Looking back across the country and lessons from the field.

The best moments I’ve had in the field are usually the exhilarating release of tension at a job well done. It gets easier from gig to gig. You see can see the early signs of obstacles coming, gaps in the plan. I keep a journal as I go. I learned years ago that each project will always be an opportunity for growth, for all involved.

I’m thinking back to one particular moment. I was on set for an bigger studio film. That work is so hard and this project was especially challenging. The weather, time, budget, and interpersonal realities were pushing back against us pretty hard. Even the star of the film crossed the boundary by sharing his frustrations on social media, (a rare ocurrance).

Later on I was commiserating with the crew back at the rental house. I was feeling down about the whole experience and caught the ear of a veteran lighting grip. His words were these: “Yes it was bad, but everybody on that show learned something”. If a younger friend had said this to me it might have been easier to shrug off, but I could tell that he meant it in a deeply important way.

Now I write everything down and even document my feelings about each experience. Those documented feelings aren’t just personal anecdotes, but an expansion to the schematics and technical minutiae. When people work together, the technical challenges of video, and audio production are only the medium. How we connect, and especially how we navigate conflict is everything. We can pat ourselves on the back for personal development, but when the chips are down, things aren’t working, or we’re not understanding each other, that’s when it really matters. It’s those moments where we have to remember to be present, and that media communication is ultimately a social undertaking.

Though this all sounds a bit personal and soft, it’s actually essential. We can be proudest of our interpersonal accomplishments and collaborations.