Collaborate + Compromise = Collabromise

A long time ago, I had the good fortune to work with a group of actor’s to create an original piece of theatre for a fringe theatre festival. Our primary motivations were to have fun working together to create an original, entertaining play.

All of us had some experience with producing independent theatre and knew how the stresses of collective creation could negatively impact personal and professional relationships. As a kind of preemptive strike against the potential damage to our own relationships, we had a long, frank discussion about all of our bad collaborative experiences so we could make plans to avoid the same problems. It was a healthy sharing of experience and stories of collaborations gone wrong.

During this very long conversation, the word “compromise” came up and the discussion turned into an argument about the meaning of that word. The argument got heated as we each had our own understanding about the meaning of the words compromise and collaboration. None of us thought to get out a dictionary. I think we were too busy enjoying the debate. I know I was.

I argued that the phrase “compromise my integrity”, which we agreed was a bad thing, has been abbreviated over time to the single word “compromise”, This has skewed the meaning of that word towards the idea of losing something or giving up something valuable. I also argued that the best meaning of the word compromise is an exchange that results in a gain. I believe to compromise is to exchange one thing for something better and greater. Compromise is the foundation for the “win-win” scenario. Compromise is the key element of any healthy relationship; marriage, family friendship, business...

Someone else argued that I had just described collaboration and that good collaboration shouldn’t require anyone to compromise because compromise is always a bad thing. So, I repeated my argument that compromise is a good thing and is the foundation of collaboration.

And so it went, round and round. It is not. It is so. Is not. Is so. Not. So. No. Yes. No! Yes! Shut up! You shut up! Who’s gonna make me? And not a dictionary in sight.

Finally, for the sake of peace, the level headed member of the group, Stephanie Wolfe, a smart lady and talented actor, made an excellent suggestion.

Stephanie suggested we find a new word that described the ideal working environment and relationship we were trying to create so we could get back to work. Ever the diplomat, Stephanie ingeniously combined the words collaborate and compromise and coined the brand new word, “collabromise".

I thought that was an excellent compromise!

Col lab ro mise: [kuh-lab- ruh-mahyz]

–verb (used without object), -rat⋅ed, -rat⋅ing.

1. to work, one with another in an ideal collaboration; cooperate, through mutual concessions; and agreement reached by adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims principles, etc., by reciprocal modification of demands.

Everything Is Possible

Inspiration and Creativity are the progeny of possibility.

Don't worry about what's impossible - you can't know that - nobody does. 

You won't succeed if you assume you'll fail. 

Live, Act, Create as if anything's possible - because it probably is.

Go ahead and "dream the impossible dream"... 

but when you awake, pursue your possible quest.

Lowe's ACTORNYMS 3

A Good Performance is:

Active - Play actions. Pursue objectives. Don't Show. Do!

Connected - Connect to moments, to others, to body, to emotions.

Truthful - Don't pretend. Be in the moment. Act. React. Really.

Lowe's ACTORNYMS 2

An Actor is:

Artist

Craftsperson

Technician

Orator

Responder

Lowe's ACTORNYMS 1

I like to be called an actor.

I'm not keen on being called an artist.

Acting involves more than art.

Art enriches, but the audience needs to be engaged and the story needs to be told.

Acting is:

Art

Craft

Technique

Acting Is Easy

Acting is easy.

Writing is difficult.

Writing about acting is harder.

One stone at a time. One flower at time.

A few years ago, I was acting in a play in Chemainus, B.C. on Vancouver Island. Almost everyday, I walked through a lovely area in a forest called the Hermit Trails. I spent many hours enjoying that place of beauty and tranquility. When I learned the story of the man who designed and built the trails, my daily walk became a time for personal reflection and perspective.

The Hermit Trails were named for the elderly reclusive man who created them. He lived alone in the forest and was nicknamed “the hermit”. The hermit was old and stooped and slow, but he worked diligently for many years, and moved hundreds of rocks and stone slabs to create a series of pathways and steps over a few acres of forest, bordered by gardens of wild flowers. Single-handed, with few resources, the hermit created a small forest paradise that’s been enjoyed by thousands of people.

The hermit’s name was Charlie Abbot. Charlie arrived quietly in Chemainus sometime in the 1970's and lived alone in a makeshift shack in the forest where he created and maintained his environmental masterpiece until he died in 1989 at 87 years old. The Hermit Trails are Charlie’s legacy. Nature provided the raw materials, but Charlie’s labour translated nature’s beauty into eloquent human terms. Charlie was dedicated and determined and his work was deceptively simple. He used crude natural objects to create a mystical place that celebrates nature. Since Charlie’s death, local residents have maintained the Hermit Trails so Charlie’s creation continues to be enjoyed and appreciated.

I don’t know much about Charlie except what’s written here and I like that bit of mystery because Charlie’s work ethic and achievement are what define him for me. I can only guess what motivated Charlie to create this little piece of paradise but I’m sure it wasn’t fortune or fame. Regardless of his background or motivation, Charlie’s work is impressive, joyful and inspiring and has had a profound impact on how I now view my own work.

My daily walks through the remarkable place that Charlie crafted without regard for recognition and remuneration, motivated me to reflect on the value of my own work as an actor, a filmmaker and teacher. While money and accolades are certainly appreciated, they are not the primary goals of most actors or artists. Sure, applause and a paycheque are always welcome but many great artists work with dedication and passion for many years without receiving any tangible rewards but are still considered successful.

The size of an audience doesn’t always reflect the success of a creative endeavour and we can’t measure the value of creativity in financial terms. The real rewards of creativity are the satisfaction of accomplishment, the tangible results of one’s labour, and the joy of sharing creativity with others.

Actors, artists or anyone can accomplish amazing things if they are primarily driven by the simple, honest desire to create excellent work and then work diligently with patience and perseverance to satisfy that desire.

Charlie’s gone. I never met him, but I feel blessed by the joy and inspiration I received from his labour and his creation.

Thanks, Charlie.

Paul Ygartua's 'The Hermit' mural, Chemainus

I learned a few other things from Charlie;
You are your own best resource.
Everything you really need is already close at hand.
Focus on the task and work hard with patience and perseverance.
Place one stone at a time. Plant one flower at time.
Simple, honest work can create something beautiful, complex and profound.

Good advice for actors. Good advice for life.