DO YOU WANT THE TRUTH OR SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL?
DO YOU WANT THE TRUTH OR SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL?
Paloma Faith’s brilliant lyrics describe our industry to a T and if any Producers and Directors are asked which they require it would undoubtedly be ‘something beautiful’.
But the song is deeper than that, it asks if you want to hear the flamboyant, the promises and the pretence or if you want the raw facts.
In special effects we deal with facts. Our world is one of Science and Technology. Our results often need to be beautiful of course, but the route to get there requires utter respect for the facts. Facts are not only key for the design and delivery of effects, but especially for Health and Safety. Fantasy won’t protect us.
In addition to the safety a facts first policy gives us, the truth is often the shortest route to satisfaction. When we are all truthful about what is needed and what the issues that might prevent realisation are, we will achieve mutual success. However, there are many things that prevent this ideal: Impatience, disinterest, lack of time, conflicting needs, prioritising pure artistic vision, and misunderstanding of the facts, to name a few. Or putting it another way, no one likes the word ‘No’!
There is a huge pressure on Supervisors and technicians to say yes to all requests; ‘The Show Must Go On!’ is a powerful, overriding force, which despite assurances, often takes priority over everything. But to ensure that it goes on safely and successfully, we must all work on better communication and collaboration.
At Any Effects we can’t help but tell the truth, and we attempt to do so at the early stages by collecting as much information about the requirements as possible, to avoid a ‘no’ on set. Strong and regular communication is needed at every stage to maintain this aim, as it can be foiled by an assumption that all the facts have been presented. A lack of communication, idealised outlook and last minute changes which don’t respect physical or mechanical reality throw all these principles to the wind and are the key reason for disappointment and unrealised goals.
So in the final words (modified) of Paloma:
WE CAN BE WHAT YOU WANT US TO BE, BUT DO YOU WANT US?