Plausible Impossible

Today I figure I should provide you all with an update to my previous blog post about the harsh learning process of storyboarding. To fully understand the story you may need to have had Robert Steal as a teacher… http://seanoneill.tumblr.com/post/4462397064/story-a-lesson-learned-the-only-way-the-hard-way

I just finished another day of said storyboarding class and like other days, my teacher singled me out,making fun and poking holes in my story ideas and bonehead suggestions. I always kinda thought he did it cause he knew I could handle it. I also operate on the thought process of throwing out any and all ideas no matter how crazy or stupid because it is often in those moments where I find a seed of something that, if nurtured could become something great.

After a few friendly jabs and knocks on my odious Pixar emulation in style of storytelling I was starting to think maybe these jabs weren’t just said in jest, instead comedic magnifications on my inabilities (again pointing to my artistic insecurities).

But then something happened… Robert, our teacher mentioned at the start of the semester that he won’t remember our name, “I never recall my students names”. Today he began yet another rant about my brain dead suggestions when he mentions “Sean O’Neill over there, Mr. Disney would want you to tell a story that way”. I quickly retaliated that he knew my name despite his claims of never knowing students names… He then ran to the front of the class and wrote the word PITAS on the board. He explained over the years he has kept a folder of students and I have landed in it. Worried I sheepishly asked what is PITAS? All too pleased to explain, he stated it stands for Pain In The Ass Students. I heard that and got a felt a metaphorical punch to the gut. While the other students got quite a chuckle out of it he then laid out that those students who he labels PITAS are also the ones that nag him, pester him to always improve their stories. In the end they are the students who succeed. From Robert Steal this is like winning an Oscar.

Tough love is what he does best, and through all the harshness and jabs after sleepless nights… I got to say this may be one of the best art related compliments I’ve ever received, from a man who, from what I gathered, avoids patting you on the back as if you had a highly contagious puss ridden ailment. I left the class wanting to go home and work harder then ever.