State of the Union

Surprised? So am I. I'm actually keeping up with my blog. How about that.

Anyway, it's nice to be able to take a moment and breathe. The last couple of days have moved at a very fast pace, and I'm trying to figure out how to catch up. Between working and filming, I almost forgot that my once plentiful free time is nearly nonexistent.

Though this may become problematic with completing my own projects, it is justified through the work that I have put into everything else. Right now, I'm beginning to see where my priorities lie. I still continue to build my project resume and gain experience, which is still very important. However, recently I also find filming to be a way to scratch a certain itch. When I began to step behind the camera, I started to feel at home.

Saturday saw some growing pains, but it didn't take long before I adjusted to some of the flaws of being a first-time director of photography. With a little help from the rest of the cast and crew, shooting became second nature by the next day. When this happens, the work ends and the fun begins.

While there can still be moments of frustration, you have to keep in mind that no production is without them. Eventually, all the worries begin to fade away when you review all the video footage and realize how much progress you have actually made. It's the driving force for any film production. It's a constant reminder that the finished product will be worth the repeated takes, lack of sleep, occasional failure of communication, lack of eating, and the loads of time spent preparing for each shot.

You have to put a lot of care and consideration into each camera angle and movement. Through this heavy consumption of time, you can sometimes forgot why you're doing it in the first place. You have to keep telling yourself it's a just cause just so you can keep morale high. And some days can truly be a trial, depending on the difficulty of each take.

Then you review the footage. Hope is inevitably restored and you are reminded why you do this in the first place.

Every production has its trials, but there is a payoff at the end of the long and bumpy road. That's what makes it all worthwhile. That's what makes you proud to be apart of this team of ambitious artists.

Until next time,
Steve

A Forward Motion

I promised that I would keep up with my blog. Obviously, I've broken that promise, but at least I have an excuse.

It's been a hectic couple of weeks. Filming is well under way for the production "One Model Army". As assistant director, I've had a wonderful hands-on experience. Having such a direct involvement with an on-set production is very liberating. Because of unforeseen circumstances, I have also had the opportunity to wear the "Director of Photography" hat. Though, I'm still a little self-conscious when it comes to handling a camera on the set of a real production, I seem to find all my training and education quickly taking control and setting my fears aside.

Although, I would still very much consider myself an amateur, being surrounded by a crew of professionals and conditioned actors and actresses fills me with reassurance. It reminds you that when a production unit unifies, it almost feels hive-minded. It's amazing to see everyone move in such a smooth motion and find yourself right in the middle. As cheesy as this may sound, it really holds true.

Where do I go from here? Well, I still have several more weekends planned throughout the month of August for shooting. I've also split up my time to work weekdays for some income. This helps to pay the bills and also help finance some new equipment and fund any potential future projects of my own (although this would probably be WAY down the road).

But, it's nice to see that things are coming together and I'm able to keep myself busy. I've also been working on my writing and I'm hoping to get the next two scripts and the first part of my story called "The Paradisus Transit" published online by the end of the month. Of course, this would be in a perfect world, and since my life is far from perfect, the end of September might be a more plausible goal. We'll see how productive I can be.

While there are really no new updates to my website, I am working hard on my personal projects. Writing has become my main concern, but I have not forgotten about the short film that was shot in May, with the special help of some wonderful Juniata people. I haven't had the time to edit it together, but I'm still keeping it as a high priority. Hopefully, I can free up some time to finish that in the coming weeks.

Another new venture that I am working on comes in the form of an LLC. I am currently in the process of developing my own business plan for a yet untitled company that will focus mostly on film and video for entertainment, personal, and commercial purposes. This wonderful experience is really helping me understand what it means to be an entrepreneur. Hopefully, in the coming months, I can develop this plan into a workable solution that will meet my needs and the needs of others.

As always, I'll try to keep up with this blog. Due to limited time, it's becoming harder to provide new content with each new post, but that doesn't mean I've given up on any of my projects. Some things take time and intend to work out all the bugs before I start posting my next batch of projects online.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading! And a special thanks to all my friends and family for providing your support!