Short Movie and chances for support 44.4.5.6 > 46 and 34.3.4 > 19

[Flowing like water]

Hi,
that's a very important topic to me, I'm thinking about since a very long time.
Some background. As an artist, I spent most of my life working at my artworks (performance and video art).
Few years ago, since I couldn't still survive of my art, I decided to switch my video skills acquired as an artist to work as a freelance video maker. I'm improving my business but still doing other side jobs (I don't complain about that).

Despite I like working for others (I'm ending a long length movie by my own, it's my first time I have a so big job), I have a project of mine I wish I can implement. I conceived the idea of a short movie based on my 4-years traveling and living experience in Lebanon and Turkey and I would like to direct it. A young scriptwriter - a talented one - helped me to write it. It took us a year of work because we applied many edits.

Last May we presented the project to a production house and they welcomed us to talk about. It was a great step to be received!
They are a young production but they do have money and invest on young and not-well-known people and not commercial projects (our is not).
They enjoyed it a lot, they wanted to know us (it's really difficult to get a meeting with these people) and they told us they like the idea but they asked for changes. We agreed with their doubts. They were expecting our new version to re-evaluate the proposal and we needed to find a strong idea to fit properly the two parallel stories of the short movie.

It took a lot of time to find a good idea, then, once we were convinced about, we submitted them the new version one month ago.
They didn't answer our first email, and neither our reminder two weeks later. It was really weird not receiving any answer, not even a short message to tell us they were busy and will answer later.

During the summer, a movie they produced won some important price at few famous International Festivals. I'm sure that this awards changed their position, they have more power now and might not be interested in supporting a project like ours, since we are not known.

Anyway, it isn't nice at all not answering anything. We feel disappointed, but we still have a tiny hope they could still answer and they didn't because they really are very busy. I don't think we'll write them again (my colleague might meet them in other circumstances, they have common "friends", but who knows...).

The next week, a preview of their award-winning movie will be projected in a film festival in our city, an important one. It's open to the audience. My colleague and I would like to go. They'll be there. We don't want to go and ask them about our proposal, it's not the right place and situation. But we might meet them, wave them... and personally I feel unconfortable...

So, I have some few questions about this project, the upcoming projection, their chances of support.

I asked I-Ching:

- What should I expect from XX production house's representatives if I'm going to the projection of their movie with my colleague? 44.4.5.6 to 46

I read in some old posts, that hexagram 44 in general and in business means wrestling or grappling with a situation...
I also read that it talks about 44 talks about meeting people half way, that it can make sense.
The lines...
Line 4: When the noble put common people away, they won't help him anymore: Pitfal
Line 5: When the ruler is a self-development one, he can tolerate common people; he doesn't force them to do right, but transforms them with the quiet influence of his example. Good fortune
Line 6: A sage that face strongly the common people will be acussed of pride and suffer humilliation. But it is not fault
Line 4 looks like they are not more interested in helping (supporting) us, and we might feel humiliated by them in this situation (Line 6), Line 5 looks to be the most fortunate omen, but if they are the ruler, what does it mean specifically?

Then, I asked for the most important question and I don't know how to interpret it:

- Does still exist any chance to receive their support? 34.3.4 to 19
I can see something dangerous in line 3 but still advancing in line 4. But the secondary hexagram 19 is talking about evil in the eight month... does it mean they won't support us in the end?

Thank you for your advice. That's my second post tonight about two different topics I care so much about. I don't use to post my castings because I feel insecure in my interpretations. I would have a third question but I would keep it for another time. Thanks so much!

 

[foxx777]

It’s very odd because something extremely similar happened to me with a music project in the past, nearly identical situation.

44.5 gives hope:

Legge: The fifth line, dynamic, shows its subject as a medlar tree overspreading the gourd beneath it. If he keeps his brilliant qualities concealed, a good issue will descend from heaven.

Wilhelm/Baynes: A melon covered with willow leaves. Hidden lines. Then it drops down to one from heaven.

Blofeld: The medlar leaves wrapping the melon hide its beauty. Something falls from heaven. [This is more or less equivalent to hiding our light under a bushel.]

Liu: The melon lies under the medlar tree. The glory is hidden. Something (blessing) comes down from heaven.

In any case: I will focus on 34.3.4 > 19
From the edition I consulted it seems as if you are to hold off, yet not give up hope of later support:


34. Much Force
Line 3:
The ordinary person uses force,
the noble one does nothing.
Persistence is dangerous.
A ram butts against the fence,
entangling his horns.
Trying to force things. This results in getting stuck or some kind of damage. It's better to step back and not do anything just now.
Line 4:
Persistence brings good fortune.
Aversion goes away.
The fence breaks, disentangling.
Force is on the axle mounts of a big wagon.
Managing to solve the problem by using force. Things go well if one perseveres. Aversion to the situation will go away. The weakest link will break, and one is not stuck anymore.

Hexagram is changing to:
19. Approach
Approach.
A foundation for progress.
It is beneficial to persist.
Arriving in the eighth month will bring misfortune.
Approaching someone. This will help progress, it is a good idea to persevere. It's not so beneficial if it happens prematurely, though.
(The eighth month refers to premature birth of a baby.)

 

[Flowing like water]

Thank you Foxx777, that's so nice

It's weird you had a nearly identical situation to mine.
It's also weird that last year, it happened to me the same identical situation with another project of mine (performance art). Some people really enjoyed it, they asked me to develop it because they were interested to support it and after many changes (as they requested to me), it ended up they didn't support it, even though they continued to say they enjoyed it. At some point, I didn't hear from them and I decided to give up.

It looks to be a common theme in art funding. There's a lot of competition, much depends on contacts and p.r. (I'm not so good about).

Anyway, I still want to keep my light burning about my short movie and I would like to think there's still some hope.
I will follow I-Ching advice, I won't act now and I will keep waiting as I'm doing.

Regarding the projection's night, I really wish to go and I will, because I'm very curious to see the awarded movie (that looks really interesting).

If I will have the chance to talk to them, even shortly, I won't say or ask anything about our proposal and I will keep a low profile. I think it's the best approach at the moment. I don't want them to think we will be there because we want an answer (We would like it, for sure, but not forcing anything).

At the same time, since there are always partners in my life happening again and again, I wonder if the success of my projects and the difficulties I usually face depends on myself. If it is because there's something unsolved from my past (probably it might be so), I'm working on and I wish to deepen.

In that way, can you or someone suggest a good question for I-Ching? Thanks!

 

[foxx777]

Yes, it does seem to be a common theme in art funding and I also know people who’ve had that experience where they had initial support that somehow dried up with no explanation. I think keeping a low profile in the short term is wise and what the Yi seems to be recommending.

Perhaps you could ask, what do I need to understand regarding my past and how it may be contributing to current difficulties?
Best wishes.

 

[Flowing like water]

Here I am again with your proposed question Foxx777.

My question: What do I need to understand regarding my past and how it may be contributing to current difficulties?
Hexagram 32.6 to 50

In general I could interpret this answer as if I should focus on now and not on future projections.
If I shouldn't worry about the future...
But that looks like an advice and not an answer to my question (at least I cannot get it).

I would like to add that I find both the hexagrams interesting for me and my story.
I especially recognize myself in the sentence of the Oracle explanation: What lasts bears fruit, not because you "arrive" at some final destination, but because through all the changes you persevere in your intent and inspiration, and you are always finding ways to make it real.

Somehow I see how life wanted to take me somewhere else from where I thought I should be, or I wanted to be. I had a lot of changes in my art, life and carrier. But with a clear direction: express myself creatively (despite all changes I always persevered in my intent and inspiration). But progress was blocked and I had to start over again and again.
I'm not saying I would like to arrive at some final destination, but I would like to understand why I do progress but then I fall back again.

Regarding the Vessel, it's an hexagram I love because it's about cooking slowly, things that take time to cook. I'm enough patient I think. But even when I trust being patient, rarely it works as to say the food doesn't transform into something else (or at least not in what I expected).

So still I wonder what I-Ching wanted to suggest me as an answer to my question...
Can someone help me? If so, many thanks!!!!