Overcoming Failure as a Creator

[@josephfriedman614]

Failing is the perfect subject to discuss in this business. As another Cinematographer KZbinr has pointed out, "You will Fail." It just will happen. Sooner or later. Shooting is something of a high wire act. You have all this gear which has to work, and YOU have to "work." You are in a business where you are capturing moments in time which cannot often be duplicated, either by virtue of happenstance, or the further expenditure of money (actors, locations, etc.). It's that simple. It's on you. I've been in this business for over 50 years. Freelance cinematographer. I've been fired off of a handful of jobs. Crushing. Mind crushing, not to mention financially hurtful. On one of the occasions, on a feature, it was because the producer did not think I could save the director. Footage looked great, but the director was flailing. I had no real working relationship with him. Several years ago, I did a shoot where literally everything went wrong. My 2nd camera I was using for B-Roll shots was malfunctioning. The auto-focus was breathing. Didn't see it in the 5" monitor. Shots ruined. It was during the pandemic and I couldn't get shots done that I had promised. I was rushing thru the day to do things that I should have seen could not really get done. I had just completely misjudged the shoot. The producer, who was not there, was livid. I offered to re-do the shoot at no cost to him, but his client said no. I was out of my mind with "failure." It takes some time to get over these crashes. You do need to talk to someone other than yourself to get an outside POV so you're not caught an endless loop of self blame. And you need to just get up and go back into the game. Keep shooting even though your mind may be buzzing away with trepidation. Just. Keep. Going. It will get better.

[@MrDavid1pittman]

Its refreshing to hear someone talk about such a sensitive topic and be venerable. One quote I like to revisit is "comparison is the thief of joy".

[@DannyGevirtz]

Great message brotha!

[@carlostigs]

on my sad boy vibes lol

[@carlostigs]

on my sad boy vibes lol

[@OscarCloud]

So refreshing to hear even people at the top of their game admit that we all have setbacks or make mistakes

[@AdHdEntertainmentLLC]

I completely sympathize with this video so much. I worked at a local tv station as a high school student with a major in video production and this was before the big NLE boom. When I graduated I tried to get a permanent job at that tv station and they said I was overqualified. Instant heart break. I then started my first production company producing pro-wrestling video for all the wrestling companies I also wrestled for. I got pushed out of that market after a few years. 20 years later give or take, this year I lost my best friend and she inspired me to get back on my horse and I incorporated my production company. I have spent the last year slowly reinvesting into my company because about 5 years ago my car was stolen with approx. 10k of equipment including my two BMPCC 4k's. I am praying 2024 is so much better. It's also hard to do this independently in the Philadelphia area. Thanks GIAN!!!

[@glebgubin4324]

Oh, how bad I understand you. I think sharing failures is very important. I want to see other people's failures, not to gloat, but to understand that this is a normal part of the process. When I see only success and bright days and try to do something myself, then of course I encounter difficulties and then there is a gap between your expectations and reality. you start to think that something is wrong with you or you are not like that, because for others the picture of success is drawn by a straight line between point a and b without problems. This is the importance of sharing failures, it is a natural part of the process, it is important to tell people without illusions that there is nowhere without it. Surprisingly, modern media is designed so that people want to perceive only bright days. but without dark ones, light ones are impossible

[@BenPatrik]

Dude I was so relived to hear you were able to salvage it! I don’t have an anger problem…unless I make a dumb and avoidable mistake that costs. Working through it. You’ve been a role model for me as a professional and just a stand up guy. Looking forward to working with you or Danny or Matti one day. Eyes up.

[@jonathanl7883]

I thought I was the only one. Had the absolute worst DP experience of my life in Jan, on day 1 of a 3 day shoot. After the shoot I broke down and wanted to quit forever, feeling like an absolute and total failure and feeling like I had no business calling myself a DP. Never thought doing what I love could put me in such a dark place. But I guess it makes sense in retrospect. You are great at what you do because you care a lot about it, and if you care a lot about something, if the rewards feel so good, then the downs are going to feel really bad. I feel like this is a new era of filmmaking where we can share and grow and be open about more than just work. And your at the forefront. Appreciate your vids as always! 🔥🔥

[@YuvalAloni]

Appreciate you always sharing these personal stories man. We keep pushing through 🤝

[@carlostigs]

Yes sir

[@nourisardardp]

Love this. You inspired me to start my own KZbin channel and my last video was also about some anxieties that we face. I myself have been going through a tough time recently and the conversation you had with God about trying to understand the why was exactly the same one I was having. Godspeed brother, grateful to be a part of this community.

[@rachelphillips9733]

I think a lot of the time us as artists/creators love to share our “BTS” moments, however in reality there’s still a behind the scenes of the “BTS” in which we he tend to hide behind. I know that personally tend to struggle with perfectionism and I get too caught up in tiny details that most people don’t notice or in putting in more effort than needed. I’ve realized that we don’t really share when we are struggling and how we cope with our struggles or bumps in the road. I love your honesty and it really helps. I hope you can realize the positive impact you are adding to mine and I’m sure countless others, Thank You🫶🏼

[@MichaelNoLimitsLi]

I felt this this year, wanted to quit, wanted to hurt the people who ripped me off and betrayed me. But then I realized, we can be too hard on ourselves sometimes. And sometimes it's not about "quitting" but pivoting. Anyways, I feel much better now, thanks for this video love your work!

[@laurentiu.atinge]

You're inspiring me so much, Carlo. Peace out from Romania, Bucharest. Keep up the great work.

[@mradriiiian]

I can tell you, your advice helped me more than I could count. Much much love

[@carlostigs]

Thank you

[@reliantfilmsproductions9752]

Dude you’re a real one bro!! That’s why follow your content

[@AdamChilll]

i love that, thank you Carlo!

[@LawrenceDp]

you're a blessing Carlo. God bless you

[@ZacharyWillFilms]

Hey Gian, Thanks for this video. It's really helped me. Today, I got negative feedback from two clients on the same day and have been really feeling this same thing. Hopefully I can use it as an opportunity to grow rather than to beat myself up about it.

[@ThatSalim]

Thank you 🙏🏾.

[@BenjiSelby]

I'm in this same headspace now bro, I've been taking a few L's lately and considering stopping ngl, but it's times like this that remind me it's okay and to keep going. Feeling not alone is encouraging, refreshing, and a reminder to keep going. Much appreciated bro!

[@carlostigs]

You got this!

[@OffKadenceOfficial]

I had a friend who needed some encouragement through their darkness and I sent this video to them and then watched it and man it was just as good as I knew it would be. You’re the goat 🎉

[@OffKadenceOfficial]

Yes I watched it AFTER I sent it, I trusted the process 😂

[@carlostigs]

Hahaha thanks for sharing

[@MSMImage]

Thank you for this video brother. Thank you for your vulnerability.

[@carlostigs]

Always

[@travisminneapolis]

That really sucks when you are doing a personal project and have a technical error like missing audio. It happens more often on personal projects, I think, because we are so focused on the project content and we aren't thinking in our typical routines that we would on an actual client. We aren't behind the camera, monitoring audio and image, and we miss things like (is the red button actually recording? Is there rubbing noise or static in the audio? Is the side camera still rolling)? I once started out recording a podcast episode where I was on camera and didn't realize the sun had peeked through the window after like 5 min into the episode basically blinding the camera which was the main shot for the next 15 minutes. Glad to hear you share your experience❤❤

[@barbaralindo2942]

Gian, just watched you for the first time✨ I’m from Brazil 🇧🇷 Starting as a Filmmaker and the beginning sometimes can be rough 🤍 thanks for the words

[@ordinarythomas]

Thanks for sharing man. Needed to hear this while in the middle of editing my project :)

[@hablemosdefoto]

Thank you so much for the video, many times I feel the same way. your videos really inspire me.

[@mradriiiian]

Finally some wholesome Filmmaking Advice again :3 Can you do a Book recommendation video for filmmaking as the art form and for the business side?

[@pretti6774]

Thank you so so much for this video!

[@bephrem]

the goat

[@joanmichel]

Appreciate listening to this. Great words to share. Morning motivation.

[@carlostigs]

Thank you

[@Yadgle]

This channel is helping me a lot in finding my direction in videography thank you sir🙌🏻

[@carlostigs]

Glad it can help

[@davidadebiyi6886]

Carlo, thank you and God bless you. In Jesus' name Amen.

[@Sayject]

Always enjoy your vids, Carlo! if you ever come to NYC I hope we can work on something!

[@carlostigs]

For sure!!

[@Sayject]

@@carlostigs awesome! It would be so dope!

[@donerecooper]

Is it the Salomon Ligthelm episode of The Creative Gap Podcast?

[@alexanderchua]

I hold the cup on that loop thingy if I feel aristocratic. I hold the cup by its body if I feel like a proper dude. Depends on how I wake up really. Lol

[@carlostigs]

Lmao true