Day 377: What a difference a year can make!

October 11th at 8:30pm- Start Something Big! will officially launch!

AAAAAHHHMYYYYYGAWWWWDDD.

It took a year, but here we are… from the extremely delusional days, to the slightly less delusional: It’s happening.

But of course, this is only step one. The ultimate goal is to make a hit show on national television. Of course, I don’t exactly know how to do that…but hey, I didn’t know how to do this and we’re makin’ it happen! Crazayyy!

I was also just looking back on some of my posts from a year ago…and WOW is all I can say. I can barely watch some of the videos. Was that really me? haha.

It’s pretty exciting to see where a year can take you. And something I’ve learned, is to truly not sweat the small stuff. I don’t even remember half the stuff I was talking about, so I’m quickly realizing, any stress I have now, won’t matter in a year. It just won’t. So I’m letting it all go (and you should too )

<3 Gwen

Action:

1. Called Corus to ask how to get a show on national tv. Got some leads on great production companies.

2. Reached out to a former boss (who I really admire) to request feedback on the show.

3. Working on a TEDx talk and a Start Something Big! Book to spread the word!

4. Scripting/researching new people for a second season!

 

 

 

Day 357: Sleep…apparently overrated?

It’s currently 2 am and I’m just finishing up scripting the first episode. There’s still hours of transcribing to do…and I’m pretty exhausted… but still feeling that overall excitement that this is really happening.

While scripting episode #1, I was just looking back on some posts from last year at this time…and it’s pretty amazing to see how this show went from an idea to reality.

I also just wanted to share this great video clip I posted last year, that’s just fantastic.

Sleep is awesome…but apparently overrated if you want to be successful.

Speaking of lack of sleep, over the last few days I’ve had the privilege of working on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight’s show as a PA/assisting the audience coordinator, and have seen first hand what it takes to make a successful show. George and the team pretty much haven’t slept in days. And somehow they’re managing to do incredible thought provoking interviews (at it’s peak up to 8 interviews a day!) with celebs, while managing TIFF duties and the show launch party. They’re in the office before 9 and out practically 12 hours later. And that’s daily. And that’s what it takes to be successful. It’s incredible to see, and even more exciting to be a part of it…even if it’s just this week.

On that note…if you want to be in the audience for a show taping this week..email Tim at georgetickets@cbc.ca and check out www.strombo.com for more deets!

 

Day 356: Look what I stumbled upon…

THE TV SHOW IS HAPPENING!!!!!!!!

I haven’t written in forevs… but am so humbled and excited by the fact that this show is really happening.

I just googled ‘rogers tv start something big’ and came across our first official TV show page:

http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=12&rid=16&sid=4410

It really is unbelievable. I mean if you look back to August of last year…you’ll see a very ambitious but lost recent graduate. Over a year later..you’ll now find a focused, but exhausted, recent-ish grad.

Who knew how much hard work making a TV show would be?

I’m kidding. I knew what I was in for. Well…kinda.  It may seem incredibly exciting on the outside, but the truth is there is nothing glamorous about transcribing 18 interviews. haha. well it’s not all me, i’ve recruited my sister(s), and we have an intern onboard!

So I don’t know the official launch date of the show just yet, but we’re told it’ll be mid October!

And apparently there are Start Something Big! Commercials on Rogers Cable 10 now!!

#STARTSOMETHINGBIG today!!!

<3 Gwen

Day 260: And the Shooting’s Finished!

Despite the thunderstorms early on Saturday morning, the sun came out and we were able to finish shooting the first episode of Start Something Big!

What a relief. For real, we’ve been doing shoots since February, but we’ve finally done it.

Now to continue the editing process for the launch the week of June 20th.

One thing I’ve learned over the past few months is: It is IMPOSSIBLE to think you can create a TV show alone. I know what you’re thinking: well…duh… but somehow in the beginning that’s how I was going about it.

At this point, I’ve passed the Exec. Producer/Director role over to Roberta Bell… who’s literally rockin’ this. She’s so dedicated to making sure we produce a quality project, which is adding a newfound energy and commitment to the project.

And to continue to spread the message that anyone has the power to Start Something Big I’m planning to launch a conference of the same name here in Toronto, featuring locals who have started big things who’d like to share their story and advice.

I really see this as just the beginning…

 

On set with Roxanne Joyal, founding member of Free the Children and Me to We

 

 

 

 

On the set of Start Something Big!

Day 227: Editing!

  

 

Is this real life?  ;) 

Yes. Yes it is. And I’ve quickly come to realize that I haven’t posted for the last 67 days because it just didn’t seem real.

I can’t exactly pinpoint why… but I guess I had a weird superstition that if I posted something it would all vanish or something. 

But hey, I’m sitting in an editing suite right now at Rogers, staring at video footage of the first episode of Start Something Big! and can no longer deny that this is happening.

We’ve done 4 shoots over the last few weeks, and 3 exclusively for the web. Oh and we’ll be launching the new and improved site soon!! So pumped for that!

It’s been an interesting balance over the last two months… and there have been tons of changes. For one- I moved: AGAIN! I’ve moved like 4 times over the last 5 months, and and got a new job. It’s definitely been challenging…but the truth is I don’t think I could have it any other way.

As ‘they’ say, “your pain pushes you until your vision pulls you.”

It makes sense to me! When you have a vision or a goal that you’re inspired by, it doesn’t matter what comes up, you’ll get er done!

Anyways, time to get back to transcribing and writing down time-code for our editor. Fun timessss lol.

-Gwen

 

 

Day 160: Logistics

I’m currently in the process of planning the logistics of the FIRST SHOOT for Start Something Big! on Rogers TV. So exciting!!!!

We’ve got a pretty small team at the moment, so I’ve definitely transformed into a jack-of-all-trades of sorts, to pull everything together for Friday’s shoot. 

Today I was in producer mode- chatting with my camera man about the concept and visuals of the shoot, sending a lot emails for upcoming shoots, going through the segment and really visualizing how I’d love it to turn out, and tying up some loose ends. 

Tomorrow it will be finalizing interview questions, writing the opening for the segment, and doing a location scout. 

I’m also juggling a few other side projects- including possibly another TV show/web series- and am meeting a lot of new and interesting people in the next few weeks to collaborate on exciting projects! I just love hearing what people are up to, and supporting them in any way that I can!

Anyways, I’m off to sleep now, as I’m heading back to Toronto at 5:40am to get to work for 9am. Man, I need to be an entrepreneur and set my own hours

TTYS!

-Gwen

p.s. Happy Family Day !!!

Day 156: Tra la laaaa

Just working away…but it’s break time to update the ol’ blog

I’m currently working on proposals to feature Torontonians for ‘Start Something Big!’ It’s pretty exciting, as we’re actually shooting our first segment next Friday!! YIPPEEE!

But there’s a lot to get done before we can shoot (organization of talent and crew, interview questions and prep, location scouting, equipment etc.etc.etc.) And of course scheduling it all around a job where I work 40+ hours a week. But the cool thing is, Start Something Big really is my passion—which means I am willing and eager to put in the work it takes to make it happen. I really thinks that’s the key to success– finding something you’re so excited about that you’re willing to do the ‘grunt work’ or the work that doesn’t come naturally to you to make it happen.

It’s a challenge…but I’m up for it.

TTYS

-Gwen

 

Day 155: It’s Official.

Progress has been made…and the series ‘Start Something Big!’ will be in production within the next few weeks for Rogers TV.

When all the details are finalized they will be posted here

In the meantime I’m learning everything I can about producing television shows to make it the best possible production. Recently I took a class taught by Allan Novak (Indivisual Productions http://www.indivisual.tv/prod.html) to gain insight and information on being an independent producer and how to excel in the industry.

On a random note, I hope everyone’s enjoying the Grammy’s tonight! Oh and check out GAGA’s interview on 60 minutes it’s just amazing…

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_162-20031573-10391709.html?tag=component.0

<3 Gwen

 

 

 

Day 136: So I’m kinda doing this study on the Millennial generation..

A) Because I’m a nerd

B) Because I find it fascinating

C) Because I want to understand why I think the way I do

D) To share my findings with others.

Here’s a quick video featuring speaker/author Jason Ryan Dorsey about us from 60 minutes:

I essentially fall into every category he talked about. i.e. I don’t want to ‘settle,’ I graduated from school and moved back with my ‘rents for the summer, I put lifestyle above ‘work’, bought into the ‘fantasy’ of the dream job blahblahblah.

I’m essentially obsessed with the idea of a dream job and refuse to give it up. I really believe that it’s possible for the work that you do to be enjoyable…maybe even awesome! I just really subscribe to the idea that you can create your life the way you want it to be…it’ll just take hard work and sacrifice at the beginning (aka paying your dues to make it all worth it). I think the conflict here is, that my generation is hesitant to pay their dues, as we want instant gratification in everything we do. Commitment is hard to come by.

…Which ties into this TV show. It takes a heckuva lot of commitment to make it happen. But…it’s happening. In fact I had a fantastic meeting tonight and officially have two amazing producers (& a photographer) on-board to make it happen!

Anyways…more details to follow.

<3

-Gwen

Day 129: PROGRESS!!

HURRAY!! It’s been almost half a year (GEESH time flies!!) but I’ve finally got a lead to creating a TVshow! I have about two weeks to put my producer hat on and pull together a pilot episode of Start Something Big! I’m definitely aiming high; asking people who I find incredibly interesting and passionate to feature on the show. It’s going to be a challenging few weeks but I’m so up for it!

Time for phase 2 of creating a show—going from an idea, to actually producing a show!!

TTYS

p.s.

Feel free to check out my first tv interview and let me know how you think it went!! Definitely a bit nerve-wracking, but exciting!!