I Thought Protecting the Vision Meant Doing It Alone

TL;DR: I thought doing it alone would prove how serious I was about my vision. But collaboration made the vision better and taught me that not every creative journey has to be done solo dolo.

As a newbie to this whole documentary thing, I found myself being overly protective of my vision. And I think that protectiveness is necessary, at times. Because not everyone needs to have access to what you’re cooking up, and some visions need privacy and quiet to fully take shape.

However, for me, that wasn’t quite the case. A large part of my protectiveness was coming from ego.

Part of me (okay, most of me) believed that if I didn’t develop my vision into a fleshed-out documentary plan on my own, then maybe I wasn’t really meant for it. Or maybe I was even more unqualified than I already felt I was.

So I fully leaned into that “get it out the mud” mentality and convinced myself I needed to carry out an entire vision by myself. Because if I could do it alone, then that would prove (to whom, idk) that I REALLY wanted it. That I was REALLY meant for it.

But when I started trying to put my vision into loglines, themes, tones, frameworks... MY GAWD. I was ready to throw in the towel! It was only then that I admitted I could use some guidance. I wasn’t ready to call it anything beyond that just yet.

So, I met up with a friend, a filmmaker with an amazing documentary already in the works. I thought I was just going to lunch to learn a few things, ask some technical questions, and get some of that guidance I was seeking.

Instead, I left that lunch with a co-creator.

I was (and still am) so excited to be doing this thing with someone who shares the heart of the vision and believes in it just as much as I do.

I was honestly shocked by how naturally ideas flowed between us and how easily we built on each other’s thoughts. Within a couple of hours, the vision started to feel clearer, fuller, and more possible.

That lunch convo helped me see that I don’t have to hold on to visions so tightly that I stop myself from seeking out or accepting help, guidance, or partnership. And if I can’t do this documentary alone, it doesn’t mean I care about it any less or that it’s not meant for me.

I guess what I’m learning through this documentary journey is that bringing a vision to life doesn’t always have to be a solo act. Some visions can really become better through partnership…once you put ego aside.

I’m glad I let myself be open to that.