My Cinematic Reel 2023 - Yusuke Okawa

When I took a moment to look back at 2023, a surge of various emotions filled me. I started making videos at 18, taking a break from university to try everything from YouTuber subtitle editing to TV commercials. The pay was good, but there were certainly some jobs I didn't enjoy. 'More freedom in creating videos.' With this desire in my heart, I've been running for 8 years. And now, am I able to create videos freely? Yes. As a video director, I've been involved in advertising production, new product reviews for manufacturers, and interviews with CEOs. This year, I even had the opportunity to talk with Nick Woodman, the CEO of GoPro. Aiming to preserve memories in videos and create products that can be easily shared, we finally launched the closed beta of the kyu app. (Hardware development is really tough... whispering). Reflecting on this year, it might have turned out to be not so bad after all. Sometimes, I feel anxious about myself 10 years from now. Lacking basic educational skills and fundamentally feeling insecure about my abilities. Venturing into business creation, rather than just being a video creator, makes me question my past self. Every time I face a challenge, I wonder, 'Can I really shine in the next stage?' But fortunately, I met some amazing people. Companions who complement what I lack. At one point, we had 30-40 members, and we experienced many failures. But I think it's because we shared these pains that I can still keep going. I've come to understand that weaknesses can also be strengths. Moving forward, I want to stay true to myself, believe in my own path. Now that I've matured, I imagine myself 10 years from now. Believing in this new version of myself who values intuition yet makes rational decisions. Haha. Following 2022, I produced more videos than expected in 2023. A sign that the new business isn't growing as it should. My goal is to be recognized as a competitor by camera manufacturers to the extent that they stop offering me jobs. I'll keep pushing in 2024. 'Only you can decide who you can become.