Keep your work interesting by changing the perspective

The final scene in Steven Spielberg’s movie “The Fabelmans” gets to the heart of what makes art and our work interesting.

The movie’s main character is Sammy Fabelman, an aspiring filmmaker and teenager. Sammy is introduced to the legendary Western director John Ford at the end of the film. The scene, based on Spielberg’s actual encounter with Ford, is described in this clip. This last scene recreates this memory when Ford directs Sammy to look at two pieces of art on his walls and tell him what he sees.

• In the first painting, Sammy starts describing the characters that he sees. Ford interrupts him and says, “No! No! Where’s the horizon?” Sammy responds, “at the top.”
• Then Ford asks Sammy to look at a second painting on the wall and describe it. Sammy responds by again describing the figures. Ford interrupts again and says, “No! Where’s the horizon?” Sammy replies, “at the bottom.”
• Then Ford responds with the following quote, a bit more colorful in the movie:

“When you’re able to appreciate why [the horizon] is at the top, why it’s at the bottom, you might make a pretty good picture maker.” – John Ford

The intentional placement of the horizon and then the subjects in a film was a was a key feature of John Ford’s style. Steven Spielberg learned and later employed such thoughtfulness in his own works.

It’s important to remember that changing the perspective can help keep work interesting because it allows you to approach tasks or problems from new angles, stimulating creativity and preventing boredom or burnout.

Changing the perspective can help:

• Reduce monotony. Using the same techniques every day can become monotonous. Changing your approach keeps things fresh, which can make work more enjoyable.
• Spark creativity. When you look at a task from a different perspective, you see it in a new light. This can inspire new ideas.
• Increase adaptability. You become more flexible in your thinking which can help you adapt to change more effectively and break out of old patterns.

People want new experiences, imagery, and stories. New perspectives in art keep us intrigued. Practicing new techniques in our work can make tasks more interesting, spark innovation, and increase our problem-solving abilities.