Production Notes | February 2026: Goalsetting

Project of the Month: Goalsetting

My time is limited with teaching and my numerous creative passions, not to mention the personal matters of family and friends. So, I'm working on creating reasonable goals. First, I can manage one video client a month. During the summer, more, but one a month will keep me fresh. Second, I'll film at least two short films this year. With everything going on, they won't be professional in the sense of casting and hiring a crew, but I miss directing. And third, I'll publish a Production Notes post once a month to reflect on my successes and lessons.

Gear of the Month: DJI Mic Mini

I bought this so that I have a wireless microphone option. I love the lapel mics I own, but they get tangled and require me to put my hands on a subject. The DJI mics are small and of decent sound quality. So far, I've used it in just a few videos. With the adapters, it's easy to attach to my phone (iPhone 14 Pro) or one of my Sony cameras (FX30 or A7SIII). In the future, I expect to try it on long-form interviews and on-the-run documentaries. So far, the only issue I had was the magnet. It wasn't strong enough to keep the transmitter on my wool sweater. Otherwise, great little gadget.

Idea: Short Films in Education

Okay, so I spent a few minutes tying together some ideas from the past month, but this one hit me out of nowhere! I teach English and Social Studies to high schoolers. What if I took my passion for filmmaking and created some short films to showcase skills and ideas to kids? For example: the difference between showing and telling, how to read a primary source, bias, tone vs. theme, and what effort looks like.

Question of the month

Are there any creatives in Maine's Franklin County? I'd love to connect locally.