HAVE SOME GUIDING PRINCIPLES. Before beginning a journey it’s a good idea to have a destination. For a filmmaker this means having a goal or mission.

Most filmmakers seem driven by unconscious goals. On the surface, their goals are to make movies, be successful, garner awards and experiences. In essence, they are being driven by ego and are no different than the vast majority of people in all walks of life.

We all grow up with ego needs and, hopefully, as we mature we move beyond them. This is where the notion of guiding principles comes in. If you are not making movies to fulfill ego needs, then why exactly are you making them?

If your answer is “I’m doing it for ego needs and I’m proud of it,” okay. You will be working on the level of power and influence to get your work made, and to have it succeed.  Even if you do succeed, on an inner level something will always be missing.

What I suggest is working on an altogether different level, the level of spirit. In filmmaking and other endeavors, if one dedicates oneself to the highest good, to be of service to others, then we call in a different energy. We have moved beyond the realm of worldly power and influence. We are now working in alignment with the universe, and navigating the flow of the unknown.

I don’t mean to suggest that this path will necessarily be smooth and comfortable. It may in fact put us face to face with our greatest challenges and fears, forcing us to grow out of our comfortable patterns and defenses. This is a good thing, although it may not feel so good at the time.

What are Prankster Entertainment’s guiding principles? Our motto is to make movies that entertain and enlighten. The word enlighten is key here. It suggests growth and expansion.

Anyone can create “filmed entertainment,” which can be something as simple as a bunch of young women baring their breasts in rowdy barrooms. This is “entertaining” to some men, appalling to some women, but Girls Gone Wild is regarded as a very successful “filmed entertainment” venture.

What we are striving to do at Prankster is to honor the tradition of sacred storytelling. We feel that filmmakers are nothing less than the creators of modern myth, and as such have a responsibility to the audience. That responsibility is to serve their highest interests by presenting them with stories that not only engage, but also elucidate.

As noted before, this does not mean being overly serious. Laughter in drama, pathos in comedy – balance is key.

So one of the overarching principles I recommend filmmakers consider is the principle of being of service. Not only in the finished product, but every step along the way. This means in the writing and development phase, pre-production, production, post, and in every encounter with anyone else. The guiding principle here is: “every step with quality and care.”

Along these lines, you might want to consider keeping your content positive. So much of what is seen on the screen exploits fear – horror and violent movies usually exacerbate fear, and rarely purge it. No doubt, there is money to be made in this arena, as there is no shortage of fear in the world, but is that the legacy you want to create?

There is a dire need for content that focuses on the higher aspects of human nature, on the joy of the human adventure.  It does exist, you know. The more we see of it, especially in a powerful medium like film, the more it will help to shape a new reality.

Perhaps the best way to close, for now, is to quote the simple guiding principle of the Dalai Llama: “Kindness is my religion.”

Do yourself and your audience a huge favor. Be a kind filmmaker.