Creativity Friday: But I really want to direct!

Okay, I’m officially obsessed with video-making, after creating my second Doomed Queens video for AsktheQueens.com. (Check it out here. I revised it, adding a surprise cameo at the end. I’ve also updated my first video here.) I’ve already moved onto making a new book video. This one is atmospheric, rather than humorous, and very short. I hope to finish it up soon, so I can jump back to writing my new book proposal, which has been patiently simmering away.

The process of making a video feels surprisingly intuitive to me, even after I factor in learning new software and technical requirements. In some ways, I guess it’s not that much of a jump from considering what goes onto a book spread to deciding what goes into a video scene. We book illustrators are used to thinking sequentially, right? (Does that make sense?)

To make my videos, I’m using iMovie, which came bundled in OS X on my iMac. The video clips I inserted were downloaded from iStockphoto.com. The music and much of the sound effects came bundled with GarageBand; again, thank you OS X! Most of my graphics and titles were created in Photoshop and imported into iMovie. This way I can place everything exactly as I’d like, instead of succumbing to software presets. (Yes, I’m already straining against iMovie limitations for what I want to make. I’m now fantasizing about learning Premiere and After Effects — in my copious free time, of course!)

How long will this obsession last? Even as I write this, I’m thinking about getting back to my video making. I suspect that though,  in the manner of most obsessions, it will soon pass and be replaced by a new one. We will see. But before I return to my latest cinematic minature, here are 38 tips to become more creative that don’t involve iMovie or Youtube. Some of them I agree with, others not-so-much. But they’re all worthy of thought.

This list comes courtesy of the Gaping Void. I hope they inspire you to a very creative weekend!

1. Ignore everybody.

2. The idea doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours.

3. Put the hours in.

4. If your biz plan depends on you suddenly being “discovered” by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.

5. You are responsible for your own experience.

6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.

7. Keep your day job.

8. Companies that squelch creativity can no longer compete with companies that champion creativity.

9. Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb.

10. The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props.

11. Don’t try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether.

12. If you accept the pain, it cannot hurt you.

13. Never compare your inside with somebody else’s outside.

14. Dying young is overrated.

15. The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do, and what you are not.

16. The world is changing.

17. Merit can be bought. Passion can’t.

18. Avoid the Watercooler Gang.

19. Sing in your own voice.

20. The choice of media is irrelevant.

21. Selling out is harder than it looks.

22. Nobody cares. Do it for yourself.

23. Worrying about “Commercial vs. Artistic” is a complete waste of time.

24. Dont worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually.

25. You have to find your own schtick.

26. Write from the heart.

27. The best way to get approval is not to need it.

28. Power is never given. Power is taken.

29. Whatever choice you make, the devil gets his due eventually.

30. The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it.

31. Remain frugal.

32. Allow your work to age with you.

33. Being poor sucks.

34. Beware of turning hobbies into jobs.

35. Savor obscurity while it lasts.

36. Start blogging.

37. Meaning scales, people don’t.

38. When your dreams become reality, they are no longer your dreams.”

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