Dreams

It’s a cool but sunny Sunday afternoon. Despite the cold, I’m warm. I have two blankets and a cat upon my knee.

My daughter Sophie shares the family room with me. She’s been editing big sister Imogen’s latest music video. We filmed it last Friday morning.

Just before 6 am on the last day of the week, we headed up the mountain. We drove past the lookout where we filmed the song How Great Thou Art, and down a rutted dirt road, which leads to a picnic area and a second lookout. It was still dark when we parked the car. We peered out the windows watching for first light. It arrived. It was time to begin work.

Sophie set the cameras upon the tripods. I took photos with a spare camera, adjusting the settings as the sky grew lighter. Charlotte began filming the behind-the scenes, and Gemma-Rose snapped Instagram photos with Imogen’s phone. Imogen did what stars do: a lot of smiling for the camera.

An hour and a half later, we’d finished. Sophie had enough clips to put together a video. I had several hundred or more photos. We all had an empty feeling within us. It was time to eat.

“That was the best film shoot we’ve had in a while,” someone observed as we ate breakfast.

“It was cold but not freezing like last time.” Yes, a gale-force wind tried to blow us over the lookout while we were filming How Great Thou Art.

“And we didn’t have any problems with the light because of the cloud cover.” The sun didn’t get a chance to cast unwanted shadows in unwanted places.

“Did you see the people with their dogs?” asked Imogen. “I saw them from the corner of my eye while I was singing.”

“At least they didn’t walk into our video.” Not like the dog walker who wanted to be part of our May It Be video.

“We didn’t have any unexpected surprises like leeches.” We shuddered. That was a very unpleasant encounter.

No, it was a very unadventurous video shoot. And we were all grateful.

Yesterday, as Sophie and I were walking our dog Nora, we chatted about the video shoot.

“Imogen’s recorded quite a few songs. Her Youtube channel‘s looking good,” said Sophie.

“She wouldn’t be able to do it without you. How does it feel knowing you’re an essential part of the team?”

“It’s a great feeling knowing I have skills and someone needs me. At the same time, it feels like a lot of responsibility. What if I make a mistake?”

But Sophie’s mistakes are few. She moves between the cameras with confidence. She knows what she’s doing. Not that she knows everything. Of course, she’s still learning. But, then again, so is everyone.

“Would you like to film music videos as a career?” I asked.

Sophie’s eyes lit up. “That would be wonderful!”

“What if Imogen became famous? Would you like to continue filming her videos?”

“That would a dream career!”

Two sisters working together to fulfil their dreams. Will they be successful? We don’t know.

We do know that following dreams involves a lot of hard work and commitment. Success rarely happens overnight. The girls need to keep believing in themselves and their abilities.

But before a dream can be realised, it has to be identified.

So what’s your dream?

Update:

Imogen’s music video, In Dreams,  is now live on Youtube!

Not only is Sophie Imogen’s videographer, she’s also her hair stylist. Sophie seems to know how to do an endless variety of braids! Do you like this side braided bun?

You can find Sophie on her blog The Techno Maid Photography.

Would you like to encourage Imogen to keep following her dream? You could head over to her channel and subscribe, or ‘like’ her Facebook page!