Saturday, April 19, 2008
No More Excuses
In October of 2007 I finally purchased a Canon HDV20 camera. Compact. Great picture. Easy to navigate. Easy on the wallet. It was time. After several months (years) of borrowing friend’s cameras it all came to an end when I started being referred to as “the second mom” of one friend’s camera. That and I just booked a job in Connecticut as an AP (Associate Producer) on a documentary and I was traveling to Mississippi for the New Media Institute.
At this point of the story I should say “… and I’ve never put the camera down since.” Not the case. I have gotten a lot of use from “my friend” (what I affectionately call my camera), filming behind the scenes footage of the documentary and footage in Mississippi. Oh, and how could I forget the hair brain production of Dating Miss Dillard with Tracee of Stacey & Tracee Consulting (okay a little plug), which we shot with "my friend".
Since that time “my friend” has racked up more miles going back and forth to CT than filming. Something is terribly wrong with this picture. Since graduating from the graduate film program at NYU (another plug, lol), I have observed that many graduates suffer from at least one type of post-graduate syndrome: intellectualizing one’s ideas to the point of it remaining just that, an idea or actually filming your great idea and taking FOREVER to finish it, if you ever finish. I will admit that I have experienced both syndromes, even recently, but today marked the day of breaking free of both.
As I returned home from an errand I walked by this little park around the corner that adds such a breath of fresh air to the neighborhood. Countless times I’ve passed by and seen a bird or a flower blooming and said to myself, “I really need to film this.” And countless times I’ve not done a darn thing, except today. Though I was strapped for time I grabbed my camera, headed out the door and walked to the park to film. It was beautiful.
On my way home from meeting family, I reminded myself of what was strapped on my back, “my friend.” Suddenly the world became my canvas; okay I know it sounds corny but work with me. The activities around me competed for a chance to grace the lens of my camera: a bird, men playing chess, girls double dutching, little children running down the street, brothers on the corner laughing, girls flirting with boys. At first I was hesitant. I didn’t want to draw any attention nor did I want to look like I was documenting “natives” in Harlem. I quickly got over that and began to film.
When I finally returned home I suddenly became intoxicated with the second syndrome of not finishing the film. Today that was not an option, I had to edit my piece and post it that instant. In little over an hour I had edited my piece and it felt GREAT! I reminded myself that I have the tools in my hand and for whatever reason I’ve taken them for granted. Was it fear? Doubt? Procrastination? Or was it the fact that I can be a perfectionist and quickly dismiss things that don’t turn out perfect? News flash to self, ‘Excuses will always be there but the opportunities will not.’
As “my friend” has settled back on my bookshelf I know it can’t be for long. There are many more things to film, edit and post, and whatever excuse I may give I don’t have time to analyze it. So today I’ve produced, directed, shot and edited my film with the quickest turnaround and have posted it. Perfect? No. Finished? Yes.
At this point of the story I should say “… and I’ve never put the camera down since.” Not the case. I have gotten a lot of use from “my friend” (what I affectionately call my camera), filming behind the scenes footage of the documentary and footage in Mississippi. Oh, and how could I forget the hair brain production of Dating Miss Dillard with Tracee of Stacey & Tracee Consulting (okay a little plug), which we shot with "my friend".
Since that time “my friend” has racked up more miles going back and forth to CT than filming. Something is terribly wrong with this picture. Since graduating from the graduate film program at NYU (another plug, lol), I have observed that many graduates suffer from at least one type of post-graduate syndrome: intellectualizing one’s ideas to the point of it remaining just that, an idea or actually filming your great idea and taking FOREVER to finish it, if you ever finish. I will admit that I have experienced both syndromes, even recently, but today marked the day of breaking free of both.
As I returned home from an errand I walked by this little park around the corner that adds such a breath of fresh air to the neighborhood. Countless times I’ve passed by and seen a bird or a flower blooming and said to myself, “I really need to film this.” And countless times I’ve not done a darn thing, except today. Though I was strapped for time I grabbed my camera, headed out the door and walked to the park to film. It was beautiful.
On my way home from meeting family, I reminded myself of what was strapped on my back, “my friend.” Suddenly the world became my canvas; okay I know it sounds corny but work with me. The activities around me competed for a chance to grace the lens of my camera: a bird, men playing chess, girls double dutching, little children running down the street, brothers on the corner laughing, girls flirting with boys. At first I was hesitant. I didn’t want to draw any attention nor did I want to look like I was documenting “natives” in Harlem. I quickly got over that and began to film.
When I finally returned home I suddenly became intoxicated with the second syndrome of not finishing the film. Today that was not an option, I had to edit my piece and post it that instant. In little over an hour I had edited my piece and it felt GREAT! I reminded myself that I have the tools in my hand and for whatever reason I’ve taken them for granted. Was it fear? Doubt? Procrastination? Or was it the fact that I can be a perfectionist and quickly dismiss things that don’t turn out perfect? News flash to self, ‘Excuses will always be there but the opportunities will not.’
As “my friend” has settled back on my bookshelf I know it can’t be for long. There are many more things to film, edit and post, and whatever excuse I may give I don’t have time to analyze it. So today I’ve produced, directed, shot and edited my film with the quickest turnaround and have posted it. Perfect? No. Finished? Yes.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Another Hair Brain Production
It’s funny how you can know someone for almost ten years and not realize that you have so much in common. This is the case with my writing partner, Tracee Loran. We met through a mutual friend, Erica and like distant cousins; we would only see each other at birthdays, concerts and Oscar ceremonies.
Tracee and I first worked together when I enlisted her in a filming exercise. The next time we collaborated was when she asked me to direct the pilot of her reality show, The Hot Sport Show. It was quite a successful adventure and was the impetus to our AMAZING partnership.
From that day on Tracee and I built on our creative concepts, sometimes at the expense of our dear friend Erica. Without going into detail, let’s just say, some of the work that we wrote/directed and produced, created quite a stir in some circles. It was after that Tracee and I realized that working together came naturally; perhaps it was because we have the same warped personality and comedic timing.
MOH I & MOH II (Maid of Honor), Dating Miss Dillard and our most recent conception, Amazing Idea #1, are just a few of the productions we are developing. In addition to our own projects, Tracee and I have teamed up to share our creative skills (writing, directing, producing, acting) to help others put their ideas on paper. In short, the dynamic duo of Stacey and Tracee Consulting is open for business!
Tracee and I first worked together when I enlisted her in a filming exercise. The next time we collaborated was when she asked me to direct the pilot of her reality show, The Hot Sport Show. It was quite a successful adventure and was the impetus to our AMAZING partnership.
From that day on Tracee and I built on our creative concepts, sometimes at the expense of our dear friend Erica. Without going into detail, let’s just say, some of the work that we wrote/directed and produced, created quite a stir in some circles. It was after that Tracee and I realized that working together came naturally; perhaps it was because we have the same warped personality and comedic timing.
MOH I & MOH II (Maid of Honor), Dating Miss Dillard and our most recent conception, Amazing Idea #1, are just a few of the productions we are developing. In addition to our own projects, Tracee and I have teamed up to share our creative skills (writing, directing, producing, acting) to help others put their ideas on paper. In short, the dynamic duo of Stacey and Tracee Consulting is open for business!
Spread the word and check out the site:
staceyandtraceeconsulting.com
Looking forward.
Stacey…
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