Re:Frame San Francisco or “How I Had To Stop Worrying and Love To Speak”

Photo by Nelson Nunez

A year ago I was lucky enough to be one of the attendees of the first Re:Frame in New Orleans.  There’s a saying: “Iron sharpens iron”.  Meaning if you want to be the best you need to be around the best.  And essentially that’s what Re:Frame is all about.  The highest level of learning in wedding & event filmmaking in a small, intimate group setting.  I came away from that first event so inspired and excited.  It was a game changer.  Wanting to experience more, I quickly signed up for the follow-up event in Austin.

It was there in Austin, the Re:Frame Collective, made up of Julie Hill from Elysium Productions, Bruce Patterson from Cloud Nine Creative, and Kristen* from Bliss Productions approached me to speak at the next event.  Me?!!  Stand in front of a group of people and teach them something?!!  I can hold a mic, sing badly and do The Running Man to get some laughs… but say something intelligent and inspire creativity?!!  Ummm…

Quick flashback to when I was in Junior High.  Remember those days when you had to stand in front of the class and do oral reports?  I hated them.  And hated having to speak in front of people.  Why?  Because for some reason, I would break out in a cold sweat, get incredibly dizzy, and come seconds away from fainting each time I did.  It was so bad sometimes I couldn’t  even hear the words coming out of my mouth.  I would have to put my head down when I returned to my desk relieved that I had survived such horrible torture.

Flashforward to Austin.  “Sure!” I said to them as we strolled to the karaoke bar.  O. M. G.  Was I nuts?!! But it was time. I wanted to do this.  My heart was so full… I wanted to give back and this was the opportunity.

So as nervous as I was, I came to Re:Frame San Francisco, ready to speak about my experience in the industry and hoping that at least one person would take something away from my talk.  The good thing was that I had plenty of videos to share (so I would get to sit down, watch, drink lots of water and catch my breath - something they didn’t let you do in Jr. High).  After some early jitters, I was able to get through my Concept Video presentation without passing out.  Whoohoo!!  It was actually a fun experience.  The best part was being introduced by Jason Magbanua, the newest member of the RF Collective, a superstar in the world of wedding cinema, and good friend from the Philippines.  That totally made my day.

If Re:Frame was a “trilogy”, then this third installment set in San Francisco was the biggest and baddest of them all.  It was truly epic… like “The Return Of The King” or “Return Of The Jedi” (without the Ewoks).  Although I was only able to attend the first half, I felt I had learned so much in the time I was there.  Not only from the incredible speakers in our “classroom” sessions but during the in-between times just hanging out.  So much fun. And it was fun watching the faces light up on all the first time attendees who I know went home inspired and excited as I was just one short year ago.  I’ve been there, done that… and want to do it again and again and again.

Julie, Bruce, K*, and Jason: Thank You (x4).  Look forward to the next Re:Frame!

- Loyd

Also, check out this incredible video from RFSF by Philip Bloom made up entirely of stills!