Venting I'll never be as good as my peers

[ArteriesBindEveryon]

I'm a film student who recently finished recording his first movie. I was feeling good about myself until I decided to watch some students films from a couple years ago while I waited for files to transfer. I should be happy right now but I can't help but feel so inferior to everyone else. Everyone else has made something with beautiful practical effects or brilliant humor or fantastic coloring or and incredible story and I'm just here with... not that. I'm simply not nearly as talented as everyone else here and I'll be graduating in under a year. How can I hope to compete in such a competitive market when I can't even match up to my fellow students? Even some of our most talented alumni are struggling to find a career so what chance does someone like me have? I'm obviously going to finish the movie because I owe it to everyone who helped me out, but I struggle to see a life after college for myself other than quietly committing suicide.

 

[soon4good]

everyone else always has it easier, better or something similar. it's truly exhausting and i wish i had something more to add here than that.

 

[hopeless-believer]

You've come this far ABE,
And you'll be graduating this next year because you are better than you believe. This negative self talk and anxiety is making you spiral down the dark garden path, but you must find a way to believe in yourself.

Are they more talented than you? Or did they change up what they were doing at some point, because they felt a similar way. If you can acknowledge that other people's are better, than you can put the work in, realise where you can improve in yourself and become who you want to be.

You can make this happen. I believe in you but you need to believe in yourself. Being anxious over the market or future is a common and burdensome anxiety to have, but you've not come all this way for nothing, and you've no idea what the future holds.

From working for the last 13 years without a pause for now, I can tell you, working in your specialty is always a learning experience. I feel I know much less now than when I began. Partially because there is so much out there to learn and explore.

Yes some have an eye for things, but what is talent but hard work and time, and usually done with affinity and joy. I tell you that any job is worth doing well. And when you do, your perspective changes slightly and then little by little you'll see how far you've come.

Take care

 

[Sleeper System]

You shouldn't compare your work to the work of others. That's the job of critics. Instead, if you find something in someone else's films that moves you, find a way to assimilate it into your own style. Take the bits and pieces and use it to create something that checks whatever box it represents.
As unique as people try to be when they bring an idea to life, it's all just a rendition of something they saw somewhere else and had strong feelings about. You have tons of resources to draw from in that field. Use what you can.

 

[ArteriesBindEveryon]

everyone else always has it easier, better or something similar. it's truly exhausting and i wish i had something more to add here than that.

I wouldn't say they have it easier, they're just better than me. I just get out-competed.

You've come this far ABE,
And you'll be graduating this next year because you are better than you believe. This negative self talk and anxiety is making you spiral down the dark garden path, but you must find a way to believe in yourself.

Are they more talented than you? Or did they change up what they were doing at some point, because they felt a similar way. If you can acknowledge that other people's are better, than you can put the work in, realise where you can improve in yourself and become who you want to be.

You can make this happen. I believe in you but you need to believe in yourself. Being anxious over the market or future is a common and burdensome anxiety to have, but you've not come all this way for nothing, and you've no idea what the future holds.

From working for the last 13 years without a pause for now, I can tell you, working in your specialty is always a learning experience. I feel I know much less now than when I began. Partially because there is so much out there to learn and explore.

Yes some have an eye for things, but what is talent but hard work and time, and usually done with affinity and joy. I tell you that any job is worth doing well. And when you do, your perspective changes slightly and then little by little you'll see how far you've come.

Take care

I appreciate that but my time is running out to make an impact. I'm already planning on doing an extra semester but that won't be enough time to turn things around for myself. And even if I were to somehow surpass them in that time, it might not be enough to find a career.

 

[monetpompo]

I'm simply not nearly as talented as everyone else here and I'll be graduating in under a year.

you went to film school, though! that means you tried! that means more than most people who want to make a film or have no ambitions at all because they're afraid of failing. i always feel worse than everybody else, but the people around me would always try to lift me up and tell me that i shouldn't give up, since i wouldn't achieve what i wanted to in the first place. i actually think it's really cool that you were able to work together with people and make a film at all, since it's often difficult to work together.

also, it's your first film lol. the alumni who made the films before you may have had experience making films beforehand, or they were simply at a different stage of creation than you. you're never actually going to view your work as better than others if you spend more time comparing your work to others instead of making your own work. as long as you continue, i think you can succeed. if you make a second film, it could potentially have a higher budget and you could build off your experience from your first film. when you look at student or debut films of directors, they're usually not as good as their later works, but you can see how their work progressed. sorry if i sound patronizing lol. i watch short films as a hobby and always like seeing students' work. ♡

 

[ArteriesBindEveryon]

you went to film school, though! that means you tried! that means more than most people who want to make a film or have no ambitions at all because they're afraid of failing. i always feel worse than everybody else, but the people around me would always try to lift me up and tell me that i shouldn't give up, since i wouldn't achieve what i wanted to in the first place. i actually think it's really cool that you were able to work together with people and make a film at all, since it's often difficult to work together.

also, it's your first film lol. the alumni who made the films before you may have had experience making films beforehand, or they were simply at a different stage of creation than you. you're never actually going to view your work as better than others if you spend more time comparing your work to others instead of making your own work. as long as you continue, i think you can succeed. if you make a second film, it could potentially have a higher budget and you could build off your experience from your first film. when you look at student or debut films of directors, they're usually not as good as their later works, but you can see how their work progressed. sorry if i sound patronizing lol. i watch short films as a hobby and always like seeing students' work. ♡

Thanks, I appreciate it. I talked to some people and I'm feeling better now. Unfortunately this is my second-to-last semester (it was supposed to be my last but I'm doing an extra one so I can get more experience) so I'm not sure how much I can accomplish in such a short time, but I'll do my best to try and make something that can at least compare to others' work.

 

[monetpompo]

i'm glad you were able to feel better :>

 

[quietbird]

I'm a film student who recently finished recording his first movie. I was feeling good about myself until I decided to watch some students films from a couple years ago while I waited for files to transfer. I should be happy right now but I can't help but feel so inferior to everyone else. Everyone else has made something with beautiful practical effects or brilliant humor or fantastic coloring or and incredible story and I'm just here with... not that. I'm simply not nearly as talented as everyone else here and I'll be graduating in under a year. How can I hope to compete in such a competitive market when I can't even match up to my fellow students? Even some of our most talented alumni are struggling to find a career so what chance does someone like me have? I'm obviously going to finish the movie because I owe it to everyone who helped me out, but I struggle to see a life after college for myself other than quietly committing suicide.

We routinely undervalue the things we ourselves create, and don't realize other people are looking and feeling jealous of us. I know that can be hard to believe, but it's very true. You're thinking with a critical eye, which is great! You can assess your work even better now and decide what new direction or ideas you have. Look up "steal like an artist." Nothing is wholly original, we all get inspired and layer ideas that we like to create our own unique creations. Keep making art, that is your calling.