"nothing left to prove" by Alan Lastufka

"nothing left to prove" a video poem by Alan Lastufka
http://alanlastufka.com

Nowadays? I feel like I have nothing left to prove.

This is a very dangerous feeling for us creative clerks. When making something is no longer the main motivator for making something, other forces begin to drive our works. Money. Fame. Habit. These are not good motivators.

Growing up I had a guitar slung off one arm, and a typewriter under the other. I wanted the whole world humming along to my words. I wanted to speak to a generation with a few adolescent chords.

I made and gave away my art for free. Hell, sometimes I went into debt to make my art. I used up my last dollar, my last favor, my last few scraps of paper. I borrowed equipment, and paintbrushes, and couches to sleep on.

I made my art when no one knew my name. When I didn't have a single follower or subscriber or listener or claim to fame.

But I kept at it.

And now?

Now, my book has seen a second printing. My short film has aired on cable TV. My music videos have been watched millions of times (and some of those views came from people who weren't me).

Now, my album's been rocked out to from Canada to England to Singapore. I've collaborated with old jazz saxophone players, underground singer/songwriters, and even a few rappers spittin' nerdcore.

And now I feel I have nothing left to prove. No teacher or parent or moral watchdog to disapprove.

Now that I have nothing left to prove, I fear I have nothing left to say. Nothing that wouldn't be fueled by money, fame or habit anyway.

So, where do we go from here? How do we reignite that fire in our fling? We live in an unprecedented time of freedom, yet use it to say nothing.

But to whine. But to write about how empty it has left our pen.

Who will dare tell me that I can't create something, simply so I can prove them wrong again?

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Filmed with a Canon 7D utilizing two different lenses, the EF-S 60mm Macro lens and the EFS 17-55mm Ultrasonic lens, over the weekend of September 9, 10 and 11th, 2011 in Manhattan, IL. Edited in Sony Vegas and Adobe Fireworks at high-definition 720p.

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[kellyacts]

Duuuuuude. I needed that. Thanks.

[persistenceofvideo]

@kellyacts You're welcome. =)

[RobertBordenMusic]

This is fantastic. You are so freaking talented in everything you do, my word.

[persistenceofvideo]

@RobertBordenMusic Thanks for watching and commenting. I appreciate it.

[jbdazen]

And so, you created something. And it was good :-)

[persistenceofvideo]

@jbdazen Haha, thanks JB!

[persistenceofvideo]

@jtburney Decreasing world suck is one of my favorite hobbies.

[stateyourporpoise]

My goodness, Alan. This is a great video for a fresh start.

[GoodKingFriday]

wow. wonderful video! very impressive.



[bridgetisadreamer]

I had goosebumps the whole time :D This was so lovely <3

[Elinious]

Holy fuck I don't know what to do now. This left me stunned for a minute. It's great, need to rewatch and think about it now.

Thank you for mentioning this as your new channel (now FoAD is retired) on Tumblr. I've been busy and haven;t been able to keep up with everything as I would like to.

[DepecheMoses]

Don't write about how you have nothing to write about. That's like being on a date and trying to carry a conversation about how you have nothing to talk about.

[hannahbear2012]

This has nothing to do with the contents of the video yet, but that advertisement came in to ruin everything, and then I saw Skrillex was in it. You're video literally had the only advertisement I have ever watched through it's entirety because it was about Re-Generation. XD Congratulations.

Moreover, you have a way with words, Sir(:

[AlCat42]

I'm going to have to watch this on a normal basis as I continue my newest writing project. Thanks for creating it.

[misspemc]

Beautiful



[RaynaOfSunshine]

This is so inspiring. You're really talented, Alan :)

[kellyacts]

@persistenceofvideo I'm reading your youtube book by way, super helpful