Viewfinder: Just Do It

I've met lots of videomakers over the years. Surprisingly, many of them don't make much video. Those who do often refer to their "dream project." Take the wedding videomaker I met in Chicago--he had his fill of wedding videos and was hoping someday to do a program on antique motorcycles.

It's easy to get so caught up in keeping track of what's going on in the videomaking field--and there's plenty to keep track of--that the videomaker's hobby becomes more enthusiasm than action. I'm very familiar with this because it happened to me. For the first five years of Videomaker Inc., I made very little video. Instead, I spent my time keeping track of industry developments.

We make a lot of video now-a-days; in fact, we make a half hour each week. That's because The Videomaker TV Show now appears weekly on Channel America (8:00 a.m. eastern, 11:00 p.m. pacific) and on The American Independent Network (7:30 a.m. eastern, 10:30 a.m. pacific). We air on Saturdays, and rebroadcast on Sundays. Making the commitment to begin a video project may be the hardest step in the entire process. But once you start, you develop momentum.

This momentum brings progress, and ultimately, the completion of the project. Making video is a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun.

If you're making less video than you'd like to, it's time to commit. Commit to producing the show you've always wanted to. If you're making lots of video that isn't fulfilling your creative talents, it's time to make the program of your dreams. If money is a problem, at least make a low budget pilot. You'll learn so much by just doing it.

If your problem is time, then carve out as little as an hour a week to work on your project. Begin by writing the script or treatment. Without this step, a project is too vague and too difficult for anyone, yourself included, to get committed to.

You'll do better if you can get others caught up in your dream. Set up a time to meet and work on short-term, achievable goals. Assign roles to each participant, like fund raising (if needed), casting, location scouting, camera operating and editing.

In the 8 years that I've been a part of Videomaker, I've always wanted to make a program about making video. I had lots of excuses. Here are just a few--in the off chance you're grappling with one or all of them, I've provided solutions.

EXCUSE ---- SOLUTION

No time or money ---- Start small
I need better equipment ---- Use whatever you have
I can't do it myself ---- Recruit help
It's too big a commitment ---- Don't kid yourself
I'll do it later in life ---- Now is the time
I need to develop my skill first ---- Develop them as you go

It's like deciding to quit smoking or lose weight. You can pull it off it as long as you're willing to make the commitment. It would be a shame if all the talent, equipment, ability and motivation that you now possess did not result in your making the program of your dreams.
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