After years of making content, ie: Web Series, shorts, a play, a feature film, and even now an app game, I have learned the lesson of how much time everything takes.
I am a person who wants everything yesterday, and patience has never been my strong suit. Every time I begin a project, I think, “O this will only take a few months” and of course a year and a half later, the project is still in the making.
I wanted to write about this because I think it is so important for people to be aware of the time things take, and to not get discouraged when things don’t happen faster. I feel like since I struggle with this, I’m sure there must be others out there that struggle with it as well.
The key to success is following through, and staying the course, even when the road gets bumpy. And since nothing happens overnight, it is so important to be passionate about the project you are embarking on. That is what will keep you motivated when obstacles begin to fly your way.
The greatest example I can share is my latest endeavor, a live action app game for the iphone. My team and I began the process January of last year. We all met in my living room, and set out to use our filmmaking skills to incorporate into a game. We estimated the process would only take a few months, and the game would be released by the summer of 2012. BOY, were we wrong, but thankfully everyone involved was incredibly dedicated and has not given up to this day. We began writing in January, and our plan was to spend a month shooting. We shot for five days a week, eight to ten hour days, and it took four months to complete principle photography. Then we moved into the editing process, which took AGAIN longer than we had expected. Now the game is finally in the programmer’s hands, and we are all still dedicated to launching this product, a year and a half later.
I want to encourage people to follow through in whatever path they are on. When I was younger I would give up so easily thinking, “This is impossible”. I would almost give up before I even started. But commitment is a habit, we can learn and nurture in time. And I have found that once I have completed a project I am addicted, and I can’t wait to do it all over again.
But no man is an island, and you must surround yourself with like minded people, dedicated, talented hardworking folks, who will follow through till the end.
Just go out there and do it! If you don’t do it, you have automatically failed. So really there is nothing to lose. And there is no better time than TODAY to begin!