Magic

P1040769, originally uploaded by leyaevelyn.

Sunday morning, Michael Enright, on the Sunday Edition (one of my favorite programs! favorite moderator) interviewed Petula Clark. At 82 she is one of the most impressive women. Besides having a clear, strong singing voice (as Michael Enright so aptly put it, she still hits the center of the note), she is a clear, strong person. One thing she said stands out for me. Michael commented on her fearless life choices and she said she likes to do things which have a slight sense of danger.

I understand completely. There is no better way to create art. There was a time, not too long ago, whenever I started something “new” in my work, I would call a friend for reassurance. Now I just keep going.

On George Stroumboulopoulos tonight, he interviewed the Canadian director, Jason Reitman, who, in his early thirties, has made enough successful, top quality films to fill many a lifetime. The secret of his success, in his words, is luck. He was born lucky. He had a successful film director father. But also he had a father who gave him the best advice. When Joseph was about to go to medical school, become a doctor, do something “useful”, his father told him medicine was a noble profession, but he didn’t think it had enough magic in it for him. He was a story teller. Follow your heart. From his father who heard the same from his father. For me it has just been, what I call, sheer stubbornness. The only thing I really want to do. Make art. It is magic.