...or, "Everything I Know I Learned from Being a Filmmaker." Well, almost everything!
The power of corporate videos has taught me many things over 20+ years. Here's a handful of "power tips" I've learned along the way.
1. THE POWER OF INFINITE POSSIBILITIES! While planning is obviously a critical component in pulling off a project, I've learned not to over plan. Film crews have what we call "Magic Moments." They're surprises nobody was counting on while filming. The cool thing is they happen on every job. Sometimes these are moments filming an amazing personal story never shared before, capturing that "hidden" smile that few ever see, filming a team working on a project and suddenly, out of the blue, someone shouts out a solution to a long-term problem. Magic, for sure. Deepak Chopra's work on infinite possibilities and coincidences can help you be more open to the "magic" of life.
2. THE POWER OF ORGANIZATION! A typical corporate video can have hundreds of separate elements that need to be quickly accessed during production and editing. I've used the Franklin Covey system for about 17 years now and it has been a life-saver. Being ruthlessly organized serves two purposes: one, it saves clients money and two, you can get on with the business of telling the best story without struggling to find things.
3. THE POWER OF QUESTIONS! One thing I'm convinced of: most people want to help you. They really don't want to say "no!" if you are seeking help or need assistance. BUT...they can't read your mind so the burden is on you to ask. Fear of asking questions will actually dampen your progress in life. Learn the power of asking questions and how to reframe your questions from my good friend, Rajesh Setty.
4. THE POWER OF STORY! Storytelling and business narrative is a big industry now. I think personal stories are holograms for corporate stories. A hologram is simply a piece of a whole that naturally contains the entire whole. Capturing personal stories for companies is a remarkable way for organizations to strengthen their brand. Annette Simmons thinks "Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins." I couldn't agree more. And knowing the "Elements of Persuasion" will help you get your message heard through the on-going noise we face everyday. You never know whose life you will change because of your story.
5. THE POWER OF DREAMING! Directing requires an intense amount of visualizing. The easiest films to direct are the ones I've visualized clearly and early on. Recent research has show that the brain actually has a hard time differentiating between what we call "reality" and previsusalizing a scene with our eyes closed. Hmmm...if the brain "thinks" what it's "thinking" is real, imagine how your life can change by incorporating previsualizing regularly into your life. Check out Dr. Joe Dispenza's work to understand more about the power of previsualizing.
6. THE POWER OF THINKING BIG! Nelson Mandela said it best:
"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, fabulous, gorgeous, talented? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. You're playing small doesn't serve the world."
Our ability to think big and to live with purpose is quite a responsibility. In my humble opinion, it is the duty of all those involved in creating corporate videos to create with purpose and meaning. Thinking big works!
7. THE POWER OF KINDNESS! Telling stories, regardless if it's video or any other medium, has the remarkable power to bring out the best in people. Everyone I've ever been involved with in a video story, from clients to celebrities to employees, has demonstrated our capability for being kind.
Powerful stuff, indeed!
---Tom
