Archive for December, 2006

We’d like to welcome Jennifer Wyatt Beasley. Jennifer comes on board as our UPM, Unit Production Manager. She brings with her lots of feature film experience, and great connections in the Dallas area. We’re glad to have her on board.

As the year comes to close, I was hoping to spend December focusing in on the details so that we can kick things into high gear come January 1. But, it’s hard to stay focused when good, corporate projects keep coming in.

For example, we flew to Wisconsin to spend some time with family over Thanksgiving. Ah, a needed vacation for some nice R&R. As we sat in DFW airport waiting to board the plane for our nice, peaceful Thanksgiving week, I get a call. It’s Nokia. They want to shoot 2 television commercials and a web commercial on Thanksgiving weekend! So much for our peaceful Thanksgiving.

I spent Thanksgiving week in Wisconsin on email and the phone. We cut our trip short and headed back to a crazy weekend shoot the day after Thanksgiving–the turkey still digesting in my stomach. But, we pulled it off. We were able to hire a crew with some good talent all within in three days. And, we got it shot, and shot well. Another happy customer!

But that’s not all. Here’s what I’ve got on my plate for December: a music video, a church Christmas production and a proposal for a client who wants 17 web episodes next year.

So, what do I do? I sleep very little, and do it all. Why? Because here’s what I’m experiencing: confidence.

Let me explain. One of my biggest concerns with this project has been this: Can I really do it? Can I really handle the pressure of being both the producer and director for a feature film? Can I handle the long shoot days and intense pressure? I know it’s going to be there. I know it’s going to be difficult. But, how would I respond to such pressure?

Coming from 16 years of corporate America, I will admit, it was easy. It was a cushy corporate job. I went home every day at 5 o’clock and never thought about work until the next morning when I sat down in my cubicle. There was a little pressure, but it was rare and short-lived.

Production is a different animal. Lots of decisions. Lots of pressure. Lots of intensity. Not that it’s bad. Pressure can be good. Intensity is sometimes needed. But, I had this lingering question in the back of mind, Can I really handle it?

When we got back from Wisconsin, I hit the ground running. We spent Friday, not shopping, but prepping. We had a long shoot day on Saturday and another long day on Sunday. Then, on Monday at 8 am, we kicked off the church Christmas shoot for 10 hours. And, again on Tuesday, 10 more hours with more shoots later in the week.

I drove home late Tuesday night having a great time, loving the production, loving the intensity, loving the fact that I’m producing. It’s a good thing to love what you’re doing.

“There is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work” (Ecclesiastes 3:22a).

Amazingly, in the midst of all this, I’m still meeting with potential crew members, negotiating equipment deals, polishing the film budget and doing lots of stuff. It’s part of that production energy that moves and flows through you when you love what you do.

I do expect the corporate stuff to stop on January 1. If not, then I will make it stop. I want my sole focus to be on this production. No distractions. No other projects. Just moviemaking.