Questions For a Future

Part of why I know it is necessary to have a subscription to MEDIUM is the access to all of the valuable insights, first-hand experiences, stories, news, entertainment, and above all, information. The content contained in MEDIUM betters our lives and betters our brains. It’s all here in MEDIUM, along with excellent writing and the talent behind it.

With this article, I want to twist that concept. You aren’t going to find any of the attributes mentioned above in this piece. Instead, I’m hoping to draw from the knowledge of this well-informed group.

I need your help.

Thanks to COVID-19, I’m sure many of us are finding we have some extra time on our hands. And then many like myself now have an indefinite amount of time. We lost our job. It’s been a two-way kick in the gut. Along with the fear of COVID-19, and the shock from deaths involved, being laid off is(to put it lightly)devastating.

It was mentioned by my company that after all of this ends, there is a chance we would be getting our jobs back. And if that does happen, and I am still in my present condition, it would be great. But all I know is right now, I am unemployed, and I am looking for a job.

Since I was 15 years old, I have always worked. Learning my job was “eliminated” three weeks ago today was unimaginable. I didn’t know how to feel. The only way I could somewhat manage my emotions was to make a short film expressing how it felt.

For the first two days, I will admit, I was “shell-shocked.” I’ve written about this already. There’s no reason to rehash it here, and that’s not the reason I am using this article to ask for your help.

Before all of this began, my older brother lost his job of almost thirty years. He was looking for work for nearly a year. His advice, I thought, was absolutely on target.

“You need to use this time to figure out just what it is you really want to do,” he said. It was then, I immediately thought of the words of wisdom spoken by Andy Dufresne and “Red” serving life sentences at Shawshank Prison:

Damn right.

And that’s what I’ve done these past three weeks by following my brother’s advice.

“You need to use this time to figure out just what it is you want to do.”

Jack Nicholson on a Moviola editor for film.

For over a decade, I worked in the film industry. I went to film school, where we cut on film using a Moviola and Steinbeck. As soon as I graduated, I went straight to work. On my first “professional” day in the business, I worked 27 hours straight. I loved it.

In 2002, for family reasons, I made the tough decision and took the job I just got laid off of. And for the last 17 years, there I was. I still did gigs on the side, like writing, directing, and editing short subjects and short films. But not enough to stay current with the technology.

“You need to use this time to figure out just what it is you really want to do.”

I want to get back into the industry.

At this moment:

1. I have made a demo reel to send out.
2. I am learning and working with ADOBE platforms (Premiere, After Effects, Photoshop) every day.
3. I am writing every day.
4. I am looking for work every day, although the “lockdown” is a problem.

I have a few questions, and I could use your help.

1. If you are in the industry(and if you are, please let me know where I can send my resume)or even if you aren’t, could you look at my demo reel below and offer an opinion? Your input would be invaluable.

2. What suggestions could you give for industry necessities I could use this time to learn?

3. I am a DGA (Director’s Guild of America) Assitant Director. Has the job changed radically over the last few years?

4. What tools and materials are essential today in the industry?

I know we will get through this. That is why I am doing the work while we have this time. And I am grateful that all of my family is healthy and safe at this time. There will be a tomorrow, and I want to be ready to do what I really want to do.