Written by Stephen Callaghan

Okay, Let’s be real for a second.

This blog started out with me (Stephen Callaghan, Producer/Director/Editor at Gorilla Productions) searching “What is a blog” 🤔 LOL

Lame right? I know, I know, but hey, I’m a visual guy. The only time I really do any writing is when I’m writing scripts and pitches for clients (and a few for myself).

So let’s begin, welcome to Gorilla Productions first ever blog post!

To date, my experience of blogging has been reading one. Literally one. I was working at a large company at the time as a Video Producer and one of my colleagues had recently left to forge his own path in the video production space. 

His first blog was about writing and communicating with a tone of voice that reflects who you are as a person; and how this should translate across everything you do for your brand.

It really stuck with me, because, truthfully, it really is important! You don’t want to spend your time *every waking moment* developing all this content that portrays an image that isn’t you! Sound like common sense really. If you’re meeting potential clients and your brand image doesn’t reflect who you are; you’ve immediately put yourself at a disadvantage because there is a disconnect right from the start.

Second to this, to ensure that you can maintain the ability to present yourself and your brand identity in a uniformed way. Ideally, target other brands and people that share the same or similar values as yourself; work with people who get you and that you work well with. This way, you can surround yourself with like minds, feed off each other, and really start achieving your goals.

I mean, that’s how I feel anyway, maybe I’m wrong. I just like the idea of turning up to work and having fun. Obviously, getting your sh*t done! But having fun doing it. Ultimately, this SHOULD attract the types of clients you want.

But what do you do if you can’t, for whatever reason, land the clients or brands you want to work with?

My answer is this:

I loathe all the articles I read where people just rant on and on about all this airy fairy “living your best life” garbage. Like you CAN solely concentrate on only doing work for the brands and clients that you want. Like you can just drop everything and do whatever you want while the bills just pay themselves…. No. The last thing I want from writing these is for it to sound like some wanky, idealogical, distorted version of reality (my reality).

Yes, we DO get the work I’m talking about, and it’s amazing when it comes 🤗 ! But sometimes, there are projects that maybe aren’t in line with your trajectory, and sometimes that seems to be all that comes your way… What then? 

I say RESILIENCE. I know, it doesn’t sound pleasant. If you can stick with it (believe me, I hate when people say that 🤬 ), but if you can. Stick with it! Keep plugging away, make it happen, get things done, get it out of the way, take the money 💸 . The work you want will come!

If everything in your life was the way it may look on social media…. wouldn’t that be boring af 😒 ? Seriously.

Be clear with yourself, and your goals! My goal is not just to make video content for brands; but to make game changing video content for brands! I have become part of the team at Gorilla Productions, like me, they want to do the same.

If I have learnt anything for the past 11 years in the video production industry it is this: If you go through your career solely producing the content YOU want to make, for brands YOU want to work for. Congratulations  👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻  You’re one in a million.

I’ve found some kind of sadistic pleasure in resilience. Because I always try to think “how can I do this in a way that will benefit me in some way?”, if that’s not an option, I think, “this is how I’ll pay my rent until the work I want comes around”.

At some point you’ll realise that the resilience you endure,  is really just the passion you have that’s driving you.

Be yourself, work hard & own it.