We are now working on the DOP new course for fxphd. I have noticed that I have this phenomena called BWV or “brick wall view”. And I actually think many people who are creative and yet get a lot done, have a similar approach.

I feel like I am running hard – on course – but straight at a brick wall. All I can see is this one huge brick wall. I know that there are other similar walls to climb over before I am done, but if I think about later walls – I will slam into the first one. What I need to do is clear this immediate wall first, and to do that I need to concentrate. Maybe it is a bloke thing, maybe it is just me, but if I can really focus on that next wall I can nail it and clear it easily – if I am distracted, I crash and burn.

Right now I have cleared my last couple of killer solid brick walls and I am focused on the DOP course. Now it is not really possible to only focus on one thing at a time, but the more I can do that the better off I am. When you are a senior flame artist this is one of the greatest gifts you get, a producer schedules you – and worries about everything so you can just focus on today’s job in front of you. Of course running your own company – is the exact opposite, you need to keep an eye on just about everything. The trick is to just hire the best, most talented people you can – with the one important common trait of imagination.

Having a great team that can imagine what it is like to be on the other side of the company as a client, who can imagine how we can do things better, who can imagine life outside the box – is worth 10 average staff who lack imagination. Luckily, we have a great staff here at fxphd and they do have imagination.

One of the great ideas that our team came up with for the DOP course is to offer students not only the classes but the results of the course. In our DOP course we are offering not only the process but you can buy a copy of the 35mm film out negative, or a 35mm print of the film – or an SR tape or Firewire drive of the files we used.
While I was focused on just the next brick wall in front of me – our team was imagining what they might like if they were themselves students. And I love them for having that longer term view. I am sure this course will be really successful as a result.