Citizen Kane and the Beginner's Mindset

The beginnings of Orson Welles in Hollywood can teach us a lot about change management and innovation

On 21 August 1939, Orson Welles signed a contract with RKO Radio Pictures Inc. allowing him to direct, produce, write and star in two motion pictures. For the first one, he would receive a fixed $100,000 (plus 20% of all profits in excess of $500,000), and for the second one, a fixed $125,000 (plus 25% of all profits in excess of $500,000). This agreement also granted him full creative control, including on the final cut. Orson Welles had never directed a motion picture before… He was 24 at the time... All of this was unprecedented in Hollywood.

Orson Welles was a novice in the movie industry, but he was already famous. The year before his Hollywood début, on 30 October 1938, Welles had created (and voiced) a radio adaption of The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. This "Martian scare" hoax created confusion (even panic) among listeners across the United States. This attracted the interest of RKO's new president, George J. Schaefer, who took a gamble, believing that this young man would attract publicity and success.

Two years later, RKO released Citizen Kane. To date, it is considered – and rightfully so – as one of the most important motion pictures in the history of world cinema. What is most striking about Citizen Kane is that it appeared radically different. It broke rules (recounting Kane's story through a series of flashbacks for instance), and used new techniques (or long-forgotten ones) such as the use of deep focus, or low-angle shots. The way in which Welles approached his first movie is very inspirational. It is a blueprint for everyone who aspires for a culture of change and innovation in their organisation (and yes, that includes law firms too!).

The Beginners' mindset

One of the reasons why Welles' approach was perceived as revolutionary is precisely because he had a fresh take on the art of making a feature film. With no previous experience in the movie business, he was able to set aside the status quo. He challenged assumptions, and experimented more freely. Forcing ourselves to "zoom out" of our comfort zone is a good way to adopt this mindset. If we accept to re-evaluate our customary processes with fresh eyes, we are likely to avoid blind spots and, ultimately, evolve. As Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki said in his book "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind": "in the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few".

Left field thinking

Before directing Citizen Kane, Orson Welles was not only an actor but also Broadway's youngest impresario. In 1938, he had produced, directed and starred in an adaptation of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar that broke all records. Citizen Kane was revolutionary, in part, because Welles used some of the theatrical techniques that he had learned on Broadway. By transferring the ways and means of one craft to another, he rejuvenated the art of filming. Being able to generate new ideas relies on our ability to tap into other fields of expertise and adapt them to ours. This "left field" approach helps foster cognitive diversity and, as a result, brings new perspectives to problems or inefficiencies that, with time, tend to crystallise.

Audacity

Orson Welles had a larger than life personality and as much as Citizen Kane was a success, his second feature film, The Magnificent Ambersons, recorded a loss… That being said, what is remarkable in Welles' foray into the movie industry is that he dared. He dared to break the rules, try something different and travel to unchartered territories with optimism, energy and confidence. The positive impact of these three virtues should never be undermined.