Tuck in your Shirt, Hippie

Screenwriter John August gave this talk to students at Trinity university in San Antonio. It’s long.

The main point I took away is that the internet has changed the definition of professional. Before, if you were an idiot, there were people between you and public discourse. Now there isn’t, and even people who know better are acting like idiots, because the idiots are profiting from their idiocy.

Professionalism now has to be a standard that comes from within, instead of a standard imposed from without.  And I keep thinking about The Making of Iridium Consequence, and the standards we are imposing on ourselves for that. We are being professonals. Even though it is harder and takes a lot more time.