

(those interested can check out his paper presented at the University of Bologna’s meeting on Oscar Wilde, held on November 9, 2000).

Despite this paradox, I still adore these concise works. I often find myself quoting writers, and, of course, my favorite filmmakers. Take, for example, Robert Bresson, I consider his Notes on the Cinematograph the most influential written piece on cinema that I have read. Here is a quote from it:

The eye solicited alone makes the ear impatient, the ear solicited alone makes the eye impatient; use these impatiences.

To me, this insightful statement highlights the core of filmmaking. Yes, a filmmaker’s art lies in harmonizing these sensory experiences and knowing which to prioritize and how much to connect each. Let me mention that I literally followed this guideline in my short film Yard (2018), and it’s something I keep in mind for every film I make.

An Attempt

As I have been inspired by these works, over time, I have started writing my own sayings too. They are like little pieces of advice to myself, some thoughts shaped by my personal experiences, reflections, and, of course, a re-mix of what I read and learn from people I admire. And, as they have accumulated, I have felt to share them on this dedicated page.

They are surely a tribute to this style but also a guide to my filmmaking work, which is why sharing them makes even more sense. But, don’t get me wrong, these bits of advice are for me, not for anybody else. So, the point here isn’t preaching advice (they won’t hold any real meaning or effectiveness unless you see them reflected in my works anyway). But still, I believe my attempt might inspire anyone to create their own personal guide or set of (work) ethics, just as I have been inspired by those before me.

Humble Me, If You Will

Of course, I don’t tend to be one of those moralists or fundamentalists who behave like definitive decision-makers. Nevertheless, I don’t see any harm in creating one’s own ethics, as circumstances inevitably will shape and force us to reevaluate them anyway. In fact, whenever you establish a principle and make it known to others, whether in personal or professional contexts, people often attempt to challenge it and humble you (possibly your stance creates discomfort in them because it threatens their comfort in mediocrity).

Another thing is, some of you might think I just pretend to be wise about this stuff. I get it; I am still young, maybe even a little naive. And sure, what I say might not match my achievements in your eyes. But what am I supposed to do? Stay quiet? Keep my mouth shut? Whenever I feel this way, I think about a story about Friedrich Nietzsche (I am not sure if it’s a true story, but it’s a good one). So, when Nietzsche was taken to a mental hospital, the intern doctor asked his name. Nietzsche replied, How do you not know me? I am the philosopher Nietzsche! The thing is, he wasn’t a well-known name at that time, and the doctor wrote in his notes: Delusions of grandeur.

Anyway, here are my sayings, I call them reminders because I keep them in the reminders section of my phone, and I will update this post as new ones arrive.

Reminders

• Share only what is necessary with those you work with, and keep your full intentions to yourself.
• Seek to be realistic by staying away from mediocrity and applause.
• Regard those who critique your actions as colleagues, but not those who critique your being.
• Recognize everything as constructed, and try to construct your own thing.
• Work with complexity, but let the result be elegantly simple.
• If you can’t get inspired from the living, find comfort in the wisdom of those who have passed.
• Value money for what it can do, but don’t forget, without your merit, it is worthless in the art of creation.
• Resist your desire for praise, regardless of its source, even from future generations.
• Always carry an imaginary sieve to sift out clichés.
• Remix.
• Be your own audience.
• Let networking and backstage politics be the pursuit of mediocrities, not yours.
• Value the friendships formed through shared production.
• If you want to be happy, accept your inadequacy, if you want to be unbeatable, welcome your unhappiness.
• The bad news is that you can be wrong or even contradict yourself, the good news is that you can always fix it.
• Welcome uncertainty, it contains countless positive outcomes.
• Welcome disasters, they bring necessary changes.
• Don’t consider anything as a precise template, your circumstances are different.
• Don’t underestimate what you already have.
• Don’t dismiss your starting point.
• Keep in mind that many people are fanatics, especially those who pride themselves on being open-minded, they are fanatics about their own open-mindedness.
• Keep in mind that people mostly care about how something serves them, whether through material benefits, satisfaction, a sense of purpose, or fulfillment (even from self-sacrifice).
• Keep in mind that deepening and growing do not always intersect.
• Keep in mind that not being liked could be a sign that you are doing your thing authentically.
• Keep in mind that getting a lot of attention could be a sign that you are doing something wrong.
• Keep in mind that showing off can lead to being overlooked.
• Keep in mind that modesty often involves a degree of hypocrisy as it requires you to downplay your true thoughts or achievements.