Category Archives: Uncategorized

“There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.” -Deepak Chopra “To me acting is like a jigsaw puzzle. The jigsaw puzzle is of the sky and all the pieces are blue. OutContinue reading “Producer As Puzzle Master”

The most important takeaway of Mark Duplass’ SWSW Keynote speech “The Cavlary Isn’t Coming” (worth listening to frequently) is that there is no cavalry. Maybe you’re thinking…if I work really hard, if I make some good art, if I produce some worthwhile content, then someday I can relax a bit. It’ll get easier. I won’tContinue reading “The Tap On The Shoulder”

“Sometimes you gotta say What the Fuck’, make your move. Joel, every now and then, saying ‘What the Fuck’, brings freedom. Freedom brings opportunity, opportunity makes your future. So your parents are going out of town. You got the place all to yourself.” -advice that Miles gives to Joel in the film Risky Business “StudiesContinue reading “Risky Business”

“You just needed a little encouragement.”— Harold to Phillip in the play Orphans by Lyle Kessler Honor to those whose words or deedsThus help us in our daily needs,And by their overflowRaise us from what is low! -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, poem Santa Filomena courage (noun): c. 1300, corage, “heart (as the seat of emotions),” henceContinue reading “EnCOURAGEment”

“I believe that people generally want to be what we call good. They want to cooperate with people. They don’t want to steal; they don’t want to cheat. But everybody has a price. Everybody has an incentive.” -Stephen J. Dubner, co-author Freakonomics “Follow the money.” -Deep Throat (played by Hal Holbrook) giving advice to BobContinue reading “Incentives”

TroubleTrouble, trouble, trouble, troubleTrouble been doggin’ my soulSince the day I was born WorryWorry, worry, worry, worryWorry just will not seem to leaveMy mind alone TroubleOh, trouble, trouble, trouble, troubleFeels like every time I get back on my feetShe come around and knock me down again WorryOh, worry, worry, worry, worrySometimes I swear it feelsContinue reading “Trouble”

“Persistence and endurance will make you omnipotent.” –Casey Neistat “Action expresses priorities.” -Gandhi Who doesn’t enjoy a good acronym? Inspired by my favorite action hero (Can you name the movie and scene depicted above?), here’s one for you and it’s the secret sauce to accomplishing anything you care about… Love what you do. (Notice IContinue reading “L.E.A.P.”

Love, love me doYou know I love youI’ll always be trueSo please, love me doWhoa-oh, love me do -The Beatles, song “Love Me Do” “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” -Arthur Ashe Instead of “do what you love” as Confucius once supposedly advised, instead “love what you do.” AsContinue reading “Love What You Do”

Picasso was at a Paris market when an admirer approached and asked if he could do a quick sketch on a paper napkin for her. Picasso politely agreed, promptly created a drawing, and handed back the napkin — but not before asking for a million Francs. The lady was shocked: “How can you ask forContinue reading “Forty Years?”

“Joy is the happiness that does not depend on what happens.” -Brother David Steindl-rast “Joy for humans lies in human actions. Human actions: Kindness to others, contempt for the senses, the interrogation of appearances, observations of nature and events in nature.” -Marcus Aurelius, Meditations In the film Tender Mercies (one of my all-time favorites), RobertContinue reading “Don’t Trust Happiness”