Guess what happened this past week... NOTHING!
As a partner in a small production company for the last 15 years, we often have to set aside our IP for a few days or weeks while we attend to the business of running a business. With two mid-sized commercial projects and a few days of filming on an 18-month-long documentary project, there was zero time to push the indie project forward. But that's ok. I'm thankful for the work we do, which enables us also to pursue our passion for indie filmmaking.
This week promises to be full of meetings and meeting editing deadlines, but I'll do my best to knock out a few items on my punch list.
How about you? How do you juggle everyday demands with your passion projects?
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I run a production company, have a job as creative producer and am directing an indie feature film. Nevertheless often there's nothing going on, and like the baron from Munchhausen I have to pull myself out of the mire by my own hair. All these activities need a certain amount of passion by the way, I wouldn't know how else I could stay in this business.
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Hey, Michael Fitzer, MFA. Doing nothing on a project is ok sometimes. We have other things to work on (like what you said "we often have to set aside our IP for a few days or weeks while we attend to the business of running a business"), we need to rest, we need to spend time with family, etc.
I make a daily schedule in the morning and prioritize things throughout the day so I can work on a project(s), be on Stage 32, etc.
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Ain't that the million dollar question :) I've found that with every project being in a different stage, the priorities shift on what needs attention when. So passion projects still get their time when I'm waiting on other things since this industry works at a glacial pace
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Michael Fitzer, MFA, I appreciate the honesty here, this is the reality for so many working creatives. Sometimes the best thing we can do for our indie projects is keep the engine running elsewhere so we have the freedom to return to them later. I’m right there with you, balancing business and passion is a constant juggle, and it helps to hear others speak openly about it. Rooting for you as you tackle those meetings this week!
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Not to sound presumptuous, the best content ought to have the most time. Details are one thing Logic another. All processes are important parts to the overall creativity, Time limits could be cause for mistakes, maybe not at the moment but over time show whats important or not.
That often times leads to reputation problems not the fault of the developer but TIME constraints.
No matter how good, if time is unimportant one might find big oops when finished.
Time for important work should be considered relevant and details sorted to perfectly done.
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Hi Michael Fitzer, MFA, sometimes we need to step away to refresh our ideas, see things from a different perspective, and then return to the project with new wings to fly.
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That's what happened to our small team... We finished a suspense script for an independent short film in February and had already agreed with the small team to start filming. Something happened. First, our colleague broke two fingers on his hand, then a camera lens broke. The camera body cracked, but the important thing is that he is fine and we got some footage. And I had already agreed to make two advertising videos for two companies. A whirlwind of things. The project we had until June was canceled. 50% of 2025 was gone. In our anxiety, of course everything would go wrong, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. NOW, write, write a new script.