We recently worked on a video that had a Chinese student as the host. After the shoot, I was told the Chinese student asked our client why I didn’t smell. Our client was taken aback at first, but then the Chinese student said that I was so serious, and she realized the student was saying “smile,” not “smell.”
Not smelling, that’s a good thing. Not smiling, that’s not as good. I’ll admit, sometimes I take my job too seriously. I have to remind myself that I have a fun job.
So why am I so serious on video shoots? I guess I just have a lot on my mind. A Hollywood director has a more people depending on him or her than I do. But he also has a lot of talented people working for him. On our shoots, I’m often playing the role of producer, director, director of photography, gaffer, sound technician, script supervisor and craft services. I get focused on doing all of those things well, and sometimes I forget to have fun.
From now on, I resolve to do better. I’ll try to continue to not smell. I’ll continue to focus on doing everything well. But let’s have some fun while we’re doing it too!
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Raleigh Photographer says:
December 5, 2011 at 11:37 pm (UTC 0)
Mike this is pretty funny but I totally get where you are coming from. When we are shooting, sometimes you get in the zone and are so tuned in to what you are doing you forget the client relation side of the equation. I find myself doing that sometimes and often have remind myself that the client often needs to be reassured with a smile. It’s easy for photographers and videographers to get consumed by the little viewfinder we are looking through to get that perfect shot.
Mike Smith says:
December 6, 2011 at 3:36 pm (UTC 0)
lol its hilarious sometimes the misunderstandings that a little language barrier can create.