"Amateur vs. Professional" - Maya Deren

Seldom is it that I read an assigned material and immediately feel a connection with the author, as though they are speaking to me, but this essay is something I really needed to hear. Maya Deren discusses how amateur filmmakers often fall into the trap of comparing their work to that of professionals, which is a fast road to discouragement (and for me, discouragement is typically followed by concession). She reminds us that it is important to remember that amateurs also have many advantages that professionals do not, such as creative freedom and mobility.

While I do find myself feeling as though I'll never measure up to the Hollywood "big wigs," I also feel this way quite often when it comes to my peers. It seems as though everywhere I look, someone in my class has a better camera, or is a more skilled editor or a better writer, than me. I have always been quite insecure in my work, and comparing it to that of my classmates is one of my biggest weaknesses. It's reassuring to be reminded that I'm probably not as alone in this as I think I am, and it's likely that even the people I compare myself to feel as though they'll never measure up to someone else. If only Maya Deren were here to remind us daily that our bodies are better than tripods and that our imaginative minds are more important than any equipment or training money can buy.