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SPOTLIGHTS P24 // A LITTLE LONG DISTANCE Getting Back To That Feeling: Jess and Josh Helton talk about their journey into filmmaking, love, family, and their relationship with creativity and self-awareness.
C O N T E N T S I S S U E
CONTENT P6 / LETTER FROM THE TEAM P11 / SFX TUTORIAL P12 / ALL THE SMALL THINGS
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P19 // SCOTT MARTIN Going Global (Submitted by Story & Heart): Scott Martin’s craft has taken him around the world. Read about his experience with travel cinematography and learn how to take the first steps toward a similar career.
P15 / 30,000 WHAT?! P22 / WHY A CONTENT CALENDAR IS A MUST P32 / FEATURE MUSIC P34 / CHELSEA MCGOUGH SPOTLIGHT P38 / TOP 5 FROM NAB P39 / 1-ON-1 WITH MATT JOHNSON P40 / SOUNDSTRIPE PICKS
P16 // SIMON EISENBACH Reel Stories, Real Changes: Simon Eisenbach didn’t set out to be a filmmaker, but when an opportunity took him to the jungles of Africa, he discovered a love for the medium that could also fill a massive need.
P8 // BOFFO VIDEO Member Feature: Stella and Paul Santiago go in depth about why they love wedding cinematography, and how they navigate the business side of things as independent filmmakers.
© 2019 SOUNDSTRIPE
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SOUNDSTRIPE MAGAZINE June 2019 | Issue 2
CONTRIBUTORS
CO-FOUNDER | Travis Terrell VP MARKETING | Chris Small CREATIVE MANAGER / DESIGNER | Phil Earnest DESIGNER / WRITER / EDITOR | Joel Porter WRITER / EDITOR | Jack McCann EDITOR | Hai Anh Dinh WRITER | Julian R. Vaca WRITER | A.M. Taylor CONTRIBUTOR | Maxwell Durley (Story & Heart) CONTRIBUTOR | Simon Eisenbach DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY | Chris Haggerty
Our mission is: “Keep Creating.” We do that by providing video content creators access to our growing collection of royalty free music for an unbeatable price. Your membership unlocks unlimited licenses for every song in our carefully curated music library.
Summertime... And the feelin’s ea I
t’s summertime and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably thinking, “Are we really half way through 2019?” Where did the time go? By this point you should be well on your way to completing that personal project, hitting that billings goal for your business, or releasing that piece that got shelved a few months ago… But here we are. Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie said it best, “It came to me then that every plan is a tiny prayer to Father Time…” At Soundstripe, our team has shifted our plans more times than I can count. It keeps things interesting but it also can cause a level of anxiety if we aren’t careful. So how do we combat this? How do we “grab the bull by the horns” and actually keep momentum?
OBJECTIVE: Secure a contract with a large corporate client in 2019. Key Activity 1: Develop highlight reel and landing page specifically showcasing corporate work. Key Activity 2: Make 20 outbound calls or emails per week to agencies or corporations and introduce services. Key Activity 3: Attend 1 conference or trade show per quarter and make industry connections.
it is also relevant to pects of the busine we working throug How are we approa solving? How are w cess of a creative p
The benefit of this approach is this: If the one large contract you have for the year BAILS on you at the last minute, there is now a process you have to land the next one. We now have a clear path to success even when things go wrong.
Garbage in, garbag portant for us to re inspired, so how do of our “creative ins and how it may be work? One idea is tentional creative i the year. We can w of conferences, pla concerts, or people time with. It may s putting this into pr complicated amon deadlines and revis more fulfilled could “planned” our mom
Setting 2-3 top objectives will allow you to prioritize your work and stay focused on what matters.
Control what is controllable.
OUR WORK
Here is what we can control: Our objectives. Our work. Our input. Our mindset.
Let’s face it. Sometimes the work we take on can seem mundane. Not every project is going to inspire us into Mozart-level productivity. So how do we stay inspired even if it’s the eleventh church logo we’ve designed in a single year?
OUR OBJECTIVES Objectives are measurable and can be tied to key activities which impact the progress of the objective. Here’s an example of an objective you might set for your business:
If the project itself isn’t inspiring, then let the process be. We can always improve our work. At Soundstripe, one of our company’s core values is to “Make it Better.” Yes, this is related to the output of our work, but
Soundstripe Magazine
What about our pr glean inspiration fr better? OUR INPUT
OUR MINDSET
One thing that we of is the mindset a bring to our work e No, you don’t have sunny, ball of ener it is vitally importa day with a level of and positivity. If w
Issue 002
A Letter From The Team
asy-ish!
o the intangible asess as well. How are gh creative debate? aching problem we measuring sucproject?
rocesses can we rom and make
ge out. It’s imemain creatively o we remain aware spiration bucket,” impacting our to plan for ininput throughout write down a list aces, favorite art, e we need to spend sound simple, but ractice becomes ng the chaos of sions. How much d we be if we ments of input?
day with belief, optimism and positivity, and pair that mindset with the other controllables mentioned, we operate at a higher frequency. When we operate at a higher frequency, we allow ourselves to welcome new and unplanned possibilities that present themselves. Here’s the thing. Even if you get all four of these “controllables” right, there is still a high likelihood of change to occur. So maybe our mantra needs to be something more like this: Control what is controllable and leave space for flexibility. Life and work for creatives can be incredibly rewarding and also incredibly exhausting. Treading the thin line with grace is the work of professionals. You can do it! Cheers!
Chris is the VP of Marketing and has over a decade of experience in the music business. His passion for helping creatives succeed led him to Soundstripe in 2016. Since then, he’s worked alongside a talented team of marketers to grow Soundstripe and help filmmakers and musicians “keep creating.”
have some control and perspective we every single day. e to be a bubbly, rgy every day, but ant to come at each belief, optimism, we approach each
Chris Small Chris Small VP of Marketing LFT
M E M B E R F E AT U R E
BOFFO VIDEO B Y A . M . TAY L O R
Weddings are stressful. Ask anyone
who has planned one. Congregating anywhere from eight to eighthundred people into a space to celebrate the union of two people is a task and a half. The checklist that every couple has to construct can be a daunting enterprise. Where do we get married? What are people going to eat? How many flowers are too many flowers? Getting the details locked down can also add an extra stress dimension that seems unnecessary. It leaves the bride and groom asking the inevitable question: Is all this worth it? Clearly, it’s hard to see the forest through the trees while planning a wedding, but imagine the relief on an already tense couple if all this heavy lifting came together on the day of the wedding. Pure bliss! When it comes to capturing the best day of the bride and groom’s life, a professional, experienced crew is worth every penny. Stella and Paul Santiago started Boffo Video, a Californiabased wedding videography company with the mindset of providing a document of the best day of a couple’s life.
How did you get started?
more candid way than if their future spouse were sitting next to them. We
Paul Santiago: I was looking for
play this during the reception. My
a business to build from the ground
goal is to not have a dry eye in the
up. Southern California weddings
house.
are pretty grand affairs. Lots of money floating around. My wife and
Stella: What we’ve learned is that
I would be at weddings of friends
most times the two groups of family
and family and I would always see
and friends coming together may
someone with a camera capturing
not know one of the people getting
the events of the day. After some
married very well. This interview
research and business planning,
provides them each with some
I decided that I was going to start
context to the relationship.
creating wedding videos. Stella Santiago: I came on board a few years after Paul started the
How does your on-site production compare favorably to your peers in the industry?
business as the consultant for the couples. I’m an introvert at heart,
Paul: We are committed to what
but I love getting to know people
we call a “Classic Look.” Where our
on a more one-on-one basis. It
competitors will go for sweeping
was a useful complement to Paul’s
panoramas and flying drone shots;
outgoing personality. He’s out front,
we are more concerned with letting
I’m behind-the-scenes.
moments happen instead of trying to fabricate them. I tell my crew to
Why weddings?
focus on getting coverage because as long as the camera is rolling, you
Stella: We found that it was
have a chance to capture some very
a lucrative business where the
special, heartfelt moments. In terms
customers pay up front and it
of interacting with the hosts and
allowed us to work from home. On a
guests, we run a very professional
more personal side, we both felt that
company. Our purpose on-site is
we could provide a service to couples
getting the footage we need to make
where they could trust us to have
the story sing in post-production.
their best interests in mind. Stella: Paul and I are very upfront Paul: One of the things we do is
about managing the expectations of
film separate interview sessions
our customers. As you may expect, a
with the bride and groom before the
couple may come to us wanting the
wedding. They each tell their side
most value for their dollar. When
of the love story in, let’s admit it, a
they make their wishes known to us,
9
nine times out of ten, we will say:
customers. It starts with “Sweet,”
do. The next step is to utilize the
“You need two extra hours.” We
which is our budget-minded
time we spend and get the most
don’t apologize for how much we
option: Very build-able. Next is
out of it. We want to move into the
charge: You get what you pay for.
our “Signature” collection, which is
luxury market arena, which means
our most popular and my personal
raising our prices. Moving the ball
favorite. That includes the bride
forward means producing more
and groom interview along with
quality content on a consistent
enough time allotted for coverage
basis. As our reach increases,
Paul: When you have a company
during the length of an average
Stella and I feel that educating our
with such a vivid visual element
wedding and reception. “Special”
growing audience via podcasts and
as we do, a strong social media
is our top-of-the-line. This is for
social media will be beneficial to
presence is critical. It takes effort
the couple that doesn’t look at the
our business and to the wedding
to post content every day, but we
price tag. It is the very top of what
industry overall.
have seen how it has benefited
we can achieve at this time.
How has social media moved the needle for your company?
us financially. Our podcast is still fairly new, but I’m already getting
What’s next for Boffo Video?
messages from people all over the world that want to know more
Paul: We are confident in who
about Boffo Video. You have to cast
we are as a company and what we
a large net in order to catch the most fish.
How does transparency play into your business model? Stella: Transparency is at the core of what we do. We offer three unique collections to our
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO BOFFO’S PODCAST WITH OUR CEO & CO-FOUNDER, TRAVIS TERRELL
Finally, what’s one piece of advice would you give a young entrepreneur? Paul: Don’t be shy.
TUT W
A T
C
H
How To Use SFX To Add Depth To Your Film
Sound. It’s an incredibly powerful component that supports your videos. In fact, it’s not a stretch to say that sound can make or break your project. It’s either really spotty and distracting, or it’s so well executed that it elicits the perfect emotion out of your client or audience. Sound is always critical to your video, and few can argue that. Not all of us are producing blockbuster movies and operating with million dollar budgets. Yet one thing is certain for all creatives in video: visual storytelling requires the effective use of every creative tool in the shed, and sound is certainly no exception. Consider the following reasons to use SFX in your videos.
Follow our Youtube channel for more videos like these!
By Travis Terrell Co-Founder & CEO of Soundstripe
“Success is a few simple disciplines practiced every day; while failure is simply a few errors in judgment repeated every day.” — Jim Rohn
failure. They are the fulcrum point that turns an apprentice into a master. Small things are what change whole industries. Stephen King has written nearly 60 novels that average somewhere between 350 to 700 pages. He’s been quoted to have a goal of writing 2,000 words a day. In a 45 year career, he averages just over a book per year. For comparison, it took J.R.R. Tolkien 17 years to write Lord of the Rings, which clocks in at around 1,200 pages. Whether you consider either of the authors works literary classics, in terms of sheer output Stephen King is a monster. In his infamous how-to memoir On Writing, King lays out his mental process: “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” Whichever creative endeavor you choose to pursue will initially seem like an impossible task to complete, but the key is making the task manageable. It’s ironic how difficult taking
We love to talk about work, life, and success as a single event, like how we dropped twenty pounds, built a successful business, or won the Super Bowl. The truth is, that most of the significant things in life aren’t single events, but rather the sum of all the small decisions we choose to make. Small tasks turned into tiny habits will compound over a long period of time and can bear monumental gains. I’m going to step out on a limb here and say that small things are the only things that really matter. Those small things are the make or break. They are the difference between winning and
Soundstripe Magazine
Issue 002
Travis Terrell
action on the small things can be, though. They aren’t flashy. They don’t reward you with a gold star and they can get repetitive and boring. You usually don’t get noticed, and you can’t see an immediate loss if you miss a day: If you want to build Rome, you have to lay the first brick, and that is hard. Let’s switch things up and look at this theory from a business perspective. If your business does just 1% better every week over a year’s time (which is very doable), your business would be 52% better, and that isn’t quantifying in terms of just revenue. It’s much better than spending 20 hours a day for 3 months straight until you inevitably burn out from exhaustion for the rest of the year. When my co-founders started Soundstripe from the back bedroom of my house, we honestly didn’t have a clear
vision for it. We knew there was a better way, but we weren’t even sure what that way was going to be. We didn’t have it all figured out, and we didn’t have all the answers, and we certainly weren’t qualified business people. Instead of focusing too much on the big vision, we focused on what we could do daily to work up to our goals. Every day was a push to see what we could accomplish by hammering out the details. One small decision after another. One tiny step forward. Progress is not doing BIG things every once in a while… It’s about doing very small things over and over and over. What small things are you doing today that are going to better your life and career today? In your journey to reach your goals, those seemingly insignificant small things may be not so insignificant after all. Small things over time can become very, very big things.
MORE
SFX SOUNDSTRIPE.COM
SPOTLIGHT
Simon Eisenba
Written by Julian R. Vaca
When you think of your passion for filmmaking, what is your earliest memory? A lot of filmmakers will tell you that they fell in love with the medium at a very early age. Whether it was making short movies on their parents’ camera, experimenting with in-camera editing, or just pointing and shooting, most filmmakers knew their calling since adolescence. Every so often someone flips the script.
In fact, it sounds accurate.
Another seed was
Growing up, Simon spent a great deal of time traveling and always had access to disposable cameras, though he never considered himself anything more than a novice shooter. Watching his father build a hospital in Mali, West Africa, Simon’s desire to travel grew, so he took his first trip to Burkina Faso.
Upon graduating f took a job at an en However, digital p calling him. So, he time pay and inves camera and a varie Simon just conside best, and deeply en experimenting.
Take Simon Eisenbach, the Owner and Executive Producer of Simon Eisenbach Productions, who confesses that he got into filmmaking slightly backward. (More on that in a moment.) His company focuses on “Creating visual content for brands that want to change the world.” That might sound like a rather audacious claim for a photography and video production company, but once you begin to learn about the man behind the camera and his work, his mission statement doesn’t sound all that bold.
“I quickly fell in love with the food, the culture, and the people,” Simon recalls. Traveling to that country with his father and immersing in the culture was an “adventure,” he says, and the whole experience may very well have been the first seed. Shortly thereafter, Simon enrolled in Intro to Digital Photography in college. His other classes and rigorous soccer schedule proved to be difficult and tricky to balance. So, in a sense, his hand was kind of forced to learn digital photography.
Then, an exciting o alized. “I got invite Taiwan for over si explains. “I was he marketing, photog for a church plant Figuring he couldn portunity to explo he packed up his g Taipei. The next si needed change of finally able to get o merge his hobby w spell in Taiwan, w
Soundstripe Magazine
Issue
ach planted.
from college, Simon ngineering firm. photography was still e took all of his oversted it into a Nikon ety of lenses. Still, ered this a hobby, at njoyed shooting and
opportunity materied to live in Taipei, ix months,” Simon elping to head up graphy, and video and coffee shop.” n’t pass up the opore another culture, gear and moved to ix months was a pace, as Simon was out of the office and with his work. That while instrumen-
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Reel Stories, Real Changes tal, was overshadowed by a stark realization. “Big city life just isn’t for me,” Simon says. “I needed a life reset, so I decided to move back home and reassess things.” It may sound rather anticlimactic. Indeed, Simon had just left his engineering firm in pursuit of this career pivot! Yet something was...off. So he took a few days to reflect. That’s when he got a call that would change the trajectory of his career—and life. “My dad asked if I wanted to go with him to West Africa. Seeing as how I wasn’t working again, I just couldn’t say no. The trip completely changed my future in a way I couldn’t have predicted.” When he arrived, due to unforeseen circumstances, the job slightly changed. Simon found himself driving around with team members from the organization as they built roofs for churches and inspected
Simon Eisenbach
well installations, and he photographed their vital work. Through many conversations, Simon slowly began to realize that one of the biggest struggles for non-profit organizations overseas is their lack of access to quality visual marketing resources. If these churches and organizations didn’t have the right equipment, expertise, or time, how could they possibly tell their stories? Simon knew what he had to do. “I want to support nonprofits working in developing countries,” he says. He realized that everything in his life had been building toward photography and filmmaking. While his path toward visual storytelling didn’t take him through film school or agency work, he was a visual storyteller nonetheless. “If I wanted to do this, really do this, I knew working a traditional 9 to 5 was all but impossible.”
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“I was meeting all of these amazing people who were so infectiously happy and joyful. I wanted to capture who they are, while also staying true to the very real situations they live in.”
CHECK OUT SIMON’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
Simon founded his company, Simon Eisenbach Productions, soon thereafter. He spent the next few years building his business in Utica, NY while also traveling back to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Thailand to work on a variety of projects. This helped him develop his distinct style and voice. One of the things Simon really wanted to avoid, especially in the beginning, was “poverty porn” style content. “I was meeting all of these amazing people who were so infectiously happy and joyful. I wanted to capture who they are, while also staying true to the very real situations they live in.” Simon’s voice and style instantly resonated with his clients and audiences. The work continued to flow in at sometimes breakneck speed. “Looking back, I don’t know exactly
how I survived the massive blur that was 2017. I opened an office space, delivered 127 videos to clients, completed 2 international projects, and doubled the business’ income. The work took me to Senegal, Uganda and D.R. Congo, and the latter was the furthest remote I have ever been for a project.” Specifically, it was E4 Project. While it proved to be logistically challenging, it led to enormous success. The organization has been able to fund the protection of water sources for nearly 18,000 people, it built a brand new elementary school (complete with desks and resources), and even developed a robust malnutrition program. Simon’s even in discussion with E4 about the possibility of returning in 2020 to develop more content for the organization’s next phase.
More recently, Simon has begun to sharpen his focus. To do so, he has sold his office space, scaled back his business dramatically to spend more time working on life changing projects, and even launched a YouTube channel with quality, educational content surrounding all aspects of these types of content creation projects. “As I look back on the progression of my career, I kind of chuckle because I never would’ve fathomed being where I am today. I’m grateful to have been a small part of real change in lives and creating more sustainable communities all over the globe.” Simon’s story is unique and full of passion and risk. Then again, so are the stories he tells, too.
(PSSST..... WATCH THIS!)
“If you’re interested in film making on a mission, find a topic you’re passionate about and get started! Check in with local orgs, or reach out to people who are doing what you want to do. You would be surprised how easy it is to get involved and find opportunities to capture otherwise untold stories. Spend time networking and commit to learn as much as you can about your craft and the cause. “The investment in your passion will always be worth it.” For Simon, it was worth it—ten times over.
S
CONTRIBUTOR
GOING GLOBAL: TRAVELING FILMMAKING OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVICE
SCOTT MARTIN Submitted by Maxwell Duryea Academy of Storytellers Story & Heart
Have you ever wanted to travel the world to make films and tell stories? That idea may seem like a dream, but it is attainable. Just look at Scott Martin: a selftaught filmmaker, Scott now oversees film production for Princess Cruise Lines, Holland America, Seaborne, and P&O Australia. You better believe that he goes to a lot of cool places—and captures stunning footage while he’s there. From Alaska to Italy to the Caribbean, Scott works hard to find stories that are both authentic and great for business. (and he’s looking for two amazing storytellers to join his team—read on to learnhow you can apply)
Diving in head first
Scott didn’t ease into film making, he dove in head first. After turning a few post-college videos into a reel, he sent that reel to Princess Cruises. Shortly thereafter, he was signed on to make videos on a ship working 13 hour days, 7 days a week, for a 6 month stint. And you thought your production schedule was difficult! But Scott flourished in this fast-paced environment, considering it an educational accelerator. “I was bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and ready for everything, so I really loved it,” he says. 10 years later, he’s still with Princess Cruises, but is now the manager of video production for their parent company, Holland America Group. Yeah, we’re impressed. During his tenure, Scott has progressed from smaller projects to longer-form pieces, building his pre-production development process and learning more about locations as he revisits them. He’s also
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developed a keen sense for stories that will help him grow creatively while meeting the needs of his clients. Thriving in the gray areas Scott says that he isn’t in the film world for the paycheck. “I really am in this to do great work,” he emphasizes. A love of travel has propelled him forward. “I grew up in Central Illinois in a town of 800,” he says. “When I started traveling, I thought some things were black and white. Travel has taught me to live in the gray areas and be super comfortable with being uncomfortable. That’s something that has kept me in the travel market.”So what kinds of stories does Scott produce, and how does he balance his creativity with creating a solid product for the cruise line? Local connections, destination-based content. After a few years shooting destinations while aboard the ship, Scott started seeking projects with multiple days on location to really get a feel for a place and its inhabitants. Now, he consistently goes off the ship to tell stories. An upcoming project he’s excited to launch is called “Local Connections,” in which Scott interviews local people about their passion for their cities, towns, or countries. The pieces blend interviews with beautiful local footage, truly giving viewers a sense of a destination. Scott has also ventured into feature-length territory, producing an hour long piece on Alaska, one of his favorite spots around the world. Made for Princess Cruises, the piece captures the spirit of some of the state’s diverse, tenacious characters, along with sweeping views of glaciers, forests, and the ocean.
“I make sure that no matter what, when I am talking to clients, they know our team is serving their goals.” — SCOTT MARTIN
word of mouth,” he says. “I think if there’s one thing I regret not doing earlier, it’s going into collaboration mode sooner to Scott studies the business side of filmsay to myself, ‘All right. Put your vision making, and believes that the ability to out there. Be passionate, and people are budget and pitch is crucial to success. He going to follow that passion.’” learned from countless failures, and has Speaking of since gotten building a more and more “Travel has taught me to live in the gray team, Scott opportunities. areas and be super comfortable with being is in fact Especially beseeking some uncomfortable.” cause he works people to within a cor — SCOTT MARTIN permanently poration, Scott join him: a knows that he producer and an editor. What qualities is needs to show his clients—in this case, the he looking for in candidates? “People that cruise line—what their return on investreally care about making authentic conment will be. What are his tips for other tent,” he says. “They’re going to have to filmmakers looking to follow suit and land understand at the end of the day that this sweet projects? is a business, but if we run the business “Number one, make a detailed project well, we’re going to be able to do some scope to over-communicate to clients,” he pretty awesome stuff.” Plus, a mindset of says. “Number two, make a budget that customer service—a crucial philosophy you can speak confidently about. Once I in the travel industry that he mentioned started to do research on what rates are in previously. Los Angeles and what a budget looks like on a movie or TV show, then I created a Community efforts value proposition for the executives.” Getting down to business
Confidence is key, too; Scott makes sure that his clients know what they’ll get out of a project. “I do my development in pre-production so I can confidently say, ‘Hey, you’re going to get so much value out of this.’” A philosophy of customer service also drives Scott. “I really do think that if there’s a distinction from the travel industry versus the film industry, it’s that customers are first in the travel world,” says Scott. “I make sure that no matter what, when I am talking to clients, they know our team is serving their goals.”
Why is Scott so excited to collaborate with Story & Heart filmmakers, and why does he continue to be an active member of the Academy of Storytellers community? “I feel like I’m creatively aligned with Story & Heart as opposed to so many other online communities,” he says. “I love what Story & Heart stands for: that authenticity is the key to everything.”
If interested in joining Scott’s workshop, click here:
Building a team Throughout his time with the cruise line, Scott has mainly worked alone, hiring additional crew when needed and when budget allowed. But he regrets not accounting for more team members in his budgets earlier, noting the power of collaboration. At first, he hired DPs and ACs, then quickly realized that he needed team members who excelled in other fields, like audio and producing. How does he find good teammates? “Every single person that I’ve worked with I’ve found through
We recently teamed up with Scott on our latest workshop, Dominate In-House Video (Even if it’s Your House) check out the trailer. We even used a track from a certain music licensing platform we love, Soundstripe.
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PRODUCTIVITY
WHY A CONTENT CALENDAR
M Most creatives know that, if left to their own devices they’d pick at their projects in an endless cycle of tweaking and molding and perfecting. If you’re a creative, you likely know this to be true. You’re a perfectionist. That’s okay. You also know that working like this is not going to help you produce consistent, quality content. This goes for most professionals in the creative space: Perhaps you’ve been dabbling in the world of videography for a bit and you’ve been gaining more exposure, maybe you’re an animator or motion graphics designer whose videos include royalty-free music to help your business, or maybe you’re a YouTube creator with a growing base of subscribers. Either way, your videos are being really well received by your audience and you’re finding that you’re not only ramping up the quality of your video content, but you’re also ready to increase quantity as well. Having the demand for more videos is great, but it can easily turn into an overwhelming situation if you’re not organized. Let’s take a look into what exactly a content calendar is, the reasons why every videographer needs one, and how you can get started creating one that works best for you. What is a Content Calendar? This can be most simply described as a calendar that details when specific content will be published. It can be a very powerful tool if you leverage it to its full potential. You see, well thought
Soundstripe Magazine
IS A MUST
T out content calendars give videographers an overall look at when videos need to be created, edited, and then published. Broadly, these can be monthly calendars and include important events, dates, and other milestones that will directly impact when you and your team will be posting content. For example: if you have someone in charge of finding royalty-free music, they’ll be able to see ahead of time when they’ll need to find the right tracks rather than rushing at the last minute when the video is already slated for release. Filmmakers will instantly see the parallels to production schedules. Where studio features require robust, hyper-detailed schedules at every major production phase, you can thrive with a calendar that’s distilled down to the basics and is very streamlined. Why Do I Need a Content Calendar? It’s no stretch to say that every videographer and YouTuber producing a significant number of videos needs to have a content calendar. While you might have been able to get away with a “shoot from the hip” approach to content creation when you first started, this approach won’t lead to long-term success. Here are a few benefits you’ll get from implementing a content calendar.
Issue 002
W You’ll feel less stressed and more productive. Content calendars keep you organized and on track without you having to micromanage everything. You’ll be able to easily see what projects you need to finish and which ones are coming up. By having your month mapped out, you will be able to focus on individual tasks that will boost productivity. Plus, you won’t be worrying about whether or not you’re forgetting something. All of your major tasks and benchmarks are now centralized in one place. Your team will work more efficiently and independently, saving everyone time. These are a must for videographers working with a team of any kind and any size. The calendars should be shareable to ensure that everyone is on the same page. In addition to operating from a calendar, consider merging you correspondences with your team to a communication hub (see Slack) that has integration capabilities. This way, if you decide to use a cloud-based content calendar, you can easily chat with your team in one place—while citing your calendar in real time.
Blog
You’ll more
feel less stressed and productive
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2
You won’t miss important dates and holidays
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Your team will work more efficiently and independently, saving you and your team time
Th You won’t miss important dates and holidays. Videographers who often post special videos on holidays will find content calendars to be especially helpful. Having a “big picture” look at special upcoming dates will make planning out these videos and the marketing that comes with it much easier. You’ll post more consistently. The first thing new videographers learn is that consistency is everything. Consistent posting of videos is vital for business, YouTube channels, and any other platform where you may be posting video content with royalty-free music. This ensures you stay on track with regular posting at a pace that doesn’t overload you and your team. You can plan ahead. This may sound like a gimme, but it’s worth highlighting. Creatives know firsthand that sometimes you get so wrapped up in a particular project, you forget when it’s time to pause and look head to a forthcoming video or deadline. If you’re operating from a content calendar, you’ll have more time slated for collaborations and you’ll find you and your team producing higher-quality original content. Period. With this “big picture” look at what videos you’ll be producing, it’s easy to ensure you’re only posting your absolute best videos on original subjects. Viewers and
Soundstripe Magazine
You can plan ahead
You’ll post more consistently
F potential collaborators enjoy seeing fresh content with lots of variety. It’s one of the things that will keep them coming back. Having a content calendar also minimizes the chances that you’ll accidentally schedule or release duplicate, irrelevant content. There’s really nothing to lose and everything to gain when it comes to using a content calendar for your videography. And, considering they can be very simple and still highly effective, it gives even more reason for creating one for yourself or your business. Creating an Efficient Content Calendar That Works for You It’s worth reiterating that a content calendar does not need to be complicated. In fact, the more complicated it is, the more likely you are to just ignore it. A successful implementation is one that’s uncomplicated and easy to understand. It’s easiest to start off using a digital calendar you might already be comfortable with, such as Google Calendars or Asana. This is a great route for anyone new to content calendars—especially Google, since it’s a platform you’re likely already familiar with. Plus, using Google gives you access to Google Documents, Google Drive, and much more. Once you’ve chosen your app, the next step is to sit down and start brainstorming.
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S/S If you work with a team, be sure to include them as well. Figure out how often you’d like to be posting and start mapping out when deliverables are due and when you want to be publishing. Be as detailed and thorough as you deem necessary—what amount of information is going to set you and your team up for success? Trying to fill out the entire calendar can take a lot of time and seem overwhelming, so try and focus on just one quarter. Fill in the calendar with all important dates for each video, including any days required for researching, filming, editing, gathering royalty-free music, and publishing. And while your information doesn’t have to be exhaustive, per se, make sure to include pertinent details. Filling in your content calendar will take some time and discipline, but once it’s set up you’ll find that maintaining it and updating it is quite simple. You will also find that, as the weeks and months progress, your productivity will increase, your proficiency will sharpen, and your content will be more consistent in quality. If a content calendar is only going to make you better as a professional creative, why aren’t you using one yet? It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get started.
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Josh
JESS
S
a Little long Distance
FEATURE
- Get Back to that feeling Interview by Joel Porter Insight & Wisdom by Jess & Josh Helton Although they grew up in the same town, Josh & Jess fell in love six years ago writing to each other while Jessica was living overseas. They were married within a few months, and it was from that love that the idea for A Little Long Distance bloomed. In fact, they shot their first wedding together for friends while road tripping through New England on their honeymoon! Josh & Jess are old souls, lifelong learners, and feel most at home on country roads. They are very stoked (as they put it) parents to two little ones and hopeful for a full house in the years to come. They dream of becoming farmers retirement and can’t get enough of road trips, meaningful conversations around a fire, getting their hands dirty (whether that be ink or soil), good books, and beautiful views. I had a chance to pick their brains about film making, life, discovery, and creativity. Their answers were wise beyond their years.
Who is Jess? I hope the people who love me will remember my passion for truth, beauty, and goodness. I’m consumed with finding purpose and deeper meaning in every last detail of the human experience, so I’ve always had an insatiable appetite for books and films. There aren’t enough hours in the day for all that I want to learn, read, write, and create with my hands! I had the privilege of extensive travel in early adulthood, and living in community with people of faith amidst poverty has been one of the most humbling and transformative experiences of my life. Motherhood makes me feel like the richest woman on earth. My passion is to tell the truth—with poetry. Who is Josh? “Do it for the grandkids!” or “It’s worth it for the memory!” have been my mantras since childhood. Anyone who spent any time with me as a kid probably heard those rallying cries as I was leading us into adventure and mischief. As far back
as memory takes me, I recall a fascination with stories. It’s easy to recognize in hindsight that from the beginning I’ve always believed it’s worth shaking hands with fear, adversity, pain, even a little punishment, for life’s golden ticket of a good story. So it was a natural progression to pick up my dad’s home video camera to help me remember them all. Even today I still get a thrill every time I press the “record” button, knowing I’m potentially catching a fleeting moment that someone will cherish years down the road. I was once told through song “We only have what we remember,” and if it’s true, I want to give myself and others a lot to remember.
A Little Long Distance - Get back to that feeling
How did you get started shooting weddings? JOSH: Accidentally. I was graduating college in December 2012 with little direction in life. I had saved up some money and bought a camper to live in the woods, and that was the extent of my plans for the foreseeable future. (I would have never imagined that I was months away from meeting Jess, marrying her, and becoming entrepreneurs together.) I’d gained a bit of a reputation for shooting and editing prank videos around campus during college, so when a former roommate asked if I had any interest shooting video for his sister’s upcoming wedding, I was intrigued. I didn’t even own my own camera or lenses at the time, so I borrowed/rented everything and shot it by myself. But I absolutely loved it from start to finish. The wedding day was a constant adrenaline rush (mostly induced by my lack of knowledge and experience), and the editing process provoked a range of emotions I hadn’t ever tapped into with Jackass videos. I partnered with a friend from college for the rest of 2013 and began shooting weddings around Nashville. I met Jess while she was similarly discovering a dream for storytelling across the world, so part of our falling in love began with a
shared dream of using our cameras to make something important. We dove right in and launched A Little Long Distance right after we were married. It’s funny—growing up, the thought never crossed my mind to be a filmmaker or do anything with art. I stumbled into it, and it has been a wonderful accident.
When my aim as the photogr unique magnifi exploit the per real soul of a p
JESS: In my school years I was always the one documenting experiences with whatever disposable or digital camera I had at the time, but I’ve always identified as a writer more than an artist. My interest in shooting always intensifies while traveling, so I inevitably began to have a lot of hands-on learning with my camera throughout my study abroad and humanitarian opportunities during and following university. My technical knowledge was minimal, but I found real pleasure in taking a portrait of someone who had never seen themselves in a photo, and experiencing their delight and vulnerability when they were able to see themselves through another set of eyes. Seeking beauty and goodness amid suffering has felt like an overarching theme of my life, so the delicate art of photographing not only the need, but the dignity and joy of the poor felt like the tangible work of that passion. Many of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken are from those days of “happy accidents,” shooting on auto, giving zero direction to my subject, having very little understanding of composition or what made an image technically good. What I *was* learning was shaping my philosophy that I’ve tried to bring into weddings as well: When you photograph someone who trusts you, they’re more willing to give you the gift of vulnerability and show you who they are.
JESS: I becam challenges (an of being an int day. I often fel the personaliti photographers were the life of they walked in were able to co bridal parties a seemed to be a gized by the co interaction wit on a wedding d the role of wed forced me to p authority and always hide be began to see th a quieter perso ding photogra clients it can a work with som calming presen nerves, and hig I’ve also been a “fly-on-the-w my clients’ wed as organically imposing or dr from the real p the commitme one another.
In the early st journey, what things you lea
JOSH: For a w didn’t meet th eographer”-no enough, not a “correct” ways somehow mak However, takin free in the earl enabled me to
See Alld work here
is to showcase myself rapher, rather than the ficence of the other, I rson and sacrifice the photograph
tages of your creative t were a couple of arned about yourself?
me more aware of the nd later, the benefits) trovert on a wedding lt pressure to mimic ies of other successful s or planners I saw who f the party in any room n. I envied the way they onfidently direct large and family photos, and actually fueled and eneronstant socialization and th hundreds of strangers day. I’m thankful that dding photographer has practice speaking up in challenged me to not ehind shyness. But I also here is unique value in onality, even for wedaphers! I think for some actually be a comfort to meone who feels like a nce amidst the stresses, gh energy of the day. able to embrace more of wall” approach, allowing dding days to unfold as possible without rawing attention away purpose of their day— ent they’re making to
while, I was insecure I he stereotype of a “vidot technically savvy gear nerd, unaware of s to shoot and edit—thus king my art invalid. ng on weddings for ly days or our business o take some creative
risks, and I found I loved making unconventional films. I’ve always shot and edited more with the content in mind than aesthetics. That raw, unpolished look didn’t follow the norm, but it made me feel something in the same way looking at someone’s childhood home videos did. So we leaned into that from the start, seeking out that nostalgia and making work that felt true to us and our couples. It turned out to be a great business decision as we attracted a niche of clients that resonated very strongly with the films. One day it hit me that if 100 video editors were given the same wedding day footage, no video would come out the exact same. I learned that we all-myself included-have unique storytelling abilities, so we should seek to understand that first before we follow a formula to try and replicate the industry standard. I’m grateful we found freedom to explore our business philosophy, and I think our films still resonate with people who see the world in a similar way as us.
alize it’s unsustainable. So you have to find other ways to stand out and plan for long-term success.
What do you think the biggest challenges are for creatives today? JOSH: Market entry is easier than ever, by a long shot, in the photo and video world. It used to be that if you invested the tens of thousands of dollars into your gear and were at least average at your craft and marketing, you could find work. Nowadays, the professional gear is unbelievably affordable, and most everyone is decent at marketing (read: knows how to use Instagram). Not to mention that the path from newbie to impressively good is faster than ever thanks to online education. Countless talented creatives are out there, but they get crushed by thinking they have to be more affordable than the competition. They do it for a year or two then re-
How does creativity exist in your life? Is it something you manifest or do you rely on inspiration? JESS: One of the beauties of being a creative in the wedding industry is that we aren’t crafting a story from scratch-the couples already have multi-layered, unique, fascinating stories of the families they came from, how their lives intersected, the experiences they’ve had separately and together—and our role is to uncover and celebrate what is already there. We’re more anthropologists than we are designers, which alleviates some of the pressures of creativity, but also makes it crucial that we really know and adequately represent the real people and their real story as they’ve experienced it. As much as we love keeping up with and being awed by other artists in
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our industry, we both tend to draw more universal inspiration from life outside of weddings and try to bring that into our work. Regarding what you do… What do you love about it? What frustrates you? JESS: It’s such a humbling and exciting gift that our “job” is being invited to intimately participate in the most important, celebratory days of people’s lives. We feel honored to be able to offer a product that will hopefully become a tangible memory and legacy for a couple and their families. One of the highest compliments anyone has ever paid to us is that they were able to view their wedding photos and film during a difficult day in their marriage and be reminded of the joy-full, hope-full beginning of their marriage and the promises they made to each other in that joy/hope. If the works of our hands are able to help any couple endure in their commitment, we
can hope that our work is eternally important. The most frustrating element of this work for me is the necessity of social media for it to grow and prosper. We really struggle with the ways we’ve seen these little devices change us and our human experience, and we feel torn about consequently succumbing and contributing to that culture while trying to showcase our work and put ourselves out there for future clients. If we weren’t in the industry, we’d love to be totally off the grid, so our heart aches for that simplicity even while we love what we do. JOSH: I often think what it’d be like to watch a wedding video of my grandparents. What if you could hear their voices, see their dances moves, feel their emotions, really just witness who they were on the happiest day of their lives? What if you had that kind of model to see as a young kid? These kind of reflections fuel my passion for creating
wedding videos that will b for generations to come. It me to pay attention every a wedding day, finding all moments and thinking ab one reliving them 100 yea Sure, it’s pressure, but mo it’s an incredible privilege new friendships, believe st marriage, and feel overwh grateful to create art for a savor the freedom and flex artistically and in our pers this job provides.I’ve foun ing that running a sustain able business as a 1 or 2 pe requires wearing many ha be client relations, sales, m branding, technician, artis service, administration, vi implementer, and everyth tween. I do not loathe all t it does stifle my creativity me to put energy into busi agement that is sometime suming and emotionally d led to
Do you have a daily routine? If so, what does that routine entail? JOSH: Start the coffee, change a few diapers, eat family breakfast (ideally on our back porch if the weather allows), kiss Jess and kids, bike 5 miles to co-working space in Old Town, arrive around 9:00am, more coffee, typically spend 80-90% of the day editing video, the rest goes to all other business matters, home by 5:00pm, family time, kids’ bed time, possibly physical exercise (running or mountain biking), more work, The Office, or reading. Are there any practices, habits, or tools you have discovered that significantly impacted your creativity and/or the quality of your output? JOSH: Two things come to mind. First, the most recent realization, has been working at a co-working space. Up until a few months ago, we both worked from home. When we moved to Colorado, we decided it was time to give an office a try. For a creative with any extrovert bent at all, I vouch for the co-working space even more than a private office. Creativity can be hard to come by, and it’s overwhelming and depressing when you sit alone in a room facing a creative road block. For me, this led to distraction, avoidance, and compounding stress and workload. The office space not only gives the accountability to not be mindlessly browsing Facebook and YouTube, but it also incites a feeling of camaraderie and togetherness. It takes me out of the editing hole when I need to see the light of day! Second, I have tried to avoid consuming too many wedding videos. I have several go-to wedding filmmakers I draw inspiration from when I feel dry, but I mostly try and avoid it. If I do it too much, I find myself wanting to replicate styles,
meet the status quo, and jeopardize my creative inspiration for social acceptance. Instead I try and watch films that inspire me outside of weddings. I’ll visit Vimeo’s Staff Picks section every few months and binge watch these exceptional short films. If one particularly resonates or moves me in an emotional way, I rewatch it and analyze why it did that, breaking it down by shot selection, pacing, character development, music, etc. I then try and channel this into wedding videos. What advice would you give to your younger self at the beginning of your career? JESS: I would tell her that the source of insecurity in my work/ anxiety before wedding days was mostly pride, and fear of being exposed as a fraud to other creatives. I would tell her that I can’t fully love the people I’m working with if they’re merely props for my vision. “That others may be praised, and I unnoticed,” should be the desire of my heart going into and going home from a wedding day. And that success isn’t measured by industry accolades or a shot going viral. Success is clients who feel served and supported by me on their wedding day, who cherish their photos because it takes them back to a moment worth clinging to. JOSH: Artistically, find your inner voice that makes you YOU. No one can be you, and that separates you from the competition. You will find pleasure in your work and attract ideal clients that connect with the heart of what you’re doing. Practically, hire someone to do things you hate and outsource work that you are willing to give up some control of. Do this as soon as you can afford it. Spiritually, do not forget—the work you create is not the full measure of who you are. You are already loved because you exist, and creating art is a gift to offer the world, not the path to your identity. Be free in that.
A Little Long Distance - Get back to that feeling
be watched It excites second of the gem bout somears from now. ore than that, e. I also love trongly in helmingly living. And I xibility-both sonal livesnd it frustratnable, profiterson team ats. You must marketing, st, customer ision-caster, hing in bethe roles, but and force iness manes time-condraining. It’s
a piled up workload at times, and that makes it hard to turn off work and be content outside the office.
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F E AT U R E D M U S I C
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You can almost feel the sun on your skin and the wind in your face while you listen to this summer playlist.
VLOGGING SHORT FILMS WEDDINGS
“Lucorum” “The True Path” “Six Minutes of Peace” Stephen Keech
Six Minutes of Peace is one of the top trending tracks that our wedding filmmakers are using right now. It features beautiful Piano and String sections that work perfectly with inspiring and romantic moments.
Chelsea McGough
The True Path is a bittersweet, nostalgic track that works wonderfully as a Cinematic Underscore.
Isaac Joel
Are you looking for a super chill song for your Vlog or Travel Video? Check out Isaac Joel’s track Lucorum.
F E AT U R E D P L AY L I S T S
Rev’s transcription service helps you capture more value from your recorded audio. In addition to converting your audio to a text file, They offer a complete online experience. Transcripts are delivered with powerful tools for interviews, meetings, films, and more.
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CHELSEA ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Directed by Chris Haggerty Written by Julian R. Vaca Mulberry Mill is a sprawling warehouse devoid of color. Birds often fly in through the busted windows and nest in the rafters. The large space feels empty, the kind of empty you can hear. That instantly changes when Chelsea McGough walks in, a mixture of giddiness and anxiousness on her beaming face. She carries a few clothing options with her, and once she decides on her outfit she gets mic’d up. Her anxiousness grows. She is seated, the camera turns on, and the interview begins. After she responds to the first few questions she asks, “Am I doing okay?” She is not fishing for compliments, though. She genuinely cares about this project, and talking about herself isn’t easy. Chelsea’s insecurity does not come from an unhealthy place; humility is woven into the fabric of her DNA. “At first I felt like a junior playing on the varsity team!” she confesses with a laugh. She is referring, of course, to composing
music alongside other talented Soundstripe Originals. Before she was creating music full time, Chelsea was stuffing envelopes in a sterile office. She hadn’t touched her cello in years and wondered if she’d ever play again. But music is a part of her story, a part of her identity. Inspiration inevitably struck her like a defibrillator—breathing new life into her reality—and she entered into a creative renaissance. She was playing again. Writing music. She even quit her desk job for a six week tour across the country. “It was like
MCGOUGH
riding a wave,” Chelsea recalls, excitement glistening in her eyes. That’s in part because, at seemingly every turn, she was forced to make a critical decision: “Do I take a risk and say yes, even if I don’t know how I’m going to do it?”
“If we want to tell a good story,” Chelsea says, almost imploring those who will eventually watch her interview. “Then there is going to be an element of risk, and that involves not having all the answers before you make a decision.”
If you’ve heard and licensed Chelsea’s music for your projects, you’re undoubtedly thankful she kept taking risks and saying yes: Her music is bold, sweeping, cinematic and full of movement. It’s at once understated and inspiring; emotional and driving. It’s full of risk.
Watch as Chelsea vulnerably shares her story, which parallels her music in a beautiful, almost poetic way.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO & LICENSE CHELSEA’S MUSIC 35
SOUNDSTRIPE I COMING SU
Choosing & editing music for your v
Introducing Soundstripe Integratio
I N T E G R AT I O N S MMER 2019
video project has never been easier.
ons with Premiere Pro & Frame.io
TOP This year, the NAB Show boasted itself as the “global marketplace for storytelling professionals.” This could not be a more apt description. The gear and equipment that was showcased at the Las Vegas Convention Center had filmmakers frothy at the mouth. All the top leaders and disruptors in the biz were represented, and there was some truly groundbreaking tech on display this year. If you didn’t make it out, worry not! Our resident film and video ninja Chris Haggerty has distilled everything we saw down to five things because, well, lists rule:
5. Chronos High-Speed Camera This is Kron Technologies’ second generation high-speed camera, and it packs a punch. Where last year’s release shot at a 1k frames per second at a resolution of 1280x1024, this upgraded camera can shoot starting at a 1k frames per second at full HD 1080p. Translation? If you’re willing to sacrifice a little bit of resolution, you can shoot faster than ever before. The starting price for this camera is only $5k. Pretty impressive, right? Click here to learn more.
CLI CK FOR HER OU R
4. Zhiyun’s Crane 3 This design is pretty much a total makeover. It’s sleek and intuitive. With this model they’ve included a top handle that makes it much easier to grasp and control over long periods of time. They’ve also perfected the ability to seamlessly transition to low angle shooting. It’s a huge upgrade from previous models, and it can comfortably support cameras that weigh up to 10 lbs. Click here to learn more.
3. DaVinci Resolve/Frame.io Integration Frame.io is now natively woven into the fabric of DaVinci Resolve. This is an incredible integration that’s sure to streamline your work-flow. You can now browse your Frame.io content right from the media pool and effortlessly drag and drop. There’s delivery page integration, so you can now publish directly to Frame. io from DaVinci Resolve. And there’s much, much more. Click here to learn more
2. Aputure’s Skypanel Aputure has been disrupting the industry for a long time by providing high quality lighting at a very affordable price. This year, they unveiled a new sky panel light – essentially their answer to the ARRI SkyPanel. Aputure’s boasts full-color spectrum, full saturation control, and it’s totally dimmable. And the truly remarkable thing about this light is that’s 100% ballast-free. The starting price? A mere $1,700 bucks. Click here to learn more
#1 P
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Just who is Matt Johnson? Well, he’s many things. A content creator. A highly successful YouTuber (he’s amassed over 9 million views across his videos and has nearly 200k subscribers). He’s a full time wedding videographer. A beard aficionado. A consumer of thick, peppered bacon. That’s only naming a few descriptors. If you were to ask Matt, though, he’d tell you he’s incredibly passionate about making quality videos and equipping other creatives to do the same. Matt has been producing videos since 2006 and filming weddings since 2010. In late 2015, he started making tutorials and reviews to help others in the world of film making, and in the process he’s been able to develop meaningful relationships and collaborations. To date, he’s won a film contest, received an official selection in the U.S. Drone Film Festival, and entered many more competitions. Though, his “real passion” lies in creating the best work that he possibly can. Whether it is wedding films, commercial promos, or video blogs, Matt wants to “make things that strike at the soul of the viewer.” If he’s not feeling an emotion at the end of something he’s made, then he’s not happy with it—period. We caught up with Matt Johnson at NAB, and you’re not going to want to miss his candor, insight, and yes, his beard.
Soundstripe Magazine
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Matt Johnson
SOUNDSTRIPE MEDIA PICKS
BOOKS FOR YOU
Screenplay Format Made (Stupidly) Easy (Screen writing Made (Stupidly) Easy) MICHAEL ROGAN Discover How to Master Screenplay Format! Fear not, screenwriter, because in “Screenplay Format Made Stupidly Easy,” former screenplay reader and optioned screenwriter, Michael Rogan, shows you everything you need to know about professionally formatting your story into a screenplay.
In The Distance - HERNAN DIAZ A young Swedish immigrant finds himself penniless and alone in California. The boy travels East in search of his brother, moving on foot against the great current of emigrants pushing West. Driven back again and again, he meets naturalists, criminals, religious fanatics, swindlers, Indians, and lawmen, and his exploits turn him into a legend. This book is an absolute clinic in storytelling.
Creativity INC. - ED CATMULL & AMY WALLACE From a co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios— the Academy Award–winning studio behind Coco, Inside Out, and Toy Story—comes an incisive book about creativity in business and leadership for readers of Daniel Pink, Tom Peters, and Chip and Dan Heath.
Tribes - SETH GODIN Since it was first published almost a decade ago, Seth Godin’s visionary book has helped tens of thousands of leaders turn a scattering of followers into a loyal tribe. If you need to rally fellow employees, customers, investors, believers, hobbyists, or readers around an idea, this book will demystify the process.
FEATURED BOOK Mistborn: The Final Empire BRANDON SANDERSON The Final Empire is an epic fantasy on the scale of The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. It’s an action-packed, page-turning adventure that’s quite literally unputdownable. You do not have to be a fan of the genre to relate to the protagonist—a street urchin named Vin whose courage will leave readers breathlessly inspired. Why you should read it: Brandon Sanderson is a master of the craft. He seamlessly blends world building, character development, action, interesting magic, and romance into this narrative, which is the first installment in a sprawling trilogy. Here’s the thing: you don’t have to love—or even like!—epic fantasy to connect with this story. And that’s what is truly inspiring about this novel: while it fully leans into its genre, the relatability of its characters, the high stakes, and the whip-smart dialogue will immediately draw readers in. feats is a significant resources for all creatives!
YOUTUBE CHANNELS TO CHECK OUT
Channel Awesome Need a little humor in your day? Check out Channel Awesome and the endless amounts of comedy critiques and opinions they have about nostalgia and pop culture.
Peter McKinnon Peter McKinnon has a channel packed full of fun and value. He teaches things about photography and cinematography, vlogs, and drinks coffee. Lots of coffee.
Thomas Flight Thomas Flight makes video essays about storytelling and film/editing techniques. The essays are very well thought out and thoroughly dissect scenes & themes, asks questions in the pursuit to understand why creators did what they did, and sometimes, tries to take the piece of content and “make it better�.
Kai W Kia W is a photography nerd, gear addict, tech lover, and vlogger who posts tutorials and reviews on all things technology/videography/photography. Thinking about testing a new lens? Need a new travel case? Get some more info on all your tech needs from Kai W.
SOFTWARE & APPS WE ARE ENJOYING
Sun Seeker Pro This is a great app for cinematographers and photographers that provides tools to visualize and analyze the solar path for any given date or throughout the whole year, for any location on earth. Great for planning outdoor shoots in advance!
Enlight Pixaloop Create moving photos for a unique type of photo art! Animate your photos & magically bring them to life with Enlight Pixaloop. It takes photo editing to the next level!
TV Paint TV Paint is a 2D animation software with the objective of providing CG artists with original tools. Its a great place to work with, practice, and learn about animation tools and processes.
1967: Retro Filters & Effects There are a million photo filters out there, and to be honest some of them are wearing out their welcome. 1967 is a new intuitive, uncluttered and powerful photo editing experience inspired by 64 vintage photo films.
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PODCASTS FOR YOU
Blackout Academy Award® winner Rami Malek stars in this apocalyptic thriller as a small-town radio DJ fighting to protect his family and community after the power grid goes down nationwide, upending modern civilization.
SOUNDSTRIPE SONGS TO USE IN YOUR NEXT VID
On Top of the World - IDOLS IDOLS is a band that spins all of the nostalgia for the 80’s but outfits it with sleek, modern driving melodies and rhythm, combined with emotionally charged harmony that put all of the feels into the soundtrack of our lives.
Empowered - ADRIAN WALTHER Stylistically, the majority of Adrian’s musical style is minimal piano and acoustic. Throughout his catalog, you’ll always find an emotional theme. Also- he’s Canadian.
IDGAF - LOLA Lola is the offbeat younger sister of the Jessie Villa and Matt Wigton monikers. This song is as spunky as you can be and still receive a PG rating.
That Hustle Tho’ - MATT WIGTON Matt Wigton’s music can best be described as pop, with focus on melody, contrast, textures, and bending and fusing sounds seamlessly. He draws inspiration from a rich musical background punctuated with a youthful feel and a touch of grit. Also, Matt once disassembled a light fixture in his sleep, in an old German hotel while on tour.
Armchair Expert Dax Shepard loves talking to people and is endlessly fascinated by the messiness of being human. He finds people who are vulnerable and honest about their struggles and shortcomings and explores their stories.. looking into the challenges and setbacks that ultimately lead to growth and betterment.
The Way I Heard It All good stories have a twist, and all great storytellers are just a little twisted. Join Mike Rowe for a different take on the people and events that you thought you knew -- from popculture to politics from Hollywood to History... The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe.
Building A Story Brand If you’re frustrated because you struggle to get the word out about your product or service, the Building a StoryBrand podcast will help. Fans of the podcast are ecstatic about the fun and entertaining way Donald Miller brings you practical advice about clarifying your message so customers will listen.
FEATURED GAME RED DEAD REDEMPTION II ROCKSTAR GAMES (Rated M for Mature Audiences)
Look...we know we are late to the party here, but better late than never right?! Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the best western stories, if not THE best western story ever created. The world is massive, and full of creatures and interactive characters that truly have a life of their own, making the game’s sandbox world entertaining enough to explore without a guiding story. However, the story of Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang trying to survive in a changing United States 30+ years after the Civil War is more than worth spending the 50 hours of gameplay it takes to complete. As Arthur Morgan, a gunslinger coming to the realization that the golden days of the “Wild West” are long gone, you see the transition of industrialization and civilization first hand, and struggle with the reality that the definition of “freedom” in this time period is facing an inevitable change. The choice you have to make is how you react to that change, and that is where the game gets interesting. RDR2 is a masterclass in storytelling and world building.
