"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