Lessons from Avatar – The Power of vision and integrity
Avatar air battle
Ok so if you havn’t already watched Avatar go, do it now!! Avatar was pretty much the most visually wow-inducing movie I’ve ever seen. There’s tons of lessons to be learnt from this movie but the ones I’m looking at today are vision and integrity.
If critics like it, fine. I can’t say I won’t read the reviews, because I may not be able to resist. I spent a couple of decades in the capricious world of being judged by those not knowledgeable about the depth and history of film and with whom I would not want to have a conversation – with a few notable exceptions. Why would I want to be judged by them? For me, this past decade has been about retreating to the great fundamentals, things that aren’t passing fads or subject to the whims of some idiot critic. You can’t write a review of the laws of thermodynamics. James Cameron
Avatar an epic 20 years in the making
Avatar is now very famously the most expensive movie ever made. We all know that it’s taken 20 years to make and read all the blurb. We’ve wondered if it wasn’t perhaps 10 or 15 minutes too long and if it got a little too preachy at times. What we haven’t considered is what it must have taken to sit on the screenplay for Avatar for 20 years.
James Cameron came up with the premise and then the screenplay for Avatar long before technology caught up with his vision. When he dreamt this all up there just wasn’t any way to create this world.
Now for most of us that’s the end of it. We’ve lost. We have the idea but ah well it’s just not the right time. James Cameron sat on this for 20 years though. He put together special effects teams and kept working on the Avatar story until the time was right.
The power of vision is rocket fuel for goals
If you are going to make a success of this life sometimes no is just not acceptable. So if you’d like to see the kind of success that James Cameron saw with Avatar:
Dream Big – Dreams can’t be too big.
Turn that Dream into a vision – Once you have one shape it into a clear vision the bigger and more vivid your vision is the more invested you will be in pursuing it.
Don’t Compromise – Don’t scale down on your vision. If it’s important enough to do, do it right your can’t put a price tag on integrity.
Don’t forget about your dreams – It’s easy to put your vision on the back burner and forget about it. Find some way to keep track of your dreams and goals that you’ll keep going back to
Keep working at your Vision- Keep putting time into your dreams and goals to make them happen. If the time isn’t right do what you need to, to make it the right time.
It’s far too easy during our day to day affairs to forget about what’s really important to us. Go watch Avatar, watch it in 3D and then just imagine if James Cameron was like most of us and just shrugged his shoulders and said, “ah well, too bad we can’t make it” and went on his merry way.
The world is changed by people with big ideas who make things happen.
Avatar by *patrickbrown on deviantART
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Hey Mike!
yah – I have hread lots of comments about the stunning visuals. I’m a bit of a movie purist though – a moveie has to have a goot story in order to get an A+ from me.
And you know how much that means to James Cameron.
RE: Vision, Goals, etc. Do you think we all have the same opportunity to realize our vision and goals – no matter where we start from?
I’m not sure. My heart wants to say yes, but my brain says some folks have a much better starting point than others…
I don’t know the answer – ‘m just interested in the discussion philosophy major in me!).
Cheers!
- Don
Don Power´s last blog ..How to Make Fire from a Block of Ice
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Don Power Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 12:35 am
Sorry about all the typos! I should copy and paste comments into a spell checker, I guess…
Don Power´s last blog ..How to Make Fire from a Block of Ice
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Michael Fletcher Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 12:57 am
Not too worry, if Firefox didn’t point out my spelling ineptitude, often, I probably wouldn’t have a blog.
On the movie I worked for the biggest Cinema Chain in South Africa for 9 years, and take my cinema pretty seriously. The story on this puppy is by no means terrible, but yeah it’s possibly going to miss an A+. Either way, watch it in 3D you won’t be able to recreate the experience at home.
Living in South Africa I am more aware of the differing starting points than most. Ultimately when we look at the iconic figures who overcame great odds like our first citizen, Nelson Mandela, he started way behind everyone else. Instead of staying there he rose above it. Was it easy, not in the least, but that’s what makes it such an uplifting story.
During my time working in the cinema I had to deal with lots of front line staff from disadvantaged backgrounds, that is mainly where I gained my love for personal development. Vision and goals are universal everyone has it the skills to make them a reality are rare.It is a thoroughly rewarding feeling to empower someone to the point where they are able to see further than their current realities.
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Really a great article, George Lucas had the same dream for Star Wars, Roddenberry the same one for Star Trek, where would they have been if they didn’t follow their dreams.
The movie itself has some great lessons and philosophy as well. I didn’t get to see the movie in 3D yet, only 2D and still enjoyed it tremendously.
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Michael Fletcher Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 2:49 am
I watched it in 3D the pre-release screening the night before the opening to avoid the hype. I can’t recommend it enough, I’ve seen a hatful of movies in 3D and this is by far the most impressive, in that the 3D effect is not included for the wow value, but to give depth to the really well realised backdrops and characters.
I was going to look at the actual lessons in the movie at some point too. The themes in it are very mature even if they never get fleshed out sufficiently. I thought the movie was very poignant in the aftermath of Copenhagen fiasco.
LIve long and prosper
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I must admit I don’t go to many movies, therefore, I have not see Avatar, but I think that may change.
Michael your post is great and just what I needed at the right time. Thank you!
Jenny´s last blog ..Humor For Humpday!-FaceBook In Reality – idiotsofants.com and BBC’sThe Wall
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Michael Fletcher Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
If you see one movie this year, I suggest this one
Thanks for visiting my site
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I haven’t seen it yet, but I can follow your message. Sometimes we can’t do things right now due to circumstances, but over time we can change our circumstances and circumstances can change. That’s why it’s so vital we don’t let the fire go out on our dreams and goals.
Gordie´s last blog ..How To Turn Cooking Into Lifestyle Design Cuisine.
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Michael Fletcher Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Exactly right, just because it can’t be done now doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done. We need to trust our gut and stick at those things which we know are worthwhile.
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I’ve never heard of that movie that it impress me that it took 20 years to make it!
Oscar – freestyle mind´s last blog ..Motivation 101: How to Stay Motivated
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Michael Fletcher Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
It was a really good movie make a plan to watch it if you can, thanks for dropping by
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I able to manage to watch the movie after 2 week of the release however miss the 3D but it’s really a great movie. Very inspiring last part where the navi
blue monkey(they represent helpless people) utilize their power and fight back to those so called powerful people (represent those war mongers). However, after reading James Cameron comment, I get another reason to watch it. Thanks for those inspiring note.Arafat Hossain Piyada´s last blog ..Get Windows 7 GodMode Right On Your Desktop
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I just watched Avatar the other night and it literally blew my mind. It was the best movie ever, and the effects were only part of what made it so great. The story line had a lot to do with it being a movie worth watching. If it was only effects I would have gotten bored after the first half hour.
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This really was an amazing movie, from the stunning visuals to the character development to the actual messages being portrayed. I saw it last week in 3D at an IMAX theater so everything was huge and 3D and just extremely impressive. One thing I noticed, though, is that the story is pretty much the same as Pocahontas. I don’t mean to ruin it for those who haven’t seen it so I won’t go into details but if you’ve seen both movies just think about it – it’s really like a futuristic/alien Pocahontas in terms of the actual story and themes.
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Michael Fletcher Reply:
January 14th, 2010 at 2:42 am
I hate you so, sadly the last IMAX cinema here closed down a few years ago
Yeah I can definitely see the relationship to Pocahontas. I think the slight unoriginality of the story was the only downside to the movie, however I didn’t think about that once while watching it. It truly is a spectacle.
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I am dreaming big for sure, and working on some new dreams. Awesome movie btw…i’ve watched it more than twice
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