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Tag: video games

Hand holding an award

What I Learned about Filmmaking Life from Guild Wars 2

Mistakes make us human. It’s rising up again that makes us heroes.” – Your Human Character (Guild Wars 2 video game, personal story)

With the expansion to Guild Wars 2 coming out this month, I dipped back into the game and started a new character. In playing the personal story anew (where your choices affect the story you play and the characters you meet), I was affected by this advice that my character gave an NPC.

A freelance career in the film industry is indeed made up of many ups and downs over the years – some in our control and some not. I’ve turned down working on a film because I didn’t particularly like the script… and then it went on to win incredible awards. I’ve also been faced with choosing an 8-month series or a 4-day unique shoot – a harder choice to make because the longer one provided monetary security whereas the shorter one provided more glamour factor but would leave me unemployed shortly thereafter.

When it comes down to it, though, none of the choices made were “mistakes” (ok, maybe passing on the award-winning film was), but in reality, they just led to different paths through my career life. And for each path chosen, I had to rise up and keep looking for work, keep networking, keep making connections. That is the path to self-improvement in career and life.

I also love that it’s my character in Guild Wars providing the advice. It’s so true that you can give yourself your own best advice. The important step, though, is to take it… and become the best you that you can be. And then you will be a true hero in your own life.

Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

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“Film Production Management 101” (now in its third edition) is updated for today’s respectful workplace and sustainable practices – available worldwide, including Amazon-USA, Indigo-Canada and many other bookstores or directly from the publisher (MWP).

 

cell phone user and bike

Inspiration at the Movies: Time Bandits

cell phone user and bikeYour Money or Your Life!”

– Game Show Host
(Time Bandits, 1981)

What a shocking and horrible game show to play for your money or your mortality! It’s so absurd don’t you wonder who would dream up such nonsense and what kind of people would watch that kind of nonsense and be entertained? Yet the scene and show take place in a fictional comedy adventure, so you suspend disbelief for the sake of the entertainment ride of the movie.

Yet I wonder… how absurd is it really?

I have a video game on my cell phone that’s a type of world-building game. It’s bright, colourful, has entertaining animations. Upon completing quests and levelling up, I am treated to new characters and new animations – virtual prizes. There are many such games available for phone, tablet or PC, and you’ve probably played at least one. Ever notice how we are often presented with two choices?

Choice #1: spend real money to buy virtual hearts or stars or gems or whatever to speed up quests and advance to the virtual prize as soon as possible; or

Choice #2: trigger the quest and wait for it in real time for free to earn the virtual prize (noting that the more you play the game and higher level you are, the quest duration extends from a seconds to minutes to hours to days and on and on).

So, when you think about it, the choices are: (1) Your Money or (2) Your Life.

That game show on Time Bandits isn’t so absurd after all, is it?

Cheers & wise spending to you,
Deb

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Deborah (Deb) Patz is the author of Write! Shoot! Edit! for teens and Film Production Management 101 for the industry – both books are published worldwide by MWP. She’s also part of the editorial board for Prism International. She’s thinking twice about that game on her smartphone.

WHERE IS DEB? (upcoming events and appearances)
Sat.Feb.17 – Author Participant – Digital Media Youth Expo, North Vancouver, BC
Mar.26-28 – Instructor – Write! Shoot! Edit! Screenwriting Workshop for Teens – VPL
Aug/2018 – UFVA Conference – New Mexico

WHERE TO FIND DEB’S BOOKS?
Paperback or eBook: AmazonBarnes & NobleChapters/Indigo, direct from the publisher, and plenty of other great bookstores worldwide.