So the new year has started and everyone on all types of social media has been uploading their videos, posts etc onto the internet on their year in review. I want to do the same, but not to be a part of the mainstream, but to have an example to back up what I’m going to say.

Make goals.

In the last 52 weeks I’ve worked on:

• 1x Independent Feature Film
• 11x Short films
• 4x TV shows
• 1x Theatre performance
• 2x Music videos
• 1x Wedding
• 2x Promotional videos
• 1x Documentary
• 1x Internship

How did I do this? I made goals.

At 20 years of age I’m lucky to know what I want to do for my career, most people don’t. Some people never know what they want to do. That is okay. But I’m lucky I have found my passion, from which I want to make a career. I want to be a DP (Director of Photography). I want to freelance. I want to work for myself, as well with others.

Yes I know, these are pretty big dreams. But with goals, they will happen.

A year ago I new very little about film. Around July I sat in on a lecture where a speaker explained having a ‘triangle’. Three points to it. Experience, finance, portfolio. She said, anything you work on, if it fits two of the criteria give it a shot. It will benefit you in some way. Around this time I also went through some personal issues and I was looking to really get into working towards what I wanted. Because I am the only person that can reach my dreams.

I set myself a goal: one film project a week. Whether it was 1 week long, 1 day long or 1 hour long. Get on someone else’s or my own project. What points of the triangle did I cover. Experience and portfolio. I only received payment for one of the twenty-four projects I worked on. Why? Honestly because I felt like at my skill level, where I was at, I couldn’t ask for money. I still feel like that now to be completely open with you.

But I want the experiences and the knowledge. That is what I gained from 24 projects.

Yes I am still learning, I have so, so, so much more to learn. Everyday of my life I’ll be learning more about film, my passion. But with this continuos learning I now know enough where I can begin to teach others things that I have learnt.

This is so important to me. The creative industry, to my understanding at least, can become very competitive. Often it’s hard to break into a circle. I want to help others gain the experience, skills and confidence to break into circles and reach their goals. I would not be where I am today experience and also confidence wise if I did not have others that also believed in my ability.

This next year will be filled with even more goals. With these goals I will continue to step more closely to my dreams. One goal is being director of photography for a short film. Another is being director of photography for a music video. Another is beginning to start more freelance work.

So I encourage you to make goals. Whether it’s one film project a week, a fortnight, a month. Whether it’s film related or health related or family related, etc. It doesn’t matter. What matters is having something you are constantly working towards.

– H