PRIVILEGE...

I was working away yesterday and I suddenly realised how privileged I am. To be able to work on the area that lights you up - to be pursuing a dream supported by family and friends and to have nothing in the way - apart from the technical mountains - and then the performance mountains - and then my own stuff - in creating entertainment magic.... Wow...

I'm learning how to make films... and the integration of servers and codecs and frames per second interlaced or progressive and the relationship of film to tv, NTSC or PAL.... Seems like stepping into the professional world causes a shift in what you have to know, "Media Management is complex..." Final Cut Pro manual. It is though becoming less scary and slowly I am taking things onboard.

As a relief I've been on the Ventura recently - pictures to come soon. I used my tiny camera to catch my new presentation that I wrote on board - it was great fun. Oh yes other news - I was cut in half on Sunday in a field - a s you do. I'll post that soon too.

I spoke to my friend Neil about the project I am developing a long while back and said I thought it would inform and add depth to my 'How to get where you want to go' project. I was right... The challenge is bringing to mind much from my sporting and business life and in what I have learned over the years. All good.

Right now the cork stuck in the bottle concerns the last third of studio creation. Then... well once foundations are in place development will be next and then production. I have been writing lyrics again so the creative juices haven't stopped entirely. An idea for a web series also came up on Sunday on a boat.

Back to putting the nuts and bolts together now about rendering in different codecs? and the eyelet size for the curtains and the.....

Love

N

GO FOR IT KYRAN...

I'm wishing Kyran Bracken and the team all the best for his shows - 24 shows I counted in Jersey and Bournemouth - go and buy a ticket Robin (Cousins) is directing so it is guaranteed to be well presented. From rugby player to impresario and skater - go for it Bracken...

Me - off to Cannes, Corsica, Rome and home with some chats about skating on the way on the Ventura... then Brightons calling... hope it's sunny when I get back.

Love

n

Ahhh... Vision to Reality

Having a vision is one thing, realising it another. For many years I did not have a vision of what I wanted to do and, as I believe you can achieve what you can conceive - or see it be it - I was a lost soul - shame! It was a pretty rubbish time and I was finding self worth in the project of the moment. I can show you a CV of projects achieved... but it wasn't really me...

Now I have a clear vision of what I'm trying to achieve. It's all around creating entertainment products  - music, film, dance, shows and reaching people who would like this worldwide via the web. To do this the metaphor I am taking on is in the creation of  an entertainment factory. I love the systems and processes, raw materials in to finished goods out imagery. I grew up in north Manchester so the mills as they were are in my mind... 

So I have a vision, in comparison to the past, it is a great place to be. But it can be overwhelming as the vision is big... The challenge now is to make what I see reality in a timely manner. We each have only so many energy hours, how best to use mine?

I'm seeing the need for team - Together Everyone Achieves More - duh!!! But they can also cost a fortune and be inefficient. I am seeing what type of roles need to be filled if my vision is to be reality. Setting in place issues of vision, goals, strategy and culture - all stuff I've known in the past and used in various situations but it is clearer now. People want to know what is expected of them, what they are signing up to and whether it's just a job or a flag to follow, a cause to believe in. I think I'm on the development path to having a company with an exciting vision that people can be a part of and get excited about - rather than it being just a job. Now that would be brilliant.... 

That reminds me I do have some of the team in place already - oh yes - need to share the vision with them more...

Do you have something you want to achieve but haven't gone for yet? What not give it a shot... Will it be easy, maybe, maybe not, but you only live once and it would be a shame to miss having given it a go...

love

n 

OVERWHELM!

I am in the process of building my studio. It grows in complexity as I seek to join up the dots between film, editing and distribution. Fascinating to learn more about the areas I have been involved in regarding television and entertainment production but a real job of work to get it all to work smoothly.

The other day I was in my local coffee shop and Assoush, the owner asked me how I was. In a country called Overwhelm in a place called Running Away was my answer. Hence my trip for a coffee. We are both small business owners and we chat - he reasoned I need to know how it works to grow the facility in the future. I think he's right.

I would like to have one of those 'Matrix' plug ins. In the film he just had a download of 'How to do this" If someone has a copy of Final Cut Pro in that format I'd be grateful for it.

Off for a week on the Ventura next Thursday - Rome, Corsica - the plan is to get some footage I can use... So if you're on the ship don't be surprised if I rope you in as a camera assistant.

Back to editing then... I have the fastest Mac computer possible and its chugging away on a render - need to learn more about offline stuff... which makes it faster - apparently. Media storage strategy!!!

I am seeing some cool visuals though - I am skating in a field and then in the clouds... No I have not been drinking... the possibilities for creating stuff are great. Hopefully they will be seen before Christmas 2010!!!

Love

N

Ice Galas, da-da and first steps...

I am up to my ears in the project of building my studio. Audio and visual and linking up all the bits - one moment audio engineering next minute into the detail of chromakeying and staging. If ever there was a University course in how to make audio / visuals that was 24/7 this is it... and I love it. From codec's to jib's falling over to being gobsmacked at pictures that are being created and innovating all over the place this is a super challenge. My goal is to have the studio operational by the end of this month, next quarter will be joing the dots and making it work and quarter after that - well output... by Christmas. Nothing like being occupied.

Galas have been on the agenda - A charity one for breast cancer in guildford inspired and skated in by Charlotte Hawkins and then two for Arena Group last weekend. All very intense in terms of scripting on the day as I expected but went really well and were fun. Kevin Van De Perrin and Jenna McCorkell starring in the Arena Group ones led a strong cast.

Da da - my son says this first thing in the morning. He is 16 months old and a joy. He walked four steps on Monday after holding onto my leg for a moment. I gleefully told his grandmother's on both sides of the family who were singularly unimpressed as apparently that's what little one's do... as in walk. Well it was an exciting moment for Christiane and I! Tiger himself didn't seem that impressed but then he had ben inspired by seeing a young fellow of his height running around on the Sunday in church - maybe that got him going...