I recently saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at LA’s Pantages Theatre — and while this isn’t a review, I have to say: it blew my mind. Watching it felt like witnessing real magic. The lighting, the practical effects, the precision — it all made me rethink how we approach live-action filmmaking. In this episode, I reflect on the lessons filmmakers can learn from theater, especially when it comes to committing to an idea and creating illusions without relying on CGI. If you’re a storyteller or creative, this one’s for you.

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Yours truly,Phil SvitekFilmmaker, author, podcaster & 360 Creative Coach⁠http://philsvitek.com⁠

What separates professionals from amateurs? It’s not talent. It’s not even opportunity. It’s consistency. In this episode, I break down why showing up week after week, month after month, year after year is the true mark of a real artist. Drawing inspiration from Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art, I explore how professionals commit to their work as a practice—not just when they feel inspired. We talk about the long-term power of habits, the importance of creating systems over chasing motivation, and how consistency turns creativity into a career. If you want to stop dabbling and start building a body of work that lasts, this episode is for you.

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Yours truly,Phil SvitekFilmmaker, author, podcaster & 360 Creative Coach⁠http://philsvitek.com⁠

Need to send a large amount of footage to someone in another city? Skip the upload wait times and ditch the heavy hard drives. In this quick tip episode, I share a simple, efficient method: SD cards. They're compact, lightweight, and can hold a surprising amount of data—perfect for small to medium-sized projects. I recently sent 250GB of footage to a collaborator in New York this way, and it was cheaper, faster, and way less hassle than cloud uploads or shipping bulky drives.

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Yours truly,Phil SvitekFilmmaker, author, podcaster & 360 Creative Coach⁠http://philsvitek.com⁠

In this episode, we sit down with Bud Rebel—filmmaker, actor, podcaster, and content creator—whose career spans indie feature films (The Undead, All Screwed Up), over 200 YouTube videos, and a podcast that’s welcomed major Hollywood guests. Bud shares how he built his creative empire from the ground up, the mindset shifts that kept him going, and his strategies for staying consistent across platforms. If you're an aspiring artist wondering how to take your first (or next) step, this conversation is full of actionable wisdom and inspiring energy.

For more info on Bud, check out http://budrebelproductions.com.

🔔 Subscribe for more movie reviews, storytelling insights, and creative discussions! Want deeper breakdowns? Join me on Patreon or Substack for exclusive content!

Yours truly,Phil SvitekFilmmaker, author, podcaster & 360 Creative Coach⁠http://philsvitek.com⁠

Welcome to our monthly book discussion series hosted by Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) and me, Phil Svitek! This month, we dive into Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter — a witty, honest, and relatable novel about starting over when life doesn’t go to plan.

We follow Nell, a woman whose business fails, engagement crumbles, and who finds herself back in London starting from scratch. Navigating a sea of Instagram-perfect lives, marital milestones, and sky-high rent, Nell feels like she’s missed the boat. But through an unlikely friendship with the fabulous 80-something Cricket, she begins to rediscover joy, resilience, and the messy beauty of real life.

In this discussion, we explore themes of reinvention, aging, societal pressure, female friendship, and embracing the f**k ups that make us human. Join us as we reflect on the book’s most poignant and hilarious moments—and share your take in the comments!

Upcoming Reads: -Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison (April 2025)-1984 by George Orwell (May 2025)-Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Reckoning of Roku by Randy Ribay (June 2025)

Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe. And check out Marisa’s podcast, Friends & Favorites w/ Marisa Serafini: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-and-favorites-w-marisa-serafini/id1693327509

🔔 Subscribe for more movie reviews, storytelling insights, and creative discussions! Want deeper breakdowns? Join me on Patreon or Substack for exclusive content!

Yours truly,Phil SvitekFilmmaker, author, podcaster & 360 Creative Coach⁠http://philsvitek.com⁠

We’ve seen movies based on books, comics, and even toys—but what if the starting point was a song? In this episode, I explore the idea of using an original track—something catchy, cinematic, and emotionally resonant—as the IP that launches a film. Imagine writing a movie with a song baked into the concept, getting that song to catch on (think Ava Max or Indila), and building momentum from there. Is it crazy... or just crazy enough to work? I share my thoughts and ask: should more creators be looking at unconventional paths to break through the noise?🔔 Subscribe for more movie reviews, storytelling insights, and creative discussions! Want deeper breakdowns? Join me on Patreon or Substack for exclusive content!Yours truly,Phil SvitekFilmmaker, author, podcaster & 360 Creative Coach⁠http://philsvitek.com⁠

What if you could start building hype for your project before it’s even finished? Here, I talk about how creators across all disciplines—writers, filmmakers, musicians, visual artists—can use public events like Comic-Cons, book festivals, art fairs, and music expos to generate excitement and gather early fans before the final product is out. These events are more than just launchpads—they're opportunities to engage your audience, test ideas, and build community around your work-in-progress.Here are a few examples:-Writers hosting live readings of early chapters at literary events-Filmmakers showing concept art or proof-of-concept trailers at conventions-Musicians performing demos or unreleased tracks during pop-up sets-Visual artists displaying sketchbooks or inviting feedback on unfinished seriesWhether your project is a film, a novel, an album, or a gallery show—there’s value in bringing people into the process early. It's not about perfection—it's about connection.🔔 Subscribe for more movie reviews, storytelling insights, and creative discussions! Want deeper breakdowns? Join me on Patreon or Substack for exclusive content!Yours truly,Phil SvitekFilmmaker, author, podcaster & 360 Creative Coach⁠http://philsvitek.com⁠

I break down a subtle trap many of us fall into—we compare ourselves not to one person, but to a collage of people, mistakenly treating their combined successes as if they belong to a single superhuman. No wonder we feel like we're not doing enough. But when we separate these individuals and actually study their journeys, we find the challenges, setbacks, and slow growth that got them to where they are. This isn't about minimizing their success—it’s about making your own path feel more real, grounded, and doable. You don’t need to do everything all at once.🔔 Subscribe for more movie reviews, storytelling insights, and creative discussions! Want deeper breakdowns? Join me on Patreon or Substack for exclusive content!Yours truly,Phil SvitekFilmmaker, author, podcaster & 360 Creative Coach⁠http://philsvitek.com⁠

I dive into a simple yet powerful idea that could improve job platforms like Fiverr and Upwork: what if the freelancer who gets hired is paid the average of all submitted quotes? This small shift could reduce underbidding, encourage fair pricing, and promote higher-quality work across the board. I break down how this model benefits freelancers, clients, and the platforms themselves—and why it might be the key to a more sustainable freelance economy.🔔 Subscribe for more movie reviews, storytelling insights, and creative discussions! Want deeper breakdowns? Join me on Patreon or Substack for exclusive content!Yours truly,Phil SvitekFilmmaker, author, podcaster & 360 Creative Coach⁠http://philsvitek.com⁠

The old Hollywood system is crumbling, and two legendary filmmakers—Robert Rodriguez and Mark Duplass—aren’t waiting around. Rodriguez is launching Brass Knuckle Films, letting fans invest in his movies, while Duplass is bypassing streamers to self-release his latest show.This isn’t just a trend—it’s a blueprint for survival. If you’re a filmmaker still hoping for a studio greenlight, you’re already behind. In this episode, we break down:-Why Rodriguez and Duplass are ditching Hollywood’s traditional model-The key lessons you can apply to fund and distribute your own film-Why indie filmmakers must take control before it’s too late🔗 Read the full articles here:-Robert Rodriguez lets fans invest in his films: https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2025/03/11/robert-rodriguez-brass-knuckle-invest-movies-films?utm_source=chatgpt.com-Mark Duplass on bypassing streamers for self-distribution: https://seedandspark.com/user/barret-obrien-01jj3pqjdgr9pqmtap0ym5bt5d-Kickstarter’s 2024 Animation Crowdfunding Trends: https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/03/kickstarter-reveals-animation-crowdfunding-trends-from-2024/?utm_source=chatgpt.comThis episode isn’t just about their success—it’s about your future as a filmmaker. Don’t wait. Watch now and take control of your career!🔔 Subscribe for more movie reviews, storytelling insights, and creative discussions! Want deeper breakdowns? Join me on Patreon or Substack for exclusive content!Yours truly,Phil SvitekFilmmaker, author, podcaster & 360 Creative Coach⁠http://philsvitek.com⁠