Eddie Hamilton, ACE (Top Gun: Maverick, the last 3 Mission: Impossible films, Kick-Ass 1 & 2, and X-Men: First Class) and I candidly discuss his experience editing Top Gun: Maverick and what drove him to asking for help before it was too late.
Ep176: Why You Don’t Need to Go to Film School to Be Successful | with Eddie Hamilton, ACE [Pt 1]
Eddie Hamilton, ACE (Top Gun: Maverick, the last 3 Mission: Impossible films, Kick-Ass 1 & 2, and X-Men: First Class) and I talk about his early career choices and how he was able to become one of the top feature editors in the world…without ever going to film school.
A dream that brought me to tears…
I recently woke up from a dream in tears that was so vivid I swore it was real. And in a way, it was…
10 lessons learned from 20 years in Hollywood
If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, then you probably already know that last Friday marked the 20th anniversary of my first day working in Hollywood (technically Santa Monica, but you get the point). When people tell you “it goes by fast” you have no idea how fast until you’ve been here for twenty years and you wake up with a house, a wife, two kids, and a puppy by your side as you write.
Leading by example can be a double-edged sword
In order for me to be in a position to cure your Case of the Mondays, I had to address my own first. Here’s the story…
On resilience, determination, and maintaining a positive mindset (no matter the circumstances)
Given the rapidly devolving chaos in the world right now, a question I’ve pondered repeatedly not just for the last two weeks but frankly the last several years is: “Why is it that we don’t learn from past history?!”
The last two years has been the longest week EVER (a few ideas to help you get back on track)
No matter where you live in the world right now, no matter where you stand on the political spectrum, if you have an internet connection…boy has it been a week. To be honest…the last two years has frankly been the longest week ever.
Honest stories about mental health struggles (and exploitation) in Hollywood
I don’t believe there is any more basic, fundamental, or necessary area of your health to prioritize more than your mental health – especially when your livelihood and your ability to support yourself (and your family) depend on your ability to be creative.
Ep175: Defining Your Own Version of Success & Overcoming the Loneliness of Being a Freelancer | with Michael Bauman
If you struggle with defining what success means to you, and you are often so consumed by your work and running on the empty hamster wheel chasing success that you find yourself burned out, this candid conversation is a must-listen.
Sleep deprivation is not a badge of honor
This week I want to discuss what I believe is the most important, vital, and cutting edge “biohack” to optimizing your creativity, your mental health, and your overall well-being – SLEEP.
My favorite podcasts to boost your energy & creativity
Today I’m going back to the basics to help you master the fundamentals and ignite your energy & creativity doing the most basic thing of all – moving.
Ep174: Hollywood on the Record: The Real Story Behind @IA_Stories | with Marisa Shipley & Amy Thurlow
At the epicenter of the conversation last August during the most contentious portion of the IATSE contract negotiation was perhaps the IA Stories Instagram account where IATSE members discovered they weren’t alone in enduring the horrors of working in Hollywood: Burnout, abusive working conditions, and sacrificing everything – including even their lives – to simply keep their jobs in the entertainment industry was apparently everyone’s story.
You’re never “too old” to reinvent yourself
This week’s interview one of those special conversations that might help you realize you have a lot more to accomplish in life than you thought.
Ep173: How to Reinvent Yourself at Any Age (And Become Badass) | with Scott Morgan
As creative professionals, the pressure to come up with new ideas and be daring is stressful at best, and debilitating at worst. This pressure leads to limiting beliefs, imposter syndrome, and procrastination. And if it persists over long periods of time…even total burnout. What if there was a better approach to reinventing yourself, your work, and even your health & body image so you could fully tap into your limitless creativity?
Ep172: [CASE STUDY] Landing Your Dream Job Isn’t About “Luck,” It’s About Strategy | with Fabian Corrado & Nick Towle
When Optimizer students Nick Towle and Fabian Corrado originally came to me, neither one of them knew each other. But they both knew they were tired of the jobs they had, they felt stuck after trying for years to make a seemingly impossible career change, and they were ready to do anything to get on the right path.