Making Art is Like Making Maple Syrup
November 11th, 2022
I learned something interesting and helpful from famous documentary filmmaker Ken Burns while listening to a SmartLess podcast episode some months back. I’m sharing it here, as a short video, or if you prefer, you can skip over it and read about it.
I listen to a lot of podcasts and subscribe to a wide range, given I’m interested in so many different things. One of the podcasts I often listen to with my husband and three sons whenever we’re on a roadtrip is SmartLess, with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett.
In September of 2021, Burns explained to Bateman, Hayes, and Arnett, that while filmmaking is an architectural and additive process, producing the final version of the film, or any creative pursuit for that matter, it is more of a subtractive process. A critical part is knowing what to edit out, what to remove.
Burns lives in New Hampshire, and he likened the film editing process to making maple syrup. He said it takes 40 gallons of tree sap in order to make 1 gallon of maple syrup. I appreciated this perspective and and the reminder that to make something exceptional–to get the good stuff–requires a lot of effort, time, and raw material. For more inspiring messages like this, please check back here weekly, or subscribe to the blog (at right).
Thanks for watching, listening and/or reading.
- Categories: Adventure, Life and Leadership
- Tags: art, coaching, creativity, epic life, filmmaking, inspiration, ken burns, making art, sheepwagon
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