Year Recap - Lessons Learned & Projects Update

This year was all sorts of terrible for everyone, though many were affected worse than others.

A combination of the pandemic as well as the growing effects of social, economic, and political problems that have been brewing for decades, has made 2020 a year that most folks wish to move forward from. This we know.

While offering empathy and sympathy for those suffering, I wanted to share a recap of a few projects I've been working on the past 12 months and a few lessons learned along the way that I thought might help others on their journey.

TL;DR

I am working as a production manager on an indie feature documentary about a Boston Music Award-winning band that I had previously directed a music video for, I traveled to 8 cities in 8 weeks (pre-pandemic), attended the Sundance Film Festival which in turn inspired me to write a screenplay again, and expanded my role at the healthcare software company I do marketing for, and worked on a few corporate projects, among other happenings in 2020.

Background - Feel Free to Scroll Past This Part

In January of 2019 I wrote a blog article called "How Networking Gave Me One of the Best Years of my Life." It tells the story of how on New Years Eve at the end of a pretty difficult year, I made a list of everything that I wanted to achieve, I quit my job, and set out to accomplish it all in the next twelve months.

That year, I directed a music video (mentioned above), worked on a Hollywood studio lot on the crew of a national network TV show, directed corporate videos, drove cross-country (twice), travelled with/visited family, and organized a series of events in Los Angeles and Boston, among other goals.

It wasn't as easy, as simple, or as perfect as it may sound. Nor did it happen without a fair amount of sacrifice, disappointment, privilege, luck, outside help, and pain. Still, a great deal of what I set our to accomplish came to fruition in 2018.

I know, because I was there.

But as I mention in that previous article, the biggest lesson I learned from all of it is that what matters most in life (for me at least) is not what I accomplish or experience...what matters most to me, is who I share my experiences with and what I learn along the way.

So here we go...

Friends Win "Best Rock Act" - 2020 Boston Music Awards

I had nothing to do with this, nor did I win anything myself. But I started the year wishing a band that I directed/edited a music video for in 2018 would win a Boston Music Award in 2020. And wouldn't you know it?...

...The band did end up winning the Boston Music Award for Best Rock Act for 2020.

We are now in the midst of creating a feature-length documentary about the band (more on that later,) so aside from being happy for them, the win definitely helps the story of the band be more potent and interesting for the documentary.

As for the music video:

The music video screened at a number of my favorite film festivals across two years including the monthly Hollyshorts Film Festival and Boston Underground Film Festival series, the Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival, and a couple other online festivals.

The lessons I drew from these experiences are that 1.) Sometimes it can be good to try work that goes outside of your comfort zone or general community because 2.) You might be pleasantly surprised where it takes you and how a short period of effort can pay dividends for years afterward. And 3.) Wishing success for others can both bring you joy for their wins as well as unexpected joy that then bring you all further shared success.

Techstars Air Force Accelerator Video - Year Three

Who knew that back in 2017 I'd meet some fancy friends while doing events at Workbar co-working who would hire me for three years directing/editing super fun videos with inspiring entrepreneurs and the amazing Techstars team?

Here's the video we did for the 2020 program (pre-pandemic):

We were only able to get in one interview this year before the pandemic, but thanks to the work of our team, we were able to put together what I feel is collectively our strongest work yet.

The lessons I learned from these projects are 1.) Get to know folks outside of your immediate community, if for no other reason than to expand your horizons, 2.) let folks know about your interests and talents, it may provide you opportunities you didn't expect, and 3.) when someone invests in you three years in a row, "you must be doing something right." From that perspective, take a look at what worked and what didn't with that client to see what you can learn or replicate for securing and working with future clients.

Documentary about a Boston-Based Rock Band

On New Years Eve of 2017, I set an intention of directing music videos again, though it had been 5 years since the last one I directed. While on set for our first year doing the Techstars videos in March of 2018, I was asked to direct a music video for a pretty much unknown local Boston band later that summer. To be fair, I haven't directed any other music videos since then, but here's hoping for 2021.

The thing is, directing/editing the music video was super fun for me, and together we created a music video that not only helped propel the band to new heights from an audience standpoint, it continued to bring me joy for years via 6 screenings at my favorite fests, seeing the band rise from obscurity to the finals of Boston's legendary "Royal Rumble", and a Boston Music Award for the band.

That, and it led to the producer of the music video to hire me as a consultant and production manager for a feature-length documentary on the band that he wanted to direct years later.

The lessons I learned from the doc, again, is that though the "world" of the band is a little outside of my usual community or comfort zone, it has brought me 3 years of joy through seeing the band progress and grow, a bunch of fun experiences, and new creative projects to work on.

Corporate Clients

I'm grateful that I was able to do interesting and creative work with good friends and collaborative clients this year.

The lesson I learned with these projects is that my wide variety of experiences, often seen as a negative by those hiring, helped me immeasurably to work with a variety of stakeholders with different approaches and communication styles, hone my organizational and creative skills, and to execute on complex/time-sensitive projects.

So yeah, I learned don't discount any work experience from the past is the lesson.

Wrote a Screenplay

I've written a few screenplays in the past and even won "Best Romantic Screenplay" (short) at the Woods Hole Film Festival.

After attending the Sundance Film Festival this year where I caught up with a friend from college and met a few new folks, (including one of the stars from a 90's sitcom on FOX), I was inspired to start writing again after about 5 years away from it. Woo.

Podcast, Blogging, Events

I enjoy podcasting but mainly I found that I enjoy getting to know people and learning about their lives. Podcasting is something I'm focusing on this year, but the lesson is that I don't really need a podcast to learn about people.

Regarding events, I created and organized 9 years of a film festival that screened at three venues. I built the website, helped shape the logo creation (with a great graphic designer), got businesses to sponsor us, promoted it door to door/on social media/print ads/online adds, etc.

I have also put on events with The Boston Calendar, Workbar, City Awake, Aeronaut brewery, and at WeWork locations in Boston and LA. Offerings included DJ's, bands, free food, free storytelling, improv, and an art bar. I've done women in tech, future of animation, indie film and marketing panel events, I've even done birthday parties.

The experiences were all great and taught me a lot. The main things that I learned were that my past experiences have helped both my confidence and skills-wise with the success of my current projects. That, and I just simply enjoy bringing people together, whether I get anything tangible out of it or not.

Traveled to My Favorite Places

From March 2018 to March 2020 (due to COVID-19 restrictions), thanks to my remote working/gig work career, I was fortunate to be able to travel to visit family and friends in Vermont, Connecticut, Palm Springs, Essex, New Hampshire, Las Vegas, Utah, Idaho, Martha's Vineyard, and NYC.

Beyond that, I was able to split my time between Los Angeles and Boston pretty much every month.

Just that. Not much of a lesson, just an update!

Marketing for a Software Company

At the time that I accepted my "dream job", I was working full-time at a healthcare software company that a friend co-founded. It was difficult for me to leave, but it was for a job that seemed truly perfect for me, so I felt I had to make the change.

After coming to the realization that the new role wasn't a fit anymore, about a year later, I caught up with my friend from the software company, and he offered me a job back at the company doing marketing.

In my time away, the business had gone through a number of changes and continued to show strong positive progress, so it was a new opportunity and challenge at a company I loved, working with some of my favorite people. Plus, it was a flexible and remote position, so I would be able to continue to travel and work on my other various endeavors.

It's been about 2 years since I rejoined the company, and working there has gone great. It's provided me a healthy and supportive working environment and new business challenges for me to sink my teeth into.

It also gives me the ability to plan my finances in a way freelancing and side-hustling never could, as well as giving me the opportunity to help grow a business I believe in, together with a team I enjoy working with.

The lesson I learned is, sometimes things come back around. Sometimes a new perspective on your goals or what you're spending your time on is needed, but stay open to opportunities that may appear or reappear serendipitously. That, and to be thankful for friends who have your back and actively want to see you succeed.

Wrap up

There is nothing more about 2020 in general that I can say (or write) that hasn't already been mentioned by folks much more eloquently than me. We all know what 2020 was.

For this article though, I am trying my best to focus on some positives (without being toxically positive) that occurred in my sphere this year, in order to learn personally, to perhaps help others, and to hope for a better year ahead for us all.

About the Author (and What I’m Selling)

If you’re seeking video production services, you can check out my work by clicking here

In the future, I hope to sell you fancy eBooks and classes on indie film festival and video production Best Practices, but I need to write them first.

Jeremy Jed Hammel got his start working in TV production in the production offices for NBC Late Night, eventually doing some producing work for “Later” and talent research for “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”. He also worked in the production offices of the drama “ER.”

In the independent film realm, he has produced or directed 15+ short films that screened at over 140 film festivals including one that won Best Film at Comic-Con San Diego’s Indie Film Festivall and has over 1 million views on Youtube.

On the commercial/corporate side of video production, Jeremy has produced, directed, or edited projects for clients such as Techstars Air Force Accelerator, Startup Institute, the Cambridge Innovation Center, UMASS-Lowell, and Alienware/Dell computer, among others.