You’re stuck because you’re holding yourself back.
Holding yourself back by not listening to the voice that has been screaming inside your head.
The one telling you to take the leap, do what you know you need to do, and stop settling for less. Whether because it’s inconvenient or you’re afraid of what might happen if you actually go through with it.
Let’s unpack the mediocrity cycle.
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The Mediocrity Cycle
All filmmakers start out with mediocre work, and there is nothing wrong with that. Everybody sucks at the beginning—it’s part of the journey. But here’s the problem:
- Mediocre work attracts mediocre clients with low budgets.
- Low budgets force compromises, leading to more subpar projects.
- You add these projects to your portfolio, hoping for better clients, but… they just attract more of the same.
The cycle repeats, leading to burnout and exhaustion.
The high volume of unfulfilling work causes you to question all your decisions.
You get frustrated by the gap between your vision and the final product.
You dream of working with high-paying, visionary clients.
Instead, you’re stuck producing unremarkable videos that don’t challenge your creativity or excite you.
Hopelessness sets in. You start blaming your gear, circumstances, and clients… or worse, you consider quitting.
The Breakthrough Filmmaking Strategy
“Let others lead small lives, but not you.. Let others argue over small things, but not you.. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you.. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.”
―Jim Rohn
Breaking the cycle starts with a decision: stop settling.
Hard work and persistence alone won’t fix your problems. You need a strategy—a plan that aligns your work with the clients and project you actually want.
Introducing: The Breakthrough Filmmaking Strategy
Your key to the ultimate unlock of fulfilling work, clients you’re excited to talk to, and the respect you deserve.
The Core Transformation
You are capable of more. You already have what it takes. You’re inches away from breaking through. It will take conviction, consistency, and confidence (even if slightly fabricated at first).
- Conviction is your unshaken belief in your abilities to learn, improve, and grow.
- Consistency is your focus on the persistent repetition of inputs without focusing on outcomes.
- Confidence is your unrelenting forward movement, taking imperfect and unapologetic action.
Step 1: Get Clear on Your Dream Client Vision
Stop taking whatever comes your way. Instead, visualize the kind of work you want to shoot:
- Who are your dream clients?
- What kind of stories inspire you?
- What budget, stakes, and creative freedom excite you?
Go into as much detail as you can. This dream client vision will become your compass. Your guiding star for which to strive.
Step 2: Optimize Your Portfolio
Your portfolio isn’t a scrapbook—it’s a magnet for your future clients. Treat it with as much care as any other passion project. Stop throwing everything at it hoping something sticks. You’re only forcing yourself into the mediocrity cycle.
- Delete anything that doesn’t directly reflect the work you want to attract.
- Fabricate a client and shoot a spec project or collaborate with a real client in exchange for full creative freedom.
This is your ‘Dream Client Magnet’. At this point, you likely have some experience with a few different clients and project types. Look inward and become hyper self-aware.
Which of those projects brought you joy? What type of niche do you have the most experience in? What can you not stop talking about? That’s where you find your answer.
Step 3: Become a Strategic Partner
You are no longer just a videographer. You are a strategist who happens to use video as your vehicle to get results for your clients.
Brands don’t just want someone to hold a camera—they want a trusted partner who understands their goals and asks the right questions. Speaking of, here are the questions you should be asking your clients:
- What are your business goals?
- How do you measure success as it relates to the [PROJECT]?
- What are your growth targets for the year/quarter/month?
- What does your typical customer journey look like?
- Which level of awareness are we catering the messaging to? (Unaware, Problem Aware, Solution Aware, Product Aware, Hyper Aware)
Your storytelling, pre-production, and strategy skills set you apart from 99% of other filmmakers that aren’t positioning themselves properly.
It’s time to stop being a tripod with a face, and start demonstrating real value to your clients.
Step 4: Upgrade Your Skills
Success requires mastery. And I’m not talking about specializing in one area of filmmaking, like cinematography.
You are becoming a generalist. You are able to navigate many aspects of video production. You are consulting your clients on the steps they should be taking to make the best use of your services.
- Storytelling that emotionally charges and intellectually connects.
- Shot composition that adds meaning to every frame.
- Pre-production planning that leaves nothing to chance and proves to your clients that you’re serious and you actually care.
Storytelling
You need a story to connect with the audience on an emotional level. People make emotionally driven decisions first, and then justify with logic.
Think back to your last big purchase, like a car.
Remember how long you spent researching all the features, all the specifications, the price ranges and negotiation tactics. How did you feel when you finally bought it?
- Elated?
- Excited?
- Ecstatic?
And how did you explain to your spouse/friend/parent the reason behind buying that specific car? Did you talk about the MPG? The safety rating? The bargain of a price?
You were emotionally connected to that car, same as the audience needs to be emotionally invested in your story. Only then can they reason their way into whatever message you’re conveying with your project.
Shot Composition
Most filmmakers fall into tool trapping, thinking expensive gear will magically make them better at the craft.
They don’t invest enough time (and money) into learning cinematography principles. They watch too many random YouTube tutorials and obsess over teal and orange LUTs.
They don’t know how to use the language of a shot to construct and compliment the story. Here are 11 layers of shot anatomy to use as your guide:
- Camera = The clothing of your shot.
- Color Grade = The mood of your story.
- Exposure = The balance between light and dark.
- Movement = Energy in your shot.
- Composition = Directing the eye.
- Placement = Your camera’s physical position.
- Lighting = The circulatory system of your shot.
- Design = The details within the frame.
- Location = The world your story lives in.
- Performance = The humanity of your shot.
- Story = The skeleton holding it all together.
Ask yourself: Am I focusing too much on the surface layers (like the camera) instead of the deeper ones (like the story)?
Pre-Production
Failure to prepare is preparation to fail.
— Benjamin Franklin
Imagine: you’re building a house.
The land is you story. The walls are the script. The rooms are the scenes. The tenants that eventually move in are your raving fans, the viewers.
What about the foundation? Keeping this whole story from collapsing?
That’s your pre-production.
You need to have a strong base (prep) to hold your project together.
The bare minimums for a useful shoot prep:
- script breakdown
- storyboard
- shot list
- overhead diagrams
- production schedule
If you’re looking to successfully launch your next film shoot—consider joining the waitlist for my upcoming 7-day challenge.
Step 5: Focus on the 4 R’s Framework
I learned this from Alex Hormozi. He talks about the 4 R’s as the biggest drivers of the strongest leads because they come from your existing customers. And as such, they are more likely to purchase and convert at higher prices.
After you land your dream clients and successfully fulfill on your promise, focus on:
- Referrals – Get them to recommend you to others.
- Reviews – Build credibility and social proof.
- Retention – Work with them again.
- Resell – Offer them something new.
If you deliver an exceptional product then these are inevitable. But you have to ask if you want to receive. Catch your clients at the peak of satisfaction (right after you deliver the exceptional quality). Follow up often.
If your product is good, your clients will tell others about your remarkable service. They will want to associate your quality with their status. Like a good song that you just can’t keep from your friend.
What Breaking The Cycle Feels Like
Imagine waking up excited to work on projects you love. Picture this:
- Your clients respect you and trust you as a strategic partner.
- You are no longer just someone who brings the gear and presses record.
- Brands that look to you for guidance, ask for your advice, and perhaps, eventually seek your friendship.
Feel the pride of delivering meaningful stories that challenge your creativity and push your skills to new heights. That is why you’re doing this. That is why you’re reading this letter. That is why I want to invite you to this 7-day challenge.
This is the first step to breaking the cycle of mediocre work. In just 7 days you will:
- Learn how to plan your Dream Client Magnet project with precision.
- Create a strategic vision to attract high-paying clients.
- Finally feel confident in your ability to deliver exceptional work.
Don’t wait for ‘someday’—start your breakthrough now. Join the waitlist now.
I’ll be real with you
I know how it feels to be stuck in the cycle of mediocrity—I’ve been there. But the moment I got clear on my vision, optimized my portfolio, and upgraded my process, everything changed.
You can break through, too. Don’t settle for mediocre work when your potential is anything but.
Stay awesome and keep creating,
George “Anything But Mediocre” V.K.
P.S. This challenge is designed to give you results fast. Join today, and let’s get to work!
