ask yourself what if no one ever bought any of my work what if I’m never gonna
any of my work what if I’m never gonna
any of my work what if I’m never gonna sell a book or publish a book or a short
sell a book or publish a book or a short
sell a book or publish a book or a short story are you gonna continue to write
story are you gonna continue to write
story are you gonna continue to write and if the answer is yes because I have
and if the answer is yes because I have
and if the answer is yes because I have to do then yeah then you are a writer
to do then yeah then you are a writer
to do then yeah then you are a writer and whether you’re selling out I can’t
and whether you’re selling out I can’t
and whether you’re selling out I can’t know but if their stories and you that
know but if their stories and you that
know but if their stories and you that have to get out you want to put them
have to get out you want to put them
have to get out you want to put them down in the paper with it but whether
down in the paper with it but whether
down in the paper with it but whether you ever get the affirmation of a
you ever get the affirmation of a
you ever get the affirmation of a contract or a book in your hand or being
contract or a book in your hand or being
contract or a book in your hand or being on the bestseller list if you still have
on the bestseller list if you still have
on the bestseller list if you still have to tell your stories then then your
to tell your stories then then your
to tell your stories then then your writer if you can give it up then it
writer if you can give it up then it
writer if you can give it up then it probably would be an act of sanity to
probably would be an act of sanity to
probably would be an act of sanity to learn accounting or if you’re really
learn accounting or if you’re really
learn accounting or if you’re really gonna be an artist with your own voice
gonna be an artist with your own voice
gonna be an artist with your own voice and you want to do different things and
and you want to do different things and
and you want to do different things and try you know not the standard thing then
try you know not the standard thing then
try you know not the standard thing then you know the biggest balancing act you
you know the biggest balancing act you
you know the biggest balancing act you have to pull isn’t really even being a
have to pull isn’t really even being a
have to pull isn’t really even being a good filmmaker we’ll just say that you
good filmmaker we’ll just say that you
good filmmaker we’ll just say that you have that is that balancing act between
have that is that balancing act between
have that is that balancing act between sticking to your vision sticking to your
sticking to your vision sticking to your
sticking to your vision sticking to your voice but not being some asshole that
voice but not being some asshole that
voice but not being some asshole that could only hear the sound of his own
could only hear the sound of his own
could only hear the sound of his own voice you know and that’s I mean it’s
voice you know and that’s I mean it’s
voice you know and that’s I mean it’s all right there that’s it you got to be
all right there that’s it you got to be
all right there that’s it you got to be able to listen to people you got to be
able to listen to people you got to be
able to listen to people you got to be able to hear what they’re saying but you
able to hear what they’re saying but you
able to hear what they’re saying but you also can’t just I mean when the when the
also can’t just I mean when the when the
also can’t just I mean when the when the going gets tough not give up on your
going gets tough not give up on your
going gets tough not give up on your vision
vision
vision [Music]
everything I did I was following
everything I did I was following something I really cared about something
something I really cared about something
something I really cared about something I loved something I was passionate about
I loved something I was passionate about
I loved something I was passionate about and I kept following that passion
and I kept following that passion
and I kept following that passion whether it was cars whether it was
whether it was cars whether it was
whether it was cars whether it was anthropology whether it was art
anthropology whether it was art
anthropology whether it was art photography and eventually it led me to
photography and eventually it led me to
photography and eventually it led me to my huge passion my real passion which
my huge passion my real passion which
my huge passion my real passion which was making movies which combined all of
was making movies which combined all of
was making movies which combined all of those things and I realized that had I
those things and I realized that had I
those things and I realized that had I gone on to get my degree in anthropology
gone on to get my degree in anthropology
gone on to get my degree in anthropology I would have probably made
I would have probably made
I would have probably made anthropological movies in New Guinea or
anthropological movies in New Guinea or
anthropological movies in New Guinea or someplace and eventually been on
someplace and eventually been on
someplace and eventually been on National Geographic and you know the
National Geographic and you know the
National Geographic and you know the History Channel and been than making
History Channel and been than making
History Channel and been than making features and I had done Star Wars just
features and I had done Star Wars just
features and I had done Star Wars just the same if I’d have gone into arts
the same if I’d have gone into arts
the same if I’d have gone into arts centre and become an illustrator I would
centre and become an illustrator I would
centre and become an illustrator I would have probably started doing animation
have probably started doing animation
have probably started doing animation and doing animated films and making
and doing animated films and making
and doing animated films and making animated things and then ultimately I
animated things and then ultimately I
animated things and then ultimately I would have gone on and been right where
would have gone on and been right where
would have gone on and been right where I was so no matter which route I took
I was so no matter which route I took
I was so no matter which route I took because I cared about all of them they
because I cared about all of them they
because I cared about all of them they all went to the same place had I done
all went to the same place had I done
all went to the same place had I done what my father had wished me to do which
what my father had wished me to do which
what my father had wished me to do which is to go into these office equipment
is to go into these office equipment
is to go into these office equipment business with him which I knew like
business with him which I knew like
business with him which I knew like Mozilla I knew I knew I hated them my
Mozilla I knew I knew I hated them my
Mozilla I knew I knew I hated them my life would have been unpleasant and so I
life would have been unpleasant and so I
life would have been unpleasant and so I think it’s very important not to do what
think it’s very important not to do what
think it’s very important not to do what your peers think you should do not do
your peers think you should do not do
your peers think you should do not do what your parents think you should do or
what your parents think you should do or
what your parents think you should do or your teachers but to do what you inside
your teachers but to do what you inside
your teachers but to do what you inside or even your culture of things but do
or even your culture of things but do
or even your culture of things but do what’s inside you
you know it’s about bringing all the
you know it’s about bringing all the elements together and if you are
elements together and if you are
elements together and if you are fortunate enough to not be driven by
fortunate enough to not be driven by
fortunate enough to not be driven by your own ego and not believe that all
your own ego and not believe that all
your own ego and not believe that all your ideas are the only good ones and
your ideas are the only good ones and
your ideas are the only good ones and are open to suggestion
are open to suggestion
are open to suggestion and to criticism that’s not a good idea
and to criticism that’s not a good idea
and to criticism that’s not a good idea don’t play it that way that doesn’t
don’t play it that way that doesn’t
don’t play it that way that doesn’t serve the writing as long as as actors
serve the writing as long as as actors
serve the writing as long as as actors and to a large degree directors our job
and to a large degree directors our job
and to a large degree directors our job is to serve the writer serve the writing
is to serve the writer serve the writing
is to serve the writer serve the writing if you serve the writing you will
if you serve the writing you will
if you serve the writing you will ultimately serve yourself I think we
ultimately serve yourself I think we
ultimately serve yourself I think we have gone through a couple of decades
have gone through a couple of decades
have gone through a couple of decades where actors have been spending more
where actors have been spending more
where actors have been spending more time serving themselves and they have
time serving themselves and they have
time serving themselves and they have forgotten that it is about the writing
forgotten that it is about the writing
forgotten that it is about the writing it is about finding out the world that a
it is about finding out the world that a
it is about finding out the world that a writer wants to create and doing
writer wants to create and doing
writer wants to create and doing everything you can to give director as
everything you can to give director as
everything you can to give director as many choices as they possibly can have
many choices as they possibly can have
many choices as they possibly can have an editing and collaborating and being
an editing and collaborating and being
an editing and collaborating and being open about it and loving that aspect of
open about it and loving that aspect of
open about it and loving that aspect of it because it’s so incredible if you a
it because it’s so incredible if you a
it because it’s so incredible if you a trust the people that you work with and
trust the people that you work with and
trust the people that you work with and and bring an atmosphere of openness and
and bring an atmosphere of openness and
and bring an atmosphere of openness and humor to the proceedings so that
humor to the proceedings so that
humor to the proceedings so that everybody wants to come to work every
everybody wants to come to work every
everybody wants to come to work every day and do their best job so it is about
day and do their best job so it is about
day and do their best job so it is about collaboration
thank you know as a friend no priest
thank you know as a friend no priest told me said you pay a price you know
told me said you pay a price you know
told me said you pay a price you know when you pay a prices I just quite
when you pay a prices I just quite
when you pay a prices I just quite honestly you know a personal life really
honestly you know a personal life really
honestly you know a personal life really and relationships go by the board I mean
and relationships go by the board I mean
and relationships go by the board I mean it was as if the Frank Capra quote it’s
it was as if the Frank Capra quote it’s
it was as if the Frank Capra quote it’s like being like a drug or something that
like being like a drug or something that
like being like a drug or something that you have to continue and now as I say
you have to continue and now as I say
you have to continue and now as I say some people call that drives and call it
some people call that drives and call it
some people call that drives and call it obsession something called just being
obsession something called just being
obsession something called just being selfish and being not a very nice person
selfish and being not a very nice person
selfish and being not a very nice person but the reality is that I just had to
but the reality is that I just had to
but the reality is that I just had to continue that process
being an actor or even being an artist
being an actor or even being an artist and I had studied in school behind the
and I had studied in school behind the
and I had studied in school behind the camera was not even in the vernacular of
camera was not even in the vernacular of
camera was not even in the vernacular of my dreams I was raised 9 to 5 you go to
my dreams I was raised 9 to 5 you go to
my dreams I was raised 9 to 5 you go to work your work you work your way up a
work your work you work your way up a
work your work you work your way up a scale right and that was all I was able
scale right and that was all I was able
scale right and that was all I was able to even like I said dream about so the
to even like I said dream about so the
to even like I said dream about so the idea of living life and having a career
idea of living life and having a career
idea of living life and having a career I was in the arts that was in the
I was in the arts that was in the
I was in the arts that was in the storytelling business it was something
storytelling business it was something
storytelling business it was something that’s really fun it was not something
that’s really fun it was not something
that’s really fun it was not something that like said I even dreamed up
what we all are in the business of
what we all are in the business of storytelling I mean it’s not just
storytelling I mean it’s not just
storytelling I mean it’s not just exclusive for people like me who are in
exclusive for people like me who are in
exclusive for people like me who are in the entertainment business I think that
the entertainment business I think that
the entertainment business I think that no matter what business you’re in no
no matter what business you’re in no
no matter what business you’re in no matter what you’re you’re selling or
matter what you’re you’re selling or
matter what you’re you’re selling or doing why is it certain businesses can
doing why is it certain businesses can
doing why is it certain businesses can hover above their competition I mean use
hover above their competition I mean use
hover above their competition I mean use Starbucks really serving the best cup of
Starbucks really serving the best cup of
Starbucks really serving the best cup of coffee maybe not I mean I like a caramel
coffee maybe not I mean I like a caramel
coffee maybe not I mean I like a caramel macchiato myself but is American Express
macchiato myself but is American Express
macchiato myself but is American Express to really the best return rate on a
to really the best return rate on a
to really the best return rate on a credit card probably not but it’s the
credit card probably not but it’s the
credit card probably not but it’s the story they managed to tell and I think
story they managed to tell and I think
story they managed to tell and I think that the more that we think about that
that the more that we think about that
that the more that we think about that the more that we you know sometimes you
the more that we you know sometimes you
the more that we you know sometimes you we see commercials and we see stuff and
we see commercials and we see stuff and
we see commercials and we see stuff and we just go eyes so you need to turn off
we just go eyes so you need to turn off
we just go eyes so you need to turn off that somehow those people that managed
that somehow those people that managed
that somehow those people that managed to tell a story that managed to even
to tell a story that managed to even
to tell a story that managed to even temporarily move us in a certain way
temporarily move us in a certain way
temporarily move us in a certain way that we remember we don’t feel like
that we remember we don’t feel like
that we remember we don’t feel like we’re being sold we feel like we’re
we’re being sold we feel like we’re
we’re being sold we feel like we’re being told something that we can connect
being told something that we can connect
being told something that we can connect to so I’ve always been driven by that
to so I’ve always been driven by that
to so I’ve always been driven by that very idea that very notion
I decided to go to film school because I
I decided to go to film school because I love the idea of making films on the
love the idea of making films on the
love the idea of making films on the photography and everybody said it was a
photography and everybody said it was a
photography and everybody said it was a crazy thing to do because in those days
crazy thing to do because in those days
crazy thing to do because in those days nobody made it into the film business I
nobody made it into the film business I
nobody made it into the film business I mean just unless you were related to
mean just unless you were related to
mean just unless you were related to somebody there was no way in so
somebody there was no way in so
somebody there was no way in so everything that’s silly you’re never
everything that’s silly you’re never
everything that’s silly you’re never gonna get a job but I I wasn’t moved by
gonna get a job but I I wasn’t moved by
gonna get a job but I I wasn’t moved by that I set the goal of getting through
that I set the goal of getting through
that I set the goal of getting through film school and just then focused on
film school and just then focused on
film school and just then focused on getting to that level because I didn’t
getting to that level because I didn’t
getting to that level because I didn’t you know I didn’t know where I was gonna
you know I didn’t know where I was gonna
you know I didn’t know where I was gonna go after that I wanted to make
go after that I wanted to make
go after that I wanted to make documentary films and eventually I got
documentary films and eventually I got
documentary films and eventually I got into the goal of once I got to school of
into the goal of once I got to school of
into the goal of once I got to school of making a film one of the most telling
making a film one of the most telling
making a film one of the most telling things about film schools you got a lot
things about film schools you got a lot
things about film schools you got a lot of students in those days especially
of students in those days especially
of students in those days especially it’s not quite so much today but
it’s not quite so much today but
it’s not quite so much today but wandering around say oh I wish I could
wandering around say oh I wish I could
wandering around say oh I wish I could make a movie I wish I could make a movie
make a movie I wish I could make a movie
make a movie I wish I could make a movie you know I can’t get in this class I
you know I can’t get in this class I
you know I can’t get in this class I can’t get any you know first class I had
can’t get any you know first class I had
can’t get any you know first class I had was an animation class it wasn’t a
was an animation class it wasn’t a
was an animation class it wasn’t a production class I had a history class
production class I had a history class
production class I had a history class and an animation class and in the
and an animation class and in the
and an animation class and in the animation class they gave us one minute
animation class they gave us one minute
animation class they gave us one minute of film to put onto the animation camera
of film to put onto the animation camera
of film to put onto the animation camera to operate it to see how you could move
to operate it to see how you could move
to operate it to see how you could move left move right make it go up and down
left move right make it go up and down
left move right make it go up and down and it was a test to see you know then
and it was a test to see you know then
and it was a test to see you know then the teacher would you know had certain
the teacher would you know had certain
the teacher would you know had certain requirements that you had to do you had
requirements that you had to do you had
requirements that you had to do you had to make you go up man and me coming down
to make you go up man and me coming down
to make you go up man and me coming down and then the teacher would look at it
and then the teacher would look at it
and then the teacher would look at it and say oh yes you maneuvered this
and say oh yes you maneuvered this
and say oh yes you maneuvered this machine to do these things and I took
machine to do these things and I took
machine to do these things and I took that one minute of film and made it into
that one minute of film and made it into
that one minute of film and made it into a movie and it was a movie that one like
a movie and it was a movie that one like
a movie and it was a movie that one like you know 20 or 25 Awards
you know 20 or 25 Awards
you know 20 or 25 Awards you know in every Film Festival in the
you know in every Film Festival in the
you know in every Film Festival in the world and kind of changed the whole
world and kind of changed the whole
world and kind of changed the whole animation Department and and meanwhile
animation Department and and meanwhile
animation Department and and meanwhile all the other guys were around so well I
all the other guys were around so well I
all the other guys were around so well I wish I could make lluvia which is a
wish I could make lluvia which is a
wish I could make lluvia which is a production class
I got a uh yeah I started working at
I got a uh yeah I started working at this video store it was pretty much what
this video store it was pretty much what
this video store it was pretty much what you’re talking about around that time
you’re talking about around that time
you’re talking about around that time and and it was great at first cuz I’d
and and it was great at first cuz I’d
and and it was great at first cuz I’d always hated day jobs and stuff and so I
always hated day jobs and stuff and so I
always hated day jobs and stuff and so I got a day job and it ended up being
got a day job and it ended up being
got a day job and it ended up being pretty good but the middlee I was there
pretty good but the middlee I was there
pretty good but the middlee I was there for five years at a certain point it was
for five years at a certain point it was
for five years at a certain point it was a narcotic alright I didn’t have to keep
a narcotic alright I didn’t have to keep
a narcotic alright I didn’t have to keep pursuing my dreams because you know it’s
pursuing my dreams because you know it’s
pursuing my dreams because you know it’s not what I want to do but it’s sort of
not what I want to do but it’s sort of
not what I want to do but it’s sort of kind of close and if I didn’t have an
kind of close and if I didn’t have an
kind of close and if I didn’t have an artist soul burning in me I could have
artist soul burning in me I could have
artist soul burning in me I could have made myself happy with that I could if i
made myself happy with that I could if i
made myself happy with that I could if i if i didn’t have an artist soul burning
if i didn’t have an artist soul burning
if i didn’t have an artist soul burning to get out I could have you know walked
to get out I could have you know walked
to get out I could have you know walked backwards a couple steps and just done
backwards a couple steps and just done
backwards a couple steps and just done that and would have been a fulfilling to
that and would have been a fulfilling to
that and would have been a fulfilling to anybody else that would have been a
anybody else that would have been a
anybody else that would have been a fulfilling life it wouldn’t been for me
fulfilling life it wouldn’t been for me
fulfilling life it wouldn’t been for me because I wouldn’t know and I would have
because I wouldn’t know and I would have
because I wouldn’t know and I would have had something to say that I didn’t get a
had something to say that I didn’t get a
had something to say that I didn’t get a chance to say but it did put me to sleep
chance to say but it did put me to sleep
chance to say but it did put me to sleep for a while and and I’ve always just
for a while and and I’ve always just
for a while and and I’ve always just thought I mean what really got it got
thought I mean what really got it got
thought I mean what really got it got everything kind of truly going for me
everything kind of truly going for me
everything kind of truly going for me you could point out a lot of different
you could point out a lot of different
you could point out a lot of different things but the bottom line is the fact
things but the bottom line is the fact
things but the bottom line is the fact that I realized that the even the group
that I realized that the even the group
that I realized that the even the group of people I hung around with they were
of people I hung around with they were
of people I hung around with they were all great great great fellows and great
all great great great fellows and great
all great great great fellows and great gals but you know I was easy for me to
gals but you know I was easy for me to
gals but you know I was easy for me to think that I was doing a lot because I
think that I was doing a lot because I
think that I was doing a lot because I was doing more to try to move myself
was doing more to try to move myself
was doing more to try to move myself forward than they were but you know
forward than they were but you know
forward than they were but you know that’s not yeah yeah okay I’m a big fish
that’s not yeah yeah okay I’m a big fish
that’s not yeah yeah okay I’m a big fish in a puddle so what all right they’re
in a puddle so what all right they’re
in a puddle so what all right they’re not doing anything so yeah I’m doing
not doing anything so yeah I’m doing
not doing anything so yeah I’m doing more than them but um I realized that
more than them but um I realized that
more than them but um I realized that actually I need to get my ass out to
actually I need to get my ass out to
actually I need to get my ass out to Hollywood and meet other people who are
Hollywood and meet other people who are
Hollywood and meet other people who are bill like they were in my category or or
bill like they were in my category or or
bill like they were in my category or or working a little higher and and I should
working a little higher and and I should
working a little higher and and I should be the weakest link in my chain that I
be the weakest link in my chain that I
be the weakest link in my chain that I have and that’ll make me be stronger or
have and that’ll make me be stronger or
have and that’ll make me be stronger or make me run faster I mean like an
make me run faster I mean like an
make me run faster I mean like an analogy I’ve always used is alright if
analogy I’ve always used is alright if
analogy I’ve always used is alright if you run the hundred yard dash but people
you run the hundred yard dash but people
you run the hundred yard dash but people that can’t run as fast as yeah you’ll
that can’t run as fast as yeah you’ll
that can’t run as fast as yeah you’ll win hands down you know that but if you
win hands down you know that but if you
win hands down you know that but if you run with people much faster
run with people much faster
run with people much faster you all right yeah you might come in
you all right yeah you might come in
you all right yeah you might come in last every single time but your time
last every single time but your time
last every single time but your time will be better because they’re making
will be better because they’re making
will be better because they’re making you run all the faster they’re making
you run all the faster they’re making
you run all the faster they’re making let me can you dig down just a little
let me can you dig down just a little
let me can you dig down just a little bit more doesn’t matter that you and
bit more doesn’t matter that you and
bit more doesn’t matter that you and your time is faster and that’s what I
your time is faster and that’s what I
your time is faster and that’s what I knew I had to do I had to get out of
knew I had to do I had to get out of
knew I had to do I had to get out of Loserville and throw myself into a place
Loserville and throw myself into a place
Loserville and throw myself into a place where like this is what I do for a
where like this is what I do for a
where like this is what I do for a living
living
living [Music]
you know there was always this sort of
you know there was always this sort of argument you sometimes see it in the way
argument you sometimes see it in the way
argument you sometimes see it in the way movies are cut where there’s a cut every
movies are cut where there’s a cut every
movies are cut where there’s a cut every three seconds because God forbid
three seconds because God forbid
three seconds because God forbid something isn’t happening on-screen
something isn’t happening on-screen
something isn’t happening on-screen something isn’t distracting but if you
something isn’t distracting but if you
something isn’t distracting but if you go back and look at the great movies
go back and look at the great movies
go back and look at the great movies there’s just a camera capturing people
there’s just a camera capturing people
there’s just a camera capturing people in a space that is compelling and I
in a space that is compelling and I
in a space that is compelling and I believe audiences actually at the end of
believe audiences actually at the end of
believe audiences actually at the end of the day they don’t care about platforms
the day they don’t care about platforms
the day they don’t care about platforms don’t care that it’s on Netflix or on
don’t care that it’s on Netflix or on
don’t care that it’s on Netflix or on Instagram or of a six-second vine or a
Instagram or of a six-second vine or a
Instagram or of a six-second vine or a 13 hour miniseries on PBS they want good
13 hour miniseries on PBS they want good
13 hour miniseries on PBS they want good stories if we give them great content
stories if we give them great content
stories if we give them great content not just to fill the time but great
not just to fill the time but great
not just to fill the time but great content that a great stories they will
content that a great stories they will
content that a great stories they will watch it on whatever platform it’s on
okay if you get the passion if you get
okay if you get the passion if you get the passion to do it and you do it and
the passion to do it and you do it and
the passion to do it and you do it and it doesn’t like work out I worked for
it doesn’t like work out I worked for
it doesn’t like work out I worked for got three years on a 16 millimeter film
got three years on a 16 millimeter film
got three years on a 16 millimeter film that into becoming nothing with guitar
that into becoming nothing with guitar
that into becoming nothing with guitar picks and uh and I was very disappointed
picks and uh and I was very disappointed
picks and uh and I was very disappointed when I realized it wasn’t any good but
when I realized it wasn’t any good but
when I realized it wasn’t any good but it was my film school all right and I
it was my film school all right and I
it was my film school all right and I actually got away really cheap when it
actually got away really cheap when it
actually got away really cheap when it was all over I knew how to make a movie
was all over I knew how to make a movie
was all over I knew how to make a movie I don’t want to show anybody that but I
I don’t want to show anybody that but I
I don’t want to show anybody that but I had the experience I had a lot cheaper
had the experience I had a lot cheaper
had the experience I had a lot cheaper than I would have gone if I’d gone to
than I would have gone if I’d gone to
than I would have gone if I’d gone to film school and it’s just a matter of
film school and it’s just a matter of
film school and it’s just a matter of moving around until you’ve discovered
moving around until you’ve discovered
moving around until you’ve discovered what it is a talent is a combination of
what it is a talent is a combination of
what it is a talent is a combination of something you love a great deal does
something you love a great deal does
something you love a great deal does something if you lose yourself in
something if you lose yourself in
something if you lose yourself in something you start at nine o’clock
something you start at nine o’clock
something you start at nine o’clock look up from your work and it’s ten
look up from your work and it’s ten
look up from your work and it’s ten o’clock at night and also something that
o’clock at night and also something that
o’clock at night and also something that you have a talent and it did not talent
you have a talent and it did not talent
you have a talent and it did not talent for but skills that you have a natural
for but skills that you have a natural
for but skills that you have a natural ability to do very well and usually
ability to do very well and usually
ability to do very well and usually those two things go together
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