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Hopefully I'll have a new more interesting blog post out soon.
Peace.
Trying to gain direction
I'm married, and I have a 10 month old son. Deep down I'm still the same guy who made the Milkshake Music Video back in the day...in some ways. I love to entertain people and be creative. I love hanging out with my friends and having a lot of fun. Although I'd never make a video like that again and there are certain lines I won't cross...I still love making Billgrip videos.
But what do I do now? I barely have time to make videos with friends. I live two and a half hours away from most of them. When we do get together, we just want to hang out and making videos can be time-consuming and stressful. I don't share the same level of comfort with other people that I live around now, and even if I did that still doesn't eliminate the lack of time to actually put these things together.
At the same time, I want Billgrip videos to reach their fullest potential. But I need some direction...at this moment I'm unsure. Here's some of the questions I'm asking myself about the future of this "hobby"...Welcome to the mind of Billgrip:
.....My job requires me to be creative all day long. I create brochures, posters, manage a website, and occasionally create videos. My hobby and job have become one, yet I've found that my job is not as fun as my hobby. In fact, my job sucks the fun out of my hobby. Should I continue to make videos for fun at all? If so, do I continue to make comedy videos? If so, do I make them about video games? I don't really play video games as much anymore...so that's not really me now as much as it used to be. If I don't make comedy about video games, what kind of comedy do I make? My friends really get behind stuff that relates to video games because they know them well. The majority of my audience subscribed because of Lag in Real Life. That video was a huge success, and we can continue to make those videos for almost guaranteed success...But we aren't really pushing the limit of what we could do...
...I'm a Christian. Should I make videos about my faith? I say I want to glorify God in my hobby, but is it enough to just make clean videos without swearing and to give God credit at the end? That seems lame. If I make videos that pertain to my faith, what style would they be? It seems like it could be more work and time than I currently am willing to give...
...Most cinematography I've ever done has been pretty plain. Someday maybe I'd like to make a legit short film, that can stand up with the millions of other legit short films out there. Legit short films need people who can pull off a convincing acting performance in a most-likely serious role. With all respect toward my friends, I don't know if any of them could do that as well as I'd like. I know I couldn't do it as well as I like. Should we try to make a horror film? An action film? Do I have the patience and attention to detail to pull that off cinematically...
...In order to pull it off cinematically, I'd need to have the right equipment...which I do not. I have the right programs, a decent camera, but no dolly-tracks or lighting sets or people to run that stuff while I'd direct. I don't have the money for that stuff and probably never will. Then, even if I had that stuff, would I have the time, motivation, people resources, and know-how to do it right?...I need direction.
Meanwhile since I'm trying to find direction, I'm actually just standing still.
But what do I do now? I barely have time to make videos with friends. I live two and a half hours away from most of them. When we do get together, we just want to hang out and making videos can be time-consuming and stressful. I don't share the same level of comfort with other people that I live around now, and even if I did that still doesn't eliminate the lack of time to actually put these things together.
At the same time, I want Billgrip videos to reach their fullest potential. But I need some direction...at this moment I'm unsure. Here's some of the questions I'm asking myself about the future of this "hobby"...Welcome to the mind of Billgrip:
.....My job requires me to be creative all day long. I create brochures, posters, manage a website, and occasionally create videos. My hobby and job have become one, yet I've found that my job is not as fun as my hobby. In fact, my job sucks the fun out of my hobby. Should I continue to make videos for fun at all? If so, do I continue to make comedy videos? If so, do I make them about video games? I don't really play video games as much anymore...so that's not really me now as much as it used to be. If I don't make comedy about video games, what kind of comedy do I make? My friends really get behind stuff that relates to video games because they know them well. The majority of my audience subscribed because of Lag in Real Life. That video was a huge success, and we can continue to make those videos for almost guaranteed success...But we aren't really pushing the limit of what we could do...
...I'm a Christian. Should I make videos about my faith? I say I want to glorify God in my hobby, but is it enough to just make clean videos without swearing and to give God credit at the end? That seems lame. If I make videos that pertain to my faith, what style would they be? It seems like it could be more work and time than I currently am willing to give...
...Most cinematography I've ever done has been pretty plain. Someday maybe I'd like to make a legit short film, that can stand up with the millions of other legit short films out there. Legit short films need people who can pull off a convincing acting performance in a most-likely serious role. With all respect toward my friends, I don't know if any of them could do that as well as I'd like. I know I couldn't do it as well as I like. Should we try to make a horror film? An action film? Do I have the patience and attention to detail to pull that off cinematically...
...In order to pull it off cinematically, I'd need to have the right equipment...which I do not. I have the right programs, a decent camera, but no dolly-tracks or lighting sets or people to run that stuff while I'd direct. I don't have the money for that stuff and probably never will. Then, even if I had that stuff, would I have the time, motivation, people resources, and know-how to do it right?...I need direction.
Meanwhile since I'm trying to find direction, I'm actually just standing still.
What has Bill been up to?
Let me start by saying that I'm a very busy man. In fact, I'm so busy that even as I write this there are at least 300 other things I could be doing...but I will continue despite the odds working against me.
As many of you know, I am a father. My son, Judah, was born on May 18th. Despite the fact that he is still an infant and really doesn't do too much more than eat, sleep, cry, and poop...I'm loving every minute of it! The wife and I have a family youtube page, and we've posted a couple of videos of Judah if you're interested. Click here to check it out.
Becoming a father has been a big adjustment on a couple of levels. In addition to the fact that there is a tiny human who needs his parents to take care of him constantly, my wife is now a stay at home mom. Before Judah was born, her and I worked together every day doing media for the camp where we work. Now, I am the only media person here...and it's summer time. That means that I don't get to see her as much because there is much more to do at my job.
My job is awesome. I am very blessed to have it. I get to use the gifts that God gave me to serve Him! I'm also learning a lot. In fact, everyday I learn that I knew less than I thought I did the day before. I graduated college with a degree in "video production" and when I started here I thought that would be the main thing I'd be doing. But I was wrong. In fact, video is probably one of my lowest priorities here. My job includes many other responsibilities. I am now very capable in photography, graphic design, print media, marketing, web maintenance, and web design. I even have live television experience now! Basically I am getting to the point where I can do almost anything media. I haven't arrived yet, but I'm definitely a lot closer than I was a year ago.
Work keeps me busy during the day, and my video hobby keeps me busy at night. On the nights where I don't meet with my small group (usually we meet two-three times per week), I have been editing wedding videos. I have not even advertised once, and I have already done 4 weddings and I will be doing a 5th wedding next week. Who knows, maybe this will become a full-time business someday.
And last but not least, my relationship with God, my understanding of God, and my desire to glorify Him have grown immensely. The same thing that I said above regarding life in general also applies to knowing God- the more I learn about God the more I discover that I don't know as much as I thought I did. That is the best part of knowing the Creator- He is infinitely glorious, and once you know about His glory, you know that it is the only thing that is worth pursuing in this life, and that it is the only thing that makes eternity so worth looking forward to.
Thanks for reading. I'll have more time at the end of the summer to post videos and things. In fact, I already have a few edited on my computer and the list of great ideas is growing longer and longer! Peace out!
-Billgrip
P.S. I mentioned that I'm improving in the area of photography...here's a video I threw together of some pictures I took of fireworks the other night. I hope you enjoy! =]
As many of you know, I am a father. My son, Judah, was born on May 18th. Despite the fact that he is still an infant and really doesn't do too much more than eat, sleep, cry, and poop...I'm loving every minute of it! The wife and I have a family youtube page, and we've posted a couple of videos of Judah if you're interested. Click here to check it out.
Becoming a father has been a big adjustment on a couple of levels. In addition to the fact that there is a tiny human who needs his parents to take care of him constantly, my wife is now a stay at home mom. Before Judah was born, her and I worked together every day doing media for the camp where we work. Now, I am the only media person here...and it's summer time. That means that I don't get to see her as much because there is much more to do at my job.
My job is awesome. I am very blessed to have it. I get to use the gifts that God gave me to serve Him! I'm also learning a lot. In fact, everyday I learn that I knew less than I thought I did the day before. I graduated college with a degree in "video production" and when I started here I thought that would be the main thing I'd be doing. But I was wrong. In fact, video is probably one of my lowest priorities here. My job includes many other responsibilities. I am now very capable in photography, graphic design, print media, marketing, web maintenance, and web design. I even have live television experience now! Basically I am getting to the point where I can do almost anything media. I haven't arrived yet, but I'm definitely a lot closer than I was a year ago.
Work keeps me busy during the day, and my video hobby keeps me busy at night. On the nights where I don't meet with my small group (usually we meet two-three times per week), I have been editing wedding videos. I have not even advertised once, and I have already done 4 weddings and I will be doing a 5th wedding next week. Who knows, maybe this will become a full-time business someday.
And last but not least, my relationship with God, my understanding of God, and my desire to glorify Him have grown immensely. The same thing that I said above regarding life in general also applies to knowing God- the more I learn about God the more I discover that I don't know as much as I thought I did. That is the best part of knowing the Creator- He is infinitely glorious, and once you know about His glory, you know that it is the only thing that is worth pursuing in this life, and that it is the only thing that makes eternity so worth looking forward to.
Thanks for reading. I'll have more time at the end of the summer to post videos and things. In fact, I already have a few edited on my computer and the list of great ideas is growing longer and longer! Peace out!
-Billgrip
P.S. I mentioned that I'm improving in the area of photography...here's a video I threw together of some pictures I took of fireworks the other night. I hope you enjoy! =]
The story behind the PWN The NOOBS Music Video
One week ago I released what is probably my personal favorite of all the videos I've ever made. It has also been very successful in terms of views for a Billgrip video- getting around 4,000 in its first week. Most people who have watched the video have liked it, and I think that those who didn't like it just didn't understand it. I don't consider myself to be a rapper, nor do I consider myself to be good at online video games anymore...although there definitely was a day when I used to PWN those NOOBs regularly :).
Go back to the Spring of 2008. This project started as an inside joke that basically involved me and my friends making fun of "hardcore gamers" who care way too much about PWNING NOOBS. I wrote the lyrics and everyone thought it was hilarious, but we didn't know anyone who could make the music. Then came fall of 2008- I became good friends with Logan Lukow. He was actually pursuing a degree in recording, plus he had been in a band for a few years, and he was really good at video games. Basically the perfect man for the job. So we started working on it, but with school and my upcoming wedding, the project moved slowly. However, by early spring of 2009 we had recorded everyone's parts and we were ready to film.
This video was originally supposed to be the next video after Lag in Real Life. We had two Canon HV20's to use for the project, but both broke in the same week! Before we could get the cameras fixed, Lindsay and I moved away from Hastings to work at a summer camp, and the project had to be put on hold until later.
Summer came and went, and fall came and went. But during that time Logan kept on working on the song. Every time I listened to it, the song seemed to get more awesome. All that time the video was still in the back of my mind, and I kept getting more and more ideas on how to make the video awesome. We were supposed to film it around Christmas time 2009, but a freak blizzard came and made filming impossible. However, that gave us even more time to make it better. Finally this spring everything came together and we were able to film it. The only thing that didn't work out as I had hoped was that my friends Micah and Truman couldn't be there, but that's okay because everyone did a great job and the final video turned out great! We have finally accomplished a 2 year project. It was definitely a good feeling to get this video done.
I learned a lot by doing this whole project and every other video I do now seems a whole lot easier. There will probably be a day when another Billgrip video comes along that out-does this one, but that might be a while. I plan on writing a blog post soon all about the process of making this video, so look forward to that!
-Billgrip
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