Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing A Career In Film, Television, Writing, Theatre, Music & Design With Your Talents

Want to understand your career options in live theatre? Or even how theatre training can help in seemingly unrelated careers? Professor Stephen Heatley, head of the Theatre and Film Department at the University of British Columbia (UBC), gives you a tour of front-of-house, backstage and the “underground” caverns at the Frederic Wood Theatre. This is where the magic happens. As we move from area to area, you’ll hear about the art of illusion in live theatre and how special effects are imagined, crafted and implemented by casts and crews to bring audiences into the world onstage, keeping them engaged in the story and characters unfolding before them. Stephen explains what you could and should expect in return for your investment of time and money in a degree-granting university program in theatre and film. He describes various craft categories for you to explore based upon what you may already love to do: wardrobe, stage design, set construction, acting, directing, stage management, etc. As in other creative

More than 670,000,000 views (yes, count the zeros … we’re talking ‘millions’ here!) and over 1 million dedicated subscribers. When you can get numbers like that, you can earn a good living producing videos and distributing them on YouTube. Aaron Bidochka has built his own tribe of loyal followers who care about what he cares about – the radio controlled (RC) vehicle hobby. Vehicles in the air, on the water and over land. Their owners, makers and shakers. Viewers happily tune in to Aaron’s tips and stories at a rate of 1 million per day! Some 1,200 videos posted over seven and a half years = ongoing success. Aaron tells Marvin how he did it, how long it took and the risks and rewards along the way. He describes the trade-offs with advertisers and the deals struck with YouTube that can create a stream of revenue for video producers. If you truly get out of an adventure what you put into it, Aaron deserves every penny he’s earned. He took his four first loves (science, robotics, music and film) and cooked up

You have talent. Ambition. Personality. You have the skills to get into the production business. But, have you formalized your function in the firmament? Might be time to become a “real" business. "Real" business? Sounds funny, doesn’t it? You, Disney, MGM, the Seattle Symphony – all on a level playing field! There are a variety of financial, promotional and psychological reasons to make the move and begin your own corporation. Writer/producer Marilyn Thomas shares with you her experiences of the benefits of incorporation. She created her own company to produce her own projects (documentaries, storytelling through film and TV), exploring the “business” end of show business. As a First Nations filmmaker and a woman, Marilyn describes how Diversity Funding and grants can both help and hinder your progress in the industry. She describes the benefits of internship as a means of getting to know the media industry and the people in it. How connections are made and developed. Whether a production assistant or

In this special episode about mentors and relationships, Marvin meets with camera operator Steve Fracol (Scandal, Sons of Anarchy, Green Lantern) and asks him to share his journey to success from his humble beginnings in Kansas City to the pinnacle of his profession in Los Angeles. You hear why sometimes it's best to take a step backward in order to take two steps forward.  Steve tells you about the incredible value of hooking up with good mentors including, in his case, Garrett Brown (inventor of the Steadicam) and several leading cinematographers. Steve initiated those opportunities for himself. His quest to learn from the best and create new personal and professional relationships led to a higher quality in his craft and more work opportunities. It could happen to you. But you need to ask first. Mentors rarely come looking for you! Steve stresses that your personality is the driving force behind your level of success. You set the tone for the team. Do you have the “personality of an onion”? Stop it. Yo

"You're fired!" Sometimes it's not that blunt. Sometimes it's: "we're going in another direction (without you) but thank you for all the work you've done so far". In this Toronto interview, Fred speaks with one of his mentors, screenwriter / producer Laura Phillips (Nancy Drew, Murdoch Mysteries, Fraggle Rock, Labyrinth, Jake & the Kid). Laura maintains that some of life's most transformative opportunities appear only when you are cut loose from existing obligations. Like you, Laura's career has been a roller coaster ride. Moving from New York to Toronto for love and career. A slow rise to a certain level, a plunge earthward and swirling around corners off balance at breakneck speed. You can grip the safety bar as coins tumble from your pocket or you can throw your arms in the air and enjoy the ride and accept that some moments in your life are just out of your control. And better for that! Laura describes how a person can adapt to a roller coaster career. Sporadic employment. Intermittent success.

As a former Executive Editor overseeing other editors overseeing the artists and writers for a third of the Marvel line of comic publications, Carl Potts knows publishing! And what it takes to create, launch and profit from exciting characters, thrilling plots and millions of FAN-atics! Carl’s insight and description of the various levels of responsibility within a publishing company hierarchy is a testament to his decades of success in the business of comic publications and artistry. You’ll be privy to valuable advice about how to get from self-publishing, piecework and self-promotion to getting in with the big players in the publishing world. Whatever your creative endeavors involve, you’ll want to hear Carl’s take on the trade-offs between freelancing and trying to do it all yourself OR jumping in line at one of the big houses or in a related field that keeps you within sight of your next professional goal. Carl’s description of the necessity for clear and concrete contracts to prevent future misint

How do you get into, stay in, and play the game? Liz McLaughlin knows! She has discovered and sharpened specific skills stretching from dancing, acting and teaching, to directing, clowning and combat! (Liz takes the phrase "fighting for a part" to a whole new level)! In this Vancouver interview, you will soon learn how Elizabeth (Call me 'Liz'!) McLaughlin has made a name and reputation for herself as an excellent performer and teacher in formal and informal learning situations. And made a fine living doing so! How do you spend your spare time? When Liz has the opportunity, she serves the arts community – taking an active role on boards of local, regional and national arts organizations. In addition to adding value to the organizations, these obligations and activities constantly expand her own personal and professional networks. Remember – what you know, who you know and who knows you are all important in creative careers. You'll also discover that, when required, Liz coaches people to talk funny. Produ

Draw some big motivation from this interview with one of the busiest animators in the business. Jessica has worked with animation companies all over North America. Now based in Los Angeles with her husband (also an animator), she has had contracts with Disney, Sony Imageworks and had a hand (literally!) in Alvin & the Chipmunks films, Hotel Transylvania and Tangled. In addition to sharing how a typical day might spin out for an animator, Jessica stresses that (you’ve heard this before!) creative endeavours are a team sport. She and other members of the team stay creative through play. Jessica dishes out advice on the advantages and disadvantages of working many years at one company or in shorter contracts for many companies. She also talks about having a life partner in the same line of work and the important references a former instructor can provide when searching for entry level positions. This seasoned production professional stresses the importance of addressing performance notes given to you in a con

New York based Dave Thompson (Joy, American Hustle, Hunger Games, Silver Linings Playbook, etc.) is one of the best camera operators in the business. Join us as he tells you why creative people like him love getting up in the morning! Dave claims failure is a healthy and helpful experience in any creative endeavor. And that professionals can move up in particular craft categories if they learn from each failure. In fact, learning is an obsession for Dave. He has done remarkable things to become the best in his craft, from going above and beyond to acquire new skills, to sweating the details of diet and physical fitness. Physical fitness? Yup. As the “athletes” of cinematic art, operators like Dave wear camera rigs that can weigh up to 75 pounds. Running around for several months of 18-hour days laden with that gear? Constant boot camp. Great footage. Dave Thompson is one of the busiest Steadicam and camera operators in the production industry. What’s a Steadicam? Let’s geek out for a minute. In 1975 Ame

Just how far might the apple fall from the tree? Join Marvin and Fred to find out in our first mother/daughter interview.   Japanese writer and radio star Maki Wennmann returns to Monetizing Your Creativity with her daughter, fashion designer Yuni Yoshida. In this New York interview, you'll hear stories of mentorship, collaboration and family support. And how important it is to take the first step so that the universe can take the second one on your behalf. Mother and daughter have taken very different approaches in creative endeavors and successful careers. So far, so good. So great.  "Be so good they can't ignore you!"  - Steve Martin actor / writer / comedian / poet / musician / playwright / inspirational quotation generator Subscribe to the free Monetizing Your Creativity podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/monetizing-your-creativity/id1082894462?mt=2 While you're there, please leave comments and suggestions for future episodes. We love your feedback! Or search for Monetizing Your Creativity

Trying to get your creative project off the ground? Sweat equity will only get you so far. At some point, you’ll probably need some cash from others. But how are you going to get it? Don Pare is the Chief Mentor at Real Value Capital (RvC Inc.). He and his team connect film producers, musicians and digital media creators with private investors (“angels”) looking to fund creative projects with start-up money and, eventually, expecting to make a profit on the successful projects they support. But he also advocates crowd funding as a first step to accelerate the process. A great crowd funding campaign can, in turn, attract angel investors who can help fund and distribute a project far beyond your initial objectives. Don stresses story telling: “Something to believe in.” You provide a great story and the universe will help you fund it. And Don helps show you how to make that happen. He shares great tips (and great enthusiasm) for helping creators develop and distribute their products. Don’s connections with

You create your own success. No one can or will do it for you. People may help make things happen for you but first you need to step up and make things happen for yourself. In this Vancouver interview, you’ll meet Margaret Mardirossian, President and CEO of Anaïd Productions, a self-starter quite familiar with the “business” end of the phrase “show business”. But it wasn’t always like that. The string of successful non-fiction and drama series she has produced for global audiences is a direct result of identifying – with advice and counsel from her mentors and teammates – what she needed to know to generate success … then going out and gathering that knowledge and applying it to the challenges at hand. You’ll hear about the importance of networking and building a team of trusted advisors and partners. All bring their special skills into the mix. You’ll hear how she hired a tutor to sharpen her knowledge and familiarity with raising funds for productions. And found a life partner in the process. Margare

Know Dallas-born Mitch Dubin? No? You have indeed seen his work if you’ve caught little-known films such as Bridge of Spies, Godzilla, The Avengers, War Horse, Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, Catch Me If You Can, Saving Private Ryan, War of the Worlds ... We could go on, but we don’t have enough space. Mitch is Steven Spielberg’s long-time camera operator, having worked on more than a dozen of his films. He has also operated camera and collaborated with the amazing Oscar winning cinematographer Janusz Kaminski on 20 films! Spielberg, Kaminski and other famous directors and cinematographers trust Mitch to bring the visions in their heads to life in moving images, which get passed on to editors who shape the Oscar-worthy scenes for the big screens. But get this! After Mitch graduated from college, it was tough to get a job. Sound familiar? He worked as a janitor to pay his rent. Mitch tells of getting his first film job putting stickers on camera gear for Francis Ford Coppola and his gradual rise to be

Car crashes. High falls. Saloon brawls. Stampeding cattle. Viking battles. How do these people make it home in one piece? Stunt performers are the absolute personification of what makes all creative people successful: teamwork, trust, relationships, risk assessment, discipline, endurance, physical and mental fitness, remaining calm under pressure, attention to detail, continuous improvement, taking responsibility for your career ... OK, you get the idea. People who understand the importance of these personal and professional character traits tend to do well in the creative industries. Those who don’t, fail. In this Edmonton interview, Jodi Stecyk describes the “business” end of show business as he has experienced it as a stunt performer and actor over the past two decades. He talks about the things that have made him successful on Oscar winning movies like The Revenant and Inception. These are the same things that can make you successful in whatever your creative endeavour happens to be. You can buy your

Who chooses the who from which the choosers choose? The casting director. She's the gatekeeper. In place to keep a space from being overrun by people who believe they belong on the other side of the ‘gate’. What is the casting director’s role in the production process? And why is it necessary? In this Vancouver interview, Michelle Allen, the Canadian casting director for the Oscar winning film The Revenant, describes the hunt for finding the right selection of performers to be inspected and tested by the producers and directors of large and small film and television projects. Sometimes the story behind the “story” is as compelling as the drama. Truth can be stranger than fiction. And how and why are the final decisions made? Listen and learn from the one who stands between you and the final decision makers. There are lessons here that apply to a range of craft categories and situations. Yes, the crew heads of most departments on a film set (set decoration, make-up and hair, wardrobe, etc.) and the direct

What is “going the extra mile”? Or miles? And where might you end up? Gonzalo Vargas knows. It’s his M.O. In this New York interview, Gonz fills you in on the details of his audition road trip for House of Cards, the gap between training and the real work of finding gigs in NYC, and the importance of “meet and greets” to build your personal and professional networks. No matter what your particular creative niche might be, this working actor (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Blue Bloods, etc.) has plenty of tips for getting started in a major market such as NYC. (Hint: a thorough grounding in regional work helps!) Fred jumps in as well with his personal takes on the audition process, relating to casting directors and the advantages of participation in student film production to boost your demo reel. And Marvin’s discreet and pertinent questions bring out the inner coach in Gonz. Are arts and science polar opposites? Not so. Wait until you hear Gonz on the “physics” of success. "If you dig it, it’s your

If you think you've heard Deb Munro's voice before, you're not alone! And you're not wrong! For over two decades, Deb has been heard internationally in commercials, film narration, animation, computer games and audio books ... with multiple voices and personalities! For instance you can hear her in the acclaimed animated TV series Dragon Ball and the computer game Neverwinter Nights. She's "The Voice" of large TV and radio stations in various North American markets. And she literally wrote the book on Voice Training. She coaches some of the best voices in the business. And, in this episode, she'll be coaching you! In this Toronto interview, you'll hear how to create a voice appropriate for the character or the tone of each audio project. You'll learn the difference between a voice and a personality. And how to avoid the dreaded "saturation point"! Whether you are (or want to be) a voice actor, narrator, news reporter, radio show host, podcaster, or even a media relations spokesperson for a large corporati

Still waiting for your ship to come in? Maybe you should consider jumping on the one passing right in front of you. In this New York interview, Maki Wennmann describes the advantages and disadvantages of being a "generalist" (many passions) as opposed to a "specialist" (singular passion). She is an accomplished writer in the USA and South America, a popular national radio show host in Japan and she works at the United Nations as a protocol expert. She started out as an account executive at a Japanese PR firm and leveraged that experience into this incredibly varied career. What if your personal set of passions include media, travel, languages and cultures? Is there a way of combining various passions into a vibrant and creative career? You really are the only person who can answer that question for yourself. Maki offers some interesting advice. Climb onboard or wait for a more attractive boat? Even walking the plank gives one an opportunity to study underwater life up close ... Take a deep breath. Leap,

Pilot Season in Hollywood has more to do with flights of fancy than actual aviation. It's a magical time in Tinseltown. Studios and networks commission dozens of TV pilot episodes and then select the very few to become the upcoming season's network newborns. Veteran stars and shiny new faces hustle for roles – hoping to be part of TV's newest hit series. You'll hear Marv and Fred talk with talented young actress Sandy Sidhu as she prepares for her second foray into Fantasyland. (Not the one in Anaheim!) Determined to capitalize on the lessons learned the previous year, Sandy describes finding a support system, agents, managers, auditions and kindred spirits. Very few pilots ever turn into series but the flurry of activity in Pilot Season provides performers, writers, directors and crews with a great industry bootcamp. And when Sandy returns home(IF she returns!) we'll ask her how it went this year. Subscribe to the free Monetizing Your Creativity podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/monetizing-yo

Feeling lucky? Despite all the right training and preparation since childhood, Benjamin Wheelwright was in the wrong place at the right time (twice), but still persevered to get the Broadway gig. In this New York interview, Benjamin explains how perseverance is a quality that pays off for all creative people from actors to musicians and everyone in between. That’s because coincidence, circumstance and cooperation conspire in strange ways to make history as stakeholders seek the absolutely “right” person for each particular assignment from cast to crew. It applies to stage and screen, the music industry, gaming, publishing … you name it! For every performance you view, hundreds and often thousands of individuals have had to survive a demanding series of escalating auditions, callbacks, and a variety of tests of endurance, patience and flexibility. As the number of rivals diminishes, the stakes grow ever higher. This is a young actor’s story, but it applies to you, whatever your discipline. It ends well,