We all strive to achieve success in our video productions. Some aren’t happy, however, simply emulating success. When we think about succeeding, emulating success has powerful implications: to match or surpass a person or achievement; typically by imitation. It’s often said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. More than flattering videographers, perhaps we prefer emulating success. We want to exceed their creativity, surpass their awesome video production, put the wow back into our videos.
As much as we’d like to exhibit super creativity, the reality is that it’s difficult. How do we sustain successful creativity; find our own voice? Maybe the creativity is consistent, successfully so, but more often than not we study the works of others to improve our video production.
We’re emulating success while striving to develop our own video style, successfully reflecting differences in creativity that result in others emulating success that we acquire. Is this the success we all want to achieve? There’s more to creativity than imitation. We borrow from the creativity of others, applying greater levels of creativity for new video production that reflects our own voice.
Serious videographers study works by other video producers, looking for something new and different; an important component for emulating success. This success, again, comes from finding a way to not just imitate but surpass. Few videographers are satisfied with simply figuring out how to recreate what they see and like. Videographers want to step it up to the next level, taking what they see and matching, then exceeding, the level of creativity.
To achieve through learning, exceeding the results of original influence, emulating success, is our goal. None of us is satisfied to simply copy or be as good. We want to top the video productions of others and do it with imagination and creativity. We achieve this by learning from what we study, not plagiarizing. The creative video producer in us experiences an infinite struggle toward our goal of emulating success.
We reach that higher level of creativity through this learning process. If you don’t already, start watching more video production. It is suggested often and bears repeating, watch movies, lots of them. View for learning, not just entertainment. It’s easy to get caught up in the story, but take the time to figure out why you got lost in the story. How successful were the producers in achieving creativity? What pops out at you? You noticed unique elements of creativity because you were studying; not taking a break. This is work that moves you toward your goal of emulating success.
We videographers have comfort zones; things we do repetitively because it’s successful and easy but lacking in creativity. We become stale. The danger in not pushing toward creativity is that we stagnate. We avoid this by studying other videographers, and emulating success. Video productions can become less about creativity and success and more about just getting the video done unless we keep emulating success. Take the time to review your last several video productions. How are they unique? Have you been discovering new approaches to creativity and video production and utilizing them? Does your video production emulate successful videos? If all your video productions look the same, it might be time to up your creativity with fresh ideas. All videographers achieve creativity by emulating success. Now, study video productions by other successful videographers. Research videographers working in your area of interest; events, seminars, weddings. See where they’re going with their creativity to successfully set their video productions apart. Find a production creativity you like and develop a way to emulate that creativity successfully using your own voice. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve. Punch up your own video production creativity by emulating the success in the work of other videographers.
Matthew York is Videomaker's Publisher/Editor.
