Clint Eastwood is one of my favorite Hollywood artists and most certainly the coolest. A brilliant director, producer, composer and actor, his career spanned 71 films. Both the characters he played and the films he directed expressed the sincere and (sometimes harsh) truths of life.
“Men must know their limitations.” — Clint Eastwood, Filmmaker, Composer, Actor
There are so many platitudes regarding limitations; the idea that we can be anything we want, that we have the right to unlimited wealth and opportunity (which is, by the way, very conveniently compatible with a constant growth and consumption society). But perhaps the most common idea about limitations is that they are bad for us. The very saying that “the only limitations are those we put on ourselves” implies as much eventhough it can be alternatively interpreted as a call for greater conscience and true discipline.
I personally really dislike such a mindset. The reason is because it actually offers a false interpretation of the universe and its laws. It’s purely ego-driven. It’s not that great individual things aren’t right or aren’t possible but rather that it’s not realistic to do or have “anything or everything.” I could never be, nor do I ever want to be an engineer or an Olympic swimmer or wish to own the biggest yacht or be the president. And there’s nothing wrong with NOT being or wanting any of those kinds of things. We only need to find ourselves and be the best, most truest version of ourselves. Borders and limits don’t hinder us, instead, they help make us better. Sometimes finding out who we are — to honor our truth — begins with knowing who we aren’t.
“Cinema is a matter of what’s in the frame and what’s out.” — Martin Scorsese, Filmmaker
Goodfellas starring Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci is one of Scorsese’s best films. Director Martin Scorsese’s movies are gritty, truthful and raw. He’s unafraid to show what his characters are and what they represent. By working within his boundaries as an artist, both in vision and execution, he has become one of the most unique voices in the world of cinema.
Here’s a list of some of the reasons why I believe having limitations makes us ultimately better:
a) It simplifies everything
“We don’t make movies to make money, we make money to make more movies.” — Walt Disney, Founder of Disney Studios
Pioneer Walt Disney wasn’t that good of an animator. He knew his limitations as a craftsman. This forced him to become a visionary producer and carry out his dream of bringing animation to the forefront of cinema, and thus alter history for the plethora of animation artists that would come after him.
To work smaller, slower and simpler is beautiful and having limitations serves as a stark reminder to do so. There’s already too much information, too much confusion and too much complexity in the world we live in. Simplifying things at work, in the home and in our own minds allows us do it all better. Having limited options, be it money, time or space, forces us to say “okay, let’s do less.” Our so-called civilized world might constantly be asking us to do more, to squeeze every ounce of energy and life out of us to serve it, but we KNOW that nature and our own nature tells us different. If we’re overwhelmed, there’s real reason why we are. To humbly accept what we can’t do, to know that having too many balls in the air means that we’ll eventually drop them, is to recognize reality. It’s OKAY to not do or have everything, to not have it all be perfect and to not please everyone. Because you can’t. It’s an egotistical and farcical illusion to actually believe we can “do or have it all” or even to foster the idea that we should. As I’ve grown older, I love how limitations have served to channel my energy towards fewer things and thereby doing whatever I do with greater focus and efficiency. We prioritize when we can’t afford to waste any more attention on things that don’t matter.
b) It defines our work
“To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable!” ― Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig Van Beethoven is often depicted as a mad genius brimming with great feeling and intense ferocity. Whether this was true or not, his compositions certainly confirm a standard of excellence that was unrelenting, having composed some of the most powerful music ever created. Nothing stopped him from doing his craft, not even his loss of hearing. He defined his kind of music — music heavily inspired by passion.
If we had no limitations, we’d have nothing to work off of or against. The most basic example (especially familiar to all animators) is the concept of gravity. If there was no ground we couldn’t stand up straight. Without a hard surface to push up against, we couldn’t distribute or build force of any kind. All things are relative. And weightlessness is neither desirable in animation or in life. Our specific limitations enable us to develop specific solutions. The barriers to our art — the painter’s frame, the time limit of a song, and the limited frames of an animated shot — are what grounds the work. We’ve all seen big-budget movies portraying boundless worlds with no real endings feeling both stagnant and small whereas some little films with limited worlds that have personal stories feel both epic and eternal. When we understand our craft and work within the limitations of our of tools, we extend the capabilities of the craft and the specific expressive capabilities of ourselves. It gives us our style and method. It helps us set standards. And it makes our work definitively our own because of our own unique challenges.
c) It forces us to innovate
Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles. Welles was one of the most innovative filmmakers of all time. His seminal work, Citizen Kane brought about numerous artistic and technical innovations in the art of movie-making.
“The enemy of art is the absence of limitations” — Orson Welles, Filmmaker
Knowing that we’re limited in time, space or resources forces us to get proactive and get creative. When things go wrong for astronauts — and nothing can be worse than things going wrong way out in the middle of nowhere —they have to assess the situation, dig deep into their knowledge base, and formulate solutions on the fly. The urgency of life and death demands it. But even back on earth, we’re often faced with crises. So we’re all given opportunities to innovate in response to challenge. Having limited resources and access makes us think harder and work outside of the box. Easy access and convenience destroys far more than it creates. Artists who lament the difficult, tedium or frustration that’s required forget that it’s the messy hands-on work that makes an artist. For example, Orson Welles dug holes on the floor to lower camera angles and used charcoal drawings as backdrops when he couldn’t afford elaborate sets. When we know one thing doesn’t work we find another way. And often times we come up with ideas that bring not only better results but more fulfilling experiences.
d) It makes us stronger
Eight-time Paralympic Gold Medalist Lauren Woolstencroft is one of the most inspiring individuals on the planet. Born with only one limb (she has no lower legs and only one full arm) this amazing Canadian is an example of strength and courage overcoming all odds and making her limitations a launching pad to being amazing.
“There’s no magic formula for success. Ultimately, it’s about believing in yourself, making realistic goals, believing you can achieve them and going for them without hesitation.” — Lauren Woolstencroft, Alpine Skier
Without limitations we don’t have any challenge. And it’s that very challenge of seeing where we are as people and not being satisfied with what’s in front of us that drives us. A bodybuilder seeing that he currently lifts “only” 250 pounds works that much harder to push himself towards 300. In other words, what looks like a limitation becomes a goal, an invitation to find out EXACTLY what are our actual boundaries. The reason is because we’re usually wrong in our interpretation of the world, its laws and its limits, including those we have of ourselves. Limitations test us and asks us if this is really what we want and what effort we’re willing to put forth. It gives us the opportunity to stand up to the plate and face our enemies and by doing so, develop our courage and spiritual fortitude.
Summary:
Therefore, in contrast with the common misconception that limits holds us down, the truth is we NEED limitations to grow, be creative and do our best. Without them, we flounder around in endless chaos with nothing to ground us, nothing to bounce off of, nothing to push thru. Limitations are a blessing. If you learn to accept your limitations you go beyond them.
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