I was recently asked why I already started making the sequel for The Exigency when the first film hasn't even released yet. The truth is that there isn't just one reason. However, the biggest driver is the enjoyment of making a movie. The older I get, the more I realize how short my life is and I better make some sort of an impact before the clock stops. Admittedly, I may be getting ahead of myself before gauging demand for a sequel, but how do you stop a train with no brakes?
Boredom is the root of all evil, or at least a contributor. When I'm bored I find myself going to the fridge when I'm not hungry or playing video games just to keep myself entertained. Some people go out and graffiti the side of a building or a street sign. Boredom is handled in different ways by different people. I guess I'm trying to say that I have to keep making movies to keep myself from eating myself to death or playing video games.
A snapshot from the sequel in progress..
I don't think boredom itself is the problem, but a lack of drive. Throughout my life, I have known very few people who have had a strong passion for anything. People may be interested in things but that doesn't necessarily mean they're passionate. The difference is that we can commit to something we're interested in for a few months or years and then quit. Passion is something we feel we have to do forever. I feel bad for those who can't find anything that they truly love to do almost to a level of obsession. They could be missing out on something special that has yet to be discovered. I consider myself lucky to have found something to be extremely passionate about, whether I'm bad at it or not, it's fun either way. I believe anyone can experience the same level of passion (if they haven't already) by exploring new things.
On the flip side, obsession can be a dangerous thing by consuming us entirely. This could be stealing us away from other important things in life. Balancing that scale between passion and obsession can be a tricky one. In most of my interactions of daily life, I find myself constantly daydreaming of the next scene, the next movie, the next shot, the script, the story, everything. How do we determine whether we're obsessed or just passionate?
When boredom strikes the wrong person, it can lead them to do bad things. A bored mind can make us do anything to keep busy or to feel the rush of adrenaline. For me, it's making movies to share with the world.