I want to give a brief history of how we have progressed as a company throughout the last few years. Before delving into the subject I want to make a few things perfectly clear- We could not have arrived at the current state without the collaboration with some of the most talented professions throughout the DMV that came in and supported us. We are nothing without collaborations and the community of athletes that train at our facility.
This is the progression of videos we have put out through the years. You have to see the oldest to see how bad it was when we started out and where we are at now.
First Video: I thought I was a Great Director/Camera Man
Idea: I wanted to do an epic GoPro video that spanned our entire base of operation. I was going to do some crazy muscle ups in the rings, run through the obstacle course (really a shell at this point), run down stairs where I would so all these intense workouts. Then I would spring through the building and do some more muscle ups on the bar and it would be fantastic. I saw how it would be amazing in my mind. I even convinced my father in-law to fly his drone to capture me jumping off the roof into the parking lot.... Below is the ambitious but very flawed out come.
First attempt of a CrossFit video. Click here.
Out Come: Total Crap
Example 2: Idea:A vintage look at fitness. After taking a Skillshare class and trying to win the grand prize in the Marc Ecko class. This was going to be it. I wanted Godzilla yelling at the beginning, bear, dub step, Bruce Lee quotes etc. Again perhaps it was a bit bold to think we could get this done. My wife helped me find the images and edited it in about 3 hrs. She was not happy but still entertained the crazy idea. Click here
Outcome: Good idea, bad execution and a bit too long of a video clip.
Another Light Blub Moment
I was watching a Ted Talks video and and reading Austin Kleon's book, Show Your Work! it was stressed upon the importance of finding others that are great at their craft. If you don't have a professional, your work will not look professional. I had a vision of what the videos should be for the gym but I was failing to capture it. After asking others in the community if they knew anyone regarding videography I was referred to J-Law.
Enter the best videographer I have ever had the pleasure to work with. Not only did he capture the tone of what our facility and mission is, he had photos and previews on instagram and facebook within a few hours after shooting the entire project and finished the videos within a few days.
Enter the J-Law Era
J-Law
American Ninja Warrior Elet Hall first take. Click here.
Art in Motion. By far the best video I think. Click here
After seeing the very first video to the very latest one we just put out a few weeks ago, there is no comparison. Getting the right team behind the project changes the entire look and scope of the project. We're just getting started. Stay tuned as we continue to evolve, expand and progress in our craft of helping the community and adding quality content.
Added info you probably don't care to read-
Snippet: The beginning- We first wanted to do a documentary about building a CrossFit box from the ground up.
There
have been several 'Ah Hah' moments while running this business for the
past couple of years. If you ask anyone that has actually ran a small
businesses for more than a year they can tell you how at times it is
very rewording and in an instance- maddening.
After
about 13 months of running the business I ran into trouble trying
operate the business. Between trying to do book keeping, advertising
and teaching 99.98% of all the classes it wasn't working. I was still
working full time at my day job as well. It was a bit stressful.
While
on a random road trip, my Dad was randomly talking about Khan Academy
and how it teaches you new things etc. Seeing how I love learning but
hate going to school I was all for it. That night I signed up for Khan
Academy. Although it is primarily math and science classes it had a
section on Entrepreneurship. Watched all the video and really liked the
video on Marc Ecko. Started looking on amazon regarding what I could
find on him. Found the book Unlabel.
Through that book
discovered he was doing a class on Skillshare. If you have never used
Skillshare. It is the most practical and useful site that teach you
actionable technique for any interest or business you have. To this day
I still take several classes and continue to change and mold FIT Labs
and other ventures (see also Thoughtfulpanda.com).
