Holding Hobbies Close

January 31st, 2018

As kids, my brother and I made music videos. Picture two Vietnamese boys with plastic shades lip syncing Motownphilly by Boyz II Men in our bedroom. 😎😎

I eventually dropped the hobby of making home movies but years later the motivation to pick up a camera came back. From watching my college roommate, Justin, edit clips of our shenanigans to meeting filmmakers like Jacob and David, I slowly felt the itch to experiment again with video.

On a Tuesday night in 2013, something amazing happened. At a Shutterstock event, Yoko entered a napkin doodle contest and her entry of a panda double fisting sandwiches won the night. The prize? A GoPro Hero 3. I immediately adopted her victory as my own and started recording our weekend adventures. I’ve been editing videos ever since.

In Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon says:

“A hobby is something that gives but doesn’t take.”

Making movies is my hobby. It’s my space to turn off some of the process, logic, and optimization and turn up the joy of taking time to craft something special. It’s amateur hour. It’s play. It’s an investment in my imagination.

I’ve come to appreciate that itch more and more. Wherever it comes from, that inkling to try something new is sacred. Genuine curiosity is my precious resource. My job is to cherish, protect, and cultivate it.

On Sunday, I finished a video I shot in Iceland. Yoko and I camper vanned the southern coast last year marveling at waterfalls, chasing cats, and generally being goofballs.

I’m proud of the final cut. It’s fun to watch and remember. But most of all, I’m glad I’ve held this hobby close. ✨