better human beings make better anythings :)

i have recently purchased a new iPad, the aps for filmmaking are so cool and it's so much cheaper then buying all these other devices. in one small lightweight device i now have a clapboard, a story-boarding drawing pad, a telepromter and so much more... it's actually pretty amazing. so when i was purchasing the iPad Apple asked would i like to "engrave" something on my iPad? it was free and i thought why not? i thought about many different things to put on it, from practical things like contact info - to goofy stuff, but since this was being bought for filmmaking (a tool for filmmaking) i decided to quote myself.

"better human beings make better films"

it's been an amazing experience and certain decisions about how i have approached this film project have proven to be filled with incredible benefits. i have been discussing some of these benefits with other filmmakers and friends lately. one key decision about this project was that it would be a non-profit project and also that i wouldn't even recover my expenses. this has resulted in an incredible willingness on the part of others to collaborate. perhaps the most significant benefit from a financial perspective. this in turn of course is making a far better film another great benefit - but beyond all this is that i have become a far better human being, much more action in all i do. i have always been fairly aware but now i'm actively engaged in change. the desire to do has always been there just not much real doing.

so this is the biggest benefit - self improvement. i now know that all the films i do going forward will be better then they would have otherwise been because i'm better. it'll effect everything from the topics i chose to make films about to how i handle profits to how i handle the topics themselves - all these things will be better... i hope this won't come off as bragging or pride, it's not that... it's actually humbling because it comes with the recognition that i'm very late to this realization :(

and in a bigger view - better human beings make better anythings :)

better human beings make better vets, better firemen, better bankers, better doctors, better mothers, better anythings!

live everyday as if it were your last - my blog.

i made a silly comment to a coworker, we were both off for lunch and i told him he should enjoy his lunch because it may be his last. - of course i was just trying to be funny but then it stuck with me - i was on my way to starbucks, were i'd have a coffee for lunch. so the first thing that i had to question was would i go to starbucks if i knew it was my last lunch? coffee for lunch? what about chesters? well i didn't have to think about this one for too long - i'd go to starbucks, because i have friends their :)

besides when it comes to living like everyday is your last can you really apply that notion to eating? without gaining a lot of weight? i think not. beyond lunch or what to eat if i knew toady was my last day i realized that there are a myriad of practical things i need to address. this is valuable. because so much of "this stuff" i should give some serious thought to and really get things in order. like now.

first would be that while i'm not giving as much to chazon as i hope to, i'd have to move quickly to address this after i'm gone. it'd be a quick phone call to my mom i'm thinking, i'd need to get her access to my account, (online or my brother) to be sure that my current rate of giving is maintained, that nancy is maintained, that others who are giving and using the card as a conduit will get all the new contact info. etc. that my brother or mom would understand the process and pick up where i'd be leaving off.

i have an inheritance coming and i'd need to be sure that a share of that would also go to my friends in africa (again a simple call to my mom) - but the details of that and how it might take shape are fairly complicated. but i trust her, if all the details were not worked out at least she'd get the spirit of want i'd want and see that it was carried thru.

i don't have a will yet - eeeekkkk - i don't know what to do here. i think there are some issues or things i'd at least write down - i'd send an email to everyone it would effect and copy all of them - legal? binding? maybe not but in short notice it would be better then nothing.

then there are the websites i'm maintaing the account passwords - these could not lapse - i have all the details and info about these documented by who would i send them too? mom again? i'm not sure. i don't want the sites to go down. they affect the organizations ability to attract volunteers and also to sustain their operations. this would be a priority on my last day. paul krause would be given control. i feel good about that, my mom would be given the financial details and told to send paul a check several times a year. this would take some time to detail out also. paul could work out a contribute process (if he wanted to). paul designed the chazon site. and i know he'd do this, it'd be a major commitment, but he'd do it - it's a comfort.

then there's the film... someone would need to finish the film. OMG - this would be hard to figure out. i'd need to find someone who knows how to use the software, someone who also has the passion for the kids and the organizations, someone who'd be willing to put in the time. there would be all the logistical aspects of this. all my equipment would need to go to "whoever", the monitors, the laptop, all the hard drives (18 of them), i'd need to prep all the files (organize all the files) so that someone could find them. i'd need to leave a little creative brief or something about my vision for the film, i'd need to get someone to agree to all of this. this could easily take the rest of my "last day". what's worse right now is i can't think of anyone who has all the needed skills, the passion and the time.

i'd have to pick someone though. i think john house would be an option. he'd know what he was doing, should have the passion, might have the time. he's the only one who might have all three, i'd call him first. after him - it would be jarka or iraxte, both would have the passion. beyond that - i don't know... hahahaha they'd have a lot to learn.

i would also need to say goodbye to everyone, it's amazing to really think about this. saying goodbye is pretty important but way down on the priority list. it was a good mental exercise to go through. i'm involved with some stuff now that really requires a plan. most of what is on this list could be done well in advance. it's funny because it isn't things like going to see the "northern lights for the first time" or the dreamy stuff you'd hope to do - when i really think about it it's a tone of practical stuff. ok i need to really get these issues planed out agreed to by the folks mentioned and maybe after i get all these things in order i'll rethink what that last day could otherwise look like :)