Shows
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents124 Creativity meets business acumenWelcome to another themed episode drawing upon the advice and counsel of various guests on a single topic. The topic: When creativity meets business acumen
Four multi-talented and experienced entrepreneurs prove it is possible to pursue your creative passion and make a good living from doing so. It helps if one’s passion for a creative career is balanced by an appreciation of (or skills in) the business side of show business.
Toronto-based Todd Latham is the President of Actual Media. Growing up along with digital media, Todd’s success story runs from his first newsletter Newd Flash to his curr...
2017-03-2423 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents123 Making it in LAWelcome to another themed episode drawing upon the advice and counsel of various guests on a single topic. The topic: Making it in LA.
Four experienced individuals (a media entrepreneur, publicist, film festival founder and talent agent) share their own “Making it in LA” stories with Marv and Fred. They are proof positive that creative people need other creative people in order to earn a living in media industries. Nobody does it alone.
Cachita Hynes is the founder of the style-revamp company, Style on the Spot. She’s also a model, TV host, blogger and former Marketing Director of Worldwide Distri...
2017-03-2325 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents122 Acting careers - stage & screenWelcome to another themed episode drawing upon the advice and counsel of various guests on a single topic. This week's topic: Acting careers – stage and screen.
Four multi-talented and experienced performers share with Marvin and Fred their own career stories and tips for navigating the tumultuous rapids of an acting career.
Amy Shostak is a talented theatre artist whose improv skills in performance and directing have taken her to festivals and live special events all around the world. She also performs in the television series Tiny Plastic Men and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s radio series The Irrelevant Show. Amy desc...
2017-03-1823 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents121 The business of musicFred and Marvin have put together another themed episode that draws upon the wisdom of various guests on a single topic. Three multi-talented musicians share with you their own particular experiences in "The Business of Music”.
Patched in from France, Mark Olson, an American horn player for European orchestras, shares his stories of breaking into the business, getting lessons from the best in the world and the challenges of auditions. And how the horn has been his ticket around the world for more than 30 years!
Patrick O’Connell, a California-based musician shares his advice with budding musicians on everything from why...
2017-03-1024 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents120 CAPS Part 3 - Professional speakers and coachesIn another of our themed episodes, Marvin and Fred visit the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) convention and speak with four champions of motivational speaking. They pepper their presentations with humour and great advice on building and living a creative life.
The two themes explored in this episode are “Getting Started” and “Everything You Do is Grist for the Creative Mill.”
Comedian, author and comedy coach Judy Carter describes the difference between public speaking and stand-up comedy. You'll want to pay special attention to her “59 Refusals” story!
As a refugee from Vietnam, Vinh Giang grew up in Australia. How can changing...
2017-03-0427 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents119 CAPS Part 2 - Professional speakers and coachesIn this next of our series of themed episodes, we continue on the topic of speaking professionally. Marvin and Fred talk to four more contemporary champions of motivational speaking at the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) convention. The common undercurrent is: “You need a little help from your friends in business.”
Getting acquainted with the business side of show business is important. Things like bookkeeping, accounting and contracts. That can be a lot to learn, so it might make more sense to find people who not only are experts in those activities, but also enjoy doing them the same way...
2017-02-2522 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents118 CAPS Part 1 - Professional speakers and coachesQuestion: Where do professional motivational speakers go to get motivated and trade trade secrets?
Answer: The annual national CAPS Convention. CAPS stands for Canadian Association of Professional Speakers but professional speakers, business coaches, corporate trainers and meeting facilitators from all over the world gather there each year to learn from one another.
Marvin and Fred set up camp right in the middle of the busy exhibit hall and interviewed some of the superstars of public speaking.
In this themed episode, we interview the Executive Director and organizer of the convention, Sheri Bricks, as well as bestselling authors and speakers Vince...
2017-02-1722 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents117 Writing Careers - How to get gigs and earn a livingIn this specially-themed episode, Marvin and Fred speak to three contemporary writers of non-fiction and discuss the steps in the writing process that take place prior to and after the actual “pounding it out” on the keyboard.
Tracey Friesen shares with you how ideas for subject matter present themselves and how to locate natural partners to assist in bringing your book to publication.
Eric Termuende describes the importance of a team consisting of other writers, editors and promotional efforts to get the book polished, published and then properly distributed and sold.
Patrick Dillon, opera critic and interviewer in New York City...
2017-02-1119 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents116 Chrysalis: Creative non-profit workWelcome to the first in a series of themed episodes of Monetizing Your Creativity. In this edition, Marvin pulls segments of Fred’s interviews with arts specialists who dedicate time and energy not only to their own studio work but also invest in the development and teaching of other individuals.
Chrysalis is an organization that discovers the abilities in individuals with disabilities and trains them for volunteer or part-time / full-time employment.
As part of programming to explore and develop a variety of latent artistic talents and mastery of social situations, artists who are excellent in their own personal arts activities en...
2017-02-0521 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents115 Post Pro Media studio tour (Vancouver, Canada)After the shooting for top-notch television or film production comes the phase rarely seen by civilians: the mysterious world of post production.
This is where all the production elements come together in one final burst of creative collaboration. Sound, editing, music, colour correction, and a variety of necessary tweaks take projects from persistence to perfection.
Marvin re-visits Vancouver’s post production guru Randy Egan in his brand new Post Pro Media facility and gets a tour courtesy of Randy, Project Manager Kylie Kumar and VID (Very Important Dog) Bandit (who doesn’t actually say too much but adds attitude and atmo...
2017-01-2823 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents114 Kevin Tighe (TV & theatre musician) Relationships & intellectual propertyWhen Marvin was recently strolling the bilingual boulevards of Montreal, Canada he visited the workshop of Greenfield Guitars* to interview some of that city’s best musicians.
Composer and studio musician Kevin Tighe is one of those outstanding people. Kevin's specialty is creating music that underscores television and theatre productions.
Although Kevin doesn’t perform his own work live in public, his compositions have been heard by millions of people around the world!
His unique success in music and the media industry is based on relationships. Human connections. Knowing people who know people who need the kind of work that Kevi...
2017-01-2117 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents113 Lindy Sisson (ACT Arts Centre) Parental support can influence your arts careerLindy Sisson was born into a showbiz family and grew up taking tickets, printing posters, and dancing in productions put on in the community theatre group created and sustained by her parents and surrounding regional audiences.
That combination of artistic and administrative talent has come in quite handy. Lindy is now both the Executive Director and Artistic Director of ACT, a Canadian arts centre that incorporates performing, teaching and art studio spaces for professional and student participants to hone their skills in creative arts activities.
Lindy describes the challenges of creating “your own family” in the arts in the absence of s...
2017-01-1418 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents112 David LeReaney (Fargo, Wynonna Earp) Will the right dialect help you get the part?He is introduced on set to newly arrived actors as the “Voice of Fargo” on the Emmy Award winning TV series. That’s because dialect coach and actor David LeReaney is in charge of ensuring the authentic distinctive Minnesota dialect in Fargo’s cast of characters whether those performers come from various parts of America, the UK, or Australia.
In addition to his service as dialect coach in the first seasons of the show, he is now a regularly featured character on the series.
Marvin and Fred caught up with David just after one of his workshop presentations to performers on accen...
2017-01-0719 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents110 Dana Gonzales (Crash, Fargo) Oscars & Emmys - How to get thereIn this episode, Fred and Marv chat with Dana Gonzales, a Primetime Emmy Award winner for his work on the television series Fargo. Dana was also an integral part of the Oscar winning film Crash.
Dana's rise through the ranks is impressive - from truck driver to Director of Photography! His path was punctuated by several time-outs, giving him an appreciation of the various craft categories that work around a cinematographer and make the filmmaking process a more collaborative one for all concerned.
Learn how Dana has really steered his career in a business that he unabashedly loves. This mentor...
2016-12-2417 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents109 Dave Carroll (United Breaks Guitars) Going viral without even tryingHow can you go viral without even trying? One way is to strike a strong emotional chord and have fun while doing it. Satire is a strong pull.
Dave Carroll sang his way into YouTube history and about 400 textbooks on customer service and public relations with his viral video, United Breaks Guitars. He also made Time Magazine's list of top 10 viral videos in 2009. Impressive!
Dave started as a musician with his brother in a group called the Sons of Maxwell and they made a good living touring the world for 20 years.
Then an incident one fateful day in 2008 on the...
2016-12-1717 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents108 Moise Yawo Matey (Award-winning musician) Should professionals work for free?Marvin is on the loose again in Montreal and back at Greenfield Guitars to interview African percussionist Moise (MO – eez) Yawo Matey.
Moise asks you to consider the cost of participating in the music business and the necessity of recovering, if not exceeding, those costs. Otherwise, you may end up playing for free until you decide not to play at all!
Moise has made Montreal his home since 2005 and is an integral part of the music scene in that city. His connections with a variety of musicians and musical groups has given him the opportunity to play all over North Am...
2016-12-1015 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents107 Tracey Friesen (National Film Board of Canada - NFB, author) How to get your documentary madeIn this episode of the Monetizing Your Creativity mentorship podcast, Fred flies solo into the heart of Vancouver, Western Canada's media centre. He talks with documentary film producer and author Tracey Friesen.
Tracey's book "Story Money Impact" is THE guidebook for emerging and active documentarians seeking information and support to share their stories on screen.
There are many reasons to listen to this episode, but the top three are Tracey's take on:
1) Preparing the interview or pitch for your dream job and building trust.
2) The National Film Board of Canada's premises and procedures (Tracey is a former executive producer at...
2016-12-0323 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents106 Manika Gaudet (Manik Fashion) Collaboration is crucial in film, television & fashion designMarvin is on the loose in Montreal again!
In this episode of the Monetizing Your Creativity mentorship podcast, Marvelous Marvin elicits great advice for creative entrepreneurs from fashion designer, stylist and boutique boss Manika Gaudet.
Manika describes moving from creating dresses for her childhood dolls to real live fashion models and actors. Whether designing fashion for runway and retail, or wardrobe for television shows, Manika creates pieces that are distinct. She understands that standing out from the crowd is a key aspect of marketing yourself.
Manika shares all this and other very worthwhile advice for entrepreneurs in any business or...
2016-11-2715 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents105 Julian Mayne (Symphony, Ballet, Opera, Theatre) A distinguished career in arts administrationMany people think of the term “arts administration” as an oxymoron. Similar to “deafening silence”, “living dead” or “jumbo shrimp”. People wonder what arts have to do with administration and what administration has to do with arts.
Plenty.
And the proof is personified in Julian Mayne, a musician who has capitalized on his management expertise to enhance the performances of many great stars by producing their concerts, converting and creating space where art can take place in a city, and pulling teams together for massive arts infrastructure projects. Yet, he still finds time for the personal pursuit and pleasure of his own performa...
2016-11-2012 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents104 Viveka Melki (Documentary Filmmaker) How "After Circus" became a CBC & film festival hit“I pay attention to life.”
So says a documentary filmmaker who actually gets “the shivers” when she senses the spark of a story that needs to be told.
Some have been taught to follow their bliss. Viveka Melki (After Circus) taught herself to follow her instinct. And that has led to some incredible stories being shared with audiences around the world.
Can history disappear? Are we doomed to forget? What if stories have been told and retold by millions but you have yet to do your version?
Trust your vision. Use your voice. Find the stories that resonate with you and tell...
2016-11-1314 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents103 Kelly Wolfert (SpiderMable The Film) Crowdfunding for a film about a superhero kid with cancerWant a case study in crowdfunding for creative projects? You've come to the right place!
Producer Kelly Wolfert of Leven Creative describes SpiderMable The Film, a full length feature documentary about a six-year old kid with cancer who has morphed into a heroic seven-year old global ambassador for charitable fundraising.
As we've said many times, if you have a compelling story to tell, people will support you. Kelly reveals some of the details of the story, the challenges of crowdfunding and how similar projects could be developed by creative teams contributing their time and talents to the development of great...
2016-11-0618 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents102 Mark Krupa (White House Down, Sum of All Fears, Assassin's Creed) Being versatileIn this episode, Marvin is on the loose in Montreal where he visits le maison de Mark Krupa (White House Down, Sum of All Fears, Assassin's Creed, The Wild Hunt). Mark is a fluently bilingual (French and English) photographer, actor, producer, screenwriter and reality television host.
As Marv chats with Mark, it becomes clear that V stands for victory. And V stands for versatility. And often one V leads to another!
The phrase "One river, many streams!" comes to mind. Mark Krupa refuses to be out of work. He explains to you how and why he has created so many...
2016-10-3018 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents101 Eric Termuende (Author, TEDx Speaker) Gen Y, Technology & work cultureContent is King! If you are pursuing a career in a creative activity, what kind of content are you creating to take to the marketplace?
What have you written, painted, composed, photographed, played or recorded lately?
Are you using social media tools such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, IMDb and/or Twitter to share that content with the world? Have you done a TED Talk?
Consultant and author Eric Termuende (pronounced Tur–Monday) does all of the above. And so can you.
Eric is one of the founding principals of Dryver. The team at Dryver helps organizations find people who fit th...
2016-10-2317 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents100 Alisa Palmer (National Theatre School of Canada) Theatre skills are life skillsNeed answers to questions from caring friends and family about the usefulness or transferability of training in theatre?
Well, creative artists are some of the most independent, entrepreneurial and strategic individuals inside or outside of major organizations and industries. Just ask the many doctors, politicians, union stewards, lawyers, teachers and other professionals who have studied improv, acting or other basic performance skills. They will tell you they've increased the quality of their interactions with clients, industry audiences and co-workers. This can be really effective in interviews, meetings and presentations.
In this episode of the Monetizing Your Creativity mentorship podcast, Marvin...
2016-10-1619 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents099 Scott Benzie (Brunico Communications) Marketing film & TV festivals and yourselfOK, here's a really interesting twist on a creative career. Go to film school and then don't actually produce films. Instead, get into marketing for the creative industries!
Promoting major international media events for people who often produce major international media events themselves is quite a challenge and a great career.
Scott Benzie tells you all about it. Scott is the Director of Marketing at Brunico Communications where he arranges the websites, promotional content, media releases and marketing strategies for the company, as well as facilitating business meetings and opportunities for delegates at events such as the annual legendary Banff...
2016-10-0913 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents098 Michael Greenfield (Guitar maker for Keith Richards, other Grammy winners) The art of networkingHow often do you as an artist contribute in practical ways to the success of other artists?
And how will those supportive activities contribute to your own success, generate revenue for your business and fuel your own creative output?
In this episode, Marvin is on the move in Montreal with custom guitar maker for the stars, Michael Greenfield. Marv tours the workshop of this musician and craftsman who has created unique instruments for some of the outstanding musical artists of our time. Michael shares the story of how Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones became a return customer!
Michael also...
2016-10-0220 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents097 LeVar Burton (Star Trek, Big Bang Theory), Russell Peters (Jungle Book) & more on the Red CarpetWelcome to the Red Carpet episode from the 37th Annual Banff World Media Festival! In June 2016, Marvin and Fred interviewed some amazing award-winning celebrities at the internationally coveted Rockie Awards.
Tip of the Iceberg cubes are listed here. The full context will be unleashed when you listen to this fantastic mentorship episode.
“Don’t burn bridges!”
Gerry Dee (Comedian and Co-creator of CBC TV’s “Mr. D”).
“Help that guy. Follow that guy!”
Don Carmody (Producer of the Resident Evil films, Pompeii, the Meatballs and Porky’s franchises).
“Expect criticism. Use it to improve! Share your talent.”
Producer Louise Lynch and Director David Bar...
2016-09-2520 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents096 Jan Randall (CBC, Second City, international sports events) Creating for an audience of billionsNot everyone can say they fired their music teacher at age 6 and then went on to compose music for a worldwide audience of 4 billion people! But Jan Randall can.
Jan uses his "perfect pitch" to create, produce, direct and perform music for radio, film, television and live events (we'll let him tell you the story about the audience of 4 billion). His skills allow him to work where and when he wants. In addition to his many contract gigs in the entertainment industry, he currently teaches at the Victoria Conservatory of Music on Vancouver Island, Canada.
On the outside, Jan Randall...
2016-09-1817 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents095 Norm & Chris Fassbender (Rantdog Animation Studios) Multigenerational collaborationTwo. Two. Two generations for the price of one!
Sometimes a business passes from father to son when father retires and son takes over. And sometimes … there is a delightful overlap.
Such is the case with Rantdog Animation Studios duo Norm and Chris Fassbender. Marv and Fred tracked down the talented twosome at the annual Banff World Media Festival. After many years spent pitching ideas at Banff, this year father Norm hands the reins to son Chris who takes the lead with the pitching.
The in-house intergenerational dynamics are refereed by producer (and mother!) Kate Holowach. Mother, father and son al...
2016-09-1509 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents094 The Staves (International recording artists) Earning a living vs. superstardomWhat does it take to develop marvelous harmonies in your music career ... or any creative career for that matter? The three singing-songwriting sisters who make up The Staves share their thoughts with you in this episode.
Marvin caught up with the UK-born trio in Canada at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival where Emily, Jessica and Camilla Stavely-Taylor describe the organic growth to the development of their group and the popularity gained over several years before finding a record deal, manager and producer.
They also talk about the importance of collaboration. You can't do it alone! They talk about collaborating with...
2016-09-1210 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents093 Diana Frances (CBC's Irrelevant Show) Giving up your day jobWhat can we tell you? The woman likes to make people happy. From improv onstage (TheatreSports League) to writing comic sketches on radio (CBC Radio’s The Irrelevant Show) or working as part of a team in television series writing rooms, Diana Frances knows what she needs to keep herself happy as well.
Apparently there’s a lot to be learned waiting tables! In this interview from the Banff World Media Festival, Diana talks about taking responsibility for other peoples’ experience. She also shares thoughts on passive-aggressive workplaces and what it takes to please individuals in an audience who are paying...
2016-09-0814 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents092 Bryce Papenbrook (Attack on Titan, Sword Art Online, Call of Duty) Grace under pressureOne man. Many voices. Bryce Papenbrook is a martial arts warrior who morphed into the man of many voices for hit TV series and video games including Call of Duty, Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online.
Marvin and Fred caught up with Bryce after an autograph session at Animethon in Edmonton, Canada. At this annual conference, anime fans (10,000 on this day) get to meet the people who voice their favorite anime films, TV series and games.
The same skills of discipline, practice and repetition that fuelled Bryce's martial arts career come into good use in the sound booth. Knowing...
2016-09-0513 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents091 Keena Herman (Noonright) An emerging artist's perspective on pitchingKeena Herman is one of a team of writers, animators and designers called Castle Acadia in Calgary, Canada. The group provides services to corporate clients as well as developing their own original projects.
Having won a major competition for seed money for their latest animated fantasy adventure series called “Noonright”, Keena and team attended the Banff World Media Festival to pitch their concept to broadcasters and production studios.
That's where Marvin had Keena pitch the series to him as she put it to her prospective buyers.
There are certain principles of pitching to keep in mind prior to, during and afte...
2016-09-0110 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents090 John Scott (Lord of the Rings, blockbuster westerns) Recognizing career opportunitiesTo some, he’s the master of the horses from the Lord of the Rings. Yes, Lord of the Rings! Those famous battle scenes? John Scott was the genius behind them.
Yet to others, John is the ultimate western gentleman ... a western legend. More than 25 motion pictures, TV series and commercials have been shot on his ranch in southern Alberta, Canada where he had three western towns built for this very purpose.
How did one of the world's most sought after stunt coordinators and head wranglers get his start? By cleaning out horse trailers in Hollywood ... for free!
Over the ye...
2016-08-2918 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents089 Ashley Comeau (Second City Toronto, Just For Laughs Montreal) Lesson learned from John CleeseAshley Comeau’s advice to you all: “Never fail the John Cleese test!”
We’ll let her share with you the story behind the quote.
Ashley has cobbled together a career in a variety of creative endeavours. All of which have contributed in some way to her current success. She has worked in writing, performing and producing for the prestigious Second City troupe in Toronto, as well as at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival.
In this interview from the Banff World Media festival, you'll learn how Ashley manages the hard work and intermittent income of the entertainment business. On the one ha...
2016-08-2513 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents088 Barbara Pelham (Canada House Gallery) The business of artWe know there is a business side to show business. How much do you know about the business side in the art world? And what can you learn about the mindset of an agent, regardless of your creative discipline?
Your best insurance for success is to understand how the business or administrative side of your art form works to promote your success and access to wider audiences.
Barbara Pelham, owner and director of the world famous Canada House Gallery in Banff, Canada gives us a peek behind the canvas at the interactions between the artists, collectors and agents (galleries) that...
2016-08-2216 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents087 Caitlin Glass (Pokemon The Movie, Dragon Ball) Luck is preparation meeting opportunityCan you get hired to do professional work while you are still in university? Caitlin Glass did!
On a tour of a large voice recording company, she stepped into a booth, read a line of dialogue for a producer and embarked on a dream career as a voice artist in anime and video games.
In addition to voicing lead or large roles in anime classics such as the Fullmetal Alchemist series, Caitlin can be heard as various characters in video games such as Street Fighter V, Battleborn, Dragon Ball and Pokemon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction.
She...
2016-08-1817 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents086 Andrew Carr (CTV's Corner Gas) Writing & producing a hit sitcom - stepping out of comfort zones“Jump!”
“Take that Risk!”
“Leave your comfort zone!”
Those are the key messages, but comedian / sitcom writer / supervising producer Andrew Carr (CTV's Corner Gas)will fill you in on the details in this incisive interview about life in the writer’s room on a hit comedy series.
Another key insight in this interview from the Banff World Media Festival ... stuff your ego in a sack and throw it in the lake. Get used to the fact that people are going to shred your best ideas and produce a much better script than you could ever have done on your own. Whether you're...
2016-08-1516 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents085 Jesca Hoop (singer-songwriter) The balance between art & business“Life is a rollercoaster!” says Jesca Hoop, an American singer-songwriter whose recordings and live performances have attracted a large following around the world. Jesca's success has been sustained with solo work, plus strong collaborative relationships with other musical artists such as Sam Beam and Tom Waits.
In this interview from the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Jesca discusses the importance of relationships with listeners, agents and record companies. In fact, her career demonstrates a balance between art and business. Jesca's straightforward thoughts and opinions on an artist’s unique combination of preparedness, limitations, satisfaction and the ticking of the clock have been f...
2016-08-1214 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents084 Garwin Sanford (Film Arts, Langara College) Film production is an intense, team sportGarwin Sanford is a professional actor and the Head of the Film Arts Program at Langara College in Vancouver, Canada. He has been cast in hundreds of projects including recurring roles in over 16 television series.
The program at Langara College is a very successful example of the kind of short-term intensive production programs available to those who have the time, talent and inclination to take advantage of them.
This particular film arts program has actors, writers and directors working together as a group and also in their own separate professional streams. This approach gives each student a broader appreciation of...
2016-08-1017 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents083 Natalie MacNamara (Namara Represents) Relationships are essential in your careerNamara Represents is a creative agency founded by agent and producer Natalie MacNamara. The agency represents a stable of experienced photojournalists with expertise in still and moving images.
Harnessing the ability for award-winning photojournalism to connect us visually and emotionally with people and places around the world, Natalie’s team explores new approaches to visual storytelling that are now being adopted by corporate enterprises.
Everyone has a story. Every place has a story.
In this interview from the Banff World Media Festival, Natalie shares with you some tips and techniques for getting started in photojournalism as a career.
Spoiler Alert: As...
2016-08-0811 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents082 Michael Brooks (goLance) Learn how to earn as a freelancerMichael Brooks is the CEg (Chief Executive goLancer) at goLance Inc., a global platform that connects freelancers with clients.
The ability to trade on your talents in writing, design, animation, editing and many other skill sets allows you to generate work for yourself on an international level ... online through a secure service.
If you are putting together your own productions as a producer, goLance allows you to access the skills of a variety of craft categories in a transparent, flexible and accountable manner that may well quicken the process as well as instantly add to your own personal and professional...
2016-08-0514 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents081 Derek Heisler (National Geographic, Sports Illustrated) Starting a creative freelance businessDerek Heisler is a Creative Director who specializes in photography, working for clients such as National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, NASA and the NHL (National Hockey League). He suggests that you contact those who are successful in your field of interest for information or even to offer assistance on projects they may be working on. In doing so, you can initiate relationships and learn more about your creative pursuit.
Do you truly know how some of the big names in your profession would respond to your mentorship request? You’ll never know … unless you ask.
As a self-taught photographer who came late...
2016-08-0318 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents080 Alix Blum (Fairmont Hotels) What clients want from freelancersAlexandra (Alix) Blum is the Vice President of Global Public Relations and Partnerships at Fairmont and Raffles Hotels International (FRHI). She is responsible for the company’s relationships with the ad agencies, photographers, copywriters and crews who create promotional campaigns celebrating the luxury treatment on offer from FRHI's hotels and resorts.
While Alix often deals with large ad agencies that assemble the most appropriate teams for her promotional projects, she has great respect for freelancers who stay sharp and reliable ... and hungry for creative challenges.
Her message: You don’t have to relinquish your creative spark and spirit when you work...
2016-08-0112 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents079 Kim Goddard - Rains (Fargo, Inception, The Revenant) Your attitude is contagiousProduction Coordinator, Kim Goddard–Rains describes what it takes to coordinate every aspect of a major film or television series.
The production coordination team is “first in, last out” in the production process. In between entrance and exit they are the calm in the eye of the production hurricane and interact with every other department in terms of travel, accommodation, immigration issues and a lot more.
On a daily basis, Kim specializes in the “business” end of show business.
In this Vancouver-area interview, Kim describes for you the specific personality traits it takes to run such a complicated combination of tasks and...
2016-07-2918 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents078 Dave Florek (Seinfeld, Ghostbusters II, Grey's Anatomy) What directors look forLos Angeles-based actor/director Dave Florek (Seinfeld, Ghostbusters II, Grey's Anatomy)has had the advantage of being on both sides of the audition table – choosing who he wants to direct in a production and, often, hoping to be chosen as part of a cast. Dave's resume reads like a history of television and film over the last four decades (visit his IMDB profile). He's an accomplished actor and director in live theatre as well.
In addition to sharing some valuable audition tips to use in your own tryout adventures, Dave reminds us all that you need to remember which elements of...
2016-07-2715 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents077 John Ritchie (Border Security, The Bachelor) How to pitch your creative projectWhether you're a fan of Border Security or The Bachelor (Canada) you have been privy to the more than 500 hours of screen time John Ritchie of Vancouver's Force Four Entertainment has put on television around the world.
John has pitched (and has been pitched to) for over 30 years.
In this Banff World Media Festival interview, John describes for you the importance of:
- Preparing your pitch
- Delivering your pitch
- How the way you take no for an answer determines your future success or failure
- How to create authentic, mutually beneficial relationships between you and the potential purchasers...
2016-07-2514 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents076 Erin O'Connor (Calgary Film Centre) What clients & employers look forErin O’Connor is the General Manger of the shiny new Calgary Film Centre – three huge soundstages and multiple bays on an eight-acre area to service local, national and international television and film productions. In fact, the TV series Tin Star (Kudos Film and Television, UK) was prepping in the background as we recorded this interview. Wow! Erin has a dream job!
A unique blend of both performance and technical expertise, Erin has strong opinions about teambuilding and what it takes to make headway in the media industry.
That job you hate? Learn what you can from it. What do you...
2016-07-2214 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents075 Aaron Bidochka Part 2 (RC Adventures) Getting 1 million views a day on YouTubeDo it.
That’s the two-word mantra of one of the world's most successful YouTube producers, Aaron Bidochka. Your dreams become possible only when you DO something to make them come true.
If opportunity isn’t knocking … build a door! (That’s another one of his).
This eight-year overnight success has 1.2 million subscribers to his YouTube channel. At the time of this interview, he was closing in on 800 MILLION overall views of the 1,000 episodes he’s posted on his passion for radio-controlled vehicles (trucks, cars, boats, planes, drones) from miniatures to full scale skid steers!
Aaron is a total believer in “lettin...
2016-07-2022 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents074 Evan Greene (The Grammys) Storytelling and marketing adviceEvan Greene is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences – otherwise known as the Grammys.
In this episode from the Banff World Media Festival, he gives budding musicians and filmmakers some valuable tips on establishing your place in your chosen art form.
And, as we’ve heard from other guests, it’s all about "the story". The story that is shared in each song reveals a bit about each artist. The more listeners identify with those stories, the stronger the connection between audience and artist.
The authenticity of these stories is often the gatewa...
2016-07-1815 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents073 Marty Forbes (Radiowise Inc.) A career in podcasting or radio? Good question!Raised in a traditional radio family, Marty Forbes has had broadcasting in his blood for decades.
Now he's a digital marketing consultant and trailblazer for broadcasters and other corporations looking to make their mark in the near and far reaches of the digital universe.
Marty's mentorship advice assists baby boomers in understanding millennial ways of communicating and he counsels millennials on how to get their messages across to professionals who are further along in their careers.
Do you have a great career ahead of you in radio, podcasting, or both? Is podcasting the Netflix of radio?
We have some excellent...
2016-07-1518 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents072 Connie Contardi (How To Cake It) How to get 1.7 Million YouTube subscribers1.7 million subscribers to the YouTube sensation "How To Cake It" have put five full-time people to work. They serve this audience of devoted viewers the kind of information, instructions and tools necessary to create outrageously novel (and edible) works of art. This is an incredibly entertaining baking show with outcomes you won't believe.
The best part? The producers are in control of their own destiny. No big-time broadcasters involved.
Who says you can't Monetize Your Creativity and happily eat it, too?
Sure it takes a lot of work, but you can do it. Yes, you!
Co-producer Connie Contardi is proof...
2016-07-1318 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents071 Andrew Simpson (Game of Thrones) Training & shooting with Jon Snow's wolf, GhostAs our vehicle rolled up to the gate, we heard dozens of wolves howling out a wilderness welcome: a real life "Call of the Wild".
Among the assembled packs were wolf performers who play direwolves "Ghost" and "Summer" in the Emmy Award winning HBO television series, Game of Thrones. Fun Fact: These hirsute heroes happen to be brother and sister in real life as well as onscreen!
We danced with the wolves "Two Toe" and "Digger", two of the pack that ran down the bison in the Oscar winning film, The Revenant. All these onscreen stars were rehearsed and directed...
2016-07-1019 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents070 Peter Prince (CBC, National Geographic) A dual career in cinematography & musicAre you growing in the right garden? If not, move to a garden you can love. And then cultivate the garden you’re in. The seeds of creativity can be planted anywhere.
Peter Prince (CBC, National Geographic, National Film Board - NFB), an outdoorsy musician and filmmaker, grew up, learned and practiced his craft in the busy concrete canyons of Toronto, Canada. He loved shooting for well-known clients on trips to beautiful exotic locations but dreaded the hours spent in an urban edit suite putting projects together.
So, as his reputation grew, so did his wanderlust and after trotting around th...
2016-07-0814 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents069 Wesdyne Otto (Chrysalis) A nobel career as an arts therapy teacherWe like to do the occasional episode that can best be described as "off the beaten track." This is one of them!
There’s a certain art in science and certainly elements of science in art. Wesdyne Otto is one of the rare trans-species known as “adaptive art specialists” or "arts therapists". These individuals work in a variety of therapeutic environments with all the tools of the artist’s trade and the wisdom of psychologists.
If you have an appreciation for artistic expression and the benefits it provides for those with physical, mental or emotional limitations, you can earn a living w...
2016-07-0616 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents068 Mark Simon (Disney, Nickelodeon, HBO, Spielberg) Breaking into animation - or any creative fieldMark Simon (3,000+ credits including Disney, Nickelodeon, HBO, Spielberg) has a rat-a-tat-tat approach to life requiring no artificial stimulants such as coffee or tea. Animator, artist, designer, ad executive, published author and teacher … Mark Simon wears more hats than Hedda Hopper had.
Film people will know exactly what we mean! Non-cinema types should google Hedda Hopper.
But it’s Mark’s confident and assertive approach to finding one’s way through the media jungle that is most appealing.
Why is “Attitude more important than talent”?
In this interview from the Banff World Media Festival, Mark explains the importance of story, confidence vs. arroganc...
2016-07-0421 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents067 Ric Williams (Tomb Raider, Mass Effect, Dragon Age) Diverse careers in the game industryAs a senior marketing executive for some of the sharpest video game companies in the world (Electronic Arts, Bioware, Eidos, etc.), Ric's advice regarding success in the gaming industry revolves around a message we've heard before from creative types in film and television: STORY FIRST!
Writers, artists, animators, sound designers and managers need to put all their effort into creating a great story filled with compelling characters in order to produce a great game.
Then professional marketing and promotional experts such as Ric can do their thing to ensure the world becomes aware of and intrigued by this thrilling new...
2016-07-0113 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents066 Bernie Yao (Recent film grad) Role in Robert Redford film springboards a student filmWhat is the most difficult aspect of carving out a career in the media? In this Vancouver interview, producer/writer Bernie Yao states that for him it's "keeping yourself inspired and motivated every day."
Happily, Bernie has some tips on how to do that. After training in the film program of an arts school, Bernie had a number of short films accepted into festival competitions around the world.
And yet, as a budding writer/director, he kept receiving offers from former classmates and others to produce their short films. And now features. Even a short for Disney!
Bernie's professional network...
2016-06-2920 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents065 Jeanne Simon (400 Credits - Disney, Nickelodeon, HBO, Discovery) Don't blow your next pitch!30 years in the business – almost always freelance – and 400 projects later (Disney, Nickelodeon, HBO, Cartoon Network, Discovery) - Jeanne Simon has sharp and specific advice for young people wanting to break into the media industry. What's her mentorship method? She's the founder and CEO of Sell Your TV Concept Now.
Jeanne and husband Mark travel to numerous media-related conferences each year to teach budding film and TV writer / producers how to pitch their projects and make best use of their time in face-to-face meetings with buyers (i.e.: broadcasters, studios, Netflix, Amazon, etc.). We caught up with them at the Banff Worl...
2016-06-2715 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents064 Vern Wutzke (vTV) Earn revenue on this new video-on-demand networkQ: What are the two most sophisticatedly connected communities in the world as far as upload / download speed on the Internet?
A: Singapore, of course, and … Vulcan, Alberta, Canada? Yep.
And, as vTV Executive Director Vern Wutzke will tell you, Vulcan, Canada is also home to vTV Entertainment, a multi–channel platform to distribute the work of independent producers worldwide. Think Netflix meets YouTube meets Amazon! Vern shares the basics of global outreach.
Go to www.vulcantv.ca for more details on how and when to submit content and earn money while gathering viewers to appreciate your work.
What else is s...
2016-06-2419 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents063 Julia Beattie & Dave Ronald - Launching careers from small townsThanks to the digital revolution / evolution, musicians can remain geographically apart but work together as if they’re in the same room. Julia Beattie and Dave Ronald are perfect examples of this new movement as they describe their successful and effective long distance musical partnership.
This interview is a demonstration of how easy it is. Marvin and Julia are on location at the Tree House Café on Salt Spring Island (off the west coast of Canada) while Dave is a ferry ride and 10 hour drive away near Nelson, BC. Marvin patches Dave in via Skype.
The musical pair exchanges ideas, not...
2016-06-2218 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents062 Russell Peters (Jungle Book, Last Comic Standing) From viral video to $25 Million a yearRussell Peters! He’s the man! If he can’t make you laugh – nobody can!
According to Russell Peters (Jungle Book, Last Comic Standing, The Indian Detective), he’s just another 27 year overnight success!
Russell shares how his career rocketed 11 years ago when fans posted snippets from one of his stand-up performances online, launching him into a whole new level of success and filling large arenas around the world. It happened after grinding it out for 15 years on the comedy club circuit.
In this interview from the 37th Annual Banff World Media Festival, Russell explains:
- What motivates him on a daily...
2016-06-2010 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents061 Wayne Lee (Hypnotist) How to travel the world & earn up to $20,000 per show (Hint: be GREAT)You are growing sleepy!
Sleeeeepy!!
Relaaaxxx … And when I snap my fingers you will awaken and know – among other things – the difference between a hypnotherapist and a corporate hypnotist, how a motivational speaker can entertain, demonstrate and educate through hypnosis, how you can achieve success by harnessing positive energy, and how you can liberate yourself from your fears and perceived limitations to become the best you you can be. Whoever or whatever that may be.
Wayne Lee is a self-taught professional with great stories to share about his own evolution as a teacher, entertainer and motivational speaker.
In this Edmonton interv...
2016-06-1714 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents060 Melanie Jones (Leo nominated film - FSM) Directing an acclaimed feature on a shoestringMelanie Jones could write a book called "How to Produce and Direct an Award Winning Feature Film for $10,000" except for the fact that she's usually too busy DOING it!
10 years out from Vancouver's Langara College Film Arts Program find Melanie with 13 films and counting.
Much of Melanie's work has been accepted on the global film festival circuit. And she still works with some of her former classmates on projects.
Melanie recounts for you her lessons learned - hard and soft – along the path to production. Keeping promises to crowdfunding patrons and trying to do too many jobs on set come to...
2016-06-1516 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents059 Dr. Robert Duff - Why self publishing can make so much senseWhat do you need to know about self-publishing and the selling of your written work online?
Dr. Robert Duff PhD (Psychology) is a successful creator / publisher / marketer of his own guides to dealing with depression and anxiety.
In this California interview, Duff shares his "do it yourself" approach to self-publishing including a writer's options for making your work directly available to the public.
Some traditional publishers still adhere to the older model where authors often get the short end of the stick as far as compensation for their work is concerned. That's the way many authors view the situation.
Dr...
2016-06-1313 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents058 Brandon Rhiness (Higher Universe) Creating a comic book empire from scratchRecycling in a most entertaining way!
Classic epic poems and novels, comic books and graphic novels turn into films. Successful films turn into Broadway plays. Plays and songs and comedy sketches spawn print or online web series that later turn into big screen presentations. Circle of life, eh?
Repurposing of a great storyline or series in different media formats pays off over and over. Who said: "there's no profit to be made in recycling"? Whoever they were … they were wrong!
And Brandon Rhiness, founder of Higher Universe, film producer and comic book publisher is right in the thick of it.
Wh...
2016-06-1014 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents057 Lisa Gilroy Part 2 (YTV, Emmy-Nominated Undercover High) It can happen to youWho are "The Sketchersons?
How and why do they thrive?
Brightening up a weekend's end
With Sunday Night Live!
Lisa Gilroy! She's a stitch!
Scratching a yen for comedy itch!
On air, off air, writing madly
For stage and screen and we have gladly
Invited Lisa back for a Round Two visit. That's not too much to ask for!
C'mon now, is it?
What's funny now?
What will be tomorrow?
From what classic roots
Do comics banish sorrow?
From YTV Princess to Comedy Queen
All set-ups and punch lines in between…
All polished and edited. Wrinkle free for you.
Enjoy Lo...
2016-06-0813 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents056 Harry Manx (6 Juno Nominations) Rush roadie to Tokyo busker to worldwide blues legend"Some days it's ham and bacon; other days there ain't nothin' shakin'!"
So claims globetrotting blues legend, Harry Manx.
From his secluded back yard on Salt Spring Island off the Western Canadian coast, Harry creates and refines his unique fusion of Eastern and Western sound and song.
Harry has refashioned classic Mississippi Delta Blues with the use of the Mohan veena, a 20-string instrument with the particularly haunting and mystical sound of the Indian subcontinent's regional legacy.
Harry's fans around the world refer to the genre he invented as "Mystic-sippi Blues".
He shares tips on creating your own "brand" in...
2016-06-0614 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents055 Dennis Cockrum (Hail, Caesar!, Shameless, Gangster Squad, L.A. Noire) Hollywood's tough guyYou may not be familiar with the name, but you'll definitely recognize the face!
Character actor Dennis Cockrum has played tough guys in various ways, shapes and forms for over 30 years in television, film and on stage.
Raised on a farm in Michigan, this Hollywood actor brings a rugged look and blue-collar attitude to every cop, colonel or convict he portrays.
Olympic athletes (whatever the event) and American Idols (whatever the music genre) typically spend several hours a day in training. How many hours a day do you devote to practising your creative talent?
Just asking.
This is the "job"...
2016-06-0321 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents054 Mark LeCorre (Tragically Hip, Dido, Avril Lavigne) From basement band to international producerWe often host our episodes from big markets like Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles and New York. But we also like smaller markets. Well, this one is REALLY small. Today, Marvin broadcasts from the legendary Tree House Café on Salt Spring Island off the west coast of Canada.
The thing is ... there are amazing people hiding out on this artists' enclave.
"Look beyond just becoming a star!" That's the advice of Mark LeCorre, a highly successful audio engineer and music producer who has worked with world famous bands on international live tours, as well as in-studio sessions. He's worked with headliners l...
2016-06-0114 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents053 Mia Cortez (ABC, CBS, Studio in the Sky) From dancer to Hollywood producerIf you could bottle and sell the Mia Cortez brand of attitude, a lot more people would be successful in whatever career they chose.
The label on that bottle would read: Energetic. Effervescent. Effective.
In this Hollywood interview, Mia describes for you her transformation from dancer to production assistant to postproduction supervisor and producer.
She was hired in various positions not so much for the skills that she was about to learn on the job ... but for her well known reputation for reliability and high standards.
Mia brings to each project she manages the same levels of discipline, strength and...
2016-05-3016 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents052 Randy Berg (Deluxe OnDemand) Combining a tech & creative career in HollywoodRandy Berg is the Executive Director of Deluxe OnDemand, a global company with more than 2,000 employees.
Deluxe OnDemand specializes in post production, the invisible industry that goes to work on images after they are captured in a camera on-set or on-location.
The addition of music, special effects, or translation into different languages are all parts of the movie magic that engages and moves the hearts and imaginations of audiences worldwide.
In this Hollywood interview, Randy reminds you that people don't need employment in big companies anymore now that technology helps them help themselves craft creative careers.
Randy shares with you...
2016-05-2716 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents051 Tim Carter (Mortal Kombat, Dead Rising) Dream job! Writing for films and games.Sherlock Holmes cries: "The game is afoot!"
Tim Carter claims: "The game's a film!"
Fred and Marvin ask: "How is Hollywood like a castle? Who are the barbarians at the gate? And how do they get inside?"
Tim Carter, co-owner and co-founder of California's Contradiction Films, describes how he moved from corporate writing to script reading to screenwriting to video game writing to producing film adaptations of popular games!
How do you build relationships in Hollywood?
How do you become an insider?
What can set you apart from all your competition?
And how do you get the most out of...
2016-05-2521 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents050 Prudence Olenik (Snow Day with Chevy Chase) Bury the attitude. Film and TV is a team sport!Attitude? Bury it!
"Prudence" is a virtue defined as consisting of: "Being wise in practical affairs; the act of knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress."
True to her name, Prudence Olenik is one of the more grounded mentors on the set. She describes to you her path from performer to makeup practitioner to professor of application and attitude.
In this Edmonton interview, Prudence discusses the need for a makeup artist to be part researcher, chemist, health and safety officer, painter, sculptor, and teacher.
What do you need to learn? That learning is a lifelong activity.
You'll quickly discover that...
2016-05-2314 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents049 Sheldon Casavant (Corporate Magician) Earning a great living at corporate eventsThe great thing about creative careers is that you can become anything you want.
For instance, did you grow up on Harry Potter books and movies? Fantastic. Become a magician. Seriously!
Sheldon Casavant is a young entrepreneur who has taken his bag of tricks and bundle of talent all around the world, amazing crowds in venues and on the street with his blend of patter and prestidigitation.
But how can you earn a living with magic and other performance art? One way is through corporate functions, either as single special events or as part of a larger annual conference. Corporate...
2016-05-2015 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents048 Greg Fitzsimmons (MTV; ABC's Dancing With The Stars) How to get your foot in the doorThe first universal language? Sign language.
It still comes in handy when you and your film crew speak entirely different languages. So says producer Greg Fitzsimmons, back in LA after shooting a project in Japan.
Greg entered the film business with university training in business. A decided advantage that has helped him avoid many basic errors in terms of generating work for himself. And distinguishing the “show” from the “business”.
In this Hollywood interview, Greg describes for you the independent producer’s cycle: Work on somebody else’s project. Save your money. Work on your own project. Spend your money. Take some ti...
2016-05-1815 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents047 Kerry Stauffer (Banff Centre) World class training to inspire your creativityKerry Stauffer is the Executive Director of Media and Production Programming at the world famous Banff Centre. The Centre* (see below for Fred and Marv's lesson in Canadian spellings) perches on the side of a mountain in the heart of the majestic Canadian Rocky Mountains, smack dab in the middle of Banff National Park.
Kerry oversees all aspects of Banff Centre TV, Banff Centre Radio, and Banff Centre Press. She describes to you the internal and external networks that broadcast and webcast performances and presentations on a global scale.
Emerging, mid-career and senior artists in all forms of media arts...
2016-05-1614 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents046 Yaz Band (Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, subways) How to get traction in NYC's music sceneTo actually see the Maestro and hear the sweet sound of his tenor sax you’ll have to visit yazband.com. You might also have heard it live at the Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center or any of the many subway stations and public parks in New York City.
Marvin caught up with Yaz just prior to a gig at Grand Central Station in NYC!
Jazzy Yaz Takagi only began music lessons when he was 19 years old. Visited New York. Back to Japan. Back to the Big Apple. Practicing in Central Park. In the subway. The Yaz Band members are now th...
2016-05-1311 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents045 J.P. Finn Part 2 (The Flash, Arrow, The X-Files) How to get experienceHave a passion to begin with. Then stick your foot in the door any way you can. So says J.P.!
In our second Vancouver visit with J.P. Finn (The X-Files, Arrow, The Flash), this Emmy Award-laden producer shares with you what he feels are necessary ingredients for a successful career in a wide-ranging arena such as film and TV.
Hear how you can use chimpanzees as a measure of your success in the media industry. It’s all possible.
Canceled? Keep going! Find your own way. Believe in yourself and encourage others to believe in you. Failure can be...
2016-05-1121 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents044 Glynis Whiting (Super Channel, Blood Clan) Success secrets for writers & producersWhy not?
Why not?
Why not?
That was the question repeatedly pressed upon writer/producer Glynis Whiting by a professor as she studied to be an elementary school teacher instead of pursuing her passion in writing. Why not, indeed? When she ran out of excuses, she also ran out of the education program and into the drama program. And we are all the better for it.
A “utility” player in the sports world is an athlete who can play well in many different positions on the team. The concept exists in the creative arts as well. A “triple threat” is a perfor...
2016-05-0913 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents043 Benjamin Wheelwright on Broadway (Part 2): How to leverage school, agents & auditions.Benjamin is back! In his second chat with us, young Broadway actor Benjamin Wheelwright discusses the art of treating yourself like a business. He encourages you to learn the basic steps including building a firm foundation in what you need to know, learning from your failures and missteps and continuing improvement as you move towards becoming the best that you can be.
All valuable insights, regardless of your career aspirations!
In this New York interview, he discusses how to be discovered by an agent and how to put yourself in the right spot for that discovery to take place. You’ll...
2016-05-0615 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents042 Stan Edmonds (Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, VFS) Can film school launch your career?Yes, attending film school can indeed launch your career in whatever your creative discipline happens to be. To prove it, Marv and Fred visit Vancouver Film School (VFS) and chat with the “man behind the masks”.
Stan Edmonds (Unforgiven; Scary Movie; Scary Movie 4; The Butterfly Effect; I, Robot; etc.) runs the Department of Makeup Design for Film and Television at VFS. He takes Fred and Marv on a tour of the facility where it becomes obvious that, with apologies to George Bernard Shaw, “Those that can do, OFTEN teach”. And with great results.
While we often discuss how generalists can leverage...
2016-05-0420 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents041 Mia Cortez & Tom Muschamp (ABC's Dancing with the Stars) Business & life partners in HollywoodFor many romantic relationships and partnerships in Hollywood, staying together for several months or so can be a record-breaking personal best.
With the wrong partner, an unhappy two weeks together can seem like an eternity!
But Tom Muschamp (editor) and Mia Cortez (producer) have devised a system of checks and balances to encourage behaviors that allow them to inhabit the same live/work space 24/7 without seriously injuring each other.
Or others.
Or taking it out on the dog.
Tom and Mia share with you some of the secrets of their success as cohabiting co-workers and life partners.
You don't have...
2016-05-0218 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents040 Tom & Peter Muschamp (BBC, ABC, NBC, Lionsgate) Is family encouragement a career advantage?What is the impact of parental encouragement and guidance on launching a creative career? Does it matter? Is it the only thing that matters? Should a parent micro-manage or simply facilitate opportunities for the child to consider? Good questions!
Marvin and Fred pull together transatlantic Peter Muschamp (pere Anglais) and intercontinental Tom Muschamp (fils Americain) in our first father/son interview. The Muschamp line discusses the genetic dispersal of the arts gene as it runs from generation to generation (or does it?).
Recently retired teacher and theatre director/designer Peter describes the support and encouragement given to young Tom Muschamp...
2016-04-2915 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents039 Peter Muschamp (Her Majesty's Inspector) Can volunteering kickstart your career?Why would an award-winning young sculptor with exhibitions at world class museums like the Tate in London, as well as national touring exhibits, choose to teach? And why is he encouraging you to do volunteer projects to get your career started?
Listen to this episode and find out!
Sculptor, theatre director, senior lecturer and program evaluator Peter Muschamp answers the question: “Can you shape your cake and eat it, too?” This award-winning artist had a promising career in visual arts and design, then moved into the realm of theatre where he incorporated real performers into his production designs.
Peter also move...
2016-04-2714 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents038 Randy Egan (PostPro Media) Internships can help launch your careerWith so many people seeking careers in the creative industries, it can be hard to believe that the old cliche is true: It’s hard to find good help!
So what do creative team leaders really look for in potential employees or partners?
PostPro Media's founder and principal Randy Egan has specific criteria beyond simply being technically proficient in his company that provides video post production (editing) services to advertising agencies.
In this Vancouver interview, Randy shares his own progress from intern to employee to company owner who still occasionally needs to be kicked off the edit suite keyboard. He discu...
2016-04-2512 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents037 Jen Duffy (Jane Goodall Institute) Punching lion cubs and safer ways to inspire creativityShe smacks lions in the face to establish dominance. And if they still give her grief, she does it AGAIN! Seriously.
So Marv and Fred tread carefully through this interview with Jen Duffy, manager of the Roots and Shoots program for youth with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada.
Jen's art is that of inspiration. She uses her skills as a motivational speaker to teach, illustrate and persuade entire schools to commit to local, regional and international projects with great purpose. Approximately 200,000 students in 140 countries belong to Roots and Shoots youth groups dedicated to improving conditions for people, animals and the en...
2016-04-2213 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents036 Gerald Auger (Emmy nominated Hell on Wheels) From street kid to working with Bowie and SpielbergHow did Gerald Auger get his start in the entertainment industry?
"I did a favour for a friend."
Best answer ever. Doing something for others can often be the best way to do something for yourself. Some say Gerald is an anomaly. Politically astute. Aware of the business aspects of show business. And he's certainly spiritual.
Gerald Auger of Black Eagle Entertainment is an actor (DreamKeeper, Into the West, Hell on Wheels, Blackstone), writer, producer and motivational speaker. In this Edmonton interview, he describes for you how his years growing up on the street instilled in him great lessons for...
2016-04-2024 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents035 Patrick Gallagher (Sideways, Night at the Museum) Improv with Ben Stiller and Robin WilliamsThere's a special place in Paradise for Saint Marvin as he patiently tries to get in a word edgewise with co-host Fred and actor/comedian Patrick Gallagher (Sideways, Night at the Museum, Fuller House, a regular at LA's Comedy Store). In this Los Angeles interview, they banter on about:
- What it's like to improv with Ben Stiller and Robin Williams
- The "Gallagher Method" for creating new languages
- Patrick's best advice for securing work (Hint: it involves fake airline tickets!)
- The difference between fate and destiny
- The difference between "entitlement" and "just desserts"
- Marvin's breakpoint...
2016-04-1817 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents034 Karen Unland (Newspaper Journalist, Blogger, Podcaster) Getting publicity for your projectOK, so you’ve created a great project and now you want some publicity. But how do you reach out to the news media? There’s a right way and a wrong way.
Are you sprayin’ and prayin’? Are you issuing a press release addressed to everybody you happen to know and lots of people you don’t know (and no one in particular)? Well, good luck with that!
This episode finds Marvin interviewing former newspaper journalist and now podcaster/blogger Karen Unland to discuss how to pitch delightful and insightful stories to the new and traditional news media who can potent...
2016-04-1508 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents033 Martin Mayer - 1 billion TV viewers in China through serendipity; surviving freelancingWhy does Marvin call Martin Mayer a “Swiss Army knife”? And why is Martin okay with that? Martin’s roller coaster ride as a young musical prodigy and his subsequent ups and downs working freelance in the areas of graphic design, web design/coding, copywriting and musical composition make for several compelling stories and life lessons all in one episode.
There are more “take-away” items available here than in most sushi shops. Fresh raw experience to chew on, digest thoroughly, and from which to energize and sustain your own creative activities.
If you’re a visual thinker, please disregard the previous par...
2016-04-1321 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents032 Martin Schneider (SMA NYC) From crossword puzzles to NYC advertising creative directorFrom his aerie in midtown Manhattan, advertising agency creative director Martin Schneider gives you the skinny on what to expect if you hope to jump into the advertising business on either the agency or client side. No, we’re not talking to someone from the cast of Mad Men during this episode. Martin is a real life creative director.
Martin tells you of his own pinball approach to his dream job. Bouncing from pillar to post in educational settings, both formal and informal. Exercising his true passion for words and learning firsthand the importance of collaboration. Martin explains his theory of...
2016-04-1120 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents031 Harrison McTavish (LLA Talent) What an agent does for youGet connected to people who might want to hire you!
Know an agent? Need an agent? Why or why not?
What are the best contract arrangements for you? Ask an agent.
Ask Harrison McTavish, a young agent connected to the film and television performer’s market in Vancouver, Canada. We'll let him tell you how and why he got his current job with LLA Talent, one of the busiest agencies in Vancouver. It’s an intriguing backstory.
Agents like Harrison represent talent in many different categories: fashion design, writing, musicians, visual artists, dancers, editors, casting directors, directors, wardrobe design, sporting acti...
2016-04-0819 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents030 Lisa Gilroy (YTV, Undercover High) Improv for an Emmy nominated TV showHer energy alone is contagious. Stir in a terrific sense of comedy and several cupfuls of improv training and you have the perfect recipe for a dish we call “Fun to Work With” and a TV host, comedian and actress we call Lisa Gilroy!
This multi-talented young woman was the host of YTV’s Undercover High (series nominated for an International Emmy) and currently co-hosts the afternoon pre-teen staple called The Zone as well as the live broadcast talent search competition The Next Star. When Lisa isn’t on camera, she’s writing and performing comedy sketches with a variety of improv...
2016-04-0619 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents029 Michael Jorgensen (PBS, Discovery, National Geographic, CBC) Emmy winning producer on pitchingChecked your intellectual property (IP) lately? Would it pass indie filmmaker Michael Jorgensen’s sniff test? Is it U2 but true?
Michael Jorgensen has built a reputation with PBS, Discovery Channel, National Geographic and the History Channel by providing them with non-fiction stories that are a) Untold and b) Unbelievable (but true!). He explains how ‘pitching’ a story first involves getting into the head of your potential client and source of funds by asking yourself the same questions that the potential funders are asking themselves. And he lists the “Big Three”.
Michael’s breakdown on how times have changed in terms of tec...
2016-04-0421 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents028 Jesse Lipsombe (Tiny Plastic Men on Super Channel and Hulu) Crowdfunding and angel investorsJesse Lipscombe has fingers in more projects than he has fingers! As Executive Producer and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Mosaic Entertainment, he is overseeing the 5th season of Tiny Plastic Men (Super Channel, Hulu) and a wide variety of additional projects in various phases of development.
Jesse demonstrates the same laser-like focus that guided his athletic career and has brought the same level of relentless determination to his current sport: raising money for creative programming. He tells you how to take advantage (in a good way!) of various government or foundation grants that may be available to kickstart funding...
2016-04-0218 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents027 Andria Teather (Jane Goodall Institute) Leadership is a creative gigAlthough Andria Teather studied writing and publishing in university, you may be surprised to learn that one of her greatest creative endeavours is actually as a leader in the non-profit world.
Here’s the backstory.
Andria has been on both sides of the desk. As a customer-driven employee of a financial services corporation, Andria Teather was involved in the responsible granting of philanthropic funds. She shepherded investments made by the corporation through investing, donating and sponsoring good causes.
Then she jumped.
Now Andria serves as CEO of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada. The institute creates the next generation of “Jane...
2016-04-0225 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents026 Celine Tricart (Transformers - Age of Extinction) Virtual reality opportunities are very realSeeing things? Strange new worlds all around you? Would you like to walk and talk with the creatures that inhabit them?
It’s VR, baby! Virtual reality. And it’s on a platform you may already own. Your phone or your game system. Don the mask and assume the task!
Celine Tricart is a Paris-trained producer/director now based in LA who produces in 3D and VR. She is also a master storyteller. In this episode, Celine describes the great opportunities in storytelling and story “experiencing” awaiting creative people like you.
Celine reports that low cost VR equipment is currently availabl...
2016-03-3016 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents025 Stephen Heatley (UBC) Going backstage to learn about theatre careersWant to understand your career options in live theatre? Or even how theatre training can help in seemingly unrelated careers? Professor Stephen Heatley, head of the Theatre and Film Department at the University of British Columbia (UBC), gives you a tour of front-of-house, backstage and the “underground” caverns at the Frederic Wood Theatre. This is where the magic happens.
As we move from area to area, you’ll hear about the art of illusion in live theatre and how special effects are imagined, crafted and implemented by casts and crews to bring audiences into the world onstage, keeping them engaged in the...
2016-03-3020 min
Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents024 Aaron Bidochka Part 1 (670 M views, 1 M subscribers) Earning a great living on YouTube!More than 670,000,000 views (yes, count the zeros … we’re talking ‘millions’ here!) and over 1 million dedicated subscribers. When you can get numbers like that, you can earn a good living producing videos and distributing them on YouTube.
Aaron Bidochka has built his own tribe of loyal followers who care about what he cares about – the radio controlled (RC) vehicle hobby. Vehicles in the air, on the water and over land. Their owners, makers and shakers. Viewers happily tune in to Aaron’s tips and stories at a rate of 1 million per day! Some 1,200 videos posted over seven and a half years = ongo...
2016-03-2620 min