Published:

03/15/2011 05:35pm

Action

I’m a huge movie fan. I have a tendency to gravitate towards certain actors and directors that happen to be my favorite. Anything with Jack Nicholson and Denzel Washington will work for me. My favorite part of the DVD, however, is the special features. I love watching how the movie comes together. All aspects fascinate me, from the special effects creation to the director’s style of making the movie. At one point in my life, I considered being a special effects graphic designer. To me, that is one of the greatest avenues of creativity.

The other day, I watched a movie I wouldn’t normally gravitate towards. It was given to me by someone who assumed it would be boring and knowing my interest in movies, figured I might still appreciate it. I was hesitant to take it but thought it might be good to get outside my comfort zone. After watching the film, which ended up being very good, I watched the special features. To my surprise, it was directed by Clint Eastwood. I never cared for Westerns, although my father grew up watching them and sometimes, made me watch them with him.

Clint Eastwood has a distinct directing style that is a favorite among actors. He does not yell “Action” or create a sense of anxiety or panic as typical directors do. It is a result of the need to maintain a calm environment when acting with horses in a frame. Instead, Clint Eastwood simply says “When you’re ready. . “ This lessens the actor’s tension and they are able to ease into their characters.

This is applicable towards leadership. The tendency of leaders to create a sense of anxiety to appear bigger is all too common. Leaders keep the panic for themselves and “direct” with certainty, creating a calm environment for others to thrive. That’s usually when the best work is developed and executed. I guess that’s why Clint Eastwood is an Oscar winning director. . .