So over the years I’ve develop different tricks to keep focus while I edit. Here is a list I came up with. I love list. Even if you aren’t an editor, this list might help you stay focus in general.
Ways to keep the flow going:
1. Block out the outside world with headphones
2. Play music you enjoy and inspires you. I prefer artist like: Hammock
3. Have a hot cup of tea next to you, the kick of coffee doesn’t last long but it works too.
4. Food within arm reach: fruit, nuts, chips, -chocolate is a great reward.
5. Phone on silent.
6. Fiji water (you’re worth it)
7. If you aren’t editing dialog, listen to Podcast. They can help keep the working rhythm. Especially in After Effects. Check out, “This American Life.
8. Limit how many times you check your email.
9. Keep a note book in front of you. When your thoughts begin to think of other things, write them down. Get them out of your head. This will make you feel like you are doing something about it. Also sometimes new creative ideas will come. Writing them down will help you do them later.
Those are some of my focusing and editing tips. If you can’t focus then take a break, watch an inspiring video or go take a walk. Above all else, get the project done!
August was a busy month for me. To be honest, my creativity and inspiration was consumed by so many different projects, none of them being my own. This was good but then it wasn’t. Though I was completing projects for others, I myself could no longer afford me.
Until now. Since I worked all of August, I financially can hire myself.
There are a different few projects I am working on this month.
The first one, I was inspired to jump in to children photography. I was out shopping with my sister in Baby Gap and was taken by the photos on the walls. The kids were just so darn cute! I told my sister, “I would love to do children photography, that would be awesome.” I then remembered some wisdom I learned from, Robert Rodriguez. -If you wanna be a filmmaker, then do it. That night, I posted up a status telling my 500 friends, “Free portraits for kids 2-5, book now.”
I have around five photo shoots booked, yes, for free. I am hiring out myself.
Second project, is to get my portraits done. I wish I could take them myself. I asked a few friends but I decided to do it myself. How you might ask, well.. I will post a blog telling you all about this.
This month of September. A month to stop saying “One Day”.
Today is my official four-year anniversary working at The Rock Church. I text my friend the good news and she congratulated me for sticking around and committing myself to a job for that long.
When I was out in LA a few weeks ago a few people asked me what I did for a living. When I said “I’m a video editor at my church” they would give me a blank look, having no idea what a “church editor” does. Many asked, “Why does a church need a full-time video editor?”
Well The Rock Church has 23,000 members. We live in a world where communication is visual. I communicate whats going on through video announcements (mini commercials), communicate the vision of the church through special spot light videos (mini-documentaries), communicate what God is speaking to the hearts of the pastors (short films). I report the stories of what God has done in people’s lives at The Rock, visually (the news).
I just don’t sit at a computer and edit but I also come up with concepts, go out and film, direct, coordinate, etc etc etc. Thank goodness I have Beth who also edits with me. Together we produce some of the most random, funny, deep and inspiring videos San Bernardino has ever seen.
Each week our videos are seen by 13,000 people. Sometimes on holidays or large events I get a opportunity to share what is on my heart. The cool thing about The Rock is they give me so much creative freedom. They trust me. I am a little girl back stage creating videos and they allow me to speak in to lives of thousands each week.
When I returned home in 2007, I kept asking God, “Why did you bring me back!!” Four years later, I now know why. The Rock Church has the most amazing heart for God and people. It’s a church that cares for people and has integrity.What I’ve learned here I couldn’t have learned anywhere else.
Here is a video I created for Easter about The Rock Church and World Outreach Center. We are a church full of real people with real lives who want to know God.
I am thankful and honored to be apart of The Rock. Happy Anniversary to me.
Dec 2006 I was completely lost. I had no idea what the next step was in my life. I thought I would be working and living in Sydney, but when the job fell through I had no where else to go but home.
Jan – March 2007 I was disparate to work and to contribute to society. I needed a job, friends and a new church. Friends were writing me from Australia about how great they were transitioning from bible college to the real world. I felt like God forgot about me. “I hate San Bernardino, why did You bring me back?”
April 2007 Some old friends invited me to the “famous large” church, The Rock. I heard rumors about it but never visited it. I began to go to their young adults. I decided to make The Rock Church my home church. Saw an ad in their bulletin for a graphic designer. I applied and interviewed. I was done waiting for a call from Sydney.
May 2007 “Can you start in a few days?” I answered. “YES!” I was officially one of The Rock’s graphic designer even though I wanted to be their video editor, I was willing to take whatever was offered. I needed to get my life moving forward, and this job was creative. My prayer was, “God just give me a creative job.”
December 2007 Visited Sydney. Loved it. Missed it. Camera got stolen. Pictures lost. “I’m coming back to Sydney guys.”
August 2008 I was promoted into the video department. I started to see why God brought me back to California. I was growing, learning and my heart began to mature.
October 2009 Another visit to Sydney. Everything was different. The boy I liked ignored me. “This is no longer home, I don’t belong here, good-bye Sydney.”
Jan 2010 Video editor. Team leader. Producer. Director. Camera operator.
March 2010 Bought the Canon 7-D. Officially a Photographer & Film maker.
August 2010 (Birthday month) Should I move to Paris? London? Vancouver? Sydney? Los Angeles? New York? San Francisco? Watched a travel show, learned that Vancouver is the second largest film & production industry city in the world.
November 2010 Started hanging out with a really cool guy. He was inspiring and caused me to see my faith and future in a fresh new light.
Jan 2011 Life was full of rainbows, butterflies and birds singing.
Feb 2011 Bought a Macbook Pro. Began doing more freelance work: Photography & Video. Layoffs at work and no more large events. Video department began to focus on how to use video to build the church up and not just entertain.
March 2011 Gray clouds. Really cool guy disappeared causing me to make up my mind. “It’s either now or never. Vancouver it is.”
April 2011 Spring. “Party of one.” Blog. Blog. Blog. Work. Work. Work. Cha ching.
May 2011 Four year anniversary at the Rock. I love my job, work, family.. *deep breath* But the time is coming for me to leave soon. Preparation is key.
What I do for fun is what I do for work. I am indeed a very fortunate creative girl. What I do for work is what I believe in. Today a friend complimented me on a video I made for church and I responded, “Thank you, I put some heart in to that one.” And that’s what I do with all my work, I put my heart in to it. One day when I leave this earth, my videos will live past me and their message of hope, inspiration, purity and creativity will live on.
Be ready to watch this kid grow up. David enjoying his childhood with grandma and grandpa.
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