Who Am I and What Am I Doing?

A reason for entry.

I’m not a fan of intros, but I do understand their value. Hence why I’m writing this as my first post.

I have now worked in the entertainment business for 7 years and I have learned a lot along the way. Many people who work in positions above me would argue that Hollywood and Entertainment is a credential business with opportunities given only to those who have worked for it. While at times, I understand the need for experience and certain positions need to be filled by people who “know what they’re doing,” I believe the business has lost its way and sometimes forgets it’s in the creative business, and some times, oftentimes, creativity comes from those with fresh perspectives and ideas.

Before I continue, I wanted to first rattle off a few of my credentials to show to someone that cares that I know what I’m talking about. First and foremost, I’m an avid watcher and lover of movies. I’m pretty sure my first word was movie. Just kidding - it was “dada,” but it could have been! I think that’s probably my most valuable credential because movies are made for me (and you): the audience. And that means that if you love watching movies, TV, YouTube, TikTok, or anything that entertains you, you are just as capable to say you know what you’re talking about as well.

Secondly, and this one is also important, I am a filmmaker. I have made shorts while in college and after college. I have written a few feature scripts, so I am in love with the process of storytelling. So much so that I don’t believe I would be as helpful as a creative without it. As I will show in later writings, making a film at any level, good or bad, is hard, so it’s important to respect those who do it as I try to do for my peers.

Finally, the one you all are probably used to, I have worked in this business. I went to film school at USC and it became clear I wanted to do nothing more than work in entertainment. Specifically, I wanted to write, direct, and produce films. Maybe television if someone would allow me, but it was always movies. While in college, I interned at several places like TV networks, TV productions, ad agencies, production companies and learned plenty and asked just as many questions. After college with a dash of a COVID hiatus, I spent time as a Production Assistant on TV shows, an Executive Assistant & Coordinator at major studios & production companies like Warner Bros, Netflix, and Hartbeat (Kevin Hart). While at these places, I learned what a set looks like and how it’s ran. I have learned about a writers room and how to market the things that get made. I have learned how to make a movie (big movies) and the chaos that ensues with that pursuit, all while spending numerous hours on sets, reading countless amounts of scripts and helping on the oversight of several Hollywood productions past, present, and future. I imagined that if I worked in places that made the things I enjoyed, I would surely learn a thing or two about how to make them myself. I was not wrong.

As a true student of the storytelling process and the storytelling business, I have met very few people in the industry and out, with my specific experience. I have met amazing writers and filmmakers, most better than myself, who are still puzzled as to how to get their foot in the door. Some who would envy at a shot to be an assistant to a writer, or director, or producer, or executive. I have also met assistants and executives who have never written or made a film in their life and yet hold so much power into what gets made and who gets to make it. At the cross section of this comes someone like me, and there’s a reason why there aren’t many like me. Above all, it’s hard. Having a career and creative pursuits is challenging to say the least. I have/am afforded the great fortune to have my career and creative pursuits fully aligned where almost anything I do from an interest or passion perspective has a direct tie-in to what I do. So with that said what am I trying to do? Simple: offer a fresh, insightful perspective on not only the business, but the craft.

Here I will offer my insights on the business and trends going forward. I think that is important, but you can find that in a lot of places from people more knowledgeable than me. What I will also do here is try to share from industry perspective what critics (who don’t work in the business) and executives (who do work in the business) get wrong and what I think we should do about it. Second, I want to share my thoughts on the things I’m watching and reading. Whether it be a TV show episode, movie or short I had just seen, or a script/book I just read, it’s important to not only show you I’m continually getting better at the craft, but also put you on to some great, or not so great, things for you to enjoy as well.

This is communal so I will always be open to hearing different thoughts and insights from those who choose to participate. I would like to create a space that allows for creativity, deep thought, and innovation as I try to make of the things we all watch/consume. Like I said before, the only qualification you need to truly gain value here is being a lover of watching. You don’t need to work in the business, you don’t need to have written or made anything, but you do love have to love to watch. If you meet that threshold, this will be of interest to you.

Thank you and more to come!