Hello Gang!
Here’s an update on that #31daybellydancemakeup vlogging challenge I attempted in July 2016. I missed a few days, so this challenge is spilling over into August as I start day 24 in a few minutes. Over the past month, I’ve learned a lot about myself, my makeup skills, and the art of editing video. I’ve gotten a lot of messages about this project and I thought I would share a few thoughts on why this has been such an experience.
Q – Why did you do this?
A – Because video is scary, and the only way to get comfortable doing it – is to do it. So like a hot day at the pool, I dove into the deep end with a big challenge to get over the pain all at once! It is my hope, that I will be able to get to work on a series of video tutorials for my costuming techniques in the fall when my latest book projects are completed. As I work on finishing up Becoming a Belly Dancer: From Student to Stage, A Stage Craft handbook by Sara Shrapnell, Alisha Westerfeld, Poppy Maya and myself, I realized the project is at the point where it’s more routine and detail oriented than creative and fun. This video project gives me a great creative outlet, while learning new video editing skills to use in the future.
Q – How are you making your videos?
A – On my iPhone. I’m shooting the video on the front-facing camera of my iPhone. I’m using iMovie for IOS on my phone to do my editing, and uploading to YouTube and FaceBook directly from my phone.
Q – Why do Makeup Challenge?
A – Because it felt like a challenge, but doable. There’s no way I could have invested the time into making a costume every day! This seemed like a challenge that I could take on that was of a manageable daily time commitment, something that is important to the overall “look” of a belly dancer, and by sticking to affordable internet and drugstore products, I was able to keep the costs within my budget.
Q – What has been the hardest part of this project?
A – Making time for it! Depending on the day, I would spend a lot, or a little bit of time on these makeup looks. Some days it went amazingly fast. On other days, I would have difficulty speaking or thinking of something to say. “I did this makeup because I HAD to” just isn’t interesting. As I have become more relaxed speaking to the back of my phone, I’ve found it’s been easier to shoot, and consequently easier to edit.
Ultimately, as I enter the last week of this challenge, I’ve learned I really enjoy making videos, playing with makeup, and that there IS such a thing as false eyelashes that are “too big.” I’m adding each of the days to a playlist so that people who really want to see the complete arc of the challenge can check it out. Now it’s time to go and put on another face and make a video.
Happy Costuming!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
Aug. 1, 2016