Recovery, Resilience, and Finding His Way as a Filmmaker (feat. Nayip Garcia)

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Hi everyone and welcome or welcome back to Call Sheet Confessions.
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I'm your host, May La Page, and I'm so excited for today's guest.
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He is a filmmaker, director, and creative director.
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He's directed a variety of projects from commercials to music videos to morning talk shows to television series, films, and more.
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He's worked with Disney and Marvel.
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Some of the projects he's directed include the Almost Popular movie, the Adventures of Slim and Thick TV series, and then Girl Talk the series.
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He's also directed and worked with talent like Flo Millie, Coco Jones, Kylie Cantrell, Narda Wick, Baby Nezza, Charlie D'Amelio, and so many more.
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Nessa's blown up.
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I'm so proud of her.
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Yes.
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I just sent her a photo of the video we first directed.
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I directed for her 12 years ago.
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And Chloe Coleman, who's like a big actress now, who's like spy or the spy movie, and Chloe Coleman's huge.
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Anyways, Chloe Coleman's like six years old, pretending to be baby Nessa in the video, and now she's like she did a movie with Adam Driver.
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She's like a mat like again, you never know who you're on set with.
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Absolutely.
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And like Nessa, I've been part of Nessa's journey, and hearing her be like, I'm gonna make this work, and she's doing it.
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Like you if some people just refuse to hear no.
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And she's one of them.
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And like I'm so proud of her as like a a Latina um creator and artist, and she's just she's always like, I'm doing this shit on my own.
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I'm gonna do it on my own.
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Like she's doing her own little commercial.
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Like, I'm so proud of her.
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She's like that's my girl right there.
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I love her, I have so much love for her.
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His work has garnered hundreds of millions of views.
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My guest today is Nayab.
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Welcome, Naeb.
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I didn't know you were still doing the intro.
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I keep talking, I keep fucking everything up.
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I have interrupted this girl 400 times.
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I have I do not shut the fuck up.
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I apologize so much.
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No, that's why it's perfect for a podcast.
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It took her an hour to get the intro because I wouldn't shut the fuck up, guys.
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So just FYI, don't shut the fuck up.
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Anyways, thank you for having me.
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Thank you for caring about me enough to even sit down with me.
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I appreciate you.
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Absolutely.
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Yeah, thanks.
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I've been watching your work for literally so many years.
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It's a pleasure to sit across from you.
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Like, I'm so grateful.
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Yeah, it's amazing.
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You're so sweet.
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Thank you.
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Yeah, I'm starting to realize that like all the young 20-year-olds like grew up on like Banshee and like.
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Yes, that's what I was gonna mention.
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Yes.
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I didn't realize that till I was in uh who's I was in Kylie Cantrell's house, and it was like all her friends there, like oh what's Megan from Cat's Eye was there, they're all chilling, and they're like, they like stopped the little get together and they're like, we just want to make a speech, and they made a speech, and then they're like, We grew up on this video, this changed our life, and they were like talking about me.
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I'm like, wait, what are they talking about?
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And then they play the Banshee music video and like word for word, dance for like step by step.
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I was like, What the I didn't realize that it had like affected like the dance community.
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Obviously, absolutely, yeah.
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When it happened, I used to direct like little kid music videos, and yeah, my career was like whatever, right?
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I hated doing kid videos, yeah.
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So I was uh not wait, hold on.
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I didn't hate kid doing kid videos, it was just kind of how I got my start.
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And uh Jordan Jones was like the lead girl in a video I did for um Carson Looters, gotcha, yeah.
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And um, so I met her family and her mom, and I remember seeing Jordan's like Instagram because she's like, Oh, follow me on Instagram, and I'm like, why does this kid have like 300,000 followers?
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Mind you, this is what 14 years ago, 12 years ago.
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I was like, and she was like, Oh, I was on dance moms, didn't know what dance moms is, don't know anything about this shit.
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I was just like, whatever.
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Uh, I end up becoming close with Jordan and her family, and they're like, we want to do a music video, and I'm like, okay, like what are we doing?
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They sent me this song, and I was like, okay, whatever.
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And then Trisha Miranda was the one who choreographed it.
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Yeah, so they're like, Oh, Trisha's like so dope.
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And I didn't know who Trisha was at the time.
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I didn't know anything about dance.
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I do the video, I see the dance moves, and I'm like, yo, this is like this was a lot for me because I'm like, they're like shaking and moving and doing stuff, and they're like, Oh, you're a grandpa.
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Like, I got the nickname grandpa because I was like, I don't know if we should be dancing like this, you know.
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But everyone's like, all of that video had the biggest dancers at the time, and all of those kids' careers is crazy.
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They're all still dance, like, especially Lexi.
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Like Lexi's.
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Lexi is like the creative director of like all these different people.
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Yeah.
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Uh, who else was in that video?
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Joya Jackson, what iconic, uh, Stevie Dior.
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Yes, T McCray.
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Um Tessa, I see now is starting to get into choreography.
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Who else was in there?
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Aspen, who's like a Harvard guy?
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I mean, they're all doing different things, but like that video is just like who's who of like the like the dancers at the time.
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And I didn't even know who the kids were.
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Oh my god.
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Um uh uh Larson.
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Yes, Larson was a Gucci supermodel now, and I'm like, and I remember telling Larson, I was like, You're you're like a you're gonna be like a supermod one day.
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She probably didn't remember this, but I was just like, these kids were all so talented in their own field, and then we did that ridiculous ass video, and that literally changed my career because I started getting calls, and through Banji is how I met Kylie Cantrell.
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Because her dad was like, Who directed this video?
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And then I kind of talked him into doing like sleepers, like I was like, Kylie has to do this, yeah, and um it's so crazy how much that video uh like changed my career.
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And at the time I was just like, What am I doing?
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You know, and then when we saw the first edit, I was like, I remember telling the editor, because I didn't edit at the time, yeah, and I was like, Is this good?
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Like, I was like, This is kind of good, right?
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Like, this is crazy.
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And he was like, I think it's kind of dope, but he was like way older, he's like 40 at the time.
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I think when I direct that video, I was somewhere in my mid-20s, I think.
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I don't know.
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Uh, but yeah, like you never know, like it could be the most ridiculous job, right?
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And those are the ones that like not that Banji is ridiculous, but it it's it basically like from Banji, we did uh lip gloss, and then we did um fancy, fancy, and then brah.
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Yes, so yeah, there's all kinds of lore there.
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Yes, so funny, dude.
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It's so funny what will change you never know who you're working on set with.
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Totally.
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Like, I always tell people like I've had like the biggest extras on my music videos.
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Like Joshua Bassett was the extra in a music video I did, Sydney Sweeney was the extra in a music video I did.
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And I'm like, you never know who the hell you're working with or who you're like the next person you're buying.
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Because everyone's like grinding.
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So when I I don't like doing like not that anyone can it's dying to interview me, but I hate doing interviews because I feel like are you really that important to be interviewed?
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Like, I always like to say yes to things, so this was like me being like, okay, because I've I've been putting you off for like three months.
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Yeah, yeah.
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I'm like, I'm gonna do this, I'm just not prepared.
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So I did girl talk, and that was like they had to talk me into that.
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Yeah, and I didn't, I was I've been doing that show 120 episodes, and they're like, you have to do it, you have to do it.
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Like the uh Pam, my business partner, and I was like, God, does anybody want me to be in?
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Like, does anyone care what I have to say?
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And so, like, I was like, Okay, this is another step of like kind of trying to like, I don't know, put yourself out there.
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I guess I don't know.
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Yeah, you like it's so true, you never know what could lead to something else.
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You could be the next uh Oprah.
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I don't know, you know what I'm saying?
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So it's from your own.
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I'm sorry I made you wait so long, but I I think partly it was because I just don't like to be on camera.
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I like to be behind the scenes.
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I like to, yeah, I like to see, I like to help people grow and and make the best and like see them get better.
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I I don't think we need another person, like another director talking.
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Well, I appreciate you coming on this side of the camera today.
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No problem because there is so much to like learn and from your from all of your experience, and the goal of this podcast is kind of like opening up of how you got to where you are, what a day in the life looks like, what that process as a director looks like.
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And so very grateful that we can make this happen.
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Of course, yeah.
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I'm always uh part of my thing is like wanting to help young female filmmakers because I as I've done, I keep talking about girl talk, but I've as I've worked with these young women, I've seen the obstacles and things that they've had to deal with.
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And um I'm always like I'm not I'm not gonna sit here and been like I've I'm an angel.
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And you know, I think when I first started in the film industry, there was a lot of misogyny and a lot of you know, not safe spaces for females, so female uh filmmakers.
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So that's kind of been my new thing is like, okay, I'm striving to like give opportunities to young female filmmakers.
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And with girl talk, we try to get interns and PAs and you're amazing.
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No, I think that's amazing.
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Like giving opportunities to young women filmmakers and also like making that a safe space, you know, as best as we can.
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Because definitely working on sets like there's not really like HR, you know, yeah, and then you don't want to make a fuss, and then you're like, oh my god, but I always think it's like you should.
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Yeah, sometimes you just have to say shit, like, hey, right, and even you know, like I'd love to be to be checked and be like, hey, like that's not cool, like, oh, okay, cool, like everyone's different, everything's different, and the world is changing, and I work with so many women in front of the camera and behind, so I'm in that world, you know.
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I as like female directors have blown up, I have worked with mostly female talent.
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Like, that's kind of where um where I like I don't know, I just love that space and like that that style and aesthetic.
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I feel like they care about the things I care about.
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Yeah.
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How the video looks, hair and makeup, like wardrobe, like all those things are so important to female artists.
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So I always gravitated to those because they cared so much about their visual versus like not to say rap videos or like that, but you know, instead of standing in front of a nice car and doing your thing, which I've done too, so I can't really talk shit.
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Yeah, totally.
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And on Almost Popular, the film that you directed, you did hire like a predominantly like female crew.
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Yeah.
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Um uh my DP was uh uh a young female uh filmmaker, she's gonna hate me for saying that, but she was a cinematographer.
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Yeah.
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Um, and she I wanted I wanted like a a it was a Gen Z movie.
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It's like a cutie, cutes, cutie, cringy little Gen Z movie.
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And I wanted like a female's perspective because the lead was female.
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Right.
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And I was like, I already have this male perspective.
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I would like to change, I like to have a different uh type of person to bounce ideas with.
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Totally, yeah.
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So I went and we hired that, I believe it got some not award, but something.
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It was like I think 50, 60 percent female.
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So, you know, that was a huge learning lesson for me because uh a lot of times when I first started, it was like 90% male.
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Yeah, and then the typical what you would call standard female positions, which is crazy because if you go all the way back in film, women were in all those roles, and then it turned into like a boys' club in like the 30s or 40s.
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Right.
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Um, but women were big editors and and big uh producers and and stuff, and they were even directors, and it kind of went away at some point, and now it's coming back, which is great because there's so many new POVs now.
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And I love a young coming-of-age film.
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So, like I love those female perspectives.
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Totally, and I I uh saw something you said too about like the actors having to like touch like tough themes in the film, so having women around holding the camera created more of a safe space for them to go there emotionally.
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Yeah, I think for almost popular, there was a couple moments of like themes of like your sexuality and who you are as a young person.
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Um my next film that hopefully gets picked up, there is a little bit more vulnerability with the female character where there's um she takes a photo, like if get my drift, there's sex scenes, and I'm like, so I'm juggling with I, you know, I might need a female's perspective from that.
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Yeah.
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Um, and how can I make that a comfortable space for whoever we end up casting it in and stuff like that.
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So that's all like things I think about, and I learned that from a show.
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Do you remember Greenlight?
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The show Greenlight, it's like an HBO show about like making movies.
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Okay.
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So I watch all that stuff, but there's a famous there was a producer on there who says you cast in front of the camera and you cast behind the camera.
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And Matt Damon was famous for saying, You don't need to cast be I love Matt Damon, by the way.
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Don't uh I love Matt Damon, but he at the time I think didn't understand what um uh Effie Brown was saying, and she was saying, like, it's just as important the people you put behind the camera as you do in front, because they're helping tell the story.
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Right.
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Like, if I'm doing a period piece, like an 80s piece, um, and it's like uh you know, like Afrocentric or uh dealing with black culture, which I was yeah, I was raised in that space, I want someone who knows that and goes, hey, their hair wouldn't be like that, or that's not the proper way to do that.
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So you do have to cast behind the camera.
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Yeah.
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And I try to find people who are like really care about that.
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Like almost popular, it's like such a cutie, it's cringy, but it's like if you love that like um sleepover type of movie where you like just need something to like not think about the world, that was the movie, and I was just like, who cares about that?
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Like, who who is interested in making the best version of this cringy little movie?
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Yeah, because those are the people I want to work with.
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Definitely not like the most um I talk a lot, not the most so do I.
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Not the most, not the person with the longest resume, but with the right resume.
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Yes.
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Like, I don't care if you've been doing this for 30 years, I care that you care about this specific thing we're doing, and I try to take chances on people.
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Sometimes it backfires, but whatever.
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You gotta give people opportunity.
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But being intentional about that, like who sees the vision, not just who's done the most, but who cares about this specific project the most?
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Especially sometimes when the rate sucks.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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So take me all the way back.
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What were you like growing up as a kid?
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Were you always creative?
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Were you always interested in working in film and entertainment?
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So I grew up in New York.
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Um, I had a young mother.
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Uh, how do I do this really fast?
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I had a tumultuous like upbringing.
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I would, I was my my mom was a a young mother, my father, uh, I didn't really know my father.
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He ended up passing in prison, like kind of like um, you know, when they do those like stories and it's like, you know, the sad music comes in.
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Uh that's like kind of my upbringing.
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I don't wanna like I don't want to get too deep into it, but it was just, you know, my mother had was 18 when she had me.
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She was a college or college, high school dropout.
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Yeah.
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So we're living in New York.
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My father is a drug dealer, and we're, you know, I saw life really fast for the first nine-ish 10 years of my life.
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And um, the TV was my best friend.
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So because we moved a lot, I was constantly around adults, so I was kind of sat in front of the TV, and I just I was I had my childhood through these TV shows, like, you know, family matters, uh, what step by step I'm trying to think.
00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:12.080
Like, I I lived through these like TV shows of like family.
00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:12.559
Yeah.
00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:16.240
Um, and I was like, oh, that's that's the normal way.
00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:25.440
So I I fell in love with film and TV through that, and I would just constantly just look like my mom had a boyfriend at the time.
00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:29.279
I'd go through their uh their VHS, hello, dating myself.
00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:43.440
I would uh pick out their movies, and it would be like, you know, I'd be like an eight-year-old kid watching uh like cocktail a Tom Cruise movie about like a raw romance, and I would watch like I would just watch these movies over and over and over.
00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:45.440
So I had no end to the industry.
00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:46.000
Yeah.
00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:55.200
Uh my grandmother eventually was like, I need to get my daughter out of New York because my mom had a lot of difficulty with uh substance abuse.
00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:17.279
So um we we take a Greyhound bus from uh New York to San Diego, and um I I moved to San Diego and all the whole time growing up, I used humor and stuff like that to like make friends and stuff because I was constantly moving.
00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:27.359
Yeah, and a lot of that was driven from the films and TV uh that I watched, and it it helped me develop like being funny and making friends and stuff like that.
00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:37.519
So a lot of people would say to me, You need to go to Hollywood, you know, when people say you need to go to Hollywood, you know, and sometimes you like go and then you're like, Oh fuck, Hollywood doesn't want me.
00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:39.599
Hollywood wants me to go back home.
00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:43.359
So I um so I had this idea in my head.
00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:47.759
I was like, I'm meant for something bigger, but I don't I don't even know a PA on set.
00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:53.599
Like if you told me before I moved to LA that you were a PA, I'd be like, what?
00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.440
You work on movie sets?
00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:58.720
Like you are the you're the most important person right now.
00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:05.039
So I'm I'm uh flipping through a magazine because I'm like, I gotta move to LA.
00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:09.359
I need a sign, I need a sign, and this was a long time ago.
00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:18.000
Um, and I'm flipping through a magazine and I see this ad for this film school, and it's like, and I wanted to go for acting.
00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:18.640
Yeah.
00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:21.440
So I'm like, cool, I'm gonna do this.
00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:24.480
I'm like, okay, it's$36,000 a year.
00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:27.200
I don't know how that's gonna happen, but whatever.
00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:30.640
I do what I need to do, like loans and stuff like that to go to the school.
00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:34.880
I have end up having to drop out because I just couldn't afford it.
00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:37.119
Everyone there is well off.
00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:37.599
Yeah.
00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:43.920
And I'm I'm like, I'm I'm struggling to be in this school, but I do it.
00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:47.680
And the school was for film, but it also taught producing, directing.
00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:50.799
It put me in a position to learn about filmmaking, so I was thrilled about that.
00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.759
Yeah, definitely.
00:18:52.160 --> 00:19:04.480
Um, so after a year and a half, I'm like, okay, I'm broke, my car gets repossessed, I'm sleeping in my friend's house, I'm sleeping in different friends' houses, like their floors, their futons, their couches.
00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:10.880
And I'm like, oh, I made a big mistake coming out here um because I I'm not getting casted in anything.
00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.680
Yeah.
00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:17.599
And just because you go to film school doesn't mean there's a job waiting for you at the end at the end of that.
00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:19.359
So I'm like, fuck.
00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:25.200
I'm like, okay, I can't go back home because I'll I I told everyone I was coming to Hollywood.
00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:33.119
So I was like, okay, you're okay, you're super opinionated, you have a lot to say, and I was like, I'm just gonna see where I can work.
00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:42.079
So I started doing like extra work, and back then you got you got it, you got treated like shit when you're on set as an extra.
00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:43.920
And this was like my first time.
00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:47.599
I remember being on a set, and someone like the crafty grabbed the food out of my hand.
00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:56.960
They're like, hot food for casting crew only, dumps it, and I was like, and I sat down and I was like, whoa.
00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:06.160
I was like, if I ever get to a position, I will never treat yeah, like the bottom the below-the-line crew like that, yeah.
00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:08.400
And I have lost my temper sometimes.
00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:19.039
Uh so uh if there's any PAs or extras out there who have um, I'm sorry, but I was like, yo, like I'll never, you know, I always try to, I don't even say the word extra on my set.
00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:23.839
I'm like, hey, can I feature you here or can I get some more can I get some more people here?
00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:27.359
Yeah, and I in my movie I made it a decision.
00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:30.400
I was like, I'm gonna give two or three of these people some lines.
00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:39.279
So because I remember being on set being like, one day someone's gonna tap me on the shoulder and be like, hey, you look like you look like you could do this line.
00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:39.839
Right.
00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:54.240
And um, I remember I was an extra in God, some terminator or not terminator, transformer movie, and Michael Bay's like, line him up, and he's like looking for like the perfect US military soldier, which I do not look like.
00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:57.359
But I'm like sitting there, I'm like, he's gonna pick me to say this line.
00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:05.119
Of course, you pick like this white chisel cut beautiful white dude, and I was like, God, so close.
00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:23.119
Um, and I was just like, it's not maybe it's not meant for me to be in front of the camera, because I'm I don't all my auditions were were like Spanish gardener or pizza delivery guy, and like I would be auditioning in Spanish, and I don't my Spanish is terrible.
00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:25.440
So I was just like, what am I doing?
00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:34.400
So backtracking, after just seeing how I got treated uh as an extra, I was like, okay, I'll try PA where you get treated even worse.
00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:37.519
Where you get treated like more shit.
00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:40.079
So I'm like, great, I'm gonna be a PA.
00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:43.039
So I'm PA ing for like these foreign music videos.
00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:50.000
I remember one time I'm holding a trash bag up so the main artist can spray champagne everywhere.
00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:56.799
And I'm holding the plastic bag and he's missing it and just hitting me, and I'm just getting sprayed.
00:21:56.960 --> 00:22:07.440
And my my friend who is the Producer at the time we went to film school together, he looks at me and he goes, and he looks away because I'm just I'm just so like this.
00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:09.200
I'm like, I can't believe this is my life.
00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:17.359
And then after I got sprayed with champagne, like I was in a rap video, you know, I was like, now I get it to mop it up.
00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:39.359
So like I did that for I did that for like a year and a half, and then I was like, I I started, I was like, okay, if I'm gonna be a PA, I'm gonna be the best fucking PA I guess like no one is ever gonna be like, so I would just stand by the director, I'd hear him be like, I'd run, go get a water, like, are you thirsty?
00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:41.920
I'd be like, hey, do you want me to tell the extras what to do here?
00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:43.759
I know you're busy, be like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:51.759
So I started to get in, I started to direct the extras in background scenes because sometimes directors don't want to deal with all that.
00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.240
Right.
00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:55.759
And they're so busy, worried about the artists or the main performance.
00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:57.440
So I was like, Oh, I know what to do.
00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:01.440
I've been trained how to act by the best, like Juilliard.
00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:04.799
Like, my film school did have a lot of great teachers.
00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:08.559
Like, I would always wonder, I'm like, why are these teachers teaching here?
00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.920
They went to NYU, da da da da.
00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:13.119
But it's like it's really hard to make a career out of filmmaking.
00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:17.519
So I was learning acting techniques and skills through all these people.
00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:22.400
So I was like helping them, and I was just like, I'm gonna be the best extra here.
00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:26.799
I was making like 75 bucks for 12 hours of work, uh, sometimes a hundred.
00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:31.920
And if I got a hundred bucks, I'd be like, if I could do this for three days, I was like, okay, I got enough for this.
00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:33.519
Like, that's how bad it was.
00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.319
Right.
00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:43.519
So, um, so through that, I started not AD, but but getting, and I was like, I'm gonna start, I'm I'm gonna try to direct something.
00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:49.759
So my friend had a clothing line, and I begged him to empty out his bank account, and I'm like, dude, this is gonna be the greatest thing.
00:23:49.920 --> 00:24:00.400
And we made a like a little project together, and um a friend of mine's father was in the music industry, and he's like, Hey, this guy wants a music video.
00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:03.759
And um, I was like, I can do it, I can do it, you know.
00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:12.000
And I think I think the budget at the time was like I don't know,$7,000, which is nothing for a music video, right?
00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:15.759
But I I called every favor I ever had.
00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:20.079
We shot in some club that was like$20,000 a day to rent.
00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:23.519
Like we pulled every favor, we didn't have permits.
00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:26.240
Um, I was just like, I gotta get this video done.
00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:28.799
I called every every actor that I knew from my film school.
00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:30.799
I'm like, hey, I'm doing a music video, will you come?
00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:38.640
And a bunch of people showed up for me, and I was like, I felt it was like the first time I was like, This is what I'm supposed to do.
00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:41.839
This was God, was this like 15, 13 years ago?
00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.240
I don't know.
00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:43.839
This was a long time ago.
00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:47.039
And I was like, boom, I did a music video.
00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:53.759
They paid me a thousand dollars, and I was like, I can't believe someone paid me a thousand dollars to direct a music video.
00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:59.039
Like, I was I was like, I was like, I I can live off this for three months, you know?
00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:02.240
Yeah, so I was How did that opportunity come about?
00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:10.720
The the video, it was just uh a friend of a friend of mine's father was in the music industry, okay, and he had known someone who was looking for a music video.
00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.200
Okay.
00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:12.799
So I ended up meeting them.
00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:19.680
I like pitched them this crazy idea that you I should needed probably 250k for, but I was like, nah, I could do this for 7,000.
00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:22.640
I didn't pay myself anything, never took a dollar.
00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:28.799
I think what one of my secrets was when I first started, um, was I never paid myself.
00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:31.200
I didn't care about how much money I made.
00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:35.920
I took every dollar and I was like, I gotta just make this video look like it's bigger.
00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:39.599
The bigger I can make this video look, the bigger the jobs will come.
00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.000
Yeah.
00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:49.839
Because uh who cares if I if I'm doing a at the time like a$10,000 video and I'm like, I'm gonna put$5,000 in my pocket, I'm only stealing from myself and my future.
00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:50.240
Right.
00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:58.640
But if I put all that money in there and I show and I do and I elevate the project, maybe, just maybe, something else will come with it.
00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:04.160
So how were you able to do that and also like stay living in Los Angeles?
00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:10.000
So I would I had when I first started directing, I had a bunch of like jobs I was like embarrassed about.
00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:10.880
Bar backs.
00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:16.319
Not that there's anything to be embarrassed about those, but at the time I was like fake it to make it.
00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:16.960
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:20.480
I was bar backing extra, extra.
00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:22.240
I was working at a print store.
00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:25.279
I would go in the bathroom and be like, yeah, I need a camera.
00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.720
Okay, can I book the little kitchen?
00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:28.000
And they'd be like, Where's Nay?
00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:28.480
I'm knocking.
00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:30.559
I'm like, oh, I'm using the bathroom.
00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:33.599
Three 20-minute bathroom breaks, you're gonna get fired.
00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:39.599
So I would get fired from every job after like a couple months because I'd be like trying to get my next project gone.
00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:46.240
So I was like, I got fired three jobs in six months, or like a yeah, it was like six months.
00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:50.160
And I was like, I was like, oh my god, dude, my life's a mess.
00:26:50.720 --> 00:27:00.480
And then I get like to do this video, and and I think I ended up making like eight thousand dollars, and I was like, okay, with this amount of money, I don't have to work any jobs, yeah.
00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:03.359
I'll be okay, and I'll make it stretch for like four months.
00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:10.079
Yeah, so I was like, I felt like for the first time in a long time, I was like, okay, I got this money in the bank.
00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:13.359
Now I need to go and find other jobs, right?
00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:25.119
So with that money, I just spent time emailing people, going to events, and then that's how I eventually met uh this Carson who I did a video for, and then I did Jordan.
00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:33.119
And after I did Jordan, things started popping off, and then I started working with um like a bunch of kids who have got signed by Disney and all that stuff.
00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:39.839
So I just kind of believed in myself to the point where I was like, money is like not important.
00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:43.119
What's important is I gotta build this portfolio, right?
00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:49.359
So it took some time, and also, you know, personally, I dealt with a lot.
00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:51.920
I I'm pretty open about it.
00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:55.839
I had a you know, I drank a lot for 20 years.
00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:58.240
Um, I come from addicts.
00:27:58.480 --> 00:28:10.960
Uh, I am an addict, so that I had a lot of negative um traits and stuff that I had to overcome before I could ever become the director that I dreamed of.
00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:11.440
Yeah.
00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:14.240
So once I conquered- Which congratulations on that.
00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.119
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:19.359
Um congratulations, but also like kid, like it took you a long time to figure it out.
00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:19.680
Yeah.
00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:22.640
I also battled other other substances as well.
00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:29.839
Partly because I was I was living on, I was just like constantly like just surviving.
00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.640
Yeah.
00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:34.000
So it like it plays with your head a lot.
00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:45.119
And then at one point, I had finally had like a sense of relief because I started working, and I think that's kind of when I spiraled into more drinking and more, you know, LA life partying, going out.
00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:45.599
Yeah.
00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:48.480
And I lost myself for a long time.
00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:52.880
And I was like, okay, when are you gonna like grow up, dude?
00:28:53.200 --> 00:29:01.759
So because like I was always so bitter that I wasn't directing this or doing this, yeah.
00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:06.000
And to be honest, I wasn't doing that stuff because I wasn't fully locked in.
00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:14.079
Like, I was more concerned about getting fucked up, going out, then my career, and it cost me a lot.
00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:22.400
Like, I've really I believed if I hadn't battled uh substances for a while, I'd be a lot further.
00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:37.359
But it man, I grew a lot when I stopped partying, and then when I stopped uh drinking, and I was like, oh, I was n never ready for those jobs that I thought I was ready for.
00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:43.839
You know, when I did Almost Popular, I was ready for Almost Popular, and at the time I probably told you, oh, I could have done this movie years ago.
00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:50.400
My short film that I did went to Sundance, and that was I did that like 10, 12 years ago.
00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:57.039
So obviously I had something, but I lost it along the way, and it took me, you know.
00:29:57.119 --> 00:30:05.359
I think if you're gonna be a filmmaker, you kind of need a routine, you need to have your shit straight because it is a marathon.
00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:10.319
So like now I wake up, I go to the gym every day, I obviously I don't drink or do anything.
00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:14.559
Like my biggest addictions are like movie theater popcorn and Red Bulls.
00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:26.880
So, like, you know, I I definitely hurt my own career, but through that I learned so much and I became a better person from from going through all that shit.
00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:27.200
Right.
00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:32.400
And I think a director's job is to experience a lot of things, and maybe I went a little far with the experiencing.
00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:47.920
Um but man, I'm grateful for every mistake I've made because it's made me a better person, and I've tried to, you know, right my wrongs as much as possible and try to be uh you know a better person to be around on sets anyway.
00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.880
Whoa, that was a tangent.
00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:49.359
Hi.
00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:57.119
But also like that that life life is about becoming the best person you can be and learning as much as possible, being better because of it.
00:30:57.359 --> 00:31:04.079
And through everything that you went through, it makes you the person you are today, making capable of creating the type of work that you're creating today.
00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:05.920
Like it's all a part of the journey.
00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:09.599
And I think it's also really important what you mentioned about the routine.
00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:17.279
Yeah, because in the world of filmmaking, in the freelance of it all, which I'm experiencing right now, like PA and PCing, how's that?
00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:33.279
I I really enjoy it, I love it, but the freelance of it all of working one week and feeling like I'm on set every day, I feel great, and then the next week I'm unemployed for the week, and I'm like, uh what do I do with myself?
00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:50.720
And you like, and then it's like, all right, I need to like find the next job, but also like I should like work out and like I should go cook and like get groceries and like but and then you feel and it's like this like mind shift of like you felt like you had it all together and you did for like that week or two, but now it's like all right, now finding the next thing.
00:31:50.799 --> 00:32:18.240
And so my mom has been saying the routine is important, and I think it's so true of like, all right, well, what I know I'm gonna do is I'm gonna wake up, I'm gonna have my matcha, or I'm gonna sit at a coffee shop on my computer, I'm gonna submit myself on here, I'm gonna apply to this, I'm gonna send my resume, reach out to this person, and just like having that I think is what keeps you sane in the madness of it all, because it's kind of this like rise and fall of feeling great one second, and then now you feel like the next week you're like, I'm not working, and yeah.
00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:24.880
There's a lot of that, especially like when you do longer form projects, like it becomes kind of like sets become like family.
00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:36.000
Yes, and then you're like you wake up and you're like eventually people get sick of each other, and then you get you know, you leave the set and you're like lose that serotonin of like having that family.
00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:53.759
Totally, and like after like almost popular or ventures or whatever, these longer form projects, I have like a little bit of like a not a depression, but like a little bit of like a sadness because I'm so used to like having a hundred people around me, and then I'm like, oh, I'm back to being alone again.
00:32:53.920 --> 00:33:01.680
So it's like you kind of have to manage that that thing, and then when you're busy and when you're not busy, and then you're like questioning yourself.
00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:05.359
You're like, oh, does any especially the music video world?
00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:18.319
I have been directing videos for a long time, but I never had my Justin Bieber moment, my my uh Rihanna moment, that video that was like game changing where everyone now, you know, I've had my moments, I've come very close.
00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:27.119
I've worked with big talent, but I always felt like damn, like I I was I never got my my moment, right?
00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:29.839
And I started shifting to other things.
00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:47.839
Like I think I'm I think I'm I think I'm as a music video director, I think I'm I can make people look amazing and I and I have made some of people's biggest videos yet, but I always felt a little bit like why is it not flipping for me?
00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:50.960
Why hasn't there been the Ariana Ariana Grande or whatever?
00:33:51.119 --> 00:34:01.680
Not to take away anything from the people who have given me opportunities and and the jobs that I've done where you know I've walked on set and been around hundreds of people, and I'm like, wow, I can't believe I made it here.
00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:06.720
But I always felt a little bit like I didn't hit that pinnacle.
00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:07.359
Yeah.
00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:12.559
So I was like, okay, I need to figure out how to make my own moment.
00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:20.800
So that's kind of what I I shifted because this industry, like, if you're not your biggest fan, you're cooked.
00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:24.719
Like, I just no one's gonna work harder for your career than you.
00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:35.920
And it, and I, you know, there's negatives to that and there's positives to that because sometimes you're a little hard-headed, and I definitely had made decisions where I was like, I should have listened to my agent or something like that.
00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:39.440
But I was like, no, I do this, and I this how I have this is how it has to be done.
00:34:39.760 --> 00:34:48.400
So it's a learning curve, and I always think like I just I wasn't I'm not ready for that moment, and when I'm ready for that moment, it will appear.
00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:51.840
And I have been prepared every single time something big has come.
00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:52.320
Yeah.
00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:54.400
So it's just not my time yet.
00:34:54.559 --> 00:35:02.719
And when it is my time, maybe it's not a music video, maybe it's a movie, maybe it's maybe it's girl talk, maybe it's a TV show, maybe it's a silly little thing I make.
00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:04.639
You never know what your moment is.
00:35:04.719 --> 00:35:05.280
Anyways, go ahead.
00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:16.320
Totally, and even with like the fact that acting was the goal at first, too, and then being open to shifting and then ending up in directing is that also like that moment can change.
00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:36.400
And very you could think the moment's gonna be one thing and it might be something else, but I do believe like what's meant for you won't pass you by, and like everything that you do leads to something else, and you just kind of have to like you have to go like hard for yourself for sure, but also be open to open to saying yes to everything, kind of seeing where yes it takes you.
00:35:36.800 --> 00:35:38.239
Yeah, I you you don't know.
00:35:38.400 --> 00:35:40.639
I I still don't know what my moment is, you know.
00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:46.400
I'm like, oh I didn't I haven't hit it yet, and that's a good thing because there's so much for me to look forward to.
00:35:46.639 --> 00:36:02.880
Um I'm working on I'm writing like me and my mother's uh story from going to in New York, so I was like, you know, there's maybe that could be my moment, maybe it's a movie that I make or uh maybe it's a music video that comes in a year or two.
00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:03.760
I don't know.
00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:14.400
Um but I I'm now before I saw that as a negative, and now I see that as I still have so much to do and create, and I'm excited about that.
00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:17.519
But before I was like that disgruntled hater.
00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:19.760
I was a hater, I was a fucking hater.
00:36:20.400 --> 00:36:26.239
And I was like, you're a hater because you just you hate where you're at, and that sucks.
00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:27.519
You're not appreciating anything.
00:36:27.679 --> 00:36:42.559
And then I was like, I need to I try to treat every job because some jobs feel more important than others, and some jobs may be bigger than others, but I want to treat every single job I get like it is the the bieber or Rihanna moment.
00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:48.880
So like I put my I put everything I have into the smallest artist or the biggest artist.
00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:52.559
Like I'll be on the floor on the ground with you, like we're gonna do this.
00:36:52.800 --> 00:37:00.159
Like I think it's like when people half-ass jobs because they think it's like, oh, I can take a breathe here.
00:37:00.239 --> 00:37:08.000
I'm like, no, dude, someone's watching in the corner, being like, every job I've gotten, it's been someone coming up to me and be like, hey man, I love your work ethic.
00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:11.039
I have this other person I think you'd be great with.
00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:18.480
I just did a music video, and now um this creative director reached out to me and was like, hey, I just saw that video.
00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:19.519
I think it's dope.
00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:22.880
Uh, I want to put you up for this famous person.
00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:30.400
I don't want to say it because I don't want to jinx it, but um, I was like, you never know who's watching and what job it is.
00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:33.840
Every single job where I was like, do I even belong?
00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:35.039
Like, why am I here?
00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:39.440
There was someone in the corner who was like, that guy is putting in fucking max effort.
00:37:39.599 --> 00:37:40.400
And I think that's it.
00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:44.719
I I wish people would do that all the time because I'm always looking for that like person.
00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:46.480
I'm like, oh, this person works their ass off.
00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.599
Hey, do you want another job?
00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:48.639
Because I have another job.
00:37:48.800 --> 00:37:51.039
Like, yeah, that's kind of what I look for.
00:37:51.280 --> 00:38:01.840
Yeah, I I might be part of the East Coast thing, but I feel like when you're from the East Coast and you come out here with like something to prove, and you were you came out here, like I'm not going home.
00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:06.800
I cannot like hang up the towel and say that I came out to Hollywood, not like I have to figure it out.
00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:15.039
Like, I think that work ethic comes from just like having that like that hustle that just like I have to do this and nationality.
00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:19.280
I'm uh Italian Jewish.
00:38:19.760 --> 00:38:20.159
Okay, okay.
00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:25.519
People always think I'm not, but that's what I am.
00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:29.440
But I just like I think it's like I'm from Philly.
00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:32.000
I think it's like just that East Coast like energy.
00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:36.480
Because coming out here when I was taking dance classes, like first came out here a couple years ago.
00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:39.599
People came up to me and they're like, wow, like you go full out the whole time.
00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:40.480
Like, I love it.
00:38:40.639 --> 00:38:41.039
Every time.
00:38:41.199 --> 00:38:42.639
I'm like, every time.
00:38:42.800 --> 00:38:45.280
Are we not supposed I don't like dance class?
00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:58.079
Yeah, I mean, I've worked I've worked with like when I first started doing music, I mean Charm Charm Ladonna, hello, Emmy, Trisha, Miranda, don't need you know, I was um big, big, big people, right?
00:38:58.480 --> 00:39:07.760
And they were like military like militant, and I'm and a lot of people don't like that, but I love people who are like going full out.
00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:18.960
And sometimes when I would when I would be in, because I would like to be into dance rehearsal, it'd be like, hey, you like if you're marking it right now, you're gonna be marking it in the video, or I'd be like, hey, you have to sing your song.
00:39:19.360 --> 00:39:21.199
They'd be like, Well, let me just get the step sound.
00:39:21.280 --> 00:39:24.800
I'm like, if you rehearse it like that, you're gonna perform it like that.
00:39:24.960 --> 00:39:31.199
So a lot of the times, you know, like there'd be people, artists, they'd be not singing as they do their dance.
00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:32.960
And guess what they do on set?
00:39:33.360 --> 00:39:36.719
They don't sing because they have it like memorized.
00:39:36.880 --> 00:39:42.559
And I'm like, you and so I always tell, I'm like, I've had singers push back at me, you know, like, I'm do it this way.
00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:46.960
I'm like, you have to do it how you're gonna like do a full out, like every time.
00:39:47.199 --> 00:39:53.199
Like, it's like acting, like oh, some people are like, yeah, and look, everyone's different, right?
00:39:53.280 --> 00:40:01.119
Everyone's creative is different, that might not work for everyone, and so part of my thing is like I have to see how far I can push the talent, yeah.
00:40:01.360 --> 00:40:07.199
But also part of it's like, hey, I've done this enough time, and this might help you if you want to take it, great.
00:40:07.360 --> 00:40:22.639
If not, um, you know, I I know what's gonna happen, but yeah, anyways, um, but yeah, I loved people who go full out and like I've worked, and I always go back to dancers because you just see like the dancers who are like boom, boom, boom, bap, bap, bap, bap, like full out every time.
00:40:22.880 --> 00:40:23.679
Totally, yes.
00:40:23.760 --> 00:40:32.400
I think no matter what you're doing, because again, like you said, like you never know who's watching, you never know who's around, and also everything that you're doing is preparing you for the next thing.
00:40:32.480 --> 00:40:40.719
So if you're giving this your all, when that bigger project rolls around, you'll be prepared for it because you were giving your maximum effort to some to everything that you've been doing.
00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:41.360
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:40:41.440 --> 00:40:42.000
Yeah.
00:40:42.239 --> 00:40:44.159
So, what's on your call sheet?
00:40:44.320 --> 00:40:47.199
What does a day in your life look like as a director?
00:40:47.440 --> 00:40:58.480
Um, well, it I mean, those those days are all different because like uh mostly my days now are I wake up, I check my calendar and see how many Zooms I have.
00:40:58.800 --> 00:41:02.719
I'm like, great, today's only five Zooms or three Zooms or whatever.
00:41:03.360 --> 00:41:07.920
I then um, you know, I knock out my meetings.
00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:08.880
It just depends.
00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:45.280
Like, right now, um in a bunch of meetings for postwork for a bunch of projects, and then I was working on creative for a music video and talking to the person who's uh assisting me like with the creative, and then um I've been trying to prioritize prioritize my health and like um and so like I try to do an hour and a half of like go to the gym, go for walks, like get your mind right, um, because you know, come from mental uh unstability, and I've been working really hard on like getting my shit like my you know your brain right.
00:41:45.360 --> 00:41:51.599
Yeah, like it doesn't matter how great or creative you are, if your head's not right, you're it you're gonna it's gonna show.
00:41:51.840 --> 00:41:52.159
Totally.
00:41:52.320 --> 00:41:59.360
And so much about directing is keeping composure, which I haven't done all the time, or you know, keeping composure.
00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:05.440
Um so I think it's all about just being to me right now.
00:42:05.519 --> 00:42:10.000
My day is like, how do I give myself less anxiety?
00:42:10.159 --> 00:42:14.000
How do I how do I tell myself everything's okay?
00:42:14.159 --> 00:42:20.960
Yeah, I'm sounding like a I'm sounding like this is like the worst job in the world, but no, this is so real though.
00:42:21.039 --> 00:42:31.760
Like, yeah, I'm like constantly checking in with myself because you know, I I I am an uh I I am an addict and I and I have struggled with that, and I do have some difficulties.
00:42:31.920 --> 00:42:37.280
I mean I don't want to be like self-diagnosing here, but I do have some difficulties with with things, you know.
00:42:37.519 --> 00:42:40.800
Yeah, uh whether it's ADHD or whatever the hell that is.
00:42:40.960 --> 00:42:43.119
So I'm always like, I just gotta get my mind right.
00:42:43.280 --> 00:42:45.199
Like, okay, take a deep breath.
00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:48.639
How can I spin this and how can it make this a positive?
00:42:48.719 --> 00:43:05.519
Like, that's mostly what my day is, is just keeping my head straight because this fucking industry will you'll like I've been so close to like these massive opportunities where I'm like, I'm like, it's here, it's happening, and then it's like the last minute, um, it gets taken away from you.
00:43:05.679 --> 00:43:11.519
And that it's like acting when you audition, like directing music videos is like I'm sending treatments.
00:43:11.760 --> 00:43:12.480
That's auditioning.
00:43:12.559 --> 00:43:17.920
Oh, we didn't they didn't like it, or you don't even hear back, and you're like, I spent four days on that, and I didn't hear anything.
00:43:18.400 --> 00:43:18.559
Right.
00:43:18.800 --> 00:43:20.480
You're like, okay, I'm gonna go for a walk.
00:43:20.800 --> 00:43:22.800
Yeah, I'm not okay right now.
00:43:22.960 --> 00:43:25.519
Yeah, um, and I've had these jobs massively.
00:43:25.840 --> 00:43:26.320
I did that today.
00:43:26.400 --> 00:43:26.960
I went on a walk.
00:43:27.039 --> 00:43:28.480
I was like, I need to clear it.
00:43:28.719 --> 00:43:31.440
You're like mixed 15 minutes later than text me back.
00:43:31.679 --> 00:43:48.000
I'm gonna come at so um yeah, so a lot of it's just like, hey, I need to go for a walk today and be like, you know, I lost a job that would have changed my life, but that's okay because someone else got that life changing moment, and I'm really happy for them.
00:43:48.239 --> 00:43:59.840
And it was I had to learn of disappointment, yeah, you know, and I think I didn't know, I didn't understand that, and it kind of led me into bigger and worse situations with substance abuse.
00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:03.920
Because I I couldn't understand why I wasn't being chosen.
00:44:04.400 --> 00:44:11.280
And and now I'm like, okay, like they didn't want someone who's gonna fucking work their ass off for them.
00:44:11.599 --> 00:44:15.440
And I I think do better, but that's okay.
00:44:15.599 --> 00:44:18.000
Like I'll give that to the person who wants it.
00:44:18.320 --> 00:44:18.880
Exactly.
00:44:19.199 --> 00:44:40.159
So uh film industry is like so mental, it's disgusting how mental it is because you see people break all the time, and I definitely have broken, and I've been, you know, anyone who knows me knows I'm an extremely emotional person, and I have like my heart on my sleeve, and I think that's great for a filmmaker.
00:44:40.400 --> 00:44:49.519
I one of the things a filmmaker needs to do is understand all people, all levels, and people are c complex.
00:44:49.760 --> 00:44:58.480
So when I see directors who have kind of opinions that I don't agree with or views that I don't agree with, I'm like, how can you be a good director if you're not open to understanding everyone?
00:44:58.559 --> 00:45:02.079
And totally, you know, like that takes a bit of rewiring too.
00:45:02.159 --> 00:45:07.039
Like, we learn so many bad traits as we get older, and I'm trying to de-learn those.
00:45:07.280 --> 00:45:18.719
And I'm trying to like get back to that youthfulness of like when I was in San Diego dreaming about moving to LA, like I always try to bring yourself back there, like yeah, check yourself at the door.
00:45:18.800 --> 00:45:29.840
Like you would have died if you knew that you were you made a movie, yes, you know, with you know, Ruby, who's a Disney star, Isabella who had an amazing career, Philly too.
00:45:29.920 --> 00:45:30.239
Hello.
00:45:30.639 --> 00:45:31.599
Um, that's my girl.
00:45:33.039 --> 00:45:41.119
And um you yeah, like I was thinking about Isabella right now because she had DM'd me and she was like, I love your work.
00:45:41.199 --> 00:45:42.559
And I put her in my movie.
00:45:42.639 --> 00:45:46.159
Like, that's how little, like those little moments and little things like that.
00:45:46.320 --> 00:45:49.119
Anyways, yeah, I constantly trail off, but go ahead.
00:45:49.440 --> 00:45:50.400
No, it's so good.
00:45:50.480 --> 00:45:57.199
Like one of my friends had booked a world tour for an artist, they learned 30 routines and then it got canceled.
00:45:57.599 --> 00:45:59.599
And she's like, It like that's crazy.
00:46:00.079 --> 00:46:00.559
Breaks your heart.
00:46:00.639 --> 00:46:05.840
You but yeah, breaks your heart, and and the money, you're like, Great, I'm gonna be on tour, I'm gonna have this.
00:46:06.000 --> 00:46:07.599
Like, I don't have to worry about that.
00:46:07.679 --> 00:46:09.440
And that's like a huge thing for creatives.
00:46:09.519 --> 00:46:13.360
It's like, yeah, I'm gonna pay my bills and fucking hit this eight count, you know?
00:46:13.519 --> 00:46:21.599
Like we're bringing this back to dancing because I I think dancing dancers are such a that is one of the most brutal jobs.
00:46:21.760 --> 00:46:32.800
Yeah, and I know you're a dancer, your bodies are on the line, you're fighting for your rate, and you know, I've even there've been jobs where I'm like, we can't pay these people this, like we have like come on, like you know what I mean?
00:46:32.960 --> 00:46:39.199
Like it's tough, and you're dealing with ever-shrinking budgets, and you're dealing with you know, people are just like, get it done.
00:46:39.280 --> 00:46:45.840
And I'm like, I try to look out for my my casting crew as much as possible, and it's hard, it's really tough.
00:46:46.239 --> 00:46:55.440
Absolutely, but also like our kind of back to like the mental toll of the industry, our brains are programmed to focus on the negatives.
00:46:55.760 --> 00:47:05.039
So doing those check-ins with yourself and reminding yourself to try to flip it and see the positive in it is so important because our brains are literally wired to think the opposite.
00:47:05.119 --> 00:47:08.159
It's like a setup, so it's like literally really important to do that.
00:47:08.559 --> 00:47:16.800
I literally am like, oh, I'm like, don't talk to yourself like that because I'm such a like I've been like, you're so negative to yourself.
00:47:16.880 --> 00:47:18.719
And if you're negative to yourself, guess what?
00:47:18.880 --> 00:47:20.079
You're negative to other people.
00:47:20.239 --> 00:47:23.920
Yeah, so I had been really training myself.
00:47:24.159 --> 00:47:31.760
Um, I I know you probably want to talk about set and stuff like that, but I keep talking about my uh my issues.
00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:34.320
No, it's a really big part of it though, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:47:34.480 --> 00:47:35.840
So yeah, um, yeah, yeah.
00:47:35.920 --> 00:47:41.840
I constantly had to check in with myself and be like, hey, I forgive you, bro.
00:47:42.000 --> 00:47:47.199
Like, I forgive you, but I can only forgive you if there's change.
00:47:47.440 --> 00:47:47.679
Yeah.
00:47:47.920 --> 00:47:56.880
So like I would constantly do that to myself because I had a little, I had a lot of animosity towards myself because I was like, what the fuck did you do for 10 years and dealing with it?
00:47:56.960 --> 00:47:57.760
Like, why'd you do this?
00:47:58.000 --> 00:47:58.800
Like self-shamed.
00:47:59.039 --> 00:48:00.000
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
00:48:00.159 --> 00:48:03.440
And I was like, I was like, okay, you've changed.
00:48:03.679 --> 00:48:08.880
You stopped doing this, you stopped drinking, um, you've changed some of your behavior.
00:48:09.039 --> 00:48:10.320
I was like, I forgive you.
00:48:10.480 --> 00:48:13.199
And then I would be like, okay, thank you for forgiving me.
00:48:13.280 --> 00:48:21.440
And I'm going to change in order to accept that apology to myself, and now I'm going to uh forgive myself.
00:48:22.079 --> 00:48:28.639
And I'm going to m move on because if I'm this negative to myself, because I'm my harshest critic.
00:48:29.119 --> 00:48:29.760
Absolutely, yeah.
00:48:31.119 --> 00:48:39.199
I I want to do so much with my life, and I want to affect people in so many ways that I can like drive myself insane.
00:48:39.519 --> 00:48:52.400
So I have to I'm like, I have to give myself a little, a little forgiveness, a little like, hey, you're doing good, and and and just like just let myself breathe.
00:48:52.639 --> 00:48:55.760
And so that's kind of you're my therapist today.
00:48:55.840 --> 00:48:56.159
Hi.
00:48:57.360 --> 00:48:59.119
You're like, wow, this guy needs therapy.
00:48:59.360 --> 00:49:01.760
No, no, I'm I I relate to a lot of what you're saying.
00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:03.119
I'm my harshest critic.
00:49:03.199 --> 00:49:04.320
I'm so hard on myself.
00:49:04.480 --> 00:49:11.119
And I I think it comes from just like a striving to, you know, want to be the best you can be and holding yourself to such a hard high standard.
00:49:11.199 --> 00:49:20.159
And it's, I think, why we've both done what we've done or gotten as far as we have in our careers and things, but also it can be really tough to be that hard on yourself.
00:49:20.320 --> 00:49:34.320
And I think it's so important to show yourself that grace and compassion and not focus like all of your energy on the mistakes that you did, maybe the regrets that you do have, and more on the growth that you've had because of it and the future that you're gonna have now.
00:49:34.480 --> 00:49:43.039
Like it's tough to do and to get in your head and think about those things, but it's so beneficial to focus on like the positives and the growth and the change.
00:49:43.280 --> 00:49:45.519
Because that's like the trials and tribulations.
00:49:45.599 --> 00:49:47.519
That's the story that people can connect with.
00:49:47.679 --> 00:50:00.000
Like everyone goes through shit, but to go through shit and come out on the other side and talking about how like that's a real thing every day, you know, to continue on that like like picking yourself back up every time you fall down.
00:50:00.079 --> 00:50:01.920
Like that's such a big part of it.
00:50:02.000 --> 00:50:07.360
And some people, you know, it can be harder for others to do that, but it's it's a and it's a hard thing.
00:50:07.519 --> 00:50:12.000
But I think it's so important to talk about because it's such a big part, especially in this industry.
00:50:12.320 --> 00:50:12.800
Yeah, yeah.
00:50:12.880 --> 00:50:17.679
I think I'm sitting here realizing, oh yeah, are you available one hour a week for therapy?
00:50:18.719 --> 00:50:19.599
I'm fucking around.
00:50:20.159 --> 00:50:20.880
I'm silly.
00:50:21.199 --> 00:50:22.400
No, I was joking the other day.
00:50:22.480 --> 00:50:27.119
I was like, I love talk, like I love talking to people, and I was like, maybe I should be a life coach.
00:50:27.199 --> 00:50:28.719
And my mom was like, You're 22.
00:50:29.119 --> 00:50:30.559
And I was like, You're right.
00:50:30.880 --> 00:50:35.119
Maybe Hey, I yes, I think you could life coach.
00:50:35.280 --> 00:50:46.480
Uh, you know, I'm always like, because people like I go on a lot of um coffee, like a lot of actors or performers, or people go, Hey, can I'm trying to get an industry or whatever.
00:50:46.639 --> 00:50:48.079
Can I can we go to coffee?
00:50:48.480 --> 00:50:48.880
Coffee, yeah.
00:50:49.119 --> 00:50:53.280
Uh a director just went viral for saying, Stop asking me to go for coffee.
00:50:53.519 --> 00:50:56.239
Like put that energy into yourself, which I think that is true.
00:50:56.480 --> 00:51:01.360
Ava DuVenay went viral for saying, like, hey, don't ask me for coffee.
00:51:01.519 --> 00:51:04.400
Like, put that energy into your own projects and stuff like that.
00:51:04.559 --> 00:51:04.719
Yeah.
00:51:04.880 --> 00:51:07.119
But I always I I do agree with her.
00:51:07.280 --> 00:51:15.599
I'm like, hey, like, I what I'm gonna tell you in that coffee is like you gotta work harder than everyone else, and you gotta do stuff with your people.
00:51:15.679 --> 00:51:26.079
Steven Spielberg's not gonna call, some famous choreographer's not gonna call, but you know why they might call is because you went out and filmed a dance video with your friends, or you went out and made a short film with your friends.
00:51:26.320 --> 00:51:32.880
And I always tell people, biggest thing you can do is just do it on your own because no one's gonna be like, you know what?
00:51:33.039 --> 00:51:36.639
I think you, I'm I think out of all the people, I'm gonna choose you.
00:51:36.880 --> 00:51:40.480
No, like you have to choose yourself, yes, and I think that's what she was trying to say.
00:51:40.559 --> 00:51:43.599
But people were kind of being like, how many co like you know?
00:51:44.159 --> 00:51:55.039
It's like, yeah, I welcome coffee, like I welcome things like this because I'm like, well, I've been through some shit, so I don't mind, like I don't mind usually having coffee and be like, hey, here's what I can tell you to help you.
00:51:55.199 --> 00:51:55.679
Yeah.
00:51:55.920 --> 00:52:04.079
But I think you like one of the reasons why I even did this was like, okay, she's a young woman, she's trying to do her podcast, she's trying to talk about film, like she's doing it.
00:52:04.159 --> 00:52:05.519
So who am I to say no?
00:52:05.599 --> 00:52:13.280
If someone wants to talk to me, like who am I to be like, no, like, no, you care enough about me to like want to sit down and talk to me?
00:52:13.360 --> 00:52:22.239
I'm like, I owe it to this person to make an hour out of my day or whatever, however long, to give them the thing because I wanted someone to do that for me.
00:52:22.320 --> 00:52:24.079
And I didn't always get that, you know.
00:52:24.159 --> 00:52:30.880
It's like a you know, when you're a normal ass dude, no director's like, yeah, come over here, normal ass dude, let's have a coffee.
00:52:30.960 --> 00:52:33.440
Like, you know, like I had nothing to offer these people.
00:52:33.519 --> 00:52:39.440
And I'm like, why won't they want to see since why don't they want to take an hour out of their day to see me, you know?
00:52:39.920 --> 00:52:44.159
So like I I realized I was like, I just need to choose yourself.
00:52:44.239 --> 00:52:48.079
So anytime people ask me, I'm like, dude, one thing you gotta do is you gotta go make shit on your own.
00:52:48.320 --> 00:52:48.719
Totally.
00:52:48.880 --> 00:52:54.079
And I think when you bet on yourself, then other people trust betting on you because you also have that proof of concept.
00:52:54.159 --> 00:52:57.039
And you show, I'm gonna do this with you or without you, you know?
00:52:57.679 --> 00:52:59.440
And you've something to show for it.
00:52:59.599 --> 00:53:04.239
I met with an alum from my school when I first moved to or was it when I first moved?
00:53:04.480 --> 00:53:04.960
Temple, right?
00:53:05.039 --> 00:53:05.519
Temple University.
00:53:05.599 --> 00:53:06.639
Yeah, I went to Temple, yeah.
00:53:06.800 --> 00:53:10.079
It was like a year ago, I think I met with him for coffee.
00:53:10.159 --> 00:53:16.960
Yeah, it was actually around this time last year, and I brought up uh wanting to start this podcast, having this idea, and he was like, do it.
00:53:17.440 --> 00:53:18.800
Like that, like kind of the same thing.
00:53:18.880 --> 00:53:20.480
I went for coffee with him, the same thing was do it.
00:53:20.559 --> 00:53:22.079
And at the time I was like, but what about this?
00:53:22.159 --> 00:53:24.480
And I like it, like do it, it's gonna happen.
00:53:24.559 --> 00:53:26.159
Like, yeah, you just gotta say it's gonna happen.
00:53:26.239 --> 00:53:26.880
I'm gonna make it, yeah.
00:53:27.039 --> 00:53:33.280
Yeah, and I was like, oh, and I I got really like serious about making it happen, and then by December I was filming it.
00:53:33.440 --> 00:53:36.880
So I I think it's so true, just make your own shit, like create.
00:53:36.960 --> 00:53:45.679
You never know what can come from it, and it's also like just it's fun to get that those people together that you love to create with and bring your projects to life.
00:53:46.079 --> 00:53:49.760
Like, and it's just great experience for the bigger projects that will come from it.
00:53:50.000 --> 00:53:50.400
Exactly.
00:53:50.639 --> 00:53:57.760
You've directed so many different things commercials, music videos, morning talk shows, film, TV.
00:53:58.480 --> 00:54:03.920
Is there any part of your process as a director that remains the same no matter what medium it is?
00:54:04.320 --> 00:54:05.599
Being prepared, right?
00:54:05.840 --> 00:54:14.239
So, like I and I've learned this from my business partner a lot, is just like being prepared, no matter how big or small the job is.
00:54:14.400 --> 00:54:21.760
I don't want anyone to walk up to me and I don't have an answer, or at least can't give them an answer in the in the next couple minutes.
00:54:22.079 --> 00:54:26.239
So I I love the freedom of like, oh, what can happen?
00:54:26.320 --> 00:54:30.159
I love that spot spontaneity, but I also like to be prepared.
00:54:30.400 --> 00:54:40.960
And I think even when I was doing Almost Popular, I was still ramming my head into a wall instead of being like, Oh, I can't do this.
00:54:41.119 --> 00:54:45.679
The world is telling me I need to detour, but I was like, No, I'm gonna do this.
00:54:45.840 --> 00:54:50.000
And sometimes you have to go, okay, this isn't working.
00:54:50.239 --> 00:54:56.960
This I need to just go with where, you know, because sometimes there's not enough money to be like, I make the rules.
00:54:57.119 --> 00:55:05.760
Sometimes the rules are being made for you, and being a good filmmaker is adjusting to, you know, oh, hey, this shot doesn't look good.
00:55:05.840 --> 00:55:12.960
We got to change some things around, or hey, this scene doesn't work because we're getting kicked out of this location instead of like going, oh what?
00:55:13.039 --> 00:55:20.239
No, it's like, oh, on almost popular, we had to film a whole scene whispering, and it was a party scene where everyone's fighting.
00:55:20.719 --> 00:55:34.960
So I had to do stunts where people are getting thrown through on the floor, smash cakes, a party is a is a high school party, people cheering, yeah, and the neighbor was trying to make money off of us, so he was like, I'm gonna shut you guys down because he wanted us to give him like a thousand dollars.
00:55:35.039 --> 00:55:38.159
I'm like, sir, this is an independent film, we do not have money.
00:55:38.400 --> 00:55:43.599
So I'm like, I look at the film permit guy, and I'm like, Well, why did we get a permit if we can't?
00:55:43.679 --> 00:55:51.119
And he's like, you know, and I'm like, and I'm like, okay, we're gonna fucking do it, we're gonna whisper it, and then we're gonna have to ADR half this shit.
00:55:51.360 --> 00:55:57.440
So I'm like, okay, everyone, ah, you know, everyone's like, and then I'm like, okay, action.
00:55:57.599 --> 00:56:00.880
And I'm like, just whisper your line, we'll get it, we'll get it in the post.
00:56:01.280 --> 00:56:03.519
But it was like, for the longest time, I was like fighting.
00:56:03.679 --> 00:56:09.119
I was like, fuck no, like we we have we are we're allowed to make noise, but that's not the rule, they can shut you down.
00:56:09.280 --> 00:56:12.480
So you either whisper it or you don't have your scene.
00:56:12.639 --> 00:56:17.119
So I was so I learned through that movie, and I think my next film I'll be better for it.
00:56:17.280 --> 00:56:30.159
I'm like, sometimes the detour is the right way, and also when that happens, that spontaneity happens, it makes your project a little bit more creative and a little bit more personal.
00:56:30.239 --> 00:56:30.480
Yeah.
00:56:30.800 --> 00:56:35.039
Because these are not everything is like this is the way it's supposed to be.
00:56:35.119 --> 00:56:37.760
There's some things that take on a new life, and I love that.
00:56:38.000 --> 00:56:52.400
So sometimes even in filmmaking, I love to be prepared, but I'm never, I never wanna like uh I never want to turn down an opportunity to be to do something different or free or be a little improv improv improv.
00:56:52.960 --> 00:56:53.360
Oh my gosh.
00:56:53.599 --> 00:56:54.159
Impromptu?
00:56:55.360 --> 00:56:57.039
Uh improv hi.
00:56:57.360 --> 00:56:59.440
I learned how to speak English yesterday.
00:57:00.159 --> 00:57:00.880
Improvision.
00:57:01.119 --> 00:57:02.000
Oh my god, improv.
00:57:02.320 --> 00:57:02.880
What is the word?
00:57:03.039 --> 00:57:03.679
Someone help.
00:57:03.760 --> 00:57:04.880
Improv what is it?
00:57:05.119 --> 00:57:05.920
Improvisational?
00:57:06.320 --> 00:57:07.360
Yes, I think.
00:57:08.079 --> 00:57:09.679
Come on, life coach.
00:57:11.679 --> 00:57:22.639
Yeah, I just you whenever there's a chance to make it original and stuff like that, because sometimes your ideas come from so many other things, but yeah, when you have to take these detours, it makes the project a little more original.
00:57:22.719 --> 00:57:23.599
It's kind of what I was thinking about.
00:57:23.760 --> 00:57:37.440
Yeah, and then you have these stories, you know, to tell and these pro like problems that had to be solved that everyone was in on together was an experience you all went through to create, you know, and then you see the finished product and you're like, oh my gosh, you have no idea what we went through to do that one scene.
00:57:37.519 --> 00:57:50.159
Yeah, you know, and like I think that's also a lesson learned for just filmmakers in general is just being really adaptable, being able, even if you like thought everything was gonna work out one way and it's not, it's like that's so frustrating.
00:57:50.239 --> 00:57:51.679
I wish it was going that way, but it's not.
00:57:51.760 --> 00:57:59.039
So being able to like quickly find a solution and get it done anyway, because that's the important part is like we need to at least get this done.
00:57:59.519 --> 00:58:06.239
Yeah, yeah, that's it's all about being adjustable and yeah, I I yeah, I learned I learned a lot.
00:58:06.400 --> 00:58:07.360
Yeah, I learned a lot.
00:58:07.679 --> 00:58:09.440
Let's do some hot takes in Hollywood.
00:58:09.760 --> 00:58:11.519
So it's gonna be a quick this or that.
00:58:11.760 --> 00:58:12.880
Okay, okay.
00:58:13.360 --> 00:58:14.880
Music video or film?
00:58:15.360 --> 00:58:15.599
Film.
00:58:16.159 --> 00:58:16.960
Film or TV?
00:58:17.519 --> 00:58:21.519
Film pre-production or production.
00:58:22.880 --> 00:58:24.960
There's no production without pre-production.
00:58:25.119 --> 00:58:34.400
You gotta be I like to be so I like to like have talked about everything and I'm learning even more that I need to talk about even every little thing to where you annoy people.
00:58:34.639 --> 00:58:37.920
Um but yeah, there's no production without pre-production.
00:58:38.000 --> 00:58:46.400
So like by time I'm on set and I'm directing, I should do little to no work because I've casted the right people.
00:58:46.800 --> 00:58:54.480
I know what my thing, like what my shot's gonna look like, I know what I want to do, and then if it doesn't work out, I can play there.
00:58:54.559 --> 00:58:56.239
But there's no production without pre-production.
00:58:56.400 --> 00:58:57.519
Yeah, that's a good point.
00:58:57.760 --> 00:58:59.440
Production or post-production?
00:58:59.760 --> 00:59:01.039
Post, baby, you're done.
00:59:01.199 --> 00:59:07.119
And then you get to see if you if you completely suck or if you're amazing, and sometimes you're like, oh shit.
00:59:08.880 --> 00:59:11.360
Better go look at Starbucks for a job.
00:59:11.679 --> 00:59:12.960
No, I'm fucking around.
00:59:13.119 --> 00:59:25.519
Um, yeah, post-production is where you get to, you know, as much as I love being on set, and I'm very like, I'm intense on set, and I'm like, you know, I get a little crazy.
00:59:25.760 --> 00:59:38.880
Uh I think I've had like my voice gone viral on I think I did a video for Flo Millie and I'm like like chat, like cheering her on, but like turn left, turn right, and they're like the director's going off back there.
00:59:38.960 --> 00:59:43.199
And I was like so embarrassed at first, but I was like, I was like, is that what I sound like on set?
00:59:43.280 --> 00:59:45.360
I sound like a freaking psychopath.
00:59:45.599 --> 00:59:49.280
So like I don't know, like I just get swept up in the moment.
00:59:49.440 --> 00:59:52.559
Like, I'm like, this is so like oh my god, we're creating, we're making stuff.
00:59:53.039 --> 00:59:53.840
But yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:59:54.000 --> 00:59:54.960
Yeah, yeah, post.
00:59:55.360 --> 00:59:56.239
Yeah, you're done.
00:59:56.480 --> 00:59:59.360
You're like hoping the check clears and you got paid a little bit of something.
00:59:59.519 --> 01:00:03.519
Or I'm obviously I went into overtime, so I probably didn't get paid as much as I would love.
01:00:03.840 --> 01:00:08.960
Next question one perfect shot or 20 options in the edit.
01:00:09.280 --> 01:00:11.119
Oh god, one perfect shot.
01:00:11.760 --> 01:00:14.320
Yeah, I love as much as I love options.
01:00:14.800 --> 01:00:18.800
Quinn Tarantino always says, I'm a director, not a selector.
01:00:18.960 --> 01:00:20.719
Meaning I know what the fuck I want.
01:00:21.119 --> 01:00:27.840
Versus, but options are great, and I when I direct music videos, I'm editing in my head.
01:00:28.079 --> 01:00:31.119
So as I'm shooting stuff, I'm like, oh that fucking I need to get it.
01:00:31.199 --> 01:00:36.880
And I'll go, okay, let's change the angle because I know I got some of that good here, but I know I'll I'll try to get it on the other thing.
01:00:37.440 --> 01:00:52.320
So um, yeah, I I try I've as I've gotten better at directing, yeah, I've I want to say I've become more of a director and less of a selector because when I first started directing music videos, I didn't know what the fuck I was doing.
01:00:52.480 --> 01:00:54.079
I didn't know what lenses were.
01:00:54.239 --> 01:00:57.679
I had I don't know, I've been directing for 15 years maybe.
01:00:57.840 --> 01:01:00.800
Um 15 years to learn all the technical stuff.
01:01:01.039 --> 01:01:14.480
So I think part of my like what I what I think my experience includes is like I got taught acting by some of the most prestigious by teachers from the most prestigious schools.
01:01:14.719 --> 01:01:25.679
And then I didn't know shit about filmmaking, and I learned that from being on set for 15 years, and music videos are technical, they're always trying to do the latest tech, they're always trying to do like cool, interesting shots.
01:01:25.840 --> 01:01:33.840
So then I learned all the technical stuff that I had no, like, you know, when I first started directing, I was just like, uh yeah, sure, that lens is great.
01:01:34.000 --> 01:01:39.760
Or, you know, I would hear the crew talking numbers and stuff, and I'm like, I don't know what any of that means.
01:01:39.920 --> 01:01:41.679
And then I just started asking questions.
01:01:41.760 --> 01:01:48.000
I learned how to edit by watching my my buddy who was an editor edit my music videos, and I'd be like, Oh, why'd you do that?
01:01:48.239 --> 01:01:52.159
And I because I didn't have a computer, like, hello, I was broke as fuck.
01:01:52.320 --> 01:01:55.760
Yeah, I was like returning clothes just to like pay to eat.
01:01:56.000 --> 01:01:57.599
So, like, hello, I was so broke.
01:01:57.840 --> 01:02:05.280
Um, so like I like had to learn all this stuff on the fly, and yeah, you know, so director, not a selector.
01:02:05.360 --> 01:02:06.480
That's so yeah.
01:02:06.639 --> 01:02:07.760
And I've been a selector too.
01:02:07.840 --> 01:02:09.840
I think every job is like different, you know?
01:02:10.000 --> 01:02:10.480
Yeah, right.
01:02:10.880 --> 01:02:14.400
Um, every muscle is different for every job, but I I would say director.
01:02:14.559 --> 01:02:17.679
Yeah, directing actors or directing dancers.
01:02:18.079 --> 01:02:18.880
Oh my god.
01:02:19.039 --> 01:02:24.239
Well, yeah, I feel like uh mostly dancers watch this, so dancers know too.
01:02:24.639 --> 01:02:29.599
Um look, I I think they're both artists, right?
01:02:29.840 --> 01:02:33.599
Yeah, they're both doing something um to express themselves.
01:02:33.760 --> 01:02:34.000
Yeah.
01:02:34.239 --> 01:02:45.760
So I hate to even I've used dance to to express emotion in my projects a million times, and I love it, and I love actors who use emotion, you know, they're using their emotions.
01:02:45.920 --> 01:02:52.480
So I'm gonna say both because one is an athlete and one is kind of like an emotional athlete.
01:02:52.639 --> 01:02:54.719
Ah so like I love that.
01:02:54.960 --> 01:03:19.199
So it's it's two different muscles, but yeah, I always sometimes I see dance uh here I go directing people's like dance class videos, but I'll see people do like dance class videos and it's like um uh contemporary dance, and I see them going through the motions, and I'm like, I'm turning it off because I'm about to DM you and say, Don't do this unless you're really emotionally locked in.
01:03:19.360 --> 01:03:28.159
Because you can do this a hundred times, and I'm like, bro, that that you're acting, like you're not even like get in there.
01:03:28.639 --> 01:03:34.800
Go think about whatever you need a thing to do before you go and do these movements because there should be emotion tied to it.
01:03:35.519 --> 01:03:36.400
Stop the bullshit.
01:03:36.719 --> 01:03:46.800
That's always been one of my biggest pet peeves with dancers growing up and still now is like you can tell when someone's like emoting and feeling it, and when someone's just doing the choreography and there's nothing there.
01:03:46.880 --> 01:03:54.000
And I'm like, if you then do gymnastics, you just do the skill, you get your check, you know, that's it's a little more emotional.
01:03:54.480 --> 01:03:58.559
But now gymnastics is starting to tie in more music and emotionality to it.
01:03:59.119 --> 01:04:11.039
But I always like like growing up, I did both, but I was like so drawn to dance because I could express myself more emotionally, where in gymnastics it was more like getting the skills, where in dance you have this freedom to like express yourself.
01:04:11.199 --> 01:04:17.360
But then there'd be dancers that are just so well, like so great technically that they but they'd be nothing and nothing in the face.
01:04:17.440 --> 01:04:21.840
And I'm like, an audience member can't connect to your pointed toe and straight knee.
01:04:21.920 --> 01:04:24.880
They're gonna connect to like the feeling that you're giving and what you're emoting.
01:04:24.960 --> 01:04:28.320
So it doesn't matter how great you're doing the steps, if you don't feel it.
01:04:28.800 --> 01:04:33.360
I I'm a big like like a lot of my music videos are emotion-based.
01:04:33.519 --> 01:04:39.280
I always tell people like who gives a fuck about this narrative story in this mu music video.
01:04:39.440 --> 01:04:54.239
Like, I'd rather see someone fucking grunt-wrenching performance, yeah, or or uh a performance where they missed their mark, but they were so emotionally there, or the dance misses a step, but they're so emotionally tied into what they're doing.
01:04:54.400 --> 01:04:59.119
No one's gonna remember the steps or the lines, they're going to remember how they felt.
01:04:59.280 --> 01:05:04.639
Absolutely is always like the biggest thing in anything I direct.
01:05:04.719 --> 01:05:09.199
I'm like, hey, you got like this is such a powerful line in your song.
01:05:09.360 --> 01:05:10.480
Like, I gotta feel it.
01:05:10.639 --> 01:05:12.079
Like, why did you say this?
01:05:12.239 --> 01:05:13.360
Like, you know, or whatever.
01:05:13.440 --> 01:05:14.719
Try to get them to tap into that.
01:05:14.960 --> 01:05:22.400
Yeah, but I've seen that, and I'm not trying to talk shit because I know probably people have to do the same dance over and over again.
01:05:22.559 --> 01:05:31.199
But hey, it's the first time I'm watching it, and I really would love to see that like I don't know, dance videos back when like 10-12 years ago, there were an event.
01:05:31.360 --> 01:05:37.599
Yes, like when you know, like when Trisha or everyone was dropping their dance videos, you're like, hold up.
01:05:37.920 --> 01:05:42.320
And then you would just see these personalities like pop the fuck off.
01:05:42.400 --> 01:05:42.960
Yes.
01:05:43.280 --> 01:05:45.920
And I was just like, I came from seeing those dances.
01:05:46.239 --> 01:05:53.280
And I when I see dance videos now, I'm like, Where's the I mean, some people are doing it now.
01:05:53.360 --> 01:05:55.519
Like, there's I I don't want to be a fucking hater.
01:05:55.679 --> 01:05:57.119
Uh there's people who are doing it.
01:05:57.199 --> 01:05:59.760
There's a lot of dancers where I'm like, yo, you're so dope and stuff.
01:06:00.719 --> 01:06:06.400
But you know, I see people trying to do these like viral things, and I'm like, you gotta connect more emotionally if you want to make sure to pop off.
01:06:06.800 --> 01:06:07.039
Yes.
01:06:07.920 --> 01:06:10.239
What is your favorite crafty snack?
01:06:10.320 --> 01:06:12.800
Or what's your dream crafty table look like?
01:06:13.199 --> 01:06:22.079
As a as a like I'm such a I'm such a snacker that I I literally have stopped like I I'm like I I can't I can't snack here anymore.
01:06:22.639 --> 01:06:26.480
I'm like desperately trying not to be uh a big boy.
01:06:26.800 --> 01:06:35.519
Um Miss Vicky's jalapeno chips, salt and vinegar, but I always have to brush my teeth afterwards because I'd be end up in everyone's face talking.
01:06:35.760 --> 01:06:38.320
So I'm always like, I love the food that makes your breath stink.
01:06:38.400 --> 01:06:43.679
So I'm like, give me uh if if you ever worked on my set, you know I need an ice cold Red Bull.
01:06:44.320 --> 01:06:46.559
And I'm always like, this is not cold.
01:06:46.639 --> 01:06:48.239
You know, that's my one diva moment.
01:06:48.400 --> 01:06:52.400
It's like I need an ice cold Red Bull, I need some potato chips.
01:06:52.639 --> 01:07:09.360
Uh, but now I like try to do a banana and like I limit myself to two Red Bulls because sometimes when you have a couple too many Red Bulls, yeah, it fucks up with your uh like I can get mean on some Red Bulls, and people are probably like, you didn't have any Red Bulls when you were mean that day, and I'd be like, Yeah, I probably didn't.
01:07:09.599 --> 01:07:12.239
But um it was yeah, that's my dream.
01:07:12.400 --> 01:07:13.039
I just need a Red Bull.
01:07:13.199 --> 01:07:15.440
Like, give me a Red Bull and I'll get through the 14-hour day.
01:07:15.679 --> 01:07:16.559
Solid, yeah.
01:07:16.960 --> 01:07:21.840
Is there any gear or software that you love working with?
01:07:24.480 --> 01:07:24.800
No.
01:07:25.519 --> 01:07:28.400
Gear and software is all fucking bullshit.
01:07:28.639 --> 01:07:30.559
I'm gonna sound like such an idiot.
01:07:30.880 --> 01:07:36.159
Um I think whatever the job needs is what I like love.
01:07:36.480 --> 01:07:45.039
Uh yeah, I'm not into uh maybe I'll get passed up and be a dinosaur, but I'm trying to avoid AI as much as possible.
01:07:45.360 --> 01:07:47.199
I want yeah, I wanted to ask about this.
01:07:47.440 --> 01:07:56.320
So on the sets I've worked on recently on two different projects, they're using AI a lot for kind of mapping out production design.
01:07:56.639 --> 01:07:57.360
I think that's great.
01:07:57.599 --> 01:08:05.599
Yeah, because I think in some ways it can totally be a tool because then you can and you can see it and map it out and then be able to create it that way.
01:08:05.920 --> 01:08:07.119
I think you said it exactly.
01:08:07.199 --> 01:08:10.079
It's a great tool, it's great for pre-production.
01:08:10.320 --> 01:08:10.480
Yeah.
01:08:10.800 --> 01:08:25.199
Um, I was on a call and there was this guy who had like um LED set and stuff, yeah, and he was like, uh, well, I could do the whole video AI for for a third of the cost.
01:08:25.600 --> 01:08:28.079
And I was like, Well, why am I on this call?
01:08:28.159 --> 01:08:29.119
I don't need to be on this call.
01:08:29.279 --> 01:08:33.439
You guys you don't need me because I'm not gonna direct an AI artist to make a video.
01:08:33.600 --> 01:08:34.319
Sorry, yeah.
01:08:34.560 --> 01:08:35.840
I like working with people, yeah.
01:08:36.399 --> 01:08:45.279
Um, I think, and I called the person up and I was like, hey, um, it's up to you guys if you want to do it that way, but I I'm I'm not needed for this.
01:08:45.439 --> 01:08:48.720
And the artist was like, I'm not doing fucking AI video, right?
01:08:48.880 --> 01:08:50.720
And it became one of my best videos.
01:08:50.880 --> 01:09:03.920
I have used AI as for previs, or like I'm using it right now for a pilot I'm doing where we're doing the sets, and it's like show like the production designers able to show me what the set looks like.
01:09:04.079 --> 01:09:04.399
Right.
01:09:04.720 --> 01:09:13.279
Um I've helped I've helped or I've used I've used um AI to be like, hey, this is what I'm looking for.
01:09:13.920 --> 01:09:17.119
And to help like tell people like, hey, I'm looking for something like this.
01:09:17.199 --> 01:09:21.600
But yeah, there's also Shot Deck, there's also a million movies and stuff like that.
01:09:21.680 --> 01:09:23.199
So I it just depends on the job.
01:09:23.359 --> 01:09:26.720
Like sometimes you need to create something that's not hasn't been done, right?
01:09:26.880 --> 01:09:30.960
Which is very rare because we live in an age where everything's been done.
01:09:31.119 --> 01:09:34.560
I think the only thing that can really change is like POV and risk.
01:09:34.720 --> 01:09:37.760
Yeah and like you know, changing things up a little bit.
01:09:38.000 --> 01:09:43.199
But yeah, I'm you know, I see the videos, it makes me sad.
01:09:43.760 --> 01:09:48.479
It makes me sad because ever it's just a job killer, right?
01:09:48.720 --> 01:09:55.760
Right, and yes, it does move things faster, but I don't know if I was in a green room right now talking to you, I'd be sad.
01:09:56.079 --> 01:10:20.560
And whatever the, you know, this is cute, like someone put time to this, some like that that's a job, and I I'm I love filmmaking because there's a human connection and you get to work with people and you get to collaborate, and I think AI sometimes takes that away, and also like I don't know, I like cool fan filmmakers.
01:10:20.800 --> 01:10:23.600
I'm gonna get fucking canceled for this, not dorks.
01:10:23.760 --> 01:10:27.600
So, like, I like people who are like out there making shit, right?
01:10:27.680 --> 01:10:31.359
Like, you can sit on a computer and prompt as many times as you want.
01:10:31.600 --> 01:10:40.880
It's all prompts of stuff that's been made before by real creatives, and if you want to take that to help you make something original, I think that's awesome.
01:10:41.119 --> 01:10:51.199
But like, I don't know, I don't need to see what um uh Quentin Tarantino's Star Wars movie would be like, you know, like I like that was like AI.
01:10:51.439 --> 01:10:53.520
Now it's like, what do you look like in the 80s?
01:10:54.079 --> 01:10:56.720
I'm like, yes! Like we needed this.
01:10:56.800 --> 01:10:57.520
Sorry if you did that.
01:10:57.680 --> 01:10:59.359
Sorry if you did that, by the way.
01:11:01.279 --> 01:11:03.199
I think I fell victim to like the Grammy.
01:11:03.680 --> 01:11:06.079
You're like, I have an 80s, you want to go to the 80s?
01:11:06.239 --> 01:11:07.439
Were you at the Grammys?
01:11:07.840 --> 01:11:11.119
Or was were you Mia AI or Mia?
01:11:11.760 --> 01:11:12.159
Yeah.
01:11:13.119 --> 01:11:13.920
I thought I stopped.
01:11:14.079 --> 01:11:15.920
I think our AI's met at the Grammys.
01:11:16.560 --> 01:11:18.479
I was wearing, never mind.
01:11:18.720 --> 01:11:21.520
I had the rocket behind me of the rocket suit.
01:11:21.600 --> 01:11:22.159
You didn't see me?
01:11:22.239 --> 01:11:23.840
Yeah, my AI did that.
01:11:24.800 --> 01:11:28.960
So going into industry X, would you say that to maybe Me?
01:11:29.039 --> 01:11:30.000
No, it's kidding.
01:11:32.000 --> 01:11:34.720
Uh oh God, Industry X.
01:11:35.119 --> 01:11:36.399
Um, not being prepared.
01:11:36.560 --> 01:11:36.880
Yeah.
01:11:37.119 --> 01:11:39.279
Um, not having solution.
01:11:39.359 --> 01:11:42.319
I always like, I'm like, don't come to me with a problem.
01:11:42.560 --> 01:11:45.439
Come to me with the problem and different solutions.
01:11:45.600 --> 01:11:45.760
Yes.
01:11:46.000 --> 01:11:52.479
Like some of the best producers I know would be like, hey, uh, so we're getting kicked out of here in two hours, but I think we can do this.
01:11:52.720 --> 01:12:00.800
Um, I worked with this um this producer, Natalie, and Almost Popular had a lot of hiccups.
01:12:00.880 --> 01:12:07.199
We're shooting in LA, we're shooting in all these historical things, and I was trying to make a movie in LA that didn't look like LA.
01:12:07.600 --> 01:12:11.359
So if you watch Almost Popular, all 16 of you, hi, thank you.
01:12:11.520 --> 01:12:12.800
Did it look like it was shot in LA?
01:12:12.960 --> 01:12:13.680
I don't know.
01:12:14.000 --> 01:12:20.399
So um, so we were shooting in all these fucking locations that were just so difficult to shoot at.
01:12:20.720 --> 01:12:33.039
And anytime there was a problem, I would get into a, you know, a little bit of a tissue with the other producer, and she would come up to me and she'd be like, hey, so we can do this or that.
01:12:33.119 --> 01:12:33.920
And I was like, Thank you.
01:12:34.079 --> 01:12:39.279
Someone who's coming to me with not no, but like, you know, I'm a baby, a director's a baby, right?
01:12:39.359 --> 01:12:40.399
You gotta cradle them.
01:12:40.560 --> 01:12:42.960
If you say no to them, they're gonna stomp their feet.
01:12:43.119 --> 01:12:44.159
They're you know, I get it.
01:12:44.239 --> 01:12:45.279
I'm a director, I get it.
01:12:45.359 --> 01:12:46.800
I've been a little bitch on set.
01:12:46.960 --> 01:12:48.800
Like, no, no, no, it needs to be like this.
01:12:48.880 --> 01:12:49.840
Like, I've been that.
01:12:50.079 --> 01:12:53.279
But if you say, hey, no, but we can try this.
01:12:53.439 --> 01:12:54.079
I love that.
01:12:54.159 --> 01:12:56.000
I just love solution based, anyways.
01:12:56.079 --> 01:12:56.880
Yeah, no, definitely.
01:12:57.119 --> 01:12:59.920
You see how I turn every question into a 14-minute answer?
01:13:01.279 --> 01:13:02.880
I'm the same, I can talk forever.
01:13:03.199 --> 01:13:04.800
Dude, it's such an issue.
01:13:05.119 --> 01:13:06.880
It's like, shut the fuck up.
01:13:07.039 --> 01:13:08.720
Okay, next question.
01:13:09.920 --> 01:13:13.199
Okay, Naya, you're on call sheet confessions.
01:13:13.520 --> 01:13:15.920
What is your call sheet confession?
01:13:17.840 --> 01:13:19.439
I don't know if I like this question.
01:13:19.600 --> 01:13:29.039
Uh, so we're filming, and this is an unscripted show with Sarah in Brooklyn, and we're they're doing septic tent cleaning.
01:13:29.199 --> 01:13:31.039
So they're cleaning out septic tents.
01:13:31.199 --> 01:13:37.520
It's in a show about influencers having to do, it's kind of like a Paris Hilton, the modern-day Paris Hilton, uh, Nicole Ritchie.
01:13:37.840 --> 01:13:38.079
Yes.
01:13:38.319 --> 01:13:40.479
Uh Gen Z influencer style of that.
01:13:40.800 --> 01:13:51.920
So we get to this set and the girls are wearing like cute construction worker fits, but under their vest, they're wearing like caution tape as like crop tops.
01:13:52.079 --> 01:13:52.319
Okay.
01:13:52.399 --> 01:13:52.720
Yeah.
01:13:52.960 --> 01:13:55.520
And one of them's wearing like slippery one wet t-shirt.
01:13:55.760 --> 01:13:56.079
Okay.
01:13:56.319 --> 01:14:02.159
We're shooting in like we're shooting in the country Bible area.
01:14:02.720 --> 01:14:08.159
Uh they start twerking on the tractor, like being silly.
01:14:08.319 --> 01:14:08.560
Yeah.
01:14:08.800 --> 01:14:17.920
And the owner of the house comes and she's like, My pastor just drove by, and you guys are filming a porno here, and I'm embarrassed.
01:14:18.000 --> 01:14:19.680
Get the fuck off my property.
01:14:20.000 --> 01:14:25.840
And she starts kicking everyone off her property and cussing everyone out.
01:14:26.079 --> 01:14:28.720
And I was like, Oh fuck.
01:14:28.880 --> 01:14:33.520
So they're like, so productions like throws us in the car, they're like, get offset.
01:14:34.159 --> 01:14:54.399
And we um my producer had to go back to her, talk to her, calm her down, and eventually got her to like release the location because uh she was, I mean, she came in cussing and like threatening to like harm people.
01:14:54.800 --> 01:14:57.840
Uh shout out, lady, like, thank you for letting us do that.
01:14:58.079 --> 01:14:59.760
Um that's just like one.
01:14:59.840 --> 01:15:04.079
I have so many, like, so on my short film Alan.
01:15:04.560 --> 01:15:07.520
We got kicked out of every location by gangsters.
01:15:07.760 --> 01:15:11.039
Told me, Did you check in with the I was like, they're like, Do you got a permit?
01:15:11.119 --> 01:15:12.560
I was like, Yeah, didn't have a permit.
01:15:12.720 --> 01:15:15.279
They're like, Do you have uh do you have permission from the neighborhood?
01:15:15.439 --> 01:15:19.600
And then he was like, he was obviously like a gang member, and I was like, No.
01:15:19.920 --> 01:15:21.359
And he was like, Oh, okay.
01:15:21.520 --> 01:15:24.319
I was like, everyone get in the car, we get the fuck out of here.
01:15:24.399 --> 01:15:29.760
They're gonna fucking this these people, because we're shooting I was shooting like South South LA being stupid.
01:15:30.079 --> 01:15:36.159
Um, walking around with like a hundred thousand dollars worth of camera equipment with like three young girls and like two people.
01:15:36.239 --> 01:15:38.640
I'm like, we're gonna get an ass speed and all our camera equipment stole.
01:15:38.800 --> 01:15:40.159
Let's get the fuck out of here.
01:15:40.399 --> 01:15:41.920
Um, music videos.
01:15:42.159 --> 01:15:46.479
Yeah, I've had have I've had artists not show up for nine hours.
01:15:46.720 --> 01:15:52.960
Uh, not gonna say who, but like thank you because we got paid overtime, and I was like, desperately needed it at that time.
01:15:53.279 --> 01:16:04.079
Um, I just you know, I've been you know, anything you can imagine I've been through, and I think that's what's made me a better filmmaker because I'm like, oh, okay, yeah, I've I've dealt with this.
01:16:04.880 --> 01:16:09.279
Yeah, for aspiring filmmakers, people that want to be in your position, or people that are moving to LA.
01:16:09.760 --> 01:16:12.399
If you want to be in my position, you're fucked.
01:16:12.560 --> 01:16:15.359
Don't I strive to be so much better and more.
01:16:15.439 --> 01:16:16.479
Go ahead.
01:16:18.159 --> 01:16:20.239
People that want to be directors.
01:16:20.560 --> 01:16:23.840
What advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers?
01:16:24.079 --> 01:16:25.520
Um, you just gotta do it.
01:16:25.600 --> 01:16:30.000
Like you have there's like no excuse anymore because like your cell phone, you can make a movie.
01:16:30.079 --> 01:16:37.119
I'm like seeing all these great little like short films um on social media where I'm like, oh my god, this person's such a better director than me.
01:16:37.359 --> 01:16:39.119
And like they did it with their cell phone.
01:16:39.359 --> 01:16:43.279
Uh, and you look at people, I've been a YouTube kid for so long.
01:16:43.439 --> 01:16:54.880
I've like my heart has always been at YouTube, and YouTube has helped like change my life because it's straight, like Girl Talk we put on YouTube, and now it's like blown up to this thing, and it's given us so many opportunities.
01:16:55.039 --> 01:17:05.840
And even before that, I was like making stuff on YouTube, and like um, I think like if you look at the new filmmakers now that are blowing up, Carrie Barker and all those guys, they just made shit.
01:17:06.079 --> 01:17:09.920
Like, yeah, if you're talented, now there's you can't there's no excuse now.
01:17:10.000 --> 01:17:12.640
Like, you can't say, Oh, I'm like a really funny person.
01:17:12.800 --> 01:17:18.800
Well, now you get you have to now you can just film yourself and do it and put it out on the internet, and if you're funny, it should catch, you know.
01:17:18.960 --> 01:17:19.520
Right, right.
01:17:19.760 --> 01:17:24.239
So I'm like, now it's just like there's no excuse.
01:17:24.560 --> 01:17:26.640
How do you handle creative differences?
01:17:27.760 --> 01:17:38.000
Before, um, I used to be a baby and like fucking stomp my feet, and now I'm like, okay, let me I always go like okay, let me have a second and let me think.
01:17:38.319 --> 01:17:43.359
Um because it's tough because a lot of the projects I do are not my projects.
01:17:43.520 --> 01:17:46.640
It's not I'm directing the music video, but I'm not the artist, right?
01:17:46.720 --> 01:17:46.880
Yeah.
01:17:47.199 --> 01:17:56.479
So I took me a little bit took me some time to understand that that like hey, this is their movie or film or whatever music video.
01:17:57.600 --> 01:18:00.640
And if they want to change it, that's them.
01:18:00.880 --> 01:18:09.119
Like when I make my when eventually I get to direct my story or if I'm lucky enough to do that, um that's when I get to make every decision.
01:18:09.279 --> 01:18:23.359
When I'm a filmmaker, you know, I have been given the opportunity to make a lot of I have a lot of control and and decision making, and I appreciate that, but I'm always open to like, well, what do you now I go like okay, is that what you think?
01:18:23.439 --> 01:18:25.359
Let's get a third person and see what they think.
01:18:25.520 --> 01:18:27.199
And let's get people in different age groups.
01:18:27.520 --> 01:18:36.000
And so like now I'm more open because I have watched things that I have made, you know, a couple years on a row, and I was like, what the fuck was I thinking?
01:18:36.079 --> 01:18:39.520
You know, like in Banshee, there's a couple of scenes in there where I was like, what the fuck?
01:18:39.600 --> 01:18:41.920
Why would you let those little girls do that?
01:18:42.720 --> 01:18:44.479
That is so fucking inappropriate.
01:18:44.640 --> 01:18:46.880
I was like, I would get canceled today if I put that out.
01:18:46.960 --> 01:18:50.960
I put that out a long time ago and I said no, so don't fucking say anything to me.
01:18:51.199 --> 01:18:51.840
It's iconic.
01:18:51.920 --> 01:18:52.159
Banji.
01:18:52.479 --> 01:18:55.199
You Banshee, Q Jordan Jones Torguin.
01:18:57.199 --> 01:19:00.880
No, those videos were so important to me.
01:19:01.119 --> 01:19:09.920
Like, uh, like when those came out, I was living like outside of Philly, like Westchester area.
01:19:10.239 --> 01:19:15.279
And I like growing, like, I am very close with my mom, my mom's side of the family.
01:19:15.439 --> 01:19:15.760
Uh-huh.
01:19:16.000 --> 01:19:17.680
At this point, my parents were still together.
01:19:17.840 --> 01:19:18.079
Uh-huh.
01:19:18.319 --> 01:19:19.119
Wasn't the best situation.
01:19:19.359 --> 01:19:20.239
Okay, wait, let's get into it.
01:19:20.319 --> 01:19:20.800
Let's get it.
01:19:20.880 --> 01:19:21.920
Yeah, let's get into it.
01:19:22.239 --> 01:19:22.960
Wasn't the best.
01:19:23.119 --> 01:19:23.279
Yeah.
01:19:23.600 --> 01:19:25.359
Don't have a great relationship with my dad.
01:19:25.439 --> 01:19:27.279
And it was like really hard times for me.
01:19:27.359 --> 01:19:37.760
And what like I felt like always kept me going was the fact that I loved dance and I had this dream of moving to LA and like new, like, I like that was the thing that really kept me going.
01:19:37.840 --> 01:19:42.880
Like, dealing with everything that I was going through was like, I I have this, like, this is my purpose, this is my dream.
01:19:42.960 --> 01:19:44.399
Like, I have something I'm working towards.
01:19:44.560 --> 01:19:50.880
And so I would see these videos on YouTube and see these like Jordan Jones doing banshee and fancy and like starring in these music videos.
01:19:50.960 --> 01:19:53.359
And I was like, this is so cool.
01:19:53.520 --> 01:19:54.960
Like, this is what I want to do.
01:19:55.039 --> 01:19:58.000
Like, I how do I get there and like do something like this?
01:19:58.159 --> 01:20:00.560
Like, those were so inspiring to me.
01:20:00.640 --> 01:20:02.720
Like, I loved those videos.
01:20:02.800 --> 01:20:03.600
And see that?
01:20:03.760 --> 01:20:04.880
Save this kid's life.
01:20:05.119 --> 01:20:05.760
Yeah.
01:20:06.479 --> 01:20:07.520
Well, back to you.
01:20:07.600 --> 01:20:08.479
What's next for you?
01:20:08.640 --> 01:20:10.079
What can we look forward to?
01:20:10.239 --> 01:20:12.319
What's like the dream projects?
01:20:12.560 --> 01:20:18.159
Um, dream projects is any job that says yes to me, uh, because like I don't know, recession.
01:20:18.399 --> 01:20:21.520
Um sorry, I can't help myself sometimes.
01:20:22.000 --> 01:20:25.119
Um, dream job is I'm working on my dream job right now.
01:20:25.199 --> 01:20:27.039
I have a film in development that I really love.
01:20:27.199 --> 01:20:31.600
My dream job is to do the story about me and my mother in New York.
01:20:31.760 --> 01:20:32.079
Yeah.
01:20:32.399 --> 01:20:35.600
Um, and I've been working on that and writing that.
01:20:35.680 --> 01:20:37.920
It was just in New York, like trying to get inspired.
01:20:38.079 --> 01:20:41.600
And um, so I'm like two-thirds of the way done with the script.
01:20:41.760 --> 01:20:47.840
But my current dream job right now is a movie that I'm working with with my business partner that we're trying to get off the ground.
01:20:48.079 --> 01:20:50.479
Um, and I'm really excited about that.
01:20:50.880 --> 01:21:07.680
Um I just want to make movies and I just want to be on set, and I want to like make stuff where people are like, hey, um, I watched this like even as silly as almost popular was after a few screenings, kids like cornered me and been like, Hey, that was me at school.
01:21:07.760 --> 01:21:14.000
And I was like, and I I didn't have a lot of friends, and people thought and I was like, Wow, my cringy little movie like moved you, how cute.
01:21:14.159 --> 01:21:22.479
Or, you know, when there's young kids who are questioning their sexuality and all that stuff, and this little silly movie made them feel a little bit more seen.
01:21:22.560 --> 01:21:41.600
I'm like, you know, I always like I'm a very emotional person, so I love I love bringing emotion into even the silliest, cringiest little things I think you know we're meant to feel and we're meant to experience life and cry and be sad and happy, and like that's all the stuff I care about.
01:21:41.920 --> 01:21:45.760
Yeah, what do you hope people will feel when watching something you've directed?
01:21:46.399 --> 01:21:50.960
Um, I love to make people laugh and I love to pull on people's heartstrings.
01:21:51.359 --> 01:22:16.239
So um, you know, when I do my film, because my back to my childhood a little bit, um it was like I didn't want to make a movie that just was sad for like 90 minutes and had no hope because a lot of the stuff that did happen to me as a child is sad and like um I sh no reason why any kid should have gone through the things that I had gone through and experienced.
01:22:16.720 --> 01:22:27.119
So I want to show the like that I want to show some of that, but I also want to show like the hopefulness and and and I don't know, make people laugh, make people happy.
01:22:27.359 --> 01:22:29.199
Yeah, um we'll see what happens.
01:22:29.279 --> 01:22:34.000
Maybe 10 years down the road, I'll rewatch this and be like, oh, look at that idiot didn't even know what was coming.
01:22:34.319 --> 01:22:40.000
No, I I love that, and I also think coming from the background I came from, like humor was also I relate to that.
01:22:40.079 --> 01:22:43.039
Like I would make jokes and make like laugh with friends.
01:22:43.199 --> 01:23:10.479
Cause if I I remember one time I like told a friend like what was going on and their face was like like they were like mortified, and I was like, all right, like if I laugh about it, make a joke about it, now they're laughing with me, and it's less because I don't want to make them feel uncomfortable, and so like humor became something I relied on, and then through dance or making people smile and laugh, like anything that I do, I want it to have that like inspire, like inspire someone or make them laugh, or make them yeah, feel something and be able to connect.
01:23:10.640 --> 01:23:12.399
So, yeah, I think that's amazing.
01:23:12.640 --> 01:23:13.039
Awesome.
01:23:13.359 --> 01:23:16.319
Well, thank you, Nayup, so much for coming on Call Sheet Confessions.
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618, we went over and I was 15 minutes late, so it's my fault.
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Well, thank you again for coming on.
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Thank you, everyone who watched this episode.
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Always make sure to work hard and chase the dream because if your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough.
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May our call times be reasonable and your checks be on time.
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And like my meme always says, break a leg, but not really.
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We'll see you next time.
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Bye.