Film School

What is the biggest lesson you can think of that you had to learn, and once you did, had a positive affect on you? Life is replete with lessons if we're paying attention. Ira and Josh share a couple of theirs: sometimes the problem with the writing isn't the writing, and we don't have to suffer in order to be happy. We dig deep!

"Writing is rewriting." Was it Stephen King who said that? Or maybe Hemmingway? Or, maybe it's something made up by english and creative writing teachers. But…it's true. Almost nothing comes out immaculate. Almost everything needs to be polished and shined before it sparkles. So…how do you rewrite? We tackle that question this week!

We spend A LOT of time on this podcast talking about what, where and how we can improve ourselves as artists and people. But, where have we ALREADY improved? Identifying and celebrating breakthroughs must certainly be as important as seeking new ones, yes? This week, Josh and Ira share some things they feel like they've figured out and are doing well.

This is a tidbit Ira picked up from a business coach by the name of Dallas Travers, and it's all about beating burnout and staying productive long and consistently enough to actually getting those big, scary, impossible-feeling projects done. Do less! Just do it more often. It's certainly easier said than done, but it's a game-changer. Plus, Josh shares his own very important keys to consistent productivity: be a person first, and always check in with the joy/inspiration.

How do you handle time? It's always moving forward, whether we're aware of it in the moment or not . . . which is kind of the heart of the discussion this week. How much time do you spend thinking about the past or the future? Such thinking can cut both ways, aiding and hindering. So, how do we find a balance? And how much does the present, this moment, matter?

What makes a great story? A great Plot? Or great Characters? The first answer we come to for this question is "both." But, what if we dig deeper than that? HOW do we create a great character? Is it not the events we put them through, and how they react? HOW do we create a great, memorable plot? Is it not the characters that we fall in love with and remember? Just how do these two seemingly poles interact and mesh with each other? And how do they mesh with ourselves, the storytellers? Is the question a personal one when it comes to process?

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Start small. Laughably small. Then build incrementally. So incrementally that you don't even notice the day-to-day increase.

It's a tried and true formula for success. It shortcuts the mind and the body's resistance. These are recent practices that Ira has found to be very effective in several areas of his life. But, what else out there works? Josh talks about finding the Joy, another hack for beating resistance. What works for you? How have you started something that really succeeded and went well?

Hang on too tight, and we can squeeze the life out of anything. Project. Relationship. Ourselves. Thus, it behooves us to know when it's time to let something go. But, what exactly does that mean? How do we know when we're holding on too tight or for too long? From learning to say no, to not blaming ourselves for things beyond our control, we dive into the things that keep us up at night or weigh us down when we wake up in the morning.

By their very nature, we elevate the Masters above ourselves. It's inspiring to see greatness that exceeds our own. But the other side of that same coin is intimidating, and the lowering of ourselves . . . which can shut us down with despair. That gap can make us freeze rather than move forward. So, how do we deal with that? How do we fend off the feelings of less-than and engage with the inspiration?