I'm not into being all 'film-y' and going to the premieres and

The words of Simon Beaufoy—“I’m not into being all ‘film-y’ and going to the premieres and parties. I tend to feel like the embarrassing uncle at a wedding.”—speak with humility and self-awareness, reminding us that not all who create are drawn to spectacle. In his confession lies the truth that artistry often flourishes in quiet spaces, far from the blinding lights of praise and celebration. To feel like the embarrassing uncle at a wedding is to sense oneself out of place amidst revelry, as though the soul longs not for noise but for meaning.

The wedding uncle he invokes is a figure known across cultures—the one who stumbles through the dance floor, who laughs too loudly, who seems slightly out of step with the occasion. Yet beneath the humor is something noble: the courage to show up, even when awkward, even when unpolished. In likening himself to this figure, Beaufoy humbles himself, acknowledging that not all creators are fitted for the stage of vanity, though their work may shine upon it.

History gives us the example of Homer, who, though blind and without worldly wealth, composed epics that echoed through eternity. He did not live in courts or bask in ceremonies, but wandered as a bard, seemingly out of place among kings. Yet it was his voice, not theirs, that endured. In the same way, Beaufoy’s unease at premieres and parties may mask a deeper truth: that the greatest works are not birthed in ballrooms, but in solitude, where sincerity can breathe.

The image also teaches us about the divide between creation and celebration. To craft is one thing; to revel is another. Some thrive in both, but others—like Beaufoy—see the glittering halls not as homes, but as foreign lands. In admitting his discomfort, he honors his true nature, showing that the strength of the artist lies not in their presence at the feast, but in the work they have offered the world.

Therefore, O listener, take this wisdom to heart: do not despise feeling out of place. The embarrassing uncle at the wedding may stumble, but he is remembered with warmth, for his presence is genuine. Likewise, the artist who shuns spectacle may still create works that outlast the noise of the parties. Better to be authentic in quiet than to shine falsely in glitter. For in truth, it is not the reveler who endures, but the creator who dares to be themselves.