Hi! Welcome to the 4 CreativeWheels newsletter — your weekly dose of insights on creativity and fuel for your creative journey.

We’ve finally reached week 4² ! And I’m excited to announce the start of the “Take it, Learn it” series. In this series, we will learn from the actions of great fictional creatives. We’ll look into their journeys or parts of them and see what we can apply to ours!

This is the series' first episode and Part 1 of the first episode. Yes, Episode 1 will have two parts! Stay tuned & discover Episode 1 (Part 2) next week!

In this week’s issue, our guests are Chef Auguste Gusteau and Remy.

Without further ado…

Let’s start the ride!

Main Wheel

What comes to mind when you hear the word "cuisine"?

Is it food? Is it a chef with sharp and stainless-steel knives? Or is it a little meal whose price can wipe your average Joe’s bank account clean?

Well for me, when I hear the word “cuisine,” Ratatouille comes to mind. Of course, it’s not the Ratatouille meal. It’s the Pixar movie.

Ratatouille has been one of my most favorite movies from the day it was released. I love everything about the film. From the characters' design, and the story, to the moving message, Ratatouille has a special place in my heart. And I'm not alone.

Many loves Ratatouille. Some call it great. Some hail it as the best-animated movie of the 2000s. One thing is certain. Ratatouille is a movie that has had an impact on its audience for generations. And as Schaffrillas Productions declared, "Ratatouille is Pixar's magnum opus."

As a child, I found it inspiring and enjoyable. It might be because of the wonderful animation or story. I can't have a chat with 3-year-old Richard to find out the reasons for that instant crush. However, one scene can shed light on little Richie's mind.

It's a particular scene in Ratatouille that I can’t forget. In the scene, Remy and his brother Emile were looking for food in an old lady’s house. (Yup, da grandma with the shotgun)

And as Remy was searching for good food, talking to his brother, he saw his hero speaking on the TV.

"You must be imaginative, strong-hearted. You must try things that may not work, and you must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from. Your only limit is your soul. What I say is true — anyone can cook, but only the fearless can be great." he said. It was chef Auguste Gusteau, Remy's favorite chef.

The more I grew older, the deeper and clearer my bond with the scene became. And the last line is the strongest message Ratatouille gave me as a child and now an adult. I can’t help but feel uplifted whenever I hear it.

It encouraged Remy to pursue his passion. And it continues to inspire many creatives to go for what they love. It's great to give inspiration. Ratatouille surely does that.

But what I love most about Ratatouille is how it also provides a guide we can follow. Despite how ridiculous the story is, the guide it gives is realistic. Realistic enough that anyone can use it. You don't have to be at a certain level. And you surely don't have to be a gifted French chef rat to have the results.

Like every chef d'oeuvre, Ratatouille doesn't tell the guide. It shows it. It shows it through the journey of my favorite fictional rat, Remy. (Sorry Stuart Little)

Throughout Remy's journey are valuable lessons that executed perfectly Gusteau's words. And what better way than to take the example of Gusteau's great admirer!

So, let's learn from Remy.

1. Travel through the sewers beneath Paris

Just after the scene, where Remy listened to the poetic words of Chef Gusteau, the old lady sees Remy and his brother. As a typical senior citizen, she pulls out a gun and starts shooting. Remy and Emile tried their best to avoid those flying bullets.

Unfortunately, in the process, the bullets damaged the ceiling. The ceiling fell. And the whole rat community was found. They had one thing to do. Run. They ran for their safety. But as all the rats were running, Remy stayed behind to take Gusteau's book.

He eventually was left behind. He traveled through Paris' sewers. After wandering, he ended up in Chef Gusteau's restaurant. Long story short, he got the opportunity to do what he loved.

However, he later received the disapproval of his father. His father was never too fond of the idea of a rat being around humans and Remy's interest in cooking. No rat really could relate to Remy or encourage Remy. Even Emile, despite his efforts, couldn't get Remy. Remy was going against the current, the [rat] status quo.

And that's what we often have to do when we desire to be fearless and great creatives. Sometimes our idea or vision does not fit in. It does fit in our upbringing's expectations. It does not fit in a particular field. Or it does not fit in everyone's perception of what is possible.

Still, as chef Gusteau said, "You must not let anyone define your limits." An idea can go so far when the creative does not stand firm with it. To make any progress with an idea, vision, interest, or passion, you have to go against every opposition. That's where the journey truly starts.

2. Let your taste buds pop

To have the strength to move forward with your idea, despite the opposition, you must have a strong interest or/and love. The interest should be so strong that the rejections and disapproval wouldn't mean anything.

The strong interest and love Remy had was visible. Literally, whenever Remy was tasting food colorful bubbles and fireworks appeared around him. He was fully immersed in the experience.

Remy could not think of anything besides the tasty sensations. This fueled his drive to cook and chase the experience of cooking great food.

Similarly, we gotta have that sort of interest in our ideas. It not only makes the journey more enjoyable, but it fuels us to move forward. It signals us that we are doing something right. We are working on the right thing.

3. Taste (and Steal) as many aliments as you can

The strong interest in food taste certainly led Remy in many places.

For legal purposes, I need to clarify that I don’t support the art of stealing. I do not agree with Remy’s theft of food. Nor do I promote risking your life like Remy when he faced the grandma with a shotgun.

Though I disagree with some of his ways, I cannot deny how essential consumption and taste were to Remy’s journey. And how it relates to ours.

Remy could have never become the great chef he became without tasting and consuming great ingredients. He could have never gained the understanding of what is great to eat.

He had to taste and steal great stuff to discern when his food was great stuff. From the man (rat) himself, "If you are what you eat, then I only want to eat the good stuff."

Furthermore, Remy was open-minded. He did not just taste and steal great food. He experimented with them. Remy would eat one aliment simultaneously with another. He did not care whether the mix was in the regular recipe.

Similarly, we have to go out there and consume what is good and great. Steal inspiration from great pieces. See what can help us discern what is great. Attach ourselves to what can develop our taste for excellence.

Also, we ought to not be afraid of using ingredients out of our medium. You don't have to look at the same places. You are not chained to go to the same spots.

Look at different spaces. They can be related to fields like photography and cinema. Or they can be as unrelated as rocket science to writing a children's book. The choices are infinite.

End of Part 1! See you next week!

Here ya go, here is Part 2!

Inspiring Wheels

Here are two (or more) creative works that you’ll not regret checking out:

• "Why Ratatouille is Pixar's Magnum Opus" - Schaffrillas Productions | Talking about Ratatouille, here is an amazing video that gives the movie its flowers. It’s a little long around 1 hour; however, it’s an amazing watch. It’s somewhat of a review, but I found it to be creative. A wonderful job from Schaffrillas Productions!

• "I chased my dreams for 367 days" - Andrew | A beautiful film-like video about re-evaluating our goals and dreams, reflecting on what is important, and re-thnking our motivations during the process of reaching our goals and dreams! And more things worth watching. So check it out!

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Thank you so much for reading! 

As always, feel free to reply to this email & share your thoughts, stories, and any experience related to this topic. I’d love to hear them!  

C ya next Week! 

Embracing Creativity™,

Richard M.

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