one morning - two things

Not sure exactly - but it was recently. I woke up one day and realized two things.

1. No one is planning my life for me.
What happens to me in this world is a direct result of the actions I take. There is nothing stopping me from doing what I want to do in this life. There is no boardroom of people I have to ask permission from. There are no kings ready to bestow their authority on me. I am free. You are free. I would be curios to hear - how do you handle this freedom?

2. My life is not leading up to something big.
Life is a marathon - but for some reason we all try to make it a sprint toward something grand. All we are really sprinting toward is death. I think this stems from our schooling years. We look forward to graduation like it is the end all of being. Then post graduation we scratch our heads and wonder why it was such a big deal. We expect that the big event of life is just around the corner. We are ever chasing - it is ever eluding.

Yes life can be exciting - life can be grand - life can be epic. But my life does not lead up to anything. I think this knowledge is really helpful. It takes me out of thinking I have to wait around for the big thing to happen. It forces me to focus on today and doing good work.

Do you agree? Do you feel like your life is leading up to something? Or do you feel that life is a journey - rather than a destination? Thoughts?

5 Tips for great online video

After launching three online shows I have learned a couple things about video online. Here are my top five tips...

1. Frequency
The more you post the more they come. People want to see a regular flow of content coming from you. Frequency is the best way to build a loyal and expanding audience. Weekly posting is a good rule of thumb. Daily will send you into orbit.

2. Fast paced editing
Video on the web is consumed quickly. The pacing of your content needs to be quickly paced. Keep the edits short and quick. Move the camera around and don't feel shy about making jarring jump cuts.

3. Great sound
Sound is really 95 percent of great internet video. Remember that most internet video is flash encoded and viewed at 320 x 240. Sound can really set your video apart from the others. If your camera has the option - plug in an external mic and get it close to your subjects.

4. close ups are mandatory
Remember the whole 320 x 240? Well - long shots don't really work so well. Get the camera in close to your subject. Fill out the frame. Show the audience what is going on.

5. Keep it short
You are good under five minutes - great under 3 minutes and stratospheric under 1 minute. Keep your videos short and people will watch. Make long videos (over 5-7 minutes) and people will think twice.


What are some tips you have for great online video? I would love to hear them.

writer's high

Writing is hard work.
If you don't believe me try doing it on a regular basis. About a year ago I had the habit of writing for an hour each day. It was really hard.

After a few months I wound up with over 50 short film treatments and scripts.
Getting started was usually easy. An idea, character, or thought would trigger me punching out the story on the keyboard.

Then I would get to a point where it was hard to keep going.
A decision about the story would crop up and halt my flow. It was very tempting to just close the file and save the big problems for another day. But that is lazy writing.

"A true professional does the job even when he doesn't feel like it."
These are the words of wisdom from my drama teacher in high school. One night before a performance I was suffering from a blinding headache and felt I couldn't perform that night. She made me. I pushed through and gave a great performance in spite of the pain.

I've learned to not be lazy and push through in my writing.
If you keep writing - and don't give up - it is as if you break through this barrier and the story begins to flow again like it did in the beginning. But this time you are breathlessly trying to keep up with your brain as the narrative unfolds.

Having a story spill onto the page from your brain is like a drug.
It is one of the most exhilarating feelings in the world. You feel as if you are in an out-of-body experience. Your mind, body, soul, emotions, and feelings are all centered around the story. I've never experienced a runner's high - but from the description of it I know I have experienced the same thing while writing.

Do you have a breakthrough point in your writing?
How does it feel?
Are there any methods you use to get to that point faster?

true genius

I believe the mark of a true genius is the ability to see the end product or result clearly in your own mind and execute the process or equip and lead other to do so.

I think Walt Disney was a genius. So is Steve Jobs.

Who do you see as genius?