Author Archives: thevsstudioblog

Making your art doesn’t get easier the more you do it. But your ability to trust the process and detach from the outcome does.

Get me on the court and I’m troubleLast week, messed around and got a triple-doubleFreakin’ brothers every way like MJI can’t believe today was a good day -song “It Was A Good Day” by Ice Cube Good day sunshineGood day sunshineGood day sunshineI need to laugh, and when the sun is outI’ve got something IContinue reading “A Good Day”

Following up with people is vital for a producer. Remember your priority is not their priority. As long as you do it artfully and thoughtfully, people will be really glad you did. Michael Roderick, in his excellent daily newsletter, has some great advice on how to do it well. He lists four learnings from allContinue reading “The Art Of Following Up”

“It took me twenty years to become an overnight success.” -Eddie Cantor “I did stand-up comedy for eighteen years. Ten of those years were spent learning, four years were spent refining, and four were spent in wild success.” -Steve Martin “I start early and I stay late, day after day, year after year, it tookContinue reading “Overnight Success”

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” -President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1932 Inaugural Address The scariest stories aren’t found in movies and books. They are found in our minds. They are the stories we tell ourselves about why we can’tContinue reading “Scary Story”

“You ruined my life! I haven’t lived! I never lived! Thank to you I destroyed the best years of my life!…My life is over. I’m talented, I’m smart…If I’d had a normal adulthood I could’ve been a Schopenhauer or a Dostoyevsky.” -Vanya speaking to Serebryakov in Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov (Annie Baker translation) “IfContinue reading ““If I Only Knew Then…””

“If you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time.” -Billy Joel “Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.” -Rumi If someone ever says to you some variation of the following… “Hearing you talk just now was so inspiring.Continue reading “”Hearing You Talk Just Now…””

“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.” — Thomas Edison Once you get through a difficult time or do a hard thing, you have a reference point. You now understand what it takes and what you’re fully capable of. That way, when future challenges arise, you canContinue reading “Reference Point”

“People need trouble—a little frustration to sharpen the spirit on, toughen it” -William Faulkner “What are you fighting for, and how are you working to get what you want?…An actor is looking for conflict…Conflict is what creates drama. [In life] we are taught to avoid trouble [so] actors don’t realize they must go looking forContinue reading “The Frustration Is A Gift”

“Burn your bridges, start again. You should burn them every now and then. Or you’ll never grow!” -from the musical Merrily We Roll Along by Stephen Sondheim For the actor… Age, type, experience, marketability, look, etc…They all pale in comparison to “spirit.” If you capture the spirit of the character, then you will capture us.Continue reading “Capture The Spirit”