The Hive Mind

From reading Yoval Noah Harrari's book 'Sapiens; A Brief History Of Humankind', I learned that us humans have both the ability to work​ as individuals to achieve our goals, and also the ability to work together as a team and work towards a common goal. Of course, a book - and even a brilliant book like Harrari's - doesn't need to tell me that. Life, and my industry in particular, has already showed me that fact:

In the collaborative field of filmmaking, the goals of 'getting the shot', running a smooth set, nailing the performance, staying within a budget, setting up and breaking down, etc. are common goals and ideally  we all strive to achieve them.

Being on set, for anyone NOT in the industry, is an experience of flow: time exists outside of time, adrenaline is pumping and hyper-focus is achieved. And when we turn around and notice other people in the crew or cast with the same focused-flowing-wired expression on their faces? We know they also are in flow, and together - we share a hive mind.

A set in a state of flow has the magic of collaboration and efficiency much like what I imagine bees would be like in their hive. On set, the individual gets somewhat lost in the dynamic of the collaboration and the determination to reach that common goal. But it's not a sad loss whatsoever... it is rather an intoxicating feeling to be part of a hive; a tribe; a team, and to honor each person as an individual piece in the puzzle of the creative process of bringing a story to life.