As an amateur songwriter, musician, and Beatles fan, I devoured Peter Jackson’s documentary Get Back, watching the eight-hour series seven times in two weeks. I didn’t expect to learn creative principles. But that’s exactly what happened. Somewhere during those 56 hours of viewing, I realized it was more than a documentary — it was a masterclass in the creative process.
Throughout the series, Lennon and McCartney both state and demonstrate a set of creative lessons. These lessons will feel familiar to anyone who has studied creativity. I encountered the same principles while earning my BA and MFA in writing—though they were often taught in less enjoyable ways.
For me, the value of Lennon and McCartney’s techniques lies in their instinctive, collaborative nature, and their silly, playful approach. They never seemed to be “working.” When I need to reenergize my thinking, I revisit these Lennon & McCartney rules.
In the end, the brilliance of Get Back isn’t just in seeing music history unfold. It’s in watching four artists wrestle with inspiration, ego, failure, and flow — and still manage to make something timeless. For any creative person, that’s more than entertainment. It’s a reminder of what’s possible when we trust the process. Next time you’re stuck, play it like The Beatles.