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

Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Monetizing Your Creativity. I’m your host Marvin Polis. This is actually going to be a very short episode because I’m here to let you know that our podcast is going on hiatus for a while. In the meantime, we’d like to suggest that you dive into the archives for some inspirational episodes to help you launch and leverage your creative career. With 125 episodes, there’s something for everyone. Even if an episode seems like it might not apply to you, there are universal lessons everywhere. So for instance, if you’re an actor, do listen to the episodes about music … and so on. On behalf of my co-producer and co-host Fred Keating, we want to encourage you to stay subscribed so you’ll know when we have news to announce. If you want to keep tabs on Fred, you can follow him on Facebook and you really should check out an intriguing project he’s working on called Studio in the Sky. Just go to Vimeo and search for Studio in the Sky, new trailer. As for me, you can chec

Welcome to another themed episode drawing upon the advice and counsel of various guests on a single topic. The topic: When creativity meets business acumen Four multi-talented and experienced entrepreneurs prove it is possible to pursue your creative passion and make a good living from doing so. It helps if one’s passion for a creative career is balanced by an appreciation of (or skills in) the business side of show business. Toronto-based Todd Latham is the President of Actual Media. Growing up along with digital media, Todd’s success story runs from his first newsletter Newd Flash to his current publications on environmental subjects such as ReNew Magazine and Water Canada. He also produces the Canadian Water Summit and Water’s Next Awards as President of Blue Events. Todd discusses the creation and progression of business opportunities and partnerships that have allowed him to make his publishing and environmental conservation dreams come true. Lindy Sisson is a connector. As the presenter and administ

Welcome to another themed episode drawing upon the advice and counsel of various guests on a single topic. The topic: Making it in LA. Four experienced individuals (a media entrepreneur, publicist, film festival founder and talent agent) share their own “Making it in LA” stories with Marv and Fred. They are proof positive that creative people need other creative people in order to earn a living in media industries. Nobody does it alone. Cachita Hynes is the founder of the style-revamp company, Style on the Spot. She’s also a model, TV host, blogger and former Marketing Director of Worldwide Distribution for MGM. Cachita currently serves a roster of clients as a digital marketing consultant, helping other companies and organizations get their stories to a global audience. Kelly Wilson is a connector. She brings together people who have stories to tell with people who need stories to tell. This young publicist has helped arrange some interviews for Marv and Fred at international events and locations. In fac

Welcome to another themed episode drawing upon the advice and counsel of various guests on a single topic. This week's topic: Acting careers – stage and screen. Four multi-talented and experienced performers share with Marvin and Fred their own career stories and tips for navigating the tumultuous rapids of an acting career. Amy Shostak is a talented theatre artist whose improv skills in performance and directing have taken her to festivals and live special events all around the world. She also performs in the television series Tiny Plastic Men and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s radio series The Irrelevant Show. Amy describes why many professionals could benefit from improv workshops to learn about and sharpen their own abilities in collaborative work situations. Brothers Dann and Dave Florek join Marvin and Fred in Los Angeles to discuss the similarities and differences in technique required for performing on stage and on screen. Valuable tips emerge! Check their track records on imdb.com. The F

Fred and Marvin have put together another themed episode that draws upon the wisdom of various guests on a single topic. Three multi-talented musicians share with you their own particular experiences in "The Business of Music”. Patched in from France, Mark Olson, an American horn player for European orchestras, shares his stories of breaking into the business, getting lessons from the best in the world and the challenges of auditions. And how the horn has been his ticket around the world for more than 30 years! Patrick O’Connell, a California-based musician shares his advice with budding musicians on everything from why musicians should TEACH as soon as possible and the self-managed approach to getting your music sold and listened to in the music business’ constantly shifting environments. Nashville-based Lera Lynn, who plays the bar singer on the HBO series “True Detective”, shares her stories about what happens when you "stay true to you”. She describes what she’s learned from other musicians (k.d. lan

In another of our themed episodes, Marvin and Fred visit the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) convention and speak with four champions of motivational speaking. They pepper their presentations with humour and great advice on building and living a creative life. The two themes explored in this episode are “Getting Started” and “Everything You Do is Grist for the Creative Mill.” Comedian, author and comedy coach Judy Carter describes the difference between public speaking and stand-up comedy. You'll want to pay special attention to her “59 Refusals” story! As a refugee from Vietnam, Vinh Giang grew up in Australia. How can changing your environment change your life? This accomplished magician explains how to have more confidence. It’s easier than you think. But listen carefully … You are your main competitor! Corey Perlman, President of eBoot Camp and author of the bestseller “Social Media Overload!”, discusses the challenges facing millenials in navigating the various types of social m

In this next of our series of themed episodes, we continue on the topic of speaking professionally. Marvin and Fred talk to four more contemporary champions of motivational speaking at the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) convention. The common undercurrent is: “You need a little help from your friends in business.” Getting acquainted with the business side of show business is important. Things like bookkeeping, accounting and contracts. That can be a lot to learn, so it might make more sense to find people who not only are experts in those activities, but also enjoy doing them the same way you enjoy acting, music, dance, painting, etc. Those people exist. You simply need to expand your personal and professional network to a point where you have a group of experts in different arenas of show business to help you make decisions that are in your best interest. In this episode you’ll hear: Patricia Fripp on how to generate conversations at social events that could lead to professional e

Question: Where do professional motivational speakers go to get motivated and trade trade secrets? Answer: The annual national CAPS Convention. CAPS stands for Canadian Association of Professional Speakers but professional speakers, business coaches, corporate trainers and meeting facilitators from all over the world gather there each year to learn from one another. Marvin and Fred set up camp right in the middle of the busy exhibit hall and interviewed some of the superstars of public speaking. In this themed episode, we interview the Executive Director and organizer of the convention, Sheri Bricks, as well as bestselling authors and speakers Vince Poscente (former Olympian) and Dan Thurmon (author of Off Balance on Purpose). Behind every inspiring speaker there is an inspiring story and you’ll hear some of them in this episode produced right in the middle of the convention. SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE MONETIZING YOUR CREATIVITY PODCAST: itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/monet…d1082894462?mt=2 While you're there,

In this specially-themed episode, Marvin and Fred speak to three contemporary writers of non-fiction and discuss the steps in the writing process that take place prior to and after the actual “pounding it out” on the keyboard. Tracey Friesen shares with you how ideas for subject matter present themselves and how to locate natural partners to assist in bringing your book to publication. Eric Termuende describes the importance of a team consisting of other writers, editors and promotional efforts to get the book polished, published and then properly distributed and sold. Patrick Dillon, opera critic and interviewer in New York City, suggests ways to act upon your particular passion and generate writing assignments for yourself. Once again, we find there is no ONE way to pursue a career in creative arts endeavours … there is only YOUR way. But where writing careers are concerned, there are thousands of willing role models such as other writers, editors, publishers, design artists and public relations profess

Welcome to the first in a series of themed episodes of Monetizing Your Creativity. In this edition, Marvin pulls segments of Fred’s interviews with arts specialists who dedicate time and energy not only to their own studio work but also invest in the development and teaching of other individuals. Chrysalis is an organization that discovers the abilities in individuals with disabilities and trains them for volunteer or part-time / full-time employment. As part of programming to explore and develop a variety of latent artistic talents and mastery of social situations, artists who are excellent in their own personal arts activities encourage the learners to expand personal and professional horizons through various forms of art … painting, sculpting, movement, speech and music. A variety of these specialists spoke with Fred about how their teaching of arts to others actually enhanced their own creative energy and output. Both the therapists and their students have found ways to monetize their own creativity i

After the shooting for top-notch television or film production comes the phase rarely seen by civilians: the mysterious world of post production. This is where all the production elements come together in one final burst of creative collaboration. Sound, editing, music, colour correction, and a variety of necessary tweaks take projects from persistence to perfection. Marvin re-visits Vancouver’s post production guru Randy Egan in his brand new Post Pro Media facility and gets a tour courtesy of Randy, Project Manager Kylie Kumar and VID (Very Important Dog) Bandit (who doesn’t actually say too much but adds attitude and atmosphere). And atmosphere is important for Post Pro Media’s staff and clients as it is a space where many short timelines make for many long days, Hospitality is key! And on this tour of Randy’s much-expanded facilities almost every aspect of the premises aims to make visiting clients feel right at home. A combination of public and private working spaces makes the final creative processe

When Marvin was recently strolling the bilingual boulevards of Montreal, Canada he visited the workshop of Greenfield Guitars* to interview some of that city’s best musicians. Composer and studio musician Kevin Tighe is one of those outstanding people. Kevin's specialty is creating music that underscores television and theatre productions. Although Kevin doesn’t perform his own work live in public, his compositions have been heard by millions of people around the world! His unique success in music and the media industry is based on relationships. Human connections. Knowing people who know people who need the kind of work that Kevin can produce. You’ll hear why Kevin considers professional resumes irrelevant. And how the new and constantly expanding digital music libraries offer both opportunities and challenges to musicians. And the importance of becoming familiar with collecting the royalties due to composers based on how often their music is used. Kevin’s practical approach to his craft and his advice

Lindy Sisson was born into a showbiz family and grew up taking tickets, printing posters, and dancing in productions put on in the community theatre group created and sustained by her parents and surrounding regional audiences. That combination of artistic and administrative talent has come in quite handy. Lindy is now both the Executive Director and Artistic Director of ACT, a Canadian arts centre that incorporates performing, teaching and art studio spaces for professional and student participants to hone their skills in creative arts activities. Lindy describes the challenges of creating “your own family” in the arts in the absence of support within your home, school or community environment. Belief in your own success and confidence in your own production skills – whatever they may be – is critical to a healthy and happy pursuit of a career in the arts. Lindy also recommends exploring one of the recurring themes of this podcast: often the most effective way of generating support for your creative ende

He is introduced on set to newly arrived actors as the “Voice of Fargo” on the Emmy Award winning TV series. That’s because dialect coach and actor David LeReaney is in charge of ensuring the authentic distinctive Minnesota dialect in Fargo’s cast of characters whether those performers come from various parts of America, the UK, or Australia. In addition to his service as dialect coach in the first seasons of the show, he is now a regularly featured character on the series. Marvin and Fred caught up with David just after one of his workshop presentations to performers on accents and dialects. David has built himself a bulletproof approach to success in the performing arts. He has been an actor, director, dialect coach, voice artist and teacher. His aim was always to find a way (or ways!) to make a living doing what he loved to do and he has done it! And now, when not on location, David delights in sharing his skills with others in workshops designed to help other performers increase their skills. Believ

111 Holiday Greeting by Marvin Polis and Fred Keating

In this episode, Fred and Marv chat with Dana Gonzales, a Primetime Emmy Award winner for his work on the television series Fargo. Dana was also an integral part of the Oscar winning film Crash. Dana's rise through the ranks is impressive - from truck driver to Director of Photography! His path was punctuated by several time-outs, giving him an appreciation of the various craft categories that work around a cinematographer and make the filmmaking process a more collaborative one for all concerned. Learn how Dana has really steered his career in a business that he unabashedly loves. This mentor has great thoughts for you about job interviews and “chemistry” between artists when all the competitors for the job are equally capable. He describes the advantage of telegraphing to others what you want to do and achieve as a means of generating great referrals that lead to new opportunities. As an accomplished Director of Photography, Dana knows that looking through a lens is more than just looking at life (or ‘pr

How can you go viral without even trying? One way is to strike a strong emotional chord and have fun while doing it. Satire is a strong pull. Dave Carroll sang his way into YouTube history and about 400 textbooks on customer service and public relations with his viral video, United Breaks Guitars. He also made Time Magazine's list of top 10 viral videos in 2009. Impressive! Dave started as a musician with his brother in a group called the Sons of Maxwell and they made a good living touring the world for 20 years. Then an incident one fateful day in 2008 on the tarmac at O’Hare Airport in Chicago triggered a series of events that changed his life forever. It also … eventually … caused many changes in customer service at large corporations around the world. Dave tells the story behind his meteoric rise as a storyteller in this interview at the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS)2016 convention in Edmonton, Canada. This convention took place (ironically!) at a hotel attached to the Edmonton

Marvin is on the loose again in Montreal and back at Greenfield Guitars to interview African percussionist Moise (MO – eez) Yawo Matey. Moise asks you to consider the cost of participating in the music business and the necessity of recovering, if not exceeding, those costs. Otherwise, you may end up playing for free until you decide not to play at all! Moise has made Montreal his home since 2005 and is an integral part of the music scene in that city. His connections with a variety of musicians and musical groups has given him the opportunity to play all over North America and Europe. He describes the networking – both personal and over social media – that every musician needs to spend time on as you never know when an opportunity may present itself … but you need to be there to take advantage of the gift! Moise and his unique percussion sounds and skills have struck partnerships with other musicians and musical styles from jazz to up-tempo African traditional to Celtic! Spread the sound around in your

In this episode of the Monetizing Your Creativity mentorship podcast, Fred flies solo into the heart of Vancouver, Western Canada's media centre. He talks with documentary film producer and author Tracey Friesen. Tracey's book "Story Money Impact" is THE guidebook for emerging and active documentarians seeking information and support to share their stories on screen. There are many reasons to listen to this episode, but the top three are Tracey's take on: 1) Preparing the interview or pitch for your dream job and building trust. 2) The National Film Board of Canada's premises and procedures (Tracey is a former executive producer at the NFB). 3) The amazing story behind the making of "Being Caribou", a Canadian classic documentary. Tracey is the go-to person on the tricky business of documentary production from story to fundraising through production and distribution. Visit: www.storymoneyimpact.com SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE MONETIZING YOUR CREATIVITY PODCAST: itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/monet…d10828944

Marvin is on the loose in Montreal again! In this episode of the Monetizing Your Creativity mentorship podcast, Marvelous Marvin elicits great advice for creative entrepreneurs from fashion designer, stylist and boutique boss Manika Gaudet. Manika describes moving from creating dresses for her childhood dolls to real live fashion models and actors. Whether designing fashion for runway and retail, or wardrobe for television shows, Manika creates pieces that are distinct. She understands that standing out from the crowd is a key aspect of marketing yourself. Manika shares all this and other very worthwhile advice for entrepreneurs in any business or creative venture. From working at home to building a team, from selling online to outreach via social media, Manika Gaudet is a role model who knows how to manage and promote her creative career internationally. Meet Manika at: www.manikfashion.com/en https://www.facebook.com/manika.gaudet SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE MONETIZING YOUR CREATIVITY PODCAST: itunes.ap