Producer’s Log, stardate 07-24-2026

Time.

Video takes a lot more time. At least for me, for now. And it’s not because of editing. It’s the part where you get over yourself – where you forget about what you look like – and refocus on who you’re talking to and what you want to / need to say.

In a past life, I was invited to be a cast member on a local TV show, which I reluctantly did for a while. But it never suited me. While my co-hosts took a half-day off work to get their hair and makeup done and to pick out their wardrobe for the show’s taping, I was rushing from my second job just to get to the set on time (LOL). I changed in the car, ran a brush through my hair and ran inside. When I arrived in the best ‘greenroom’ local television could offer, I was greeted with, “Your lipstick needs to be brighter” … and, “That’s what you’re wearing?”

So, when I finally said, TV’s really not my thing, I meant it.

It wasn’t all bad. I took great pleasure in the camaraderie once the cameras rolled and all other pretenses had to be hidden away. If two of the co-hosts were not getting along, the camera forced congeniality. For me, the camera became invisible as soon as the director called, “Action.” It was just me and my friends on a set conversing. I said what I felt, and believe it or not, it was the only time I would get to have such deep conversations with my co-hosts, as that life did not carry over outside of the set.

To now find myself stepping back in front of a camera – in a more vintage state – admittedly, I was self-conscious at first. But what the camera has taught me, and what age is teaching me still, is that I can only be me, and the best day I have is the one I am in now.

Why should we let appearances stand in the way of communication?

So when you see me – on my littlest of local sets, casting a video over the worldwide web – yes, I’ve thought about it – twice. But I’m showing up anyway.