Author Archives: thevsstudioblog

“A well-designed life is a life that is generative—it is constantly creative, productive, changing, evolving, and there is always the possibility of surprise.” -Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, book Designing Your Life ..is not always good advice. At least, not according to authors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. They argue, and cite research that backsContinue reading “Follow Your Passion…”

“Letting it happen is not making it happen. It is not trying hard.”― W. Timothy Gallwey, The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance “Source makes available. The filter distills. The vessel receives. And often this happens beyond our control.” -Rick Rubin, The Creative Act Every useful trainingContinue reading “Whatever Works To Let It Happen”

Trying to control the futureis like trying to take the master carpenter’s place.When you handle the master carpenter’s tools,chances are that you’ll cut your hand. –Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu (Stephen Mitchell Translation) “I never looked back, although I had many uneasy periods looking forward.” -Raymond Chandler “There is nothing so certain in our fearsContinue reading “Trust And Surrender”

Yelena: I’m dying of boredom. Is there nothing to do? Sofya: There’s no lack of things to do. If you wished to do them? Yelena: Tell me one. Sofya: Teach. Treat the sick. Care for the Estate. Yelena: …mmm…hmm… Sofya: Much to do. (Pause.) When you and Papa weren’t here. Uncle and I would goContinue reading “Do It. Then Evaluate It.”

Who doesn’t like a good challenge? Especially one that’s specific and time bound. In the spirit of Lent which begins today, as well as my recent post about The 100 Hour Rule, I thought I’d propose a 40 day challenge. Here it is… Pick a goal or habit or project, anything you’ve been thinking about doing, and forContinue reading “The 40 Day Challenge”

“Put your heart aside. Duty comes first. But when fulfilling your duty, put your heart into it. It helps.” -Saint Josemaría Escrivá “Never shirk the proper dispatch of your duty, no matter if you are freezing or hot, groggy or well-rested, vilified or praised, not even if dying or pressed by other demands. Even dying is one ofContinue reading “Duty”

“Above all else, the mentat must be a generalist, not a specialist. It is wise to have decisions of great moment monitored by generalists. Experts and specialists lead you quickly into chaos.” -Frank Herbert, Dune You’re probably familiar with the 10,000 hour rule as popularized by Malcom Gladwell in his book Outliers. Roughly stated, the ruleContinue reading “The 100 Hour Rule”

Research shows that just talking our issues and problems out loud is incredibly helpful. This is one reason why therapy exists. It can also be helpful in those times we find ourselves struggling to make our art. A personal anecdote… I was struggling early in a rehearsal process. It was a very hard part and play. After doing theContinue reading “Talk It Out”

“Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.” -Marie Forleo “We are repeatedly what we do. Excellence is a habit, not an act.” -Aristotle “The greatest threat to success is inconsistency.” -Shane Parrish “A simple filter for managing your time: You’re not focused enough unless you’re mourning some ofContinue reading “Shiny New Objects”

In a collaborative medium like film or theatre, the producer needs to get everyone to care deeply about the final result. And when you’re working in small theatre or independent film, you’re asking people to work for lower pay and on lower budgets. So, how do you get them to care? First, you must have empathy. Remember,Continue reading “How Do You Get Them To Care?”