Video Production and the Pot Roast

In the world of video production, much like in the kitchen, traditions sometimes linger long past their expiration date. Take the story of the pot roast—a delightful anecdote that perfectly highlights how customs can stick around, even when their original purpose has long since disappeared.

Picture this: a woman is preparing a pot roast for dinner. She pulls out the roast, expertly trims off the ends, seasons it, and places it in the pan. Her curious spouse, noticing the perfectly good meat being tossed aside, asks, “Why do you cut the ends off?” She pauses, thinks for a moment, and responds, “That’s how my mom did it.”

Determined to uncover the great pot roast mystery, they call her mom. Her answer? The same: “That’s how my mom always did it.” Now the curiosity is sizzling hotter than the roast in the oven, so they go straight to the source—the grandmother. When asked, she laughs and says, “Oh, I only did that because my pan was too small! Why are you still doing it?”

It’s funny how we often carry on traditions without questioning them. And while this might lead to some mildly wasteful cooking habits, in video production, it can be a recipe for inefficiency.

When Video Production Gets “Pot Roasted”

Just like trimming the ends of a perfectly good roast, outdated habits in video production often persist for no good reason. Teams might cling to old techniques simply because “that’s how we’ve always done it,” not realizing that newer methods and technologies could make their lives much easier. It’s as if we’re still using a pan from 1953 when we’ve got an industrial-sized oven sitting in the corner.

Take scripting, for example. Some teams stick to rigid, formulaic scripts that allow no room for creativity or spontaneity. Sure, this worked when audiences had the attention spans of goldfish and needed everything spelled out—but today, people crave storytelling that feels authentic and fresh. Clinging to the old ways is like seasoning your pot roast with nothing but salt when you’ve got a whole spice rack waiting to be explored.

Then there’s the equipment. How many production teams still haul around lighting rigs that look like they belong on the set of Gone with the Wind? Modern LED lights are lighter, brighter, and infinitely easier to use. Yet some folks insist on setting up the “old reliable” hardware, probably because they enjoy getting tangled in wires. And don’t get me started on cameras—today’s sleek, high-tech models can achieve cinematic quality without the backbreaking heft of yesteryear’s gear. Still, some people just can’t say goodbye to that ancient behemoth they lovingly nicknamed “Ol’ Clunker.”

Editing is another area ripe for modernization. In the past, editors spent hours painstakingly cutting and splicing footage by hand. Now, with advanced software and AI tools, the process is faster, smarter, and more creative. Yet some editors act like their computer might explode if they let an algorithm help them organize footage. Spoiler alert: it won’t.

Questioning the Roast

So, what’s the solution? Like the curious spouse in the pot roast story, we need to ask “Why?” Why are we doing things this way? Does it serve the project, or is it just a holdover from the days when we didn’t know better?

Here are a few ways to inject some fresh thinking into your production process:

1.Play with the Recipe: Don’t be afraid to experiment with new tools and techniques. Try drones for sweeping aerial shots, use AI-driven editing tools, or explore 3D animation for added flair. Just because Grandma didn’t use these things doesn’t mean you can’t.

2.Spice Things Up: Inject creativity into old processes. If you’re stuck in a storytelling rut, involve new voices in brainstorming sessions. Sometimes, the freshest ideas come from outside the usual circle.

3.Throw Out the Old Pan: If a piece of equipment or method no longer serves you, let it go. Technology evolves for a reason, and clinging to outdated tools is like using a rotary phone to order Uber Eats—it just doesn’t make sense.

A New Recipe for Success

At the end of the day, the pot roast parable teaches us that tradition is only valuable if it serves a purpose. In video production, as in cooking, success requires a willingness to challenge the status quo. By trimming the metaphorical “ends” off old methods, we open the door to innovation, efficiency, and better results.

So the next time you’re on set, take a moment to ask yourself: Am I doing this because it works, or because it’s what I’ve always done? The answer might just transform your project—and if not, at least you’ll have a good laugh thinking about pot roasts and pans that were too small.