Wise words from Filmmaker Mel Stuart

The following is an excerpt from a PBS interview with director Mel Stuart. He's a great documentarian (films like Wattstax) but I'm sure is more well known for feature films like the original Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory. I found his advice profound and felt as though I should share it with you.

P.O.V.: Any advice for budding documentarians?
Stuart: To anybody that wants to go into the documentary world, I have five pieces of advice. But I'm only going to tell you two. The first is that you must be lucky. If you're not lucky, get out. Second, but far more important, is: go alone in a room and find what you can do well. I wanted to become a musician or a composer. I went and heard Stravinsky conduct the "Symphony Of The Psalms" and that night I gave up music, because I knew I wasn't hearing what the master was hearing. If you want to be a writer, you'd better be damned sure you're a writer. If you want to be a director, you better be very sure. Whatever you want to do, don't fool yourself. You'll wind up at the bottom end, very sad, and you would have been a great plumber. I don't say this lightly — I'm very serious about this — but you really have to know that you're good at what you want to do.
Oh, I could give you another rule. I'll give you the last one: if you ever interview anybody, be stupid. Never tell them what you know, never act smart. That's the trouble with Barbara Walters — "Well, I hear you were going to have a divorce." Hey, I want them to tell me, Barbara, not yoyouyou idiot.
The other rules we'll save for another time.

That's the end of the excerpt.

It is kind of fitting that I found this quote from Mel. Very recently, I helped a friend and colleague in the business. Originally, she and I were to perform together but she chose to go in a different direction. What bothers me is the fact that she's constantly trying to question my intentions in the entertainment industry. I realize that she does so jokingly but something about someone else questioning my dreams, or my life's work for that matter realdisturbsubs me. I say this as a cautionary statement. In your own situations you may find yourself worried about a friend's chosen path. Yes there are some that should be discouraged (i.e. uber violent druglord, etc. ), but more often than not, there's some type of call being answered. Give support when it's needed not criticism or doubt. For all we know, the words of encouragement needed to get someone through may be on your lips. Thanks for reading.
-truth
P.S. Are you hearing what the Master's hearing?