Hollywood's "traditional" success model, followed by ours at CATHEDRAL COLLECTIVE.
The War of Art - John Binder
Looking back on his ambition
two mistakes were made:
He honored his principles
He indulged his emotions
He should never have
played the game that way
in a place like Hollywood
You need talent or beauty
but you cannot succeed
without a strategy and design
and someone ruthless
to watch your back
You have to be shrewd
and sharp as a knife
You may have feelings
but they should not apply,
except as a tool for success,
like any other weapon that
you need to wield to win
If winning is not your goal
If you can't be cold or cruel
as the situation requires,
you'd best get out of the game
Competition is not for sissies
or saints, just look around
at the ones who are
and the ones who ain't
The rich, the famous, those
with power have talent
and they have brains,
but above everything else
they set aside their feelings
and what their mother said
was the decent way to behave
The virtues that make you
a success in your home town
tend to make you a failure here
If success is what you're after
detach and be ruthless,
as if the only virtue is sin
Let me be very clear
Art in L.A. is the Art of War
The object of war is to win
_______
That's one way to look at things. And there's no denying that adherence to a cutthroat approach can result in some wins. Does it result in a quality life, peace of mind, or happiness? Not in our estimation. It doesn't even sniff any of these things.
There's another path to balanced success in our industry. That's the one where talented individuals cultivate a community that works together to create successes. Instead of fearing one another, such a community watches out for and supports every one of its members. A win for one is always a win for all. And vice versa.
While it's true that a kind-hearted individual will often be outflanked by those unburdened by ethics, it's also true that a collective of ethical individuals can easily overpower any pack of wolves.
This is a time of great change and hardship for many of us. It's also a time of great opportunity. The Gordon Gekko-era has at long last exhausted itself. It's our turn--and yours--to own this town.
Collectively, of course.
