One of the coolest aspects of my job is the learning potential on every different project. One week I might be filming in a glass production facility and the next I might be documenting the training regimen of a semi-pro football team. Whatever the case may be, as a video producer its important that I grasp the fundamentals to ensure a coherent video. What’s really cool is when I’m afforded the opportunity to take what I’ve learned and use it in my daily life.
Now, for the most part, my culinary endeavors have been limited to either “brown a pound of ground beef and add some stuff,” or “throw it in the oven at 350 for an hour.” After this project, however, I’m more determined than ever to broaden my horizons in the kitchen.
Danny Wassmund is an up and comer is the world of culinary excellence. In this video he walks us through the process of creating an elegant yet deceptively simple meal, and I can personally testify that the results were fantastic! Aside from the Harissa, which I’d never heard of, he’s using common ingredients and a few secret techniques to put together a pretty impressive meal.
by on Aug 21st, 2010. Comment 
Saw the new Karate Kid movie a couple weeks ago and I have to say I wasn’t that impressed. It wasn’t really bad, but it didn’t really inspire me the way I remember being inspired by the first version. (Is it particularly telling that I was old enough to watch movies when the first version was released?) In any case, what is pretty inspiring is master Gary Douglas at Tri-State TaeKwon-Do.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when we sat down for this Spotlite Profile interview. Maybe a lot of talk about physical fitness and mental toughness – the fight mentality. And while there’s no doubt that Gary Douglas could kick my butt, what I discovered was a humble, low-key guy who puts the well-being of his students above self-promotion – or anything else for that matter. Like I said, inspiring. Check it out:
Spotlite Profile – Tri-State TaeKwon-Do from David Bark on Vimeo.
by on Aug 20th, 2010. Comment
From corner store, to deli, to the local soda shop and candy store, the building that now houses the Cafe 1923 coffee house has enjoyed a rich and vibrant history. Cafe 1923 has become a welcomed fixture on the Hamtramck landscape, serving as art gallery, music venue and meeting place for an entire community. “See you at the cafe” has been a familiar refrain for my friends and I for years, and we’d meet up there before ball games, BBQ’s or whatever else we might happen to be doing. When I was taking online classes at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, it was the perfect place to bring my laptop, log on, and pretend to study while striking up conversations with friends and strangers alike. What else can I say? It’s a cool place full of cool people. Here’s a peek:
by on Jul 31st, 2010. Comment
Today Lightshine Productions begins it’s “Spotlite Profile” series of videos. Spotlite Profiles, with the emphasis on “lite,” are short introductions to people, places and things of interest in and around town. A Spotlite Profile provides a simple, honest introduction to yourself or your business, and since the editing involved is minimal, it can be a great, cost effective way to get professional video content on your website.
In the coming days and weeks we’ll be taking a look at a local theater, a TaeKwon-Do studio, Hamtramck’s favorite coffee house and we’ll watch as culinary expert Danny Wasmund shows us how to prepare an elegant – yet novice friendly – gourmet meal.
Today we’ll start by meeting Raymond and Joan Bittner, from the Polish Art Center in Hamtramck, MI. The Polish Art Center is full of unique, handmade treasures individually selected by Raymond and daughter Kathleen during their yearly trip to Poland. From folk art to fine art, Christmas ornaments to novelties, they have something for everyone. And you’d be hard pressed to find more genuine, down to earth and kind hearted people. The Art Center is located at 9539 Joseph Campau, in Hamtramck. It’s definitely worth the trip.
by on Jul 27th, 2010. Comment
Working with Justina during her wedding last year was a pleasure, so it was way cool when she called me up this summer and asked to me to shoot and edit the music video for “Peaceful Place.” The video, a tribute to a little girl who lost her battle with leukemia, has been a long time coming, and it was an honor to be able play a role in making this vision come to life.
Justina divides her time between Las Vegas, Florida and Detroit.
by on Jul 27th, 2010. Comment
Wow. It’s been awhile. I guess time really does fly when you’re having fun.
So you may have noticed a change in the Lightshine Productions home page. I replaced the wedding slideshow with a montage of some of the more commercially-oriented work I’ve done. Of course, this doesn’t mean that I’m moving away from shooting and editing weddings. No way. I just like to rearrange things once in awhile – sort of like moving around the furniture in your living room.
That brings up another point. I’ve had a few marketing experts tell me that it might not be a good idea to combine such diverse services under one umbrella. Their theory is that business owners might look at a company that produces wedding films and think they’re a little too touchy-feely to put together a cutting edge production that will engage their audience. On the flip side, they figure that brides might get the idea that if someone is doing commercial video, he may be too technically proficient to tap into the feelings and emotions of the wedding day and create a moving, memorable film.
I’m not buyin’ it.
If you can do a couple of things well – and you love doing them – then you should go for it. I love creating wedding videos. You meet people at one of the happiest times of their lives. You get to share in one of the happiest days of their lives. And let me tell you, happiness is contagious. And in addition to the must-have shots, there are a ton of spur-of-the-moment opportunities throughout the day where your instincts and creativity can really shine. And when it’s all said and done, you’re presenting these two people with an awesome video that they’re going to cherish for the rest of their lives. How cool is that?
And I love doing commercial video. I’ve really come to appreciate all the planning that goes into it, from the script writing to the opportunity to set up the shots exactly how you want them to creating killer motion graphics. There’s a lot of work involved, but when it all comes together at the end, I get to say, “I did that.” (This would be a good place to mention that I’m seriously grateful to God for the talent He’s given me.)
Anyway, I am what I am. It makes me happy. It makes other people happy. What more can you ask for?
by on Jun 22nd, 2010. Comment
As mentioned in a previous post, while I didn’t have the chance go to Aruba over spring break, we did have some killer weather right here in Detroit, and I did my best to enjoy it.
I’ve worked and played downtown for years, and while I’m not sure I’m the type for full-time life in a bustling metropolis, it’s nice to get a taste of the city once in awhile. I mean, tall buildings…a river…what more could you ask for?
by on Mar 23rd, 2010. 1 Comment
That’s just one of the many revelations I’ve experienced reading Ron and Tasra Dawson’s Refocus
Ron visited MIVA earlier this month and I was so impressed with what he had to say, I just had to get the book. Good thing I did. As a wedding and event videographer, I often get wrapped up in the creative side of my passion, and forget that I’m also running a business. The book is packed with information and insights that I’m certainly going to take to heart and put into practice.
As anyone who runs a video production business knows, we wear a lot of hats, and I’m sure most of us – myself included – try to wear a lot of those hats at the same time. If you’ve ever sat down to edit a sequence, then twenty minutes into the edit get distracted by thoughts of an invoice you forgot to send or a follow-up call you still need to make, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The inefficiency of trying to do too many things at once was really brought home last night as I was reading the “Managing Your Time” chapter is Ron and Tasra’s book:
There’s a quick and simple exercise in which, on one line you’re asked to write the sentence, “Multitasking wastes time and costs money.” Here’s the catch, after every letter, you write the sequential number on the line directly below it. In other words, you write “M” on line 1, then writer the number “1″ on line 2. You write “u” on line 1, then write the number “2″ on line 2, etc. Time yourself. When you’re done, time yourself writing the complete sentence, without any numbers, and immediately afterwards write the sequence of numbers, 1 – 35, on line two. If you’re like me, and have been under the impression that trying to kill two (or three) birds with one stone makes you a real go-getter, you might be surprised at the results.
Thanks Ron and Tasra!
by on Mar 21st, 2010. 2 Comments
This week has been nothing short of fantastic. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and a couple of free days gave me the opportunity to trek through downtown Detroit with camera in hand (more on that, later) without having to dodge any giant snow drifts. We really do have a pretty cool city!
The sunshine and the awesome temperatures was a great reminder that another wedding season is upon us, and what better way to segue into the new season than by revisiting last season’s finale. This is Nichole and Gordon making it real at Cedar Glen:
by on Mar 19th, 2010. Comment
Spring break is officially here, and I almost feel like a kid again. Well, OK, not quite. I’ve been taking classes at Wayne State to finish up my graphic design, and while many of my classmates will be going nuts n Florida or Cancun, I’ve got some motion graphics work to do and another promo video wrap up! Still, I can’t help but feel excited. Aced the mid-terms and I can breathe easy in that regard for awhile. It’s nice to have a little free time on your hands!
by on Mar 12th, 2010. Comment
