When I hear the old saying, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” I sincerely get it. All the paths we take and choices we make, become the roadmap of our lives. But they don’t define us. We are so much more than biography, and the most sublime joys of life can be easily found in the peak experiences that reveal our inner selves.
So let’s get this show on the road with a little personal story that will provide you with a ‘slider’ sized map of my anatomical journey from film lover – to film maker, which you can apply to everything you love to do…
M y father, Jerry Mulvaney, was an unrepentant wildman! In many ways he reminded me of a finely polished version of Victor McLaglen, John Wayne’s antagonist in The Quiet Man ,
who always played the crafty, hard drinking, occasionally boorish Irishman for Director John Ford. Dad was a master salesman, genius schmoozer, and in the 1970’s & 80’s, he was a larger than life financial wheeler-dealer for independent movies. On those treasured weekends when I was in his charge, he swept me from home to office; psychedelic parties to hip restaurants, and barbershops to bars, for a mind boggling pastiche of pitch meetings. He’d sit me off to the side, admonish me to keep quiet, and instruct me to watch and listen closely. “Be a sponge kid, so you can absorb how deals are really made.”
Now I’ll admit, sitting still was pure torture for a fidgety little Italian-Irish-Spanish ‘Valley Boy’ like me, but those sessions taught me a dizzying number of lessons, including a key one on scribbling – To watch & listen. And it was a truly magnificent education in human interaction! I met a cavalcade of brightly plumed Hollywoodland tale-spinners who looked like they came right out of Central Casting, and gleefully absorbed their lusty pursuit of fame, fortune and craft. These Fellini-esque characters inspired the dreamer in me, and dangled the silver screen promise of madcap adventure in front of my goggling, pie in the sky, blue eyes.
On one of these occasions my father introduced me to a friendly, sharply dressed gentleman named Allan Dwan. Now anybody who knows the history of american cinema, knows about Allan Dwan. He was an industry legend, the director of the original ‘Robin Hood,‘ starring the incredibly flamboyant Douglas Fairbanks: Silent screen’s greatest Action Star. Allan was a favorite director of both Fairbanks, and his luminous wife and business partner, Mary Pickford. They were the first ‘Branjelina’ style Hollywood power couple, and teamed with Charlie Chaplin to form United Artists in 1919. Allan was a consummate professional with over five hundred films under his belt, and was a leading pioneer of the art & craft of filmmaking from 1911, onward, and his early work helped shape the film industry that we enjoy today.
After the adults were finished talking, Allan turned to me and proceeded to unpack the world of cinema for me. He outlined the early history and it’s no holds barred wildness, and spoke of the glittering majesty and outrageous pomp of it’s creators. His reminisces were electric, poignant and full of adventure, just the “Stuff that Dreams are made of” tidbits that transported me back to the time before sound changed movies forever. It was a peak moment, and the beginning of my journey into the historic recesses of the mystical & byzantine world of filmmakers and filmmaking.
T he takeaway from this magical encounter buzzes through my consciousness everyday: The epiphany that the arc of our creative lives can be very long and challenging, but it bends toward the Persistent; the Courageous; and the Passionate. Allan Dwan showed up and helped to build an american entertainment empire that encompasses the world, and still inspires billions of people. How awesome is that?!
Why is my meeting with Allan Dwan the perfect introduction to our Anatomy of a Creative series? Well, we all have our spirit guides, those intrepid souls who’ve already covered the terrain and blazed unique trails on their way to us. Which means they gravitated toward us to show us how to follow our bliss, because they resonate with the spark of the divine traveller in us – the same spark that they experienced during the opening steps of their own journey.
S o today’s ‘Anatomy lesson starts at the ‘Feet.’ The foundation of our standing in the world; the incredibly strong; amazingly complex, load bearing flesh & bone vehicles built for speed and distance that enable us to go, go, go, on our journey through creativity.Since my guides are the inspiration for this series, their life lessons and collected wisdom will help us chart our own course, and outline the internal structure of who we are, because trailblazers are the ‘Master Anatomists’ of human experience. Who are your spirit guides? Think about the priceless lessons they’ve shared with you and give thanks, even if they, like Elvis, have already left the building…
The Forefoot & Toes • provide your ‘Grip’ on the long, winding road. Flex them and feel their strength – you’ll need it to power over the illusionary potholes of disappointment, and the rocky pavement of doubt and insecurity. They’ll also give you traction to dynamically launch your passions into new directions, and toward exciting possibilities – you gotta love toes, they’re digital masterpieces! When you visualize taking ‘Action,’ let your Forefoot & Toes grab onto the moment, and use their strength to Step Up, and Step Out in the World. The Midfoot • is built to absorb all the shocks: The Fears of failure, and success. The missed opportunities and the ones right in front of you that require you to bend, or break. It is the place where shocks are met with the soft alchemy of attention & flexibility. The archetypical psychologist, James Hillman, once said “There’s a secret Love hiding in each Problem.” And feeling your way through your fears is how you reveal that love. When you feel your way, you convert pain into wisdom, and use that golden energy to pave your personal Yellow Brick Road. When you experience ‘Shocks’ to your system, and Fear threatens to ‘break’ you – use your Midfoot to absorb the blows, and convert your Problems into positive, life affirming energy! The Hindfoot • is where you connect: to the Earth, and to everybody & everything on it. It’s where the energy of the world enters your body, and fills your spirit with the power to motivate. It is also the lightning rod that attracts you to the psychological, emotional and intellectual landmarks that allow you to set your internal bearings and find your path. The hindfoot is about the power of standing and walking tall. Of greeting and approaching the lavish gifts that our lives present, with and attitude of gratitude. Your Hindfeet may leave the ground for a time, but their solid landings are your unique contribution to the rhythm of life. It’s not that you live life, but that life ‘lives’ you. Your hindfoot is where Intention becomes Action – and Action becomes Intention.
The box above may seem small, but the content & resonance it holds for us is vitally important to understanding the dual, inner-outer journey that we’re on. Honestly, it fills volumes in my consciousness, as each concept and phrase hyper-link me to the ever expanding universe of cool associations and exciting destinations.
Take time to read each of the anatomical sections above at least three times, and write down the things that jump out and grab your imagination. These ‘jumps’ will help you internalize the information and give you a better grip on the best way to use the tools to suit your unique creative life style!
Final Notes: The psychological fear that I refer to above is ego based, and represents our mind’s attempt to control the uncontrollable. Whenever we set our egos aside, we open yourself up to the premium package of ‘Life Living you,’ which is the baseline of all creative pursuits. We’ll deep dive into how to feel your fear Fearlessly in Chapter Two.
And please remember to practice, practice, practice! The more you use these psychological & spiritual tools, the more confident you’ll become in flowing your imaginal powers to become the best ‘Creative’ that you can be!
Need some additional food for thought? Here are some of my favorites, including “On Filmmaking” by my Mentor, Alexander Mackendrick:
Photo Credit: Annie Spratt
