10 BULLETS
Film maker, art maker, and mischief maker, Tom Sachs shares his secret recipe for studio management.
NEW YORK, NY
Tom Sachs is an artist and filmmaker known for his transparency about work ethic and focus. He learned much of his habits while working odd jobs out of college like Frank Gehry's L.A. furniture shop, and window displays for Barneys, before founded a studio practice for himself. Sachs' art career began to take off with a show called "Creativity is the Enemy".
Tom is one of the biggest champions of creativity, but when it comes to getting a non-creative task done, Tom views creativity as a distraction to be discouraged. A burst of creativity comes at an idea’s inception but then it can only become a finished creation with persistence. Being a creative entrepreneur means finding and striking that balance.
“Half the job is doing (what you love) and the other half of it is bringing it to the world.”
As Tom’s studio began growing and hiring, there needed to be an organization to the chaos. He and his creative partner Van Neistat compiled a list of guidelines they called the “10 Bullets”.
Bullet 1: “Work to Code”
Working to code means that during a task it’s important to remember that there is a system already in place. New ideas will be carefully built on top of preexisting codes to get it done on time, to quality, and without waste.
Bullet 2: “Sacred Space“
The studio space and anyone working there is to be respected, with no interruptions or distractions. “In the sacred space, one should proceed as in a Shaker Workshop or a Monastery.”
Bullet 3: “Be on Time”
This one seems pretty clear. The costs to being late can turn a profit into a loss, and can even ruin a project entirely.
Bullet 4: “Thoroughness Counts”
Cutting corners leads to messes and mistakes, and can encourage others to also cut corners. Every task is actually three sections: preparing for the task, completing the task, and leaving no trace.
Bullet 5: “I Understand”
Always tell your collaborators that you’ve understood the message. Repeating back the message is an even better confirmation.
Bullet 6: “Sent Does Not Mean Received”
Always get confirmation that what was sent was actually received. A receipt or other forms of evidence can also prevent “weaseling”.
Bullet 7: “Keep a List”
Simply put, what gets measured gets managed.
Bullet 8: “Always Be Knolling”
To “Knoll” is to arrange like-objects in parallel or 90-degree angles as a method of organizing. This is vital in a studio to ensure that everything can be seen, categorized, and accounted for.
Bullet 9: “Sacrifice To Leatherface”
In Sachs’ studio, a small monetary sacrifice is to be given to a small figurine called “Leatherface” in order to right a mistake. A mistake could be poor oversight, poor execution, or a lack of personal responsibility. The monetary fee provides a simple incentive (and a fund for celebrating good times).
Bullet 10: “Persistence”
Nothing can take the place of persistence. Talent, genius, education, and even creativity are in capable of completing a task. Only persistence will get it done.
Tom is clear that the most important thing is to finish the work, otherwise you’re never able to share your work with the world. Constant re-writing or being overly perfect might mean you never finish your film, your exhibition, your album, your building, etc.
“Perfection is the enemy of the good… Other people make more perfect movies (that are never finished) but we want something that the audience can actually see.”
10 BULLETS
INTERVIEW
DISCUSSION
Tom says that “perfection can get in the way of the good”, and that he doesn’t seek to make perfect films. His number one rule is finish the film. “Most movie makers don’t follow rule number one, and most movies don’t get finished.”
Q: How will you avoid perfectionism?
Tom’s studio isn’t just a place of unbridled creativity, it’s also a place of good habits. His “10 Bullets” have helped he and his team make incredible work.
Q: What are your “10 bullets”?