Bullet Points
In this short industrial film, Tom Sachs shares the ethics of their studio through ten bullet points.
Elsewhere, he names the studio a sketchbook for ideas, where the organization of a work space is crucial to creativity and productivity. When the office burns down, he says, he’ll only need to take his notebook. In the spirit of making ideas more accessible, Tom Sachs works to refine the health and maintenance of the environment, and his studio mates, leading to the increased capability to focus on the task at hand.
Bullet Points —
Work To Code. Work to code or “creativity is the enemy”. It means to follow the system of production already in place, arbitrary decision making and personal inventivness are discouraged. Don’t jump ahead, stick to what it has been defined as your task.
Sacred Space. The main floor of the studio is considered sacred, everything must be in place and the respect of the space is essential. No one can enter the sacred space without appointment or expressed consent (this includes everyone from landlors to policemen); and even if you have the permission you need to do everything with more silence as possible, loud noises not dictated by work are prohibited, actions that can distract the other employes are prohibited as well and cell phones need to be put on silent mode, all calls are supposed to be work related and it’s suggested, when using the phone, to go outside the sacred space, which is considered as a monastery.
B.O.T (Be on Time). Come prepared and committ yourself entirely. It refers not only to punctuality at the start of the day but to a “on the clock” mentality that need to be carried throughout all things. Your present task is your highest priority, and you need to care for yourself both mentally and physically: get enough sleep, mantain an healty diet, stay hydrated and divide work from play time, with this balance the studio mantains a “work hard, play hard” mentality.
Be thorough. Everything need to be done in the right and the best way, nothing can go out of order and even when you finish your task you need to reset the station, everything must be put in their place and everything should be clean up. Everytime the studio is running low on something the manager must be informed.
I understand. Give feedback. Get feedback. Comunnication is very important and you need to be sure that the person you’re talking to not only is listening but he is also understanding. In the studio “I undestand” is like “Roger” in the military, you received and you understood all the past informations, the sender an the receiver must be on the same page. Proper feedback ensures efficiency and precision.
Sent does not mean received, get confirmation. Just because you sent it doesn’t mean it was received. Always get a receipt and when practical confirm receipt of item with intended recipient. The receipt is a record, proof and tracking device for anything sent and purchased, without a receipt your actions cannot be proved, without a receipt you don’t exist.
Keep a list. Keep a prioritized list at all times, carry this list at all times, keep track of every detail and every project you’re involved in. Your list is your future and your past.
Always be knolling (A.B.K).⠀How to knoll?⠀
- Scan your material, tools, books ecc...⠀
- Put away everything not in use, if you are not sure leave it out.
- Group all-like objects.
- Allign or square all objects to either the surface they rest on or the studio itself.⠀Knoll = To arrange like objects in parallel or 90 degress angles as a method of organization.Sacrifice to Leatherface. A small monetary sacrifice should be given to Leatherface, to amend certain types of oversight, weakness and lack of responsability. By placing the monetary sacrifice in the box upon which Leatherface stays we redeem ourselves and take responsability for our actions; responsability is an essential trait of any studio member. Taking responsability for mistakes is a sign of good faith: mistakes happen and it is important to claim them as our own. (Ex. Leaving the studio unlocked and unprotected= $20, leaving a/c or other equipment running unnecessarily= $5) The fines double each time so leaving the lights on 11 times will cost you $5120. All the funds raised by Leatherface are traditionally spent on a party.
Persistence. “Press on: nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing in the world is more common unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”⠀ -Ray Kroc
