I think there is a post-achievement sort of depression that is easy to fall into. I did about a month ago at the end of 2024 after realizing I did everything I set out to do that year and really only felt empty inside. But the idea of putting another carrot on that stick to chase after for another year felt completely overwhelming. I think slowing down to an extent is a really valuable experience in itself. Learning to appreciate the present moment - sights, sounds, people, etc. has been a really tough lesson to learn but I think has also really broadened my internal perspective. It's incredibly difficult to just sit with ourselves sometimes, but when we spend time in the present, especially out in nature or something, we might think and process things we didn't know we needed to process. For me, it's lead to more inspiration with what I want to do and create next, and has made just the act of living a little easier, even without a big defined "goal" to chase after.
Cannot relate more, thank you for this comment. Back in September I worked really hard on a speech contest for almost 2 months and honestly it turned out wonderful. Then fast forward a month after the speech and I became extremely depressed, almost like doing that all over again would feel impossible. Still kinda in a slump now tbh, but seeing this comment and watching this video makes me want to try a bit more
“I write jokes for a living, I sit at my hotel at night, I think of something that's funny, then I go get a pen and I write it down. Or, if the pen is too far away, I have to convince myself that what I thought of ain't funny.” - Mitch Hedberg
Thank you for this, Joel. I’ve been feeling aimless since my dog passed away last year. It may sound silly, but she was my whole world, and we’d been inseparable since I was 16. We grew up together, and then she grew old and I embraced the role of caregiver, and when she was gone all I had left to care for was me. A lot of paths opened up for me; I could travel without worrying about her, I didn’t have to stress about potential future vet bills anymore, I could move to another state or another country or a shack in the woods if I wanted to. But no path felt enticing enough to walk down, so I’ve just stayed stuck, aimless. But much like being bored, maybe being aimless is a positive thing. It means I can explore different options and avenues for creativity, and I don’t need to choose just one direction and go all in on it right now. I can just sort of float around and see what feels right while I continue to process my grief. I didn’t intend to write all of this, but here we are! Thank you for the movies, and the words of wisdom. 💜
I wrote an article ranking the 12 movies (my personal opinion) for my school newspaper! It was difficult to choose what went where, but I wanted to write it and I eventually just decided to go with my gut, and if I change my mind later, so be it. I'm sure it helped that I did not create them. I still enjoyed all of them, and I hope I can convince others to watch them too. Thank you for making these incredible movies! (my top three were Love Celeste, Anyone Else But Me, and The 9th Movie. They were all so good!)
Hey joel, I haven't had the time to watch all twelve movies yet, but I just wanted to let you know It Just Takes Time is a wonderful film and one of my favorites of 2024. Thank you for making it!
I have the same case but with programming. I've had many interesting projects in the last few years, but now I'm kind of stuck and don't know where to go. I guess it's universal issue for everybody, just have to wait and follow my nature
I’m in a very similar stage of my life. Coming off work I’m very proud of but that also left me very exhausted. I needed a true break, and have been exploring being happy and fulfilled in new ways. Appreciate you, Joel. Take some time to do what makes you truly happy, and remove any need for to ‘accomplish’ or build on anything. Just enjoy being :)
I’ve had period of aimlessness for a bit of a while now. As someone who often uses creativity to distract myself it terrified me at first. But after I forced myself to accept and appreciate it I think it turned out to be some of the best few months of my life. Aimlessness is fantastic if you let it be
Sometimes we have said everything we need to say at the moment and we need to spend some time listening instead. This is something I've only come to realize over the past few days of having a similar aimlessness, but I was burning out after a few years of some of the most hard working and productive years of my life in every aspect and regard.
Hi Joel! Please enjoy your aimlessness, I look forward to your next aim when it’s out! I’m just a random soul who enjoys your videos, and I was just thinking about how something like a choose your own adventure movie with hundreds of branching paths could be novel enough for your repertoire of experiments. It’s like taking your expertise in short videos and fitting them to a longer narrative arc of a feature. They also require tons of work, which you are clearly not shy from. Perhaps, I can imagine, some branches being more interesting to explore than others, and so finding the ones that you find most interesting becomes a sort of game! I can imagine people being excited when certain branches get updated while others stay dormant. Anyway, please enjoy your break and don’t rush into 2025 yourself!
I find myself checking an obsession with "productivity," because it's really easy to only think of that as "what's making me money." When just watching a movie or spending time with friends or playing a game, as Joel says, are sometimes the most actually productive activities one can do. Thanks for another nuanced and encouraging video Joel.
Man, watching this video was like having an actual talk O_o, and it works. The everlasting need to create and the times we can't really do just that, even though we can't really go without either. It's very calming to know others go through that too.
Daaaaaaaamn, I needed to hear this. I'm 25 now and I've spent the last few years of my early 20's trying to fight against this aimlessness I've been feeling. It's just so overwhelming to feel like I'm going absolutely nowhere. BUT, I've been starting to have a bit more faith that it's leading me somewhere cool and I just can't see it yet. This video was a real comfort, thank you Joel!
I just turned 27 and I remember getting so overwhelmed with that feeling a couple years ago that I broke down and cried on my mom's shoulder lol. She had to tell me my dad didn't really do much but coast through life until he was 30. I love collecting life wisdom from people, and some of the most important things I've learned is to be content with what I have and less, and not comparing myself to others. That along with cutting out social media has made me genuinely happy in life despite the issues I struggle with. When I was crying to my mom, she told me a good childhood friend of mine that I was comparing myself to likely envied me. He graduated at 16, was rewarded with a nice new car, went on to get a well-paying job and even get married. But I didn't realize how much of that apparent success was actually his parents forcing him to do it, ever since he was just a baby and his mom made him cry as she tried to force his undeveloped brain to be capable of reading. My mom said he most definitely wishes he had a slow and simple life like mine. There's no such thing as getting behind in life. Some people rush through it, others take 30 years to decide on a career/skill to hone. The important thing is that you don't compare yourself to them, because you can't. There's no such thing as being behind in life, life can only be experienced, because it is experience.
@marshoak Yeah exactly! The more I realise that everyone moves througj life at their own pace the more weight I feel being lifted off my shoulders. It's very freeing.
Thanks for this video! My relationship with 'breaks' as an artist is always tough and changing. I have a lot of people who tell me I need to take breaks, and then when I do, I feel awful. I become less motivated and less invigorated and it takes so much work to get back on track. And then this summer I was out of school and had an easy job and things slowed down, and slowly I made some incredible work and started the big project I'm working on now. It's not a 'break'; I don't have to step back or distance myself. It's just a period between projects of wandering around aimlessly and letting things come slowly and cling onto me.
Thank you for these intersections of kindness on our journeys through life, Joel! This community is so special and inspiring, I love making art and watching other people make it too :D
It’s hard to feel ok just living and enjoying a break doing ‘unproductive’ things like enjoying time with friends, or hobbies that aren’t work-related. But it’s so easy to get burned out if work is all there is and there’s no time for playing, relaxing, and experiencing things just for the experience. It’s all wrapped up in thoughts like ‘I’m being indulgent’, and ‘Do I deserve this?’ for me. But *everyone* deserves to be happy and find a balance that works for them. Especially with creative work, if you’re forcing yourself to find something to do, it undermines the expressive impulse that should be behind it all. ‘I need to find something to make my art about, even though I’m not inspired right now.’ I think you’re spot on trying to go with the flow and really letting your feelings determine what direction you go in from here. And if your feeling is ‘I’ll feel better doing something just to feel productive’ then that’s ok too!
You are the voice of a generation, not really, but you are super special to me and a lot of people. Glad to hear you’re cooking still. Im glad you aren’t burnt out after last year.
I like these videos because it feels like I get to listen to a true professional talk about their passion with a genuine and relatable perspective. Which seems to be very rare for some reason.
What an amazingly refreshing concept for a Minecraft video, or any video for that matter. I've never seen the concept of multiple people providing their own commentary before. It's not the same (but of a similar vein to) a game of telephone or exquisite corpse or "artists reanimating" something.
I really needed to hear this today. I’ve been working as a full time musician for little over a year now, and sometimes I question if I lost the passion I had, when I started making it my work. I don’t know, I guess whenever you seriously commit to something artistic there comes a point where it all starts to feel like another job. But I think we all put a little too much pressure on ourselves sometimes, because we just care so much about what we’re creating and strive for perfection in our art. Like you said, you can’t swim too far from the tide. Thanks Joel
The aimlessness when not having a project is so familiar. That exact feeling has become a bit of a valley every time it pops its ugly head up. It's funny how you mentioned that often it is actually leading somewhere. At the end of my most recent aimlessnessness, I have done something I wanted to do for months, maybe years, and it just fell in my lap. Life's weird.
There is a difference between meaningless and aimlessness. Your meaning exists no matter where you are aiming. To be without an immediate goal does not mean you can't find meaning in the way you live these current moments. I hope you are enjoying these moments right now Joel.
Totally resonate with this. I just finished a massive project that took me about 8 months to complete and now that it’s going to festivals I certainly do feel a little aimless, but I feel some pressure because my uploads got really sparse in that time I wanna get back into the “swing of things”
Does it have to be challenging to be satisfying? What exactly defines the challenge for you? I think that nuance is ultimately the "challenge" of being any subjective entity. Nuance defines identity. And identity is like... how we settle in our selves. If satisfaction is the overarching goal, then I think finding the right challenge is key. And that's all based in contexts, so how do we (& our goals and pathways) change based on the contexts we associate with? I guess I'm just posting this comment to express that getting a breather is essential for letting ideas grow, and so is nurturing our senses of curiosity. Nurturing can be work, but it doesn't have to feel stressful if it's just where you are. Curiosity is closer to wonder. Work leads to proof. *Clarification: not like proving one's worth, but proving what adds to the worth of life. "There's a natural flow that's attached to your soul It don't ask you to go It just gradually pulls" - Eyedea
Best thing I did for myself was just letting myself enjoy and honor the creative works of others without pressuring myself to create something of my own. Sometimes we are ready to create stuff, and sometimes we are ready to consume. Most creators just want you to enjoy their work without strings attached, and I think it's okay to give yourself permission to do so.
One day I will be showing The Diarrhea Brothers to my children and then their children. I think giving a whole year of your life to art was a really cool thing to do Joel, thanks for making and talking about movies!
Do rest and collect yourself. You've done well, but don't burn out. We'll be here to watch anything you put out there, cause we know it'll be good and sincere.
feels good to hear someone who inspires me deal with the same need to make things every day to feel accomplished. Especially someone who works more than most. Thanks for sharing Joel 🫶
Your comment about never asking yourself whether or not you should make a movie reminded me a Matt Farley, a very interesting independent filmmaker & artist with the motto of "make every idea that you have" I'd strongly recommend his films Don't Let the Riverbeast Get You & Local Legends
I'm in my early 30s and haven't felt strongly toward a single discipline in a long time. As a result, I tend to feel guilty about not having long-term career goals of any kind, but maybe it's just not my time. There are a number of things I enjoy doing, but choosing one always feels arbitrary. Maybe one day it won't.
I had a dream last night that I met you at a party and was telling you how much I loved your movies, but then I said "If I have one suggestion, it's to give your movies more memorable name. I can never seem to remember the names". You were super offended and stormed off. Dreams are weird.
You're the best Joel! I would love to see the budget breakdown for some of your other films you didn't do. I need to know what you spent on all that Diarrhea!
I just realized how Massachusetts your accent is. I feel like this video deserves a deeper comment than that, but it struck me. I guess my only deep thought is that you don't have to be too worried about going against the grain, you have a lot of people who trust you to make great things, and you haven't let them down so far.
You always know how to make me feel optimistic, Joel. It really is nice to have someone like you in the world that genuinely loves the arts and encourages other to keep going even when things get bleak.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Joel. I understand you're feeling aimless after a project like this, but I have full confidence you'll find your next direction sooner than later. You are a great inspiration to me and a lot of other people. I'm no filmmaker - I crochet - and whenever I consider challenging myself and commit to a huge project I think of you and put on one of your movies and start crocheting. All the love from Sweden!
Joel, you're the most positive person I see putting stuff out there on UA-cam. I genuinely appreciate all the thoughts you share and it helps me appreciate life more.
I just learned about this feeling in my psychology class. You're going through MAMA, which is mortification, achievement, mortification, achievement. You've achieved something big and now you're in your mortification/aimless phase. Once you decide on what to do next, you'll be right back on your way to achievement. You've got this, bud!
I felt aimless for a while and stopped making movies and just focused on arcade highscoring.. I am back making movies again. Wrapped on my next feature recently!! With all these fires, I ended up in Ventura and made a movie that is kind of about that.. I think breaks are good.. it helps me refresh and gain new perspectives and ideas. 12 features in one year is a crazy accomplishment.. Especially with all the different states and countries you filmed in.
Thanks for sharing your feelings, Joel, it’s nice to know someone else goes through the same things, especially an artist like you. I’m still 16, though not for much longer, so I know I have loads of time to develop as a writer and all around person but lately it’s been hard to scope a concrete future where I achieve everything and pull through. In high school you’re kinda conditioned to compare yourself to others, and I don’t think I have the calibre to become a screenwriter or whatever I want to become. Even compared to myself, it’s like I just keep slipping away. I haven’t been going to the gym, I haven’t been writing, I haven’t had any ideas at all. It just feels like the way I used to perceive myself is completely falling apart, and I’m once again aimless. I don’t know what creativity means anymore. I don’t mean to be depressing, but I really just needed to get that off my chest. My sister’s applying to uni and I haven’t even looked at one yet. Hope you have a good day/night Joel, and that maybe the next movie you watch is a little more entertaining than the one you ended up picking
Everything ebbs and flows. You're at that difficult age where you're crossing that gap from being a child with no "real" responsibilities to a functional young adult. My advice to you is to write whatever you feel moved to - poems, scenes, haiku, short stories, lists, articles - without worrying too much if they're "good". This is the time to just create a lot and find your voice. Maybe you'll write some things that are worth sharing or expanding into larger projects. Maybe you'll just improve your writing in general and find new appreciation for other forms. As for uni - if you're feeling anxious about having not chosen a school yet, can you talk it out with your sister and/or a parent? I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself there and you deserve to enjoy the last few years of your adolescence. In Europe many kids your age plan for a "gap year" after graduation, where they travel, work, learn new skills, or just enjoy being a young adult for a little while before getting back into the commitment of school. Graduation is an accomplishment and you're still a few years off. Be gracious to yourself. There's no rush.
I'm always working on something, and I'm so terrified of aimlessness that I often spiral. I feel like I need to complete everything I'm working on now, and I can keep pushing, but it has lead me to a point where I don't know what to work on, even though every project is on offer. I think I need a lull. I really appreciate you talking about this, it's hard to articulate. You have such a way with words that just inspire, and make me feel like it's okay to flow through a creative process instead of drag yourself across the pavement. I hope your aimlessness is as rewarding as possible 💚🩵💚🩵💚
Imo the best was You're Point Girl. And well, I figured, following your story, that it was autobiographical). I also really loved the first one, was it the Hero's Journey? The one about Caleb, I actually cried with that one in the end. I've followed you for years and I gotta say, you are pretty cool, although we are in very different lines of work, you are an inspiration.
Hearing your working on music made my heart stop. “Talk to me when you’re ready if you want please” is one of my favorite albums of all time and was maybe my most listened to album last year. Extremely excited to listen to whatever you put out next!
aimfulness seems for me to become the backburner byproduct finding daily satisfaction otherwise in finding out what they think they want so I make pizza, these days
Top three for me: 3. Point Girl (for the social media realism) 2. Hiccups (for the dramedy of a realistic relationship) 1. The Hero's Journey (for the vibe of a 'hometown loser')
ok hear me out: videogames I bet a Joel-made videogame would be fantastic. One of those FMV ones, so it's still mostly movies, but now we can play around with it and poke at things.
I feel I've been aimless for a little under a year now. I really badly want to focus on digital art and make it a career for myself, everyday it's eating away at me not being able to do what I want, but life or my mental barrier keeps getting in the way. When I do have the free time, I'm either too stressed about things coming up in the future, or I become too judgmental of my own abilities as an artist (I have a bad issue with comparison), even though I know if I just did what I wanted to, I would make myself proud. I feel like I've fallen off my raft for a while, I hope the current drifts me somewhere fun, I'm sick of fighting it. Anyway, it's nice to know from a fellow artist that I'm not alone.
Can you spare half an hour to an hour a day to work on it? I'm sure your current aimlessness will lead you to where you need to be. Life is always going to get in the way somehow so developing the skill of pushing it back a little - even just an hour a day - is significant. Good luck!
Man, honestly? I can’t imagine what it’s like to have something that you want to do that you _don’t_ talk yourself out of doing. I talk myself out of doing everything
It's a little bleak but I do think there's an inner "ok, and?" to everything we accomplish. There isn't a finality to it like the way a story ends. You're never done, so then where are you even going? Definitely a little disorienting. Gotta put down all the road markings yourself.
maybe this is too similar, but what if you discussed which movies best exemplify particular traits or facets of movie making that you care about? might lead to more interesting discussion and allows you to highlight the things you love about each of them, without any kind of negative energy baked-in to the exercise.
Movies love you too, Joel!
I am Movies and can confirm this.
This contemplative soliloquy on the nature of creativity and achievement goes INSANEO STYLE
I think there is a post-achievement sort of depression that is easy to fall into. I did about a month ago at the end of 2024 after realizing I did everything I set out to do that year and really only felt empty inside. But the idea of putting another carrot on that stick to chase after for another year felt completely overwhelming.
I think slowing down to an extent is a really valuable experience in itself. Learning to appreciate the present moment - sights, sounds, people, etc. has been a really tough lesson to learn but I think has also really broadened my internal perspective. It's incredibly difficult to just sit with ourselves sometimes, but when we spend time in the present, especially out in nature or something, we might think and process things we didn't know we needed to process.
For me, it's lead to more inspiration with what I want to do and create next, and has made just the act of living a little easier, even without a big defined "goal" to chase after.
I had a very similar experience with a massive project I was working on this past year
great comment
Cannot relate more, thank you for this comment. Back in September I worked really hard on a speech contest for almost 2 months and honestly it turned out wonderful. Then fast forward a month after the speech and I became extremely depressed, almost like doing that all over again would feel impossible. Still kinda in a slump now tbh, but seeing this comment and watching this video makes me want to try a bit more
Well said
The Diarrhea Brothers Save the Day is top 1 😂😂😂
I liked it but I didn't enjoy the cameo from that one guy
@@RobTFilmsbus jackson?
“I write jokes for a living, I sit at my hotel at night, I think of something that's funny, then I go get a pen and I write it down. Or, if the pen is too far away, I have to convince myself that what I thought of ain't funny.” - Mitch Hedberg
"I just wanted to put some good vibes out into this world in a sleepy way."
I wanna do that too.
Thank you for this, Joel. I’ve been feeling aimless since my dog passed away last year. It may sound silly, but she was my whole world, and we’d been inseparable since I was 16. We grew up together, and then she grew old and I embraced the role of caregiver, and when she was gone all I had left to care for was me. A lot of paths opened up for me; I could travel without worrying about her, I didn’t have to stress about potential future vet bills anymore, I could move to another state or another country or a shack in the woods if I wanted to. But no path felt enticing enough to walk down, so I’ve just stayed stuck, aimless. But much like being bored, maybe being aimless is a positive thing. It means I can explore different options and avenues for creativity, and I don’t need to choose just one direction and go all in on it right now. I can just sort of float around and see what feels right while I continue to process my grief. I didn’t intend to write all of this, but here we are! Thank you for the movies, and the words of wisdom. 💜
you should rank them by how difficult they were to make or something like that
that'd be cool i think
I like this idea!!
Actually great idea, would live to hear about that!
@ I'LL BE WAITING FOR THAT VIDEO
I wrote an article ranking the 12 movies (my personal opinion) for my school newspaper! It was difficult to choose what went where, but I wanted to write it and I eventually just decided to go with my gut, and if I change my mind later, so be it. I'm sure it helped that I did not create them. I still enjoyed all of them, and I hope I can convince others to watch them too. Thank you for making these incredible movies!
(my top three were Love Celeste, Anyone Else But Me, and The 9th Movie. They were all so good!)
Hey joel, I haven't had the time to watch all twelve movies yet, but I just wanted to let you know It Just Takes Time is a wonderful film and one of my favorites of 2024. Thank you for making it!
You are a great and kind soul my friend. I hope you keep doing well.
I have the same case but with programming. I've had many interesting projects in the last few years, but now I'm kind of stuck and don't know where to go. I guess it's universal issue for everybody, just have to wait and follow my nature
This is the exact kind of vibe I'm trying to put out every single day. thank you
Wow why does this resonate with me to my core?
I’m in a very similar stage of my life. Coming off work I’m very proud of but that also left me very exhausted. I needed a true break, and have been exploring being happy and fulfilled in new ways. Appreciate you, Joel. Take some time to do what makes you truly happy, and remove any need for to ‘accomplish’ or build on anything. Just enjoy being :)
I’ve had period of aimlessness for a bit of a while now. As someone who often uses creativity to distract myself it terrified me at first. But after I forced myself to accept and appreciate it I think it turned out to be some of the best few months of my life. Aimlessness is fantastic if you let it be
"Crazy stuff happening in the world, stupid stuff, who cares? Other than everyone..." really enjoyed that sentence for some reason lol
Sometimes we have said everything we need to say at the moment and we need to spend some time listening instead.
This is something I've only come to realize over the past few days of having a similar aimlessness, but I was burning out after a few years of some of the most hard working and productive years of my life in every aspect and regard.
Hi Joel! Please enjoy your aimlessness, I look forward to your next aim when it’s out! I’m just a random soul who enjoys your videos, and I was just thinking about how something like a choose your own adventure movie with hundreds of branching paths could be novel enough for your repertoire of experiments. It’s like taking your expertise in short videos and fitting them to a longer narrative arc of a feature. They also require tons of work, which you are clearly not shy from. Perhaps, I can imagine, some branches being more interesting to explore than others, and so finding the ones that you find most interesting becomes a sort of game! I can imagine people being excited when certain branches get updated while others stay dormant. Anyway, please enjoy your break and don’t rush into 2025 yourself!
I found your YT channel last year and since then me and my daughter have been huge fans! We are excited to see what's next too Joel. Much Love.
I find myself checking an obsession with "productivity," because it's really easy to only think of that as "what's making me money." When just watching a movie or spending time with friends or playing a game, as Joel says, are sometimes the most actually productive activities one can do. Thanks for another nuanced and encouraging video Joel.
Man, watching this video was like having an actual talk O_o, and it works. The everlasting need to create and the times we can't really do just that, even though we can't really go without either. It's very calming to know others go through that too.
Daaaaaaaamn, I needed to hear this. I'm 25 now and I've spent the last few years of my early 20's trying to fight against this aimlessness I've been feeling. It's just so overwhelming to feel like I'm going absolutely nowhere. BUT, I've been starting to have a bit more faith that it's leading me somewhere cool and I just can't see it yet. This video was a real comfort, thank you Joel!
I just turned 27 and I remember getting so overwhelmed with that feeling a couple years ago that I broke down and cried on my mom's shoulder lol. She had to tell me my dad didn't really do much but coast through life until he was 30. I love collecting life wisdom from people, and some of the most important things I've learned is to be content with what I have and less, and not comparing myself to others. That along with cutting out social media has made me genuinely happy in life despite the issues I struggle with. When I was crying to my mom, she told me a good childhood friend of mine that I was comparing myself to likely envied me. He graduated at 16, was rewarded with a nice new car, went on to get a well-paying job and even get married. But I didn't realize how much of that apparent success was actually his parents forcing him to do it, ever since he was just a baby and his mom made him cry as she tried to force his undeveloped brain to be capable of reading. My mom said he most definitely wishes he had a slow and simple life like mine.
There's no such thing as getting behind in life. Some people rush through it, others take 30 years to decide on a career/skill to hone. The important thing is that you don't compare yourself to them, because you can't. There's no such thing as being behind in life, life can only be experienced, because it is experience.
@marshoak Yeah exactly! The more I realise that everyone moves througj life at their own pace the more weight I feel being lifted off my shoulders. It's very freeing.
wait till you're in your 30's 😂
As someone who much prefer your features than your shorts! This is Good news to myself! Can’t wait to see what come next for Joel Haver!
Thanks for this video! My relationship with 'breaks' as an artist is always tough and changing. I have a lot of people who tell me I need to take breaks, and then when I do, I feel awful. I become less motivated and less invigorated and it takes so much work to get back on track. And then this summer I was out of school and had an easy job and things slowed down, and slowly I made some incredible work and started the big project I'm working on now. It's not a 'break'; I don't have to step back or distance myself. It's just a period between projects of wandering around aimlessly and letting things come slowly and cling onto me.
As always, your accepting nature does not disappoint. Even when it’s towards yourself.
Good vibes received. This is all valuable insight. It's important sometimes to enjoy just being, find inspiration, and to trust your process.
Thank you for these intersections of kindness on our journeys through life, Joel! This community is so special and inspiring, I love making art and watching other people make it too :D
So true about directors not going back to shorts. But following the trend, weekly short, monthly films... i look forward to the bimonthly miniseries.
*You're so cool Joel thanks for always being yourself
It’s hard to feel ok just living and enjoying a break doing ‘unproductive’ things like enjoying time with friends, or hobbies that aren’t work-related. But it’s so easy to get burned out if work is all there is and there’s no time for playing, relaxing, and experiencing things just for the experience. It’s all wrapped up in thoughts like ‘I’m being indulgent’, and ‘Do I deserve this?’ for me. But *everyone* deserves to be happy and find a balance that works for them.
Especially with creative work, if you’re forcing yourself to find something to do, it undermines the expressive impulse that should be behind it all. ‘I need to find something to make my art about, even though I’m not inspired right now.’ I think you’re spot on trying to go with the flow and really letting your feelings determine what direction you go in from here. And if your feeling is ‘I’ll feel better doing something just to feel productive’ then that’s ok too!
Crazy you uploaded this on a day where I really needed it. Thanks Joel!! You helped me feel a bit lighter today.
You are the voice of a generation, not really, but you are super special to me and a lot of people. Glad to hear you’re cooking still. Im glad you aren’t burnt out after last year.
I like these videos because it feels like I get to listen to a true professional talk about their passion with a genuine and relatable perspective. Which seems to be very rare for some reason.
What an amazingly refreshing concept for a Minecraft video, or any video for that matter. I've never seen the concept of multiple people providing their own commentary before. It's not the same (but of a similar vein to) a game of telephone or exquisite corpse or "artists reanimating" something.
I really needed to hear this today. I’ve been working as a full time musician for little over a year now, and sometimes I question if I lost the passion I had, when I started making it my work. I don’t know, I guess whenever you seriously commit to something artistic there comes a point where it all starts to feel like another job. But I think we all put a little too much pressure on ourselves sometimes, because we just care so much about what we’re creating and strive for perfection in our art. Like you said, you can’t swim too far from the tide. Thanks Joel
I just wanted to say you are an amazing person and this is a really really good reminder to go with the flow of life so thank you for that
Wow. I think this video is exactly what I needed right now.
The aimlessness when not having a project is so familiar. That exact feeling has become a bit of a valley every time it pops its ugly head up. It's funny how you mentioned that often it is actually leading somewhere. At the end of my most recent aimlessnessness, I have done something I wanted to do for months, maybe years, and it just fell in my lap. Life's weird.
There is a difference between meaningless and aimlessness. Your meaning exists no matter where you are aiming. To be without an immediate goal does not mean you can't find meaning in the way you live these current moments. I hope you are enjoying these moments right now Joel.
Totally resonate with this. I just finished a massive project that took me about 8 months to complete and now that it’s going to festivals I certainly do feel a little aimless, but I feel some pressure because my uploads got really sparse in that time I wanna get back into the “swing of things”
Love sleepy talking Joel videos : )
Does it have to be challenging to be satisfying?
What exactly defines the challenge for you?
I think that nuance is ultimately the "challenge" of being any subjective entity. Nuance defines identity. And identity is like... how we settle in our selves.
If satisfaction is the overarching goal, then I think finding the right challenge is key.
And that's all based in contexts, so how do we (& our goals and pathways) change based on the contexts we associate with?
I guess I'm just posting this comment to express that getting a breather is essential for letting ideas grow, and so is nurturing our senses of curiosity. Nurturing can be work, but it doesn't have to feel stressful if it's just where you are. Curiosity is closer to wonder. Work leads to proof.
*Clarification: not like proving one's worth, but proving what adds to the worth of life.
"There's a natural flow
that's attached to your soul
It don't ask you to go
It just gradually pulls"
- Eyedea
Joel, thanks so much. This gave me the strength to be weak today. Here's to creating memories with love 💖
your creativity is incredibly inspiring
Best thing I did for myself was just letting myself enjoy and honor the creative works of others without pressuring myself to create something of my own. Sometimes we are ready to create stuff, and sometimes we are ready to consume. Most creators just want you to enjoy their work without strings attached, and I think it's okay to give yourself permission to do so.
I think the world could use some simple wholesome content right now.
Joel, the king of good vibes. Thank you everything Joel, talk yourself into as many ideas as you desire
One day I will be showing The Diarrhea Brothers to my children and then their children. I think giving a whole year of your life to art was a really cool thing to do Joel, thanks for making and talking about movies!
Thanks goodlongpee
You do whatever you like. Take as much time as you need until you hear that inner voice scream with inspiration and with the need to create. ❤
I don't think I've ever someone with a Patreon say "You don't really need to subscribe to it, you're not missin' much". Stay humble my man
Do rest and collect yourself. You've done well, but don't burn out. We'll be here to watch anything you put out there, cause we know it'll be good and sincere.
feels good to hear someone who inspires me deal with the same need to make things every day to feel accomplished. Especially someone who works more than most. Thanks for sharing Joel 🫶
Your comment about never asking yourself whether or not you should make a movie reminded me a Matt Farley, a very interesting independent filmmaker & artist with the motto of "make every idea that you have"
I'd strongly recommend his films Don't Let the Riverbeast Get You & Local Legends
Keep on wandering and you'll find what you weren't even looking for.
‘Everything i’m saying i just need to hear right now’ 🥹❤️
this was helpful to hear, Joel. Especially coming from someone who makes so much great work so consistently. Keep it up!
oh dude the whole form factor thing with long form versus short form is super true
I'm in my early 30s and haven't felt strongly toward a single discipline in a long time. As a result, I tend to feel guilty about not having long-term career goals of any kind, but maybe it's just not my time. There are a number of things I enjoy doing, but choosing one always feels arbitrary. Maybe one day it won't.
I had a dream last night that I met you at a party and was telling you how much I loved your movies, but then I said "If I have one suggestion, it's to give your movies more memorable name. I can never seem to remember the names". You were super offended and stormed off.
Dreams are weird.
You're the best Joel! I would love to see the budget breakdown for some of your other films you didn't do. I need to know what you spent on all that Diarrhea!
I just realized how Massachusetts your accent is. I feel like this video deserves a deeper comment than that, but it struck me. I guess my only deep thought is that you don't have to be too worried about going against the grain, you have a lot of people who trust you to make great things, and you haven't let them down so far.
I like it when you show the flip-floppieness of humans, it’s not always a bad thing when it comes to creativity
You always know how to make me feel optimistic, Joel. It really is nice to have someone like you in the world that genuinely loves the arts and encourages other to keep going even when things get bleak.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Joel. I understand you're feeling aimless after a project like this, but I have full confidence you'll find your next direction sooner than later. You are a great inspiration to me and a lot of other people. I'm no filmmaker - I crochet - and whenever I consider challenging myself and commit to a huge project I think of you and put on one of your movies and start crocheting. All the love from Sweden!
Joel, you're the most positive person I see putting stuff out there on UA-cam. I genuinely appreciate all the thoughts you share and it helps me appreciate life more.
Hey Joel, always love these down to earth videos with a random rant. Never change, much love from France
"Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time."
I just learned about this feeling in my psychology class. You're going through MAMA, which is mortification, achievement, mortification, achievement. You've achieved something big and now you're in your mortification/aimless phase. Once you decide on what to do next, you'll be right back on your way to achievement. You've got this, bud!
Thank you joel.
I felt aimless for a while and stopped making movies and just focused on arcade highscoring.. I am back making movies again. Wrapped on my next feature recently!! With all these fires, I ended up in Ventura and made a movie that is kind of about that..
I think breaks are good.. it helps me refresh and gain new perspectives and ideas.
12 features in one year is a crazy accomplishment.. Especially with all the different states and countries you filmed in.
I’d love to hear about more behind the scenes or processes behind your films, maybe even commentary for Patreon…? 😁
Thank you for reminding me where these feelings can lead me Joel
Thank you for this. I think a lot of us needed to hear this.
Thanks for sharing your feelings, Joel, it’s nice to know someone else goes through the same things, especially an artist like you. I’m still 16, though not for much longer, so I know I have loads of time to develop as a writer and all around person but lately it’s been hard to scope a concrete future where I achieve everything and pull through. In high school you’re kinda conditioned to compare yourself to others, and I don’t think I have the calibre to become a screenwriter or whatever I want to become. Even compared to myself, it’s like I just keep slipping away. I haven’t been going to the gym, I haven’t been writing, I haven’t had any ideas at all. It just feels like the way I used to perceive myself is completely falling apart, and I’m once again aimless. I don’t know what creativity means anymore. I don’t mean to be depressing, but I really just needed to get that off my chest. My sister’s applying to uni and I haven’t even looked at one yet. Hope you have a good day/night Joel, and that maybe the next movie you watch is a little more entertaining than the one you ended up picking
Everything ebbs and flows. You're at that difficult age where you're crossing that gap from being a child with no "real" responsibilities to a functional young adult.
My advice to you is to write whatever you feel moved to - poems, scenes, haiku, short stories, lists, articles - without worrying too much if they're "good". This is the time to just create a lot and find your voice. Maybe you'll write some things that are worth sharing or expanding into larger projects. Maybe you'll just improve your writing in general and find new appreciation for other forms.
As for uni - if you're feeling anxious about having not chosen a school yet, can you talk it out with your sister and/or a parent? I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself there and you deserve to enjoy the last few years of your adolescence. In Europe many kids your age plan for a "gap year" after graduation, where they travel, work, learn new skills, or just enjoy being a young adult for a little while before getting back into the commitment of school. Graduation is an accomplishment and you're still a few years off. Be gracious to yourself. There's no rush.
Thanks for sharing Joel, you are an enigma dude!
love you joel and looking forward to wherever inspiration takes you next!
watching your films last year has inspired me to make my own feature this year. thank you for everything joel i really appreciate you
I'm always working on something, and I'm so terrified of aimlessness that I often spiral. I feel like I need to complete everything I'm working on now, and I can keep pushing, but it has lead me to a point where I don't know what to work on, even though every project is on offer. I think I need a lull. I really appreciate you talking about this, it's hard to articulate. You have such a way with words that just inspire, and make me feel like it's okay to flow through a creative process instead of drag yourself across the pavement. I hope your aimlessness is as rewarding as possible 💚🩵💚🩵💚
Thank you kindly
Imo the best was You're Point Girl. And well, I figured, following your story, that it was autobiographical). I also really loved the first one, was it the Hero's Journey? The one about Caleb, I actually cried with that one in the end.
I've followed you for years and I gotta say, you are pretty cool, although we are in very different lines of work, you are an inspiration.
Hearing your working on music made my heart stop. “Talk to me when you’re ready if you want please” is one of my favorite albums of all time and was maybe my most listened to album last year. Extremely excited to listen to whatever you put out next!
aimfulness seems for me to become the backburner byproduct
finding daily satisfaction otherwise in finding out what they think they want
so I make pizza, these days
Thank you Joel, we love you!
i frequently talk myself out of great ideas 😭
You need at least a few disasters to tell your grandkids about
aimlessness is a gift in-between periods of hyper-fixation and motivation
That Curious George video is probably one of my favorite short films
Top three for me:
3. Point Girl (for the social media realism)
2. Hiccups (for the dramedy of a realistic relationship)
1. The Hero's Journey (for the vibe of a 'hometown loser')
Wow thanks for sharing Joel, there’s a lot of wisdom here!
ok hear me out: videogames
I bet a Joel-made videogame would be fantastic. One of those FMV ones, so it's still mostly movies, but now we can play around with it and poke at things.
I feel I've been aimless for a little under a year now. I really badly want to focus on digital art and make it a career for myself, everyday it's eating away at me not being able to do what I want, but life or my mental barrier keeps getting in the way.
When I do have the free time, I'm either too stressed about things coming up in the future, or I become too judgmental of my own abilities as an artist (I have a bad issue with comparison), even though I know if I just did what I wanted to, I would make myself proud.
I feel like I've fallen off my raft for a while, I hope the current drifts me somewhere fun, I'm sick of fighting it.
Anyway, it's nice to know from a fellow artist that I'm not alone.
Can you spare half an hour to an hour a day to work on it?
I'm sure your current aimlessness will lead you to where you need to be. Life is always going to get in the way somehow so developing the skill of pushing it back a little - even just an hour a day - is significant.
Good luck!
Thanks Joel. Appreciate ya
Man, honestly? I can’t imagine what it’s like to have something that you want to do that you _don’t_ talk yourself out of doing. I talk myself out of doing everything
It's a little bleak but I do think there's an inner "ok, and?" to everything we accomplish. There isn't a finality to it like the way a story ends. You're never done, so then where are you even going? Definitely a little disorienting. Gotta put down all the road markings yourself.
I wouldn't want you to rank them, Joel.
maybe this is too similar, but what if you discussed which movies best exemplify particular traits or facets of movie making that you care about? might lead to more interesting discussion and allows you to highlight the things you love about each of them, without any kind of negative energy baked-in to the exercise.
Thanks for the video man ❤
thanks for keeping it real as always. definitely relatable.
Good job Joel. I'm happy to see what you come up with next
We love you Joel!