Author Archives: thevsstudioblog

We all walk around with a story in our heads. Sonder helps us remember that. We all want to hear and tell stories. It’s in our DNA. Art enables us to do that and have empathy for others. Culture is the collective story we’ve all consciously and unconsciously agreed to. To change the culture, weContinue reading “Story And Culture”

There’s an exchange towards the end of “Top Gun” where Stinger, played by one of my all-time favorite 80’s character actors, James Tolkan, asks how long until he can launch another fighter with Willard and Simkin aboard. They’re needed to assist Maverick and Iceman (Gotta love those pilot names!) who are engaged in a dogfightContinue reading “Top Gun Wisdom”

“You are the average of the five people you hang around the most.” -Jim Rohn Think of the 1920’s and Paris. Or The Harlem Renaissance. Or the 1950’s and The Beats. Go way back to Ancient Greece. Or the Italian Renaissance. Incredible art was created during these periods. Why? A main reason has to beContinue reading “Find Your Scene”

The first “book” or chapter of Meditations is entitled “Debts And Lessons.” Marcus Aurelius devotes it entirely to thanking those people who’ve helped him throughout his life. He also names the specific qualities that each person imparted on him. Examples… “My Grandfather Verus….Character and self control.” “My Mother…Her reverence for the divine, her generosity, herContinue reading “Debts And Lessons”

Supposedly… …Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay for “Rocky” in three and a half days. …Karl Malantes wrote the Vietnam novel, “Matterhorn”, over a period of thirty years. …Bob Dylan wrote “Blowin’ In The Wind” in ten minutes. …Leonard Cohen wrote “Allelujah” in two years. Does it really matter how long it took someone else toContinue reading “It Takes What It Takes”

An enormous gulf exists between how something sounds in your head versus how it sounds coming out of your mouth. The legendary acting teacher, Harold Guskin, in his book, How To Stop Acting, advocated a technique he called “taking it off the page.” While privately working on text, the actor slowly reads one line atContinue reading “Say It Out Loud”

I recently watched the incredible film Amazing Grace which documents the two nights Aretha Franklin spent in 1972 at Los Angeles’ New Temple Missionary Baptist Church recording her live gospel album. It’s magical, majestic, powerful and inspiring. The New York Times said it’s “one of the most astounding performances anyone’s ever given of anything.” IContinue reading “Solidarity”

An ancient house located in the southeast of France bears a sundial with the Latin inscription “Serius Est Quam Cogitas.” This translates to “It Is Later Than You Think.” Supposedly, travelers come from all over the world to view this sundial and reflect on their own mortality. (Memento Mori being practiced.) What are you waitingContinue reading “It Is Later Than You Think”

“So say goodbye it’s Independence Day. It’s Independence Day. All down the line. Just say goodbye it’s Independence Day. It’s Independence Day this time.” –Bruce Springsteen, Independence Day  We just celebrated America’s Independence Day. A group of people were so fed up with existing conditions coupled with their dreams of a better life, a betterContinue reading “Independence Day”

“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” -Mark Twain Let’s face it, to be human is to worry. Besides worrying about ourselves, there’s an endless list of people and potential events we can worry about. It’s like an open fire hydrant that just goesContinue reading “Worry”