Steven Spielberg's Autograph

I've never met him or even seen him in person, but the impact that Steven Spielberg's movies had on me as a kid only further encouraged me to pursue a career in media production. What can I really say about Spielberg? His name has come to define the movie business, symbolize the pinnacle of what it means to be a Hollywood director, and instantly conjures up images of pop culture iconography.

I bought this hand-signed autograph in 2006 for $100, which at the time challenged my modest student budget. I think there's also always skepticism about whether stuff like this is actually real, although it was purchased from a specialty memorabilia shop in Los Angeles with a high-rating for authenticity. It's kind of a moot point though.

This wasn't an investment or a piece of memorabilia that I bought to store in a UV protected case hidden away from sunlight to sell at a later date. I've kept it in plain view for as long as I've had it, and even hung it on my dorm room walls in film school.

For me, the value of owning Spielberg's autograph is that it reminds me of that dream I had as a kid to make movies. I look at it and think that in some small way I have a link to one of the greatest film directors of all time. Spielberg was famously quoted as saying 'I dream for a living'. As it turns out, so do I.

1989 Buick Park Avenue Snapshots

From learning to drive, trips between home and university, and appearances in random film projects, I think I've made my appreciation for what was the Buick (and my very first car) completely clear.  I found this series of pictures that I shot in 2007 when I created my Buick 360 edit and had a bit of a nostalgia trip.  

My affinity for shooting detailed shots of some of my random experiences and prized possessions often seems a bit frivolous in the moment, but when those moments start seeming more like distant memories the pictures take on a life of their own.  It's been almost a year now since I retired the Buick for my Jaguar, but seeing these pictures again reminds me just how much I loved that old car and how many great memories are associated with it.    

Editing Stress

With the sun shining, the temperature rising, and a social atmosphere calling people outdoors, you'd think I'd be in better spirits these days.  The truth is I'm already exhausted.

The spring brings college edits and promo videos in a wave.  Photo shoots for the magazine translate in a buzz of activity around the office, and before you know it there are new products and promos on my desk and new videos to shoot.  And then there's my personal life - or the increasing lack of one.  This is the balance I have between my web photography/editing day job and my on the side contract editing. 

I honestly love the work I do, but I'm often left questioning if I'm really happy about my routine or if I'm just too busy or distracted by the perks to explore something that I haven't found yet.  It's like I'm swept up by the fact that in film school I would've killed for my current life and now I'm realizing that I didn't put much thought into what I'd do after I got it.

It's been exactly three years since university now and in that time my life has transformed in almost unbelievable ways.  Similarly I'm witnessing my friends changing their careers, getting married, having kids, and settling down.  The concept of 'Editing Luke' was always grounded in my issues as a film student in addition to the literal editing I was doing.  Now it seems that concept has broadened. I honestly feel challenged about how to be an adult - at least the kinds of adults I see many of my friends becoming. And then I think that was probably part of the plan somehow. 

Editing is emotional, intensive, and meticulous.  I'm realizing that a lot of the choices we make aren't though, and maybe I'm trying to contextualize something that's just meant to happen naturally.  Why stress about what I can't control? But, in my projects I'm always focused on featuring the best shot, the most profound sound-up, or the crux of the action. In my life I'm trying to create it.