New Year, Same Blog?

Who blogs anymore?

The answer is not me.

Since 2008, I've been blogging on this site and there have only been so much things that I have shared with my audience. I have stated before that my blog was more popular back in the day than it is now. These days, it's sparingly the main "hub" for everything "Video Vix[o]n". As the new year rolls in, I don't want to make that annual promise of "blogging more" because I feel I would be lying to myself. Each year, I look at the number of posts I've done and it gets lower and lower. Soon, I'll be posting a post per month and that is not what I want. Some restructuring is in order.

Honestly, it's not that there's something wrong with this blog, it's just all over the place. I barely post about anything video-related and it more personal; not even a healthy balance. So I look at Blogger and I see the "delete blog" button and a decision must be made; delete three years of blogging to start a new or build on this sinking ship and attempt to regain a healthy audience?

I'm always a fan of doing new things for the new year. Call me cheesy, but I think it's human condition to wait for a period of beginning to start something fresh; like the start of a new year or the beginning of a season. To me, the key to a successful blog is consistency and engagement. I have failed to do both and for me to try and regain these key components on top of old content just seems sloppy.

I think another thing is I am more prone to grab a camera and talk about what is happening than write about it. Could be due to laziness or not reading as much as I use to? I'm not sure what it is, but I'm sure that some change is definitely in order. I need some time to contemplate my decision, but no matter what I do, "vdeovxn.com" will still remain (considering I bought the domain) and I will make sure to make a good decision for the sake of getting back into the groove of things. Like every good show on television these days, stay tuned to see if this blog will be cancelled or up for another season. In the meanwhile, watch my latest vlog about having an "UP" attitude.

-Video Vix[o]n

I'm Thankful For...

-Having a job (even though it's seasonal part-time and it only lasts for one more month).

-My birthday coming up soon. I'm turning another year old in this crazy world. 

-My family, who supports me and makes sure that I don't struggle or nothing bad happens to me.

-My close friends, who make me happy and help to steer me in the right direction of success in my life, professionally and personally. 

-My cameras (Flip and Canon), which I have used to make some of my best videos on Youtube.

-My brother, who I can talk to and helps me stay sane when my own thoughts make me feel crazy. 

-My music that acts as a soundtrack to my life and uplifts my spirit, or helps me relax. 

-Delicious food that I eat which inspires me to cook more. 

-My mom, who makes me laugh even when I feel at my worst. 

-My girlfriend, who supports me and is by my side at each step.

-Youtube, which has become my stage to share my thoughts and ideas visually to the largest audience in the world. 

-My cousin, Hank, who makes me feel like the coolest dude on the block. 

-Another Thanksgiving past; another reason to spend time with family and loved ones. 

Happy (Belated) Thanksgiving

-Video Vix[o]n

D-I-Y before you BUY

During this content drought that Ive been suffering (mainly due to time restraints), Ive been thinking of ways to improve my equipment for whenever I do make a video again, as well as in the future. Sometimes, I slip into the immature mentality of getting better equipment, which I think would make my videos better, but it's never how good the tool is; it's the wielder that uses it. In the meanwhile, I figure that a good wielder should build their arsenal to be prepared for any situation. This lead to me deciding to do it on my own. Ive always been a little hesitant when it came to DIY projects because I always thought I wouldnt be able to get the right supplies or I wasn't that handy, but after watching a few videos like this one from Indy Mogul's Backyard FX, I think I got this down packed.



It's a shame I didnt discover BFX earlier considering they recently stopped the series. Their series finale was a homage to the amazing advice they were able to give to their audience for the past couple of years with making cheap and useful video equipment and props for amateur filmmakers to utilize. The amazing thing is, even though the series is over, thanks to them, I have a free library of cheap film techniques at my exposure to explore and learn.

I think the concept of DIY was popularized by crafty people who didnt have the financial means to afford the high end versions to the products they desired. Becoming a DIY noobie would be a good experience for me to become more independent in my filmmaking ventures, as well as save some pennies, which I need to do tremendously. I also think that creating something on your own is one of the most fulfilling feelings anyone can experience, on top of putting ones personal touch on their creations. Of course, I will keep you all up to speed with my DIY endeavors, along with the trial and errors, and soon have something to show off and use in upcoming videos. Cheers to self creation; the fuel to innovation.

-Video Vix[o]n

"(Magic) Lantern's Light!" - Firmware Upgrade

"With great power comes great responsibility!"
-Uncle Ben; "Spiderman"/Magic Lantern Firmware Wiki

A couple of months ago, Joshen let me know about a mystical firmware upgrade for most DSLR cameras that would add more features and functionality to the cameras we have now. In the first couple of seconds in the video above, you can see some of the firmware's main features that improves the functionality of any DSLR camera the program is installed on. After watching the video and seeing how extremely easy it is, I've decided that I will recline from performing this update to my camera.

To go through some of the features of Magic Lantern a little more in depth;

-The firmware allows you to control your audio output better, which is amazing considering the camera audio on the Canon T3i could be better (this goes for most internal camera audio, unless you have a high-end camera).

-Live Zebra, Waveforms and Histograms help to measure the intensity of light and color balance is in the picture when recording.

-Recording longer than 12 minutes is great for recording videos or any other project without having the camera automatically stop.

Basically, this firmware turns your camera into a high end DSLR device in moments. But with every major improvement comes with major risk. On the Wiki page, there is an obvious disclaimer which states "THIS IS DANGEROUS AND MIGHT DAMAGE YOUR CAMERA." Reading those words didn't put a good feeling into my mind, especially as an opener. When Joshen showed me the features in person from his camera, I was impressed. His camera was capable of doing things that we wished our cameras were capable of doing for a while before I discovered what M.L. was all about. The only thing is it took Joshen 8 months to decide to download this firmware, considering its risks; EIGHT MONTHS. Clearly this powerful firmware can make or break one's dreams quickly.

I've been warned that I shouldn't attempt this upgrade because if I do, I may break my camera and become forever distraught. That chance is extremely possible, but I ultimately decided not to go about this procedure for another reason. To this date, I feel that I haven't learned fully what my camera is capable of. I'm still in the beginning phases of a young cinematographer and there are a lot of things to learn to get the craft down of shooting and recording professionally. Granted, attempting the Magic Lantern upgrade may work and I would have a 2.0 version of my camera, but what would be the use of having new features when I don't fully understand the standard ones. They say its not about the tool, but the welder who uses it. I need to understand how to use my sword before I start sharpening it for greater battle. My goal is to do just that, minus the "magic" for now (probably one day, but not soon).

-Video Vix[o]n

Video Music Monday - "Thriller"

I think it is only fitting that on Halloween, this video is the only one worth reviewing.

In 1982, Michael Jackson (R.I.P.) produced one of the most epic music video/mini-films of all time. Though I wasn't born anywhere close to the time this video premiered, this first time, I saw it, I definitely didn't expect M.J. to do anything like it. After watching "Bad" and "Billy Jean" (my favorite M.J. track, by the way), "Thriller" was a complete change of concept and idea. I don't think anyone at the time though M.J. would come up with something like this from his head. It was edgy, scary and genius all at once. The dance sequence at 8:29 is probably one of the best ever in music video history. I remember trying to do the same shuffle in the mirror when I was younger, but I could never pull off the whole routine, for some reason (I wonder why). This video has affected pop culture so much that even Party City has made a homage for their Halloween commercials.



There's no doubt that Michael Jackson, "Thriller" and zombies will forever live in infamy. Happy Halloween to everyone and I hope all of you big kids out there got to dress up this weekend and have fun.

*This Halloween, I'll be "dressed" as a UPS seasonal driver helper because that's my job. Not exactly creative, but real.

-Video Vix[o]n

Gorilla V-I-X-O-N

*This post has nothing to do with the Biggie-esque type rapper, but when I think Gorilla, he was my first thought.

I was recently watching my Youtube subs and watch one of my new subscriptions, David Bolen. An aspiring filmmaker from California, he has a channel where he makes daily videos about his film experiences, going to school and making a name for himself. In his video, he does a review of a book called "Guerilla Filmmaking."



He makes some valid points; reading is fundamental to becoming a filmmaker and the two routes to becoming a recognized filmmaker have their upsides and downsides. If I had to choose which style of filmmaker I am, between independent or commercial, independent would fit the bill. Though I see Bolen as a little of both (after seeing some of his work), I can tell he has an independent way of approaching his passion. I, on the other hand, am a bit more guerilla in style.

Like James Cameron, I never went to film school and have a lack of film experience. But unlike James, I didnt read a few books over the span of years and gain the knowledge and resources to make world renowned movies. I'd like to say that I'm still at square one when it comes to filmmaking; almost to say I haven't produced a real good film that i can be proud of. Dont get me wrong, I have made/been a part of some productions that have been shared, by a small audience (my college friends). I've never experience the casting process, actual producing, having a defined role and sticking to it, etc. I, one day, wish to produce a successful feature/short series and be proud(er) of what I've done.

The opportunity has presented itself to me recently by being invited to b a director for a short pilot of a story adapted to film by a writer I knew from the blog-sphere a while ago. This would be my first time directing anything this organized, so im a little nervous. The usual doubts come to mind; what if im not strong enough? What if I'm not good at directing? Will my colleagues take me seriously? All of these doubts may still linger one the project begins, but I know I wont be alone and there no better way to gain experience than to experience. As one of my favorite T-shirts states, it's time to become "fiercely independent."

No Money, Mo' Problems

The title to this song seems to contradict itself because more money would mean less problems for me, especially these days.

I recently spent a lot on my father's recent credit card bill. As with all of my outlandish spending sprees, he addressed me about it. Usually, the convo would go like this:

INT. - BEDROOM - DAY

Vixon is on the computer, when his father walks in with an envelope and some papers in hand.

Dad

Vixon, have you see the bill? (X amount).

Vixon

(surprised)

What?

(takes bill from Dad, looks at total)

Dad

I keep telling you (not to use your phone during the day/

use the credit card only for emergencies)

Vixon

Okay, (I'll use my computer to make calls more/ I won't use the credit card as much)

(hands bill back to Dad)

At this point, my Dad would walk out the room and we both knew what would happen next; he would plan to pay off the bill and I would briefly think about not overusing again. This time around, my father started off with "Vixon, you're going to put me in an early grave." I've never heard my father say that before. I always cringe at the thought of my father's untimely (but inevitable) demise, but him mentioning that because of finances is another story. Granted, he wasn't being serious, but he did catch my full attention with that statement. He showed me the credit card bill and (though I won't share the amount) it's a good deal of money that someone without a job shouldn't be spending.

I felt bad (obviously not bad when my hand got use to pulling out the card and watching the swiping spree commence) because I was negligent and careless in my spending habits. If I was using my debit card (aka my own money), I would be mentally tracking how much money I have and how much each expense is worth so that I don't overspend. I will admit, after the conversation, I thought that everything would be as it were and the bill will be "handled," but after sharing with my friends what I've done, they strongly suggested I pay my father back what I spent. Usually, that thought would sound ridiculous, but they had a point. For a long time (aka all my life), I have allowed myself to be covered for things I would do and not take responsibility, especially financial trouble. I always had my father there to bail me out. This time, I need to show my father and myself that I must start paying what I owe in life.

I plan to pay back my father the full amount with my first few paychecks. Knowing my father, he may decline the offer and we'd have to have a talk about this, but I'm not going to give up until he takes the money. It's all about establishing some principles and becoming more of an adult. Giving away that money won't feel great, but I created the situation and I must pay my way out of it. Nothing says I'm ready to grow up than to start paying up.

-Video Vix[o]n

The Avengers are Coming!!!

Oh my goodness! I literally watched this trailer* like 30 times now. It's official; The Avengers are coming, especially the last few seconds at the end makes this all worth while. Can't wait for May 4th, 2012. Another reason to stay alive.

(In case this video gets taken down from YT, you can catch it here.)

-Video Vix[o]n

Blog Cafe 3.0 - Bloggers Live On

Yesterday, I was reminded why blogging became apart of my life. While meeting new people, it was a surprising, yet good feeling to hear that my name actually rung a bell to someone. The blog circle that I'm apart consist of great people and this event only made it bigger. I have to start having more faith that this blog means something and continue to show my audience why I am Video Vix. To all the new bloggers that I met last night, I look forward to reading your content. Who knows, probably you all will motivate me to read blogs more.

*Shout out to Wix Lounge for the amazing space. When I get my new laptop or have a fancy meeting, I will make sure to come right to you guys.

-Video Vix[o]n

Vdeo Bloopers [Xtra Clips]

For a while, I didn't have access to my earlier videos because they were all on another hard drive that I had to transfer and reformat. Finally I was able to retrieve them and compile this never before scene blooper reel from my first videos back on Youtube. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find footage from my Gary Coleman video, but nonetheless, it was fun watching my old material, even videos I did back in college, which I may want to re-release on Youtube. Anyway, enjoy this video of my beginnings. You don't know know where you're going unless you know where you came from.

-Video Vix[o]n

Am I Troy Davis?

Wednesday, September 21st, 11:08 p.m.

An innocent man died. Troy Davis. He was set for execution for the alleged murder of a cop back in the late 80s and last night, he supposedly paid for it.

I didn't follow this story much. Quite honestly, I'm not too well versed on the news these days, but this story is just unfortunate. Twitter was all the rage for the execution of this innocent man in Georgia and the Supreme Court, the "highest court in the land" didn't stop it. A crowd gathered outside of the prison for his defense; a large group of African-Americans that realized the evidence wasn't there, the testimonies invalid and the crime fabricated. I was watching CNN to hear the crowds cheer around 7:00 pm; the time he was supposed to be executed, for the Stay of Execution passed by the Supreme Court to review the case. Nobody expected four hours and eight minutes later that their hopes would be executed along with Troy.

The thing about social media is that it has a bandwagon-like behavior to it. Everyone on Twitter and Facebook was rightfully disgusted, as well they should have been. I'm not saying people being angry and upset about the execution was exaggerating just to receive affirmation from their other friends who are upset. I'm saying sometimes people aren't aware of stories like these, or are uninformed about the issues and when things start getting real, they are quick to say that things are messed up and it's not fair. This was the status I put up on Facebook last night:

"Though I don't know much about the Troy Davis case, it is sad to hear about injustice. It reminds me of Mumia Abu-Jamal; innocent black men trailed and even put to death for something they didn't do. The law is definitely not on our side. I could be like everyone else and say Troy created an example of us all waking up, but even with our eyes open, these injustices still occur. Don't wake up, be alert. RIJ (Rest In Justice) Troy Davis"

I didn't post this status because I wanted to be like most of my friends on my FB timeline, this is genuinely how I feel about the case. A lot of other people started to claim that "I am Troy Davis." The same quote occurred when Sean Bell was brutally shot and killed by police officers. I don't know how to feel about this statement. I know it means that anyone of us (in particular, African-American males) could have been in Davis' shoes, but at the same time, would anyone have changed to Troy Davis if the execution was cancelled?

It seems that we all connect to some who is not being treated fairly and we try to personalize the tragedy by saying we are in the person's shoes. If that is the case, everyday while he was in jail, we should have been him; when he was on trial, we should have been Troy Davis, not just when he gets executed by a crooked justice system. As African-Americans, we are all at risk of being persecuted for a crime we didn't commit. As I mentioned in my FB status, Mumia Abu-Jamal (if you don't know who he is, Google him) is still on death row for a crime he didn't commit. Nobody seems to be claiming to be him unless he gets executed.

The whole point of this point is that as awake as we can be to the justice system in America, which is not on our side, we must be more alert to the monstrosities occurring and figure out a way to combat it. Unfortunately, the system has been corrupted for years. So to answer my question, I am NOT Troy Davis; I am a man who can potentially be next.

-Video Vix[o]n

Cut Off My Lights (Extra Dark Cut)

The idea for this video came out after Joshen and I worked on the H.A.M. music parody. It made sense that we wanted to make another music parody to tie into the video with Kanye West. Seeing that I am the best Kanye impersonator I know, we got the lyrics down and the song produced early. The only thing that got hindered was the execution. I feel like at some point I was making excuses and stalling for it to get done, but after finally decided to get off the Procrastination Station, I pull up my sleeves, put on my 'Ye shades and got to work. I'm proud of the video because it looks good, was fun to make, and I've been getting positive feedback on it so far. Now that the official video is live on Youtube, here is an exclusive cut to the song that shows how Kanye and Rihanna interacted in the dark.



-Video Vix[o]n

Mistakes and Out-takes

Throughout my time on Youtube, I've been showing everyone my videos and they have enjoyed them for their comedic, serious or informative messages. I'm always striving for perfection, so when people see what I have done, they can say that it was well carried out and executed nicely. I've know more these days that I'm not perfect, and the video making process is not perfect either. I mess up; in videos I mess up, which leads to some interesting and funny content.

While watching all of my videos to find some blooper-worthy material, I notice that the best way I got over a blooper was by growling or making a loud noise. Don't know why that is probably, but it just happened. Also, I noticed that I didn't have that much bloopers than I thought. That's because whenever I make a mistake, I usually delete the footage and only keep the "good" takes, so editing can be easier. I learned now, after making this blooper reel, that it was a big mistake.

Messing up is apart of life, and it should be no different in the "video" game. We mess up on words, we say things wrong, we trip, fall and get messy. That's what makes up who we are. I'm not perfect and the footage that I capture should reflect that. To me, a blooper is more natural than any sort of acting because its a piece of imperfection that we have in all of us. Joshen actually wrote a post about bloopers being a good tool in building an audience, and I think I will start incorporating them on my Youtube channel as things progress.

Also, it was nice looking back on all the videos I've done (or at least had access to) and seeing how I evolved during the past year and a half. It's a good feeling. I've been through so much and I'm grateful to have my friends and family around to support me and give me criticism on my work, as I strive to make better content in the future. Expect to see more bloopers in the future.

Remember, I'm not perfect.

-Video Vix[o]n

Going Places

Yesterday, I had another chance to get out the house and create some content with Joshen, and to my surprise, being out and about resulted in gathering much attention. Throughout the day, we've been approached by multiple people, including an influential community leader who invited us to speak to some young people around our age about alternate career paths outside of "basketball and rapping." It made me feel good because I rarely consider what I do to be an alternate career choice; just something that I decided to do with my life. It's like my camera is Mjolnir (the hammer), and I am Thor. My camera basically gives me my power.

I've said that I should carry about my camera to more places to get attention and after yesterday, I realize that if Youtube were real, I would have gotten about 3-4 subs by people just asking what I do. Joshen and I are constantly figuring out ways to expand our audience and sometime we forget that the biggest social network is right outside our doors. It's funny how everyone who approached us asked if we were students working on a project because it seems the only accepted way you can be involved in videography is if you're a film major at a fancy film school (no offense to any film majors in any fancy film school/programs). One idea we had was to shoot our weekly shows in different locations to gather an audience and generate attention, which I will definitely keep in mind in my future video endeavors.

I know not everything I produce is going to be a hit or any idea I have won't be executed well, but I can succeed at getting my face out there and making people notice me more, so when I do make good videos, people will look out for me. Everyone else seems to be going places, I just have to go somewhere close by to make a huge difference.

-Video Vix[o]n

We Are Not Musicians

My latest video was inspired by well-known Youtuber, Mystery Guitar Man. The idea just came to me and the song was inspired by the rain, just a way to make sense of it all. Granted, I'm not musical prodigy, but in some ways, music has had a small, but intricate part in my life.

Most of you don't know this, but I had a small rap career back in my freshman year of college. My roommate and I formed the rap group, "New Playas," and to us, we were a hit (well to us, at least)

My rap name was simply "V-Jay." Me and him came out with a rap demo and everything. We were proud of our success rapping off of my microphone and laptop. My biggest musical inspiration at that time was Kanye West. I was all Kanye everything when I started college and I tried to emulate that through raps and poetry. I even tried going solo and tried making my own album. After some more episodes of rapping glory with some other friends, I put up my musical boots and got more involved with my passion of video-making. I knew my days of my amateur rap career was over.

Fast forwarding to last year, when I started making videos on Youtube, I realized that in order to make my channel more interesting, I would act as my favorite artist. By throwing on some shades and a cardigan, I became Kanye West, which lead to creating my first music video ever.



After working with Joshen, we realized that making music was the way to go in order to go viral on the internet. Parodies were the name of the game and that lead to other hits such as "Ball In A Cup" and the "H.A.M." parody





With these musical pieces out in the universe and more to come, I realize that my early rap career may never be relived, but through Youtube, there may be a way to live up to my musical roots and make them flourish. Until I pick up the mic again, you'll have to stay tuned.

-Video Vix[o]n

Switching It Up

It comes a time in every person's life when change is mandatory. For me, hopefully, that time is approaching soon. I am currently unemployed and that equals not having any money. On Tuesday, I had an interview for a Video Producer position at a business technology company and I hope that works out. Ironically, I don't like working because it takes away from my video-making process, but I need money in order to produce better videos. Outside of that, when it comes to Youtube, I'm constantly thinking of ways to optimize my content and gain more subscribers. It isn't easy because it involves reaching out to multiple avenues and sharing what I produce. Thanks to Google+, I have another medium to share my content (If you're not on Google+, let me know and I can send you an invite with your email).

In the spirit of switching things up, I made a new segment on my channel called "Vdeo Clips."



I thought that a weekly show should keep people watching my channel and hopefully, I can gain more subscribers and exposure. A good Youtube buddy of mine advises to be active in the community and that's what I plan to do. I have a new weekly schedule of content production that I followed this week and it seemed to be a good work flow. I know it's a slow road to success, but I have no intentions of getting off at any exit anytime soon. These days, I have no other choice but to make it and organization is key to making that happen. Things have been at a low point and they're gradually coming up. I just hope that momentum keeps going.

-Video Vixon

"Blog About It..."

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of being invited to a blogger's networking event at the Broadway Comedy Club...


It's one of the first real events I have been to in a long time. These days, I have encased myself in a nonsocial bubble where I felt like the Wizard of Oz; working from behind the curtain, but never actually interacting with the real world. I base most of my social interaction through the internet, which is one disadvantage to social media. Most of the people at the event were there to boost the influence of their blogs and themselves through their digital footprint. Most ranged from performers, to comics to general bloggers who were looking for some advice. This a couple of key items I got from the event...

-Keep fan/personal pages (Facebook) separate, in some cases: I currently do this now on Facebook. As much as I would like to spread the word to all my friends about the videos I create, I still want Video Vix[o]n to be separate from Vixon, mainly for employment reasons.

-Edit your "digital footprint" well: Your digital footprint is everything that encompasses your presence online. Making sure that all of the facets to your social media realm are up-to-date, not incriminating and clean is crucial.

-Put out your strongest material: Nobody wants to see your worst work. Putting out content that is sub-par is not only going to drive people away, but it will help influence others not to share your content for any reason.

-Blogging is a huge undertaking: I should know this very well. My blog has evidently devolved throughout the years, and in my efforts to restructure it, it is hard work. Blogging definitely takes a lot of effort.

-Identify people you like and talk to them (Twitter) to build following: I've been trying to talk to Kanye West for the longest, lol. But seriously, I think this is a good tactic in getting noticed and building up your visibility online.

-If people are talking about your content, they don't necessarily have to "like" it:
"I saw your video and it was funny"
"Did you like it?"
"Yeah, I liked it..."
"No, I mean did you like it on Youtube?"
That's usually how most of my conversations go with my close friends, but now I realize that it doesn't matter if they don't hit that "like" buttton (thought it would be nice to see), but as long as they're talking about it.


-Make good shit!: Pretty self explanatory.


With all this good advice, I should be blogging myself to success in no time right? Not exactly, but I will keep these lessons in mind as I continue to shape my "media empire." My blog my not go back to what it was, but at least I can make it evolve into something better. Lesson learned.


-Video Vix[o]n

Inspired By You[tube]

In my many journeys of being on "the tubes," there are a couple of people that have different functions in my internet viewing; to entertain and inform. Recently, I have been making videos that have been inspired by some of my favorite Youtubers. My first video was inspired by a cool Tuber named Onision.

Onision (or Greg, for those who feel more comfortable with him) is known for his crazy, psychotic and sometimes genius-like videos. He's funny, emotional, serious and down to earth. I thought this video would be a small ode to his randomness. Another Youtuber who I am informed and entertained by is Philip DeFranco (aka Sxephil). You may notice in some of my vlogs that I mention Phil a couple of times because, to me, Phil represents a voice on Youtube, a standard of success, in my opinion. I have made videos in response to Phil before, but this one was definitely his style and was successful, for the job that I did.

I'm hoping that either one of these two got to see what I did and the main goal was to get some recognition for it. Even if they saw it and kept it moving, it's better than nothing. As I continue creating content online, I have to give credit where credit is due and find other people that I can be inspired by (and no, it's not copying, lol) and try to match close to their awesomeness. In the meanwhile, I'll just be...

-Video Vix[o]n

Life's A Game

"Life's a _____"

I know everyone can easily fill in this blank with your favorite noun (I know you're leaning towards "bitch" because it just rolls off the tongue, lol.) I always have fun with filling in this blank because it's my time to get creative with analogies, like I would say "Life's a poker game, and there's no way I'm pulling a straight flush on the first draw" or "Life's a friend who hasn't paid me my money back from that favor I did for them months ago." I've recently been using the phrase, "Life's a movie" because it just went with my whole filmmaking theme, but these days, I feel like life is more of a game; board game to be exact.

Why a board game? It just seems appropriate. Everything these days seem to rely on chance and the role of a die. Looking for work is no easy task and landing one is definitely by luck. Though I don't want to re-enter the corporate environment too quickly, my funds are dwindling and I have to be realistic about my situation. I really have to put this Youtube grind on the forefront because I realize being a partner would change everything. And like the board game, I still have to pay off these college loans for me to even be able to get in the lead. Then again, I kind of wish you could roll your way out of different scenarios in life. I seem to constantly be landing on real life spaces, where I have to jump through hoops in order to advance. The only way I can see me winning is achieving the goals I have set for myself and staying focused. Granted, I could try to cheat my way out, but that wouldn't be fair to myself. When I win at this game, I want to know that I overcame all the odds before me in order to reach the finish.

Isn't that the real goal in the game of life? To get to the end and scream "I WIN!"? I'm waiting for that day. Oh, I got to go, it's my turn to roll...

-Video Vix[o]n

Viral Never Dies

What does this video mean to me? It meant four weeks of animation, gathering voice-overs, compiling footage together, and avoiding any way necessary to give GoAnimate.com my money. To date, this is the longest video on my channel. After watching it, I want to do more with animation and possibly have a series with me and my animated persona.

I'm undergoing some personal changes and starting to make decision to better myself. Granted, I should be doing that everyday, but I'll be doing some more and adjusting as I see fit. I don't have much more to write about. I'll get more in depth next time. Til' then...

-Video Vix[o]n

"Hands" on Chris Brown

As I continue on my video journey, I realize that a lot of people have been supporting me to the fullest; one person being my cousin, Hank. We've become close during the past couple of years; hanging out, partying, chilling, and just being family. As my older cousin, back in the day, he would regulate me, make fun of me and ridicule me, but now that we are older, I know that it was all out of love and we have a new found respect for each other. Being his only subscription on Youtube, he has watched my videos and given me constructive feedback on each one, so I decided it was time to introduce him to the world of video making. End result; a well-made piece of comedy.



I really appreciate his help. It's hard getting people, especially family, to help me with videos, especially knowing everyone is busy, much less has time to watch my content. I don't beg my cousins to watch my stuff; sometimes, I'd have to physically make them see it in order for them to watch, but Hank is a true supporter (and a funy dude, which made the video better).

On the flip side, I recently watched a video from one of my favorite Youtubers about what happened with Chris Brown at Good Morning America. The story is Chris Brown was a featured artist on the show, and one of the show's hosts asked him in an interview about Rihanna. That clearly didn't translate well with "Breezy," causing him to wreck the GMA set, breaking stuff and causing a lot of damage. All over Twitter, people were talking about it, so I finally decided to put in my $0.02.



To put this into a sentence: He's wrong, he'll forever be wrong, but he's human; let him live. I feel people are socially sacrificing Chris Brown now because it's easy to take shots at him, but in the end, he's trying to be a better person, obviously, he relapsed a little. He should have handled it differently, but he didn't. But, for those without sin, do cast the first stone. Don't worry, I'll wait...

-Video Vix[o]n

The Next Chapter Begins...

A lot of things have happened this past weekend, but one thing in particular was the most crucial; purchasing my new camera, the Canon EOS Rebel T3i



Having that I-finally-got-that-thing-I-saved-up-for feeling again is refreshing. I have stepped into a new realm of videography and filmmaking by purchasing this camera (as well as started myt bank account from $0). Taking this new venture seriously, I have taken the time to read the manual about the camera and make it my new best friend. It's been a while since I endulged myself into something I cared about. I just want to approach this the right way. Of course, the first step is just getting the camera; they are accessories and other components I have to invest in to completely optimize my video repetoire.

New chapters don't always mean that there is going to be a refresh. Having a new camera doesn't necessarily mean I will be making better videos. It may mean that I come off more professional in some people eyes. This is something I have to keep in mind as I move forward. Until I start using it, check out some test footage for the camera.



Sexcellent, I know. Once again, this video has been fast-forwarded.

-Video Vix[o]n

No Rest for the Nameless

For those who don't make videos on Youtube, you may not know this, but it is a really challenging job. And I call it a job because, despite not being paid for it, it takes a lot of time and energy to release an original piece of work per week, especially with a lack of resources. I will tell you right now, it is tiring. This video is a slight exaggeration of how I feel when it comes to making a video for the week. Being consistent is no easy task, especially for me, who has always had issues with consistency (this blog being an example).


I recently started my new job for a company named Mission Critical Services. Working from home, my day consist of waking up at 8:30am and talking on the phone and looking at my computer until 5pm. Then, when I'm done with work, I start to "work," which consist of writing scripts for upcoming videos, actually shooting videos, editing, photoshopping, promoting, updating, blasting, all on top of staying on top of the multiple other projects that I will like to get accomplished. On my wall, I listed all of the things that I would like to accomplish or in other words, the dreaded "To-Do" List (it's actually formed like a pyramid, with priorities not necessarily placed in order of importance). Outside of never getting half of these things done, my day starts from 8:30am to "whenever-I-feel-sleepy-a.m." and the whole process starts again. Don't get me wrong, having a job is wonderful and I'm saving up money for my new camera, but the chunk of the day that I spend on my computer calling people could be used to progress my "video empire." To me, that has always been the catch 22 of employment; I need a job in order to have money, but that job takes away from the time I need to do what I want and I need money to do half of the things I want to do.

As I write this entry, I'm suffering from lack of sleep because of being up on BlogTV all night promoting the same video you see above, which is not even my best work. My creative juices are drying up. The ideas are coming to me, it's just implementing them which is becoming the problem. I don't know whether it's my lack of ambition or doing everything by myself which is taking a toll on me, but it's not resulting in the best videos that I know I can make. I have to find a way to balance work, "work," and play. Then again, that would make me like everyone else trying to find a balance in their lives. Ironically, the time I need rest is when I start getting the most motivation to become better.

-Video Vix[o]n

My Conscious, Revisited

A little over a year ago, I made a short about myself and how I was feeling called All By My Conscious Self. There was a lot going on with me back then and the only way I could express myself was by making a video. It came off emo and deep, but it captured who I was. When I posted it, people reacted to it and one person replied that it seemed like there was going to be a second part to it. At the time, I wasn't planning on a second part. It was suppose to be a stand alone piece just for my audience to get a glimpse of what was going on in my life and a visual look of my conscience going at each other. With all the events happening with me lately, something told me that I needed to go back to that place in my head where the creative met the emotional.
With everything that was happening to me in the past few weeks, I felt everything that I touched or tried to influence was backfiring on me. I bottled up my emotions because I thought those type of things only happen to me and I just accepted it. But what really broke me was when I trusted a decision I made to a loved one and they reacted adversely to it. The details are too much to go into, but basically I felt stupid for making a decision for myself, which lead to a rabbit hole of thoughts; I am irresponsible, I make dumb decisions, I can never free myself from the influence of others. I was a mess. I cried. I felt powerless. Added on to the fact that my internet connection stopped working at home, it was hard to communicate with the outside world what I was going through and the only person that I cried out for wasn't around.
I knew this video would be the only way I could find to deal with my feelings, let them out, and become stronger to move on. I just so happened to be sick when I shot everything. The storyline with my clone and my bad conscience fighting myself and everything else came to me automatically; I didn't write a script for it or anything, just shot. When it was all done, I put all of my energy into the editing process and it all felt so new. I put all that I could into the video and I think that's why it came out as good as it did. A piece of me is in this video and it definitely shows.
What I took from this video is I'm the only person who is going to make something happen for myself. I shouldn't make other peoples' feelings or opinions stop me from doing what I feel is right. It's not fair and I know that I would never do that to anyone else, so I could only think what makes people want to do that to me? At this point, I'm going in a little to deep, but basically, I can only move on from this video and do better things. I only hope that the events in my life won't push me to make a third addition to this unexpected series. But hey, that's what happens when you're all by your conscious self.
-Video Vix[o]n

New Year, Reel Life

(If this is your first time reading my blog, then you haven't missed much. If you're a returning reader, welcome back... you've been missed)

New Year's are always suppose to be about restarting, refreshing and renewing. For me, all of this is happening, but not the way I planned it. This is how I spent my New Year's.



I've been running into some technical issues when it comes to my equipment; my Macbook crashed on me and a piece of my camcorder is broken. My technical issues reminded me of my financial issues, lack of finances. All of these roadblocks have put a damper on my mood and my motivation to continue. It's the feeling of everything crumbling around you and having the choices of "fight or flight." I want to fly so bad, but I feel I'm being tested in a way. A test of my endurance to pursue what I want, despite the hardships. The power of overcoming struggle and finding the support of others nearby.

This week, I was suppose to be releasing my comeback video from my 2 week break. During this break, I was suppose to write scripts, organize my calender of videos to come and other projects. Now that those two weeks are over, I have produced nothing new. I had an idea of a video that i recycled, but that would have been cheating myself; releasing old video fodder just to be consistent is not a good way of providing good content. Instead, the only thing I have to show from my hiatus is my professional video reel.



This reel sums up all the work I have done in the past two years. It's crazy how I could wrap all of this into a 5 minute package, but I am proud of it. All I can do from here is expand on what I've done and become better. Until I purchase my new camera, I will resort to minimal video work and mainly video editing. I'm still looking for work and I don't know when I will blog again, but now sitting here writing this, I don't want this blog to become my emotional dumping ground. Instead this should become the center of what I do, I've done and what I will do in the future.

*Raises glass* Here's to 2011... my new confidant. May you not betray me.

-Video Vix[o]n