Author Archives: thevsstudioblog

“The secret of happiness is not to do what you like to do, but to learn to like what you have to do.” -King George V Fo whatever in life you have to do, you might as well give it everything you got. Invest all of yourself. The line between mediocre and great is thinnerContinue reading “A Thin Line”

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” -Samuel Beckett Muscles only grow when you repeatedly expose them to failure…and you keep going. Past the failure. So wouldn’t it make sense that the only way you can grow as a person, as an artist, is if you did the same? IfContinue reading “Muscle Failure”

“Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” -Dorothy Bernard This recent Oprah conversation with Viola Davis is fantastic. There are so many gems in here that any artist will find useful and inspiring. I strongly encourage you to watch. (Thank you to my friend Marilyn for turning me on to it. And if youContinue reading “Viola Davis On The Craft”

As actors, we always want the audience to believe that we made it up on the spot. Improvisation is great for this. Know what’s even better? Having incredible lines written for us. Lines we wish we could say in real life. And then working so hard to fool ourselves and the audience that we madeContinue reading “On The Spot”

“The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” -Marcus Aurelius, Meditations “A flute without holes is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.” -Basho In the United States Golf Association’s “Rules of Golf,” RuleContinue reading “Play It As It Lies”

“I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.” –The Little Engine That Could by Wally Piper If you think you can, you can and you will. If you think you can’t, the truth is that you still can, but you won’t. Go make your art.

…But absolutely necessary for your success as a producer. Otherwise don’t bother. Find or write a great script that you’re absolutely passionate about. 2. Nail the casting. 3. Hire great artists you love and respect and want to work with. Give them the creative space and support to do their best work. 4. Produce withContinue reading “Easier Said Than Done…”

If you aim to please others, you will please no one. Aim to please yourself, and you just might end up pleasing others too. Go make YOUR art.

Some quotes are just so potent that writing anything more diffuses their power. Baseball fans know what a “walk off” is. It’s basically a hit that’s ends the game on the spot. Marrying these two concepts, here’s a “walk off” quote for you: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” -Teddy Roosevelt. P.S. – I getContinue reading “A “Walk Off” Quote”

“Hard work doesn’t guarantee success. But without it, you don’t stand a chance.” -Pat Riley “Sometimes it’s necessary to go a long distance out of the way in order to come back a short distance correctly.” –The Zoo Story by Edward Albee One of the biggest roadblocks to making art is the fear that youContinue reading “Right And Wrong”