Live Longer
The following talk is purely anecdotal, and while it may actually be true… it’s just my thoughts.
Make my day. - Dirty Harry. Classic line.
One of most harsh realities of life is that it goes by too fast.
But does it?
I have an observation/maybe a theory that the reason why time moves so slowly when you’re a kid and moves so fast as you get older is that you stop trying new things.
To lead an effective life and to make it easier on yourself. You build circuits in your mind and automate your life, but that also means your on autopilot, and you’re missing things. Your brain dumps the memory because it’s literally not important.
That’s why new experiences are critical.
Start with simple stuff.
Stop ordering the same shit. Change it up. Do the George Costanza.
Order new food off the menu.
Listen to music you’ve never listened before. Even if you don’t want to.
Watch a film that you don’t want to watch.
Try greeting someone a new way. Think of a new way to say hello.
Don’t worry about the awkwardness.
Awkwardness is what stops so many people from trying.
Ask the hard question. Open up and be honest.
Your days and weeks will feel more rich and more full.
The next step is to write these things down.
Reflect on them. What did you like?
What really bothered you?
what could you maybe do about it?
Can’t know if you don’t ask the questions.
Don’t live on autopilot.
Don’t outsource your thoughts and feelings to the endless scroll of phone time.
Creativity is critical to long life.
KR
Cody, Wyoming
They say there is no road to happiness, happiness is the road. - Luke Bell
I can’t say much about the trip, but I wanted to share a few simple phone snapsl
MIGGY LOOKED AT ME
On a call with a client today, I was reminded of the time I got to shoot still photos for the Detroit Tigers.
All throughout my childhood, my brother and I listened to Tigers games on AM 940 while doing our farm chores; splitting wood, cleaning stalls, throwing hay… So getting the call that I could photograph one of the greatest living ballplayers in Miguel Cabrera, was a thrill to say the least.
I realized I wasn’t equpped with the gear that the other pros were, but I made the best of it.
Shot on a 5D Mark III with Sigma 150-500
The Juice
Doug Lepisto is one of the few heterodox business professors willing to speak his mind. Because of this, I’m a fan.
He brings a lot of energy to his classes, and his business relationships.
He refers to high energy individuals as having “The Juice”.
So, I had this idea two years ago, and recently sent him a text and asked if he’d be up for pouring a half gallon of pure Florida OJ on his head for a photo shoot.
He said….
Johnny and the wooden knife
note - this all looks ominous. I promise it’s not. Johnny is a very animated friend of mine with an active imagination.
Kat & Inhaler
i’ve been planning out a portrait session, featuring the team at rhino and the essential artifacts of their identity. as a fellow asthmatic, it only seemed fitting to test the set up with Kathryn and her inhaler.
WHAT I WANT
Despite all of the obstacles that arose in producing this piece, I’m very proud of this music video for my pal Joe Hertler. Special thanks to my friend Matt Bakken, who always brings his best as DP, and Emma Wineman for bringing so much to the femme fatale character who wants to abduct Joe.
Writer/Director/Producer Kevin Romeo | DP Matt Bakken | HMU/Wardrobe Kathryn Davis
1AC/Grip Dan Martinez | Grip Christian Scholten, Giana Romeo, Ben Lau | Edit Kevin Romeo, Matt Bakken | Title Design Matt Bakken
Featuring Emma Wineman, Joe Hertler
Special Thanks Derrick Ricka - Greenleaf Hospitality Group, Jeff Blodgett, Seth Blodgett, RHINO
B-Roll NO. 11 - nashville
Nashville for 3 days.
figured out that Orville Peck is trying to emulate Patsy Cline.
learned a lot about blueberries.
photos from my m50
B-roll - joe hertler and the rainbow seekers: sold out @ Bell's - Kalamazoo, MI
A few quick stills shot both on Canon 5D Mark III and Canon M50 KR
We submitted to Sundance
More to come on this, but I just had to put these gifs somewhere…
INSPIRATION CAN NOT BE FORCED.
It seems self evident that those who consider themselves “creatives” have to be inspired to do their best work.
The type of work that truly solves a problem. Innovation, brilliant, thoughtful.
These are the types of virtues that creatives aspire to.
Because not all creatives exist in a self managing situation, there are often layers of management and leadership above creatives in a company structure. How should those individuals get the best out of their ‘creatives’?
There’s a lot to unpack in this, but here’s one thing I know for certain.
You can not force inspiration in the way a tyrant would.
“Sit down and make something amazing, now!”
This is not a factory situation with a predetermined exacting way of executing a simple task.
So if you don’t want to be a tyrant, what can you do?
Enter negotiation.
In a state of negotiation, you can seek to inspire. Or influence, or motivate. But this is way easier said than done.
How can you inspire creatives?
Be inspiring as a person. This is, by far, the hardest aspect of creative leadership. Do creative things. Be inspired by art. Be someone that manifests the creative tradition and is worth the fight. This is by far the hardest but most meaningful one, and will never be finished. This is one of the most thrilling aspects of a creative pursuit. You can continue growing until the day you die.
Create an inspiring and creative work culture. Share inspiring stuff. Watch films. Laugh. Have fun. Try new foods. Try new music together.
Cultivate an inspiring physical (and sometimes digital) space. There should be art on the wall. This is also really hard.
Challenge them to great heights. You can do this even if you’re not a creative yourself. You can ask great questions, believe in them and encourage them to be their best.
Rally around cool projects that push the team but don’t make sense financially. Just don’t let it break you. If you’re not wasting some money, you’re probably playing it too safe. If you’re playing it safe, your creativity is bound to get stale. Your best players will leave to pursue more creative opportunities.
These are just a few of my thoughts on how to deal with the reality that you can not force people to be inspired or motivated to create something beautiful.
KR
