• If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things—Rene Descartes
• Only by going too far can one possibly find out how far one can go.—Jon Dyer
• Spend enough time around success and failure, and you learn a reverence for possibility.—Dale Dauten
• The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.—Socrates
• I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.—Albert Einstein
• The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution.—Bertrand Russell
• Things are only impossible until they’re not.— Jean-Luc Picard
• Reason can answer questions, but imagination has to ask them.—Ralph Gerard
• Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. — Albert Einstein
• In all things, be willing to listen to people around you. None of us is really smart enough to go it alone. –John Clendenin
• I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I’m going to learn, I must do it by listening. –Larry King
• I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn’t learn something from him.—Galileo Galilei

 And where does that lead me?  Read an earlier post of mine for more insight:  http://www.carlagiampapa.com/blog/?p=5

Things got better though.  My partner in this escapade picked me up at the bus station and we immediately hit the road to drive across country.  The first night we stayed in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The second night was a bit of a circus act in Dallas, Texas (and by the way, things really are bigger in Texas.  If the map said four miles, it really meant eight).  The third afternoon around 4:30 p.m., we finally reached our destination.  The cross country drive was easy and laid back and the scenery AMAZING!

So, now I’ve officially been here in the New Orleans area (Hammond) for 28 hours and this is what I’ve observed/learned so far:

• The drinking age was only changed to 21 about five years ago (it was a loose 18), however, with a parent’s permission, a person can drink at age 14.
• To order iced tea means you’re “not from around here”…the appropriate way to order is simply “tea”, which means you’ll automatically be delivered cold sweet tea….if you want it unsweetened, you’d better ask for it that way. Oh yeah, and they don’t carry hot tea.
• There’s a Waffle House on every corner
• ALL food is deep fried or boiled
• Fried pie….mmmmm, sounds yummy…AND….ouch! are those my arteries hardening?!?  Upside: calories don’t exist here.
• Gas is $3.29/gal (last I paid in Ventura was $4.30/gal)
• One of the many nick names for New Orleans just so happens to be “Hollywood South”.  There’s a TON of film production….big budget features, MOW’s, TV series and commercials……that’s why I’m here! They’re seriously lacking keys and welcome us with open arms here. My buddy is already booked through next May. Apparently NY is #1 in the country for film production, New Orleans is 2^nd and good ol’ Hollywood, CA has taken a back seat as #3 now
• It rains on one side of street….dumps for 15 minutes like the end of the world is upon us and then stops….many times the sun is shining WHILE it is also raining……???????
• Between the hours of noon and 6:00 p.m., it WILL rain a total of two hours (in dramatic spurts).
• 8 inches of water flooding the road is no big deal and people just take it in stride…certainly doesn’t make them slow down or even use caution while switching lanes, that’s for sure.
• It’s a bit hot and humid…use your air conditioner and do NOT roll down your windows while driving.  Why? See above…splash city!
• People don’t know how to merge…actually, I’m noticing a pattern and it just happens to be the opposite of what we’re used to on the west coast, so maybe I can get used to it…merging traffic has the right-of-way while gunning it and freeway traffic must slow to allow them in…it just seems backwards.
• Similar to California, though, I think blinkers have been outlawed
• Audible directions can be a little confusing at times as they seem to be based on landmarks and ‘other things’. For example: turn right at the big oak tree and left at the barking dog….if the dog is not barking, however, take a right…if there is no dog, go another five red lights and make a u-turn, then start over. (No joke. Don’t forget the charger for your GPS.)
• State troopers travel 10 mph under the posted speed limit and don’t seem to mind that 25 cars have just passed them speeding.
• Dead people won’t stay buried….they’re no longer allowed to bury people in the ground because the ground is so water saturated, the coffins float back up…most people are buried in mausoleums
• I saw a sign that said “self storage & wine cellar”…..just struck me as funny as it kind of represents opposite ends of the spectrum as far as clientele
• People out here seem to take hurricanes in stride, too, like it’s no big deal….much like us West Coasters treat earthquakes….they do say, though, that it’s the tornados that spin off the hurricanes that you’ve got to watch out for…especially since there’s maybe only a two minute warning.  But I was told not to really worry too much because the sirens would go off to alert us. Which brings me to:
• A portable genny is a standard household appliance.
• There’s a heavy Catholic population and I was specifically told that what that means is “anything goes” because you simply go to confession once or twice a year and all is forgiven, so “live it up!” Most people appear to be “strict” Catholics.
• New critters to be aware of: gators, poisonous snakes, nutrias (The world’s second-largest rodent looks like a cross between a beaver and a wharf rat. The creature has webbed feet, a long, hairless tail, copper colored pelt, and curved front teeth for gnawing), sixty-five species of reptiles and amphibians, ninety species of fish, crawfish, crab, and shrimp and 300 species of birds.

I’m sure there’s oh so much more to experience (like Bourbon Street, giggle, giggle), but I’ve got time…It’s only been one full day.

RESPECT YOUR AUDIENCE

Certainly knowing your target audience demographics is of huge importance and equally important is the task of designing your message.  In today’s world we’re processing information at lightening speeds and there is a smaller window of time to grab people’s attention.  We are inundated with hard-sell, in-your-face advertising. If you really want to reach your audience, entertain them! Don’t speak at them hoping they’ll listen, speak with them, engage them in your great story, be a good partner and give them a break from all the “white noise”.

KNOW YOUR BUDGET RANGE

One of the biggest challenges I hear businesses have faced with the production process are ones concerning budget.  The cost of any given project is directly related to the concept, locations, equipment required, talent, packaging and distribution, among many others.  The variables are endless.  Whether you’re starting from scratch or already have a concept in place, be realistic and know the amount of money you’re willing to dedicate to a project and what that budget must cover.  Projects can be designed around any budget and it’s best to know where the boundaries are up front to assist in creating the best plan of action.  Quality IS possible at any budget range.  Just be clear that you almost certainly will not get a Lamborghini for the price of a VW bug.

COMMUNICATE

You have a need and require someone to fulfill it.  Be clear about what you need, what your budget is, what you can offer to the project, what your limitations are, what your time-line looks like.  Regardless of who you’ve hired to produce your project, it’s a pretty safe bet that although they may be experts in their field, they’re not mind readers.  Be clear and direct in your expectations of those serving you.  If something doesn’t quite work for you, let it be known so a solution can be created.  If you’re thrilled with the process, let that be known, too.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions, either.  When everyone is on the same page, expectations can be met and often exceeded.  Communication is truly the only gauge for knowing if something is working or not and the key to a smooth and fulfilling experience for everyone.

HAVE FUN

It’s simple. Life is too short not to enjoy our experiences together.  It’s also a powerful conduit for creativity and synergy and tends to yield the best results.

• “In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed”.
• “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change”.

In these words I’m reminded that success in anything often requires the ability to embrace challenges as opportunities to create something better than what we planned for and the heightened satisfaction and revelry that comes from creating possibilities and solutions together.  These are some of the reasons (among many) why I love film production so much.  No matter how well planned a shoot is, something will almost always happen that rocks the boat and gives rise to the opportunity to synergistically create solutions on the fly, against a ticking clock, with a team of people committed to the same goal/end result.  There is certainly a gratification that occurs in accomplishing something individually, and beyond that, to collaborate and collectively overcome is an unparalleled fulfillment for me. It gets me high!