Fuel for the Creative Professional

“Do the best you can do, even in the small things, even when no one is watching”
Said everybody’s Mum

I received an email from a client today that got me thinking about one of the most important factors in getting the best results from creative professionals. I can’t speak for everyone, but I think I’m on to something here.

The email was a follow-up to a peppering of suggestion for changes to a web video we created, suggestions from the marketing team who offered thoughts and opinions for changes, most of which I disagreed with.

There are lots of times when a client has awesome plans from the get-go, and great suggestions along the way, but disagreeing with a client here and there is bound to happen. I think it’s wise to balance professional insight and suggestions with the reality that some clients know exactly what they want and they want you to do it that way. Build a bridge and get over it. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Stop whining about your artistic calling and just take the picture of the heart shaped hands on the pregnant belly.

Okay, that last request is one step too far. I have, and will continue to refuse doing those pictures.

Unless it pays.

“I trust you”

I responded with a brief email, requesting a list of changes required. I expressed that I agreed with some suggestions, but not with all. A list of revisions would help me narrow it down to what they wanted. I got a quick email back, asking what suggestions I disagreed with. While I was busy typing up a tactful response, I got a second email. It read:

“You are the artist so I wouldn’t want you to make any changes you don’t agree with.  I think just making the changes you agree with would be best.”

That email made my day. If I were to toss that email in the blender to make it a smoothie, it would read:

“I trust you.”

Want to get a creative professional to bend over backwards to give you a top notch product? (assuming their mother DIDN’T tell them to do their best no matter who was watching) Tell them you’re hiring them because you trust their opinion, abilities, input. Don’t just tell them. Hand the reigns over and see what happens.

I think this principle carries over into far more than service provider/client relationship. I mean, it’s really the foundation of any relationship. Heck, this is probably an effective way to get a 7 year old kid to safely babysit your toddler.

What do you think?

Turkish Delight & A Man Worth Knowing

After a 10 month hiatus, we’ve rebooted our mini-series A Man Worth Knowing. By this I mean we’ve released another episode.

It’s not for everyone.

In fact, I showed this latest episode to some relatives the other day, and one response (she meant it both respectively and honestly) was “Why is this funny?”

I made some comment about how it’s not funny if you have to explain it. But as I think about it more, a better response would have been “Why do you expect it to be funny?”

I’ve laughed very hard playing back some of the episodes. And even harder while filming them. And maybe that’s how I infer that they’re funny. But that’s misplaced wording. They’re more bizarre than they are funny. And even that is just an interpretation. Though I’m surprised when people watch an episode and stare blankly at me ( if they had a true sense of humour, they’d agree with me and laugh) I also take full responsibility along with Luke and Aaron that prior to being funny A Man Worth Knowing is a matter of taste.

It’s kind of like Turkish Delight. 95% of people are totally grossed out by it and wonder why it exists. 5% love it. They understand.

Taste aside, it’s a way to practice our creativity and skills with the camera, sound design, and beard.

I hope you enjoy it. But if you don’t, don’t let it bother you. It’s not really that funny.

A Man Worth Knowing, The Vimeo Channel
A Man Worth Knowing on Facebook

Escape the City: My Short Film from California

Earlier this year, my friend Michael Fess (the same Michael who hired us to make these crazy videos) asked me to take the role of Director of Photography on a video project he was spearheading. The more we talked about the look he wanted, the more we were drawn to the ocean. First we looked at Ireland, which has an insanely beautiful west coast. But seeing as it was snowing in Ireland at the time, Mike looked to the south. He came across Big Sur, south of San Francisco, and that’s where we decided to head.

We spent three days shooting long hours – mostly along Highway 1 – both north and south of San Francisco. We ate lots of Denny’s Breakfasts (I’m still going through withdrawal), and both got a mean sunburn.

While Mike worked on getting his four video’s edited for the deadline last weekend, I worked on creating a film myself. Here’s my edit below, which is dedicated to my Grandma – Vera Summers.

Thanks for watching, and if you choose to, thanks for sharing!

It’s great to Escape the City.

 

Producer/Creative Director Michael Fess
Cinematography by Cole Bennett
Sound Design by Luke Bennett