How many times have you worked on a project that set an impossible schedule and you felt responsible for meeting ridiculous demands? How many times have you met those demands hoping you would be rewarded for the amazing feat you accomplished...only to be asked to do it again tomorrow except faster, better, and cheaper? These situations have unfortunately become the rule instead of the exception which is why I often say that Hollywood is where yesterday’s miracle becomes today’s expectation.

Today's episode is a very candid community Q & A on the topic of setting boundaries and expectations. I gathered my Optimizer coaching & mentorship students to have a frank and honest discussion about the realities we're facing on the job and how we can take action to ensure that our time & expertise are not being exploited. As daunting as it may seem, change will only happen from the bottom up - we cannot rely on union contracts to set the boundaries for us from the top down (because frankly a lot of the boundaries we need are already in writing, they are just exploited, ignored, and outright abused).

Change happens one person at a time, but if we’re all going to collectively change the toxic work culture in the entertainment industry, we’ll have to lock arms and do it together - across guilds, crafts, union and non-union alike. This conversation is all about the practical steps we can take to create a better future for ourselves and the next generation of artists, filmmakers, and storytellers who will come after us.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• Jeff Castellucio shares a recent story of an unreasonable schedule for a movie he worked on.
• Our thoughts on why unreasonable schedules and deadlines keep happening.
• The inherent problem with working freelance jobs and how our anger is often misplaced.
• Phil Habeger shares how he struggles between wanting to set boundaries and wanting to deliver and be a team player.
• Understanding the psychology behind our guilt despite knowing that it's not our fault.
• How the content machine is killing us all.
• Anything less than 'eager optimism' makes us the problem.
• The unrealistic expectations become a challenge and we get stuck in a cycle of trying to be the hero.
• How do we balance the idea that when we start our careers we have to do extra work to prove ourselves but once we "make it" we are expected to know how to set boundaries?
• KEY TAKEAWAY: Remember the triangle of good, fast, cheap: pick 2.
• Red flags to look for before taking a job.
• Questions to ask in the interview for a job to help determine what the environment will be like.
• The difference between being taken advantage of and “paying your dues”.
• The problem of being exploited and taken advantage of in the workplace.
• We need to set up systems for ourselves so that we have the stability and security to say no to the people who take advantage of us.
• Paul Del Vecchio tells a story of how he set a boundary and it worked out in his favor.
• How I handle unrealistic schedules and talk to producers about making a workable solution.
• The three takeaways and solutions discussed to setting boundaries and making real change.
• Matt Nix chimes in with a show runner's perspective to underscore how important it is to work with the right people.

Useful Resources Mentioned:

IATSE Stories (@ia_stories) • Instagram photos and videos

(7) IATSE Contract Forum | Repeat after me: “Your inability to properly budget and schedule this project is not my problem.” | Facebook

Ep75: The Four Tendencies’ (aka ‘The Matrix’ For Understanding Yourself & Others) | with Gretchen Rubin

Ep113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian

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Ep144: Redefining What It Means to Be “Productive” (and Aligning Your Values With Your Time) | with Tamara Torres

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Ep118: Legendary Editor Walter Murch On Optimizing Creativity, Productivity, and Well-Being In Hollywood For 50+ Years

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Ep132: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar

Our Generous Sponsor:

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Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content