ZAF622

Failing To Plan Is Planning To Fail

Has it been almost a month since our last update? Sorry about that.

If you’ll remember the last post was about the crew of ZAF622 heading down to Florida with the plan to tape our first show. It did not happen. The camera did not even make it out of the case.

That is because the trip was not about ZAF622 it had many other things on the agenda. But I had thought there would be time to fit the show in. I thought wrong. We had a good trip though and that is the important thing.

Good can come out of failure though. It as forced us to sit down and do some planning for the show. And already we are seeing some fruit from that. We still have a long way to go though. Hang in there, we’ll get out act together at some point.

Moving Right Along

Things are starting to come together. ZAF622 now has an upgraded camera, a Canon FS100 Flash Memory Camcorder. Not the ideal camera, that would a be a Canon XL2 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder, which is about $3500. Even though it is not ideal the FS100 will work to get this show started. Consumer camcorders have come a long way and the recording quality will be there for sure, especially for publishing to the web. What it lacks is the ability to command someone’s attention the way a larger pro-consumer camera like the XL2 does. At the end of the day though I am thankful to have a camera as nice as the FS100.

A big issue with camcorders is always audio quality. I went with an external microphone to help improve that best I can without spending too much money. Using a bracket the SMX-10 Stereo Condenser Microphone can be mounted on the camera or with an extension cord it can be used on a boom or hand held. Time will tell what works best.

Now that the equipment is coming together it is about time for the rubber to hit the road. Which is the scary part. And even though I am expanding the scope of ZAF622 I still have to have some parameters to keep the show focused. Two words keep coming to mind when I think about this. Creativity and causes.

Creativity is nice because it covers so much. There are an endless supply of stories out there of people being creative on so many levels for so many reasons. And I believe creativity is a big part of being human.

Causes come from my desire for ZAF622 to give back. To always seek ways to help people. There are so many small non-profits and individuals out there who saw a need and started to work on it. Often times we do not hear about them because they do not have the marketing and promotion engines that large well known organizations have. I want to tell their story and shine a little light on them.

The question that I keep coming back to is will those two work together? Can it be about both? I think the answer is that I won’t know until I try. And the beauty of this project is that it can always change, adapt, and adjust as needed.

I have not posted much these past couple weeks because of the holidays and also because I did not feel there was much to say. So far it has been a lot of thinking out loud. But I do want that to be a part of this project. I don’t know exactly what it will look like or how I will do it but I want to build a community around this crazy idea. I think I will work on sharing more of the process of ZAF622 now that we are nearing the launch pad.

Where To Start?

That is the first question I have to answer with the ZAF622 show. Where to start? Right now it is just a big idea. Put on an internet show. But how? With what? With whom? Funding? Equipment? Releases? Promotion? The list goes on and on.

The idea has been in my head for quite some time now. But not knowing where to start has delayed me from doing anything, which is why I posted the idea yesterday. And now I will continue to post and dialogue with you about the process.

Currently the two biggest challenges I have on the table are equipment and show material.

The ideal camera for this costs roughly $5000. The camera I currently own and use cost $129.00.  The Flip Ultra. A decent little flash drive camera that I either intend to use it to the best of its abilities or sell it and put the money toward a better camera. I am leaning toward the second option because these days there are some really good consumer level camcorders available. And ZAF622 show’s current budget is exactly $0.00.

Optical zoom, audio inputs, and memory extension are basic functions that the flip lacks. I’ve played around with it and the digital zoom becomes grainy and the audio does not focus on the subject, picking up all ambient sounds. Which makes it useless outdoors. But it is a camera and better than nothing so I will use it if I have to.

The second challenge is show material. I have an idea what I want the show to look like but it is hard to start this without have anything to show people at first. This means that I will have to start basic and local and build from there. ZAF622 is still about people and their stories, just like I did with artists. Now I want to expand that to people in all walks of life. So called “ordinary” people have extraordinary stories to tell. That is what I want to find and document and share. Especially now as we head into what could be a very trying time due to the economy.

It is being dubbed a financial crisis and in a time of crisis people need to come together. But this is not like a tornado or a hurricane. A crisis of this nature happens at a different speed and is less tangible. People’s lives are changing and it is important that we all learn from that. By hearing from each other we will come together and help each other.

The concept is still vague and clunky I know. Which is why back in 2005 I focused on artists. It was easier. Now that I want to open it up more I am struggling to find my expanded focus. I believe though that the key is to just start and let ZAF622 find its voice. Because it will.

Thanks for coming along on this adventure with me. As always comments are welcome.