The creation of a chair
I recently watched a documentary: The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights, a rare and personal perspective into the band and a behind the scenes of a tour through the Canadian provinces.
Even if you’re not a fan of the White Stripes, you’ll surely appreciate the Art Direction and cinematography of this film. It’s a juxtaposition of grit and beauty. Oddly enough, this raw style turns the entire film into a chair.
How is this accomplished? Jack summates the creative process of the band is a combo of many small things to make the greater whole. For instance, using instruments that are older, inconsistent and don’t stay in tune for very long. Or placing vital stage elements at determined lengths apart as to not make them easy to reach, thus requiring more effort to play. Causing hurried and harried requirements to pay attention to what’s happening in their performance. These details, beyond colors, lighting and sound are critical because they impose restrictions and directly contribute to the band’s success.
So the key element for the band comes down to “restrictions.” Jack continues to surmise how important this is with a simple example. He says “If you have all the time in the world and all the money you could need to execute your idea and you can make whatever you want, it will never get done.” Jack could not be more right. If there are no restrictions and the page is blank to do anything then it will most certainly remain blank.
As a creative team is “building a chair,” it should emphasize this point: Find all the restrictions. Ask for budget restrictions and time lines. What is mandatory? Then do everything you possibly can to build that chair – do it on time and within budget. Commit to possibly illustrating the next project. Place your scanner across the room so you have to get up. Get active or try a new process. Do some push-ups or grab some glue and scissors. Step away from the computer. It might be a chair but it might be the next big miraculous chair that everyone must have.
So what kind of chair am I going to make next, a big old plush Victorian wing-back chair. It might be a little tattered and stained too.
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