In this conversation, Director, Producer, Author Jay Holben shares the unexpected turns, hard-won lessons, and deeply personal reflections from a career that spans decades — from walking out of Star Wars at age five and declaring he’d be a Director, to spending 30 years learning every role on set to prepare for that moment… only to watch his early directing projects fall apart.

This episode isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about the long road: learning by doing, failing forward, and staying curious in an industry that constantly tests your patience, your passion, and your purpose.

Jay opens up about the real emotional toll of the business, why he believes most filmmakers start too late, and how writing — and teaching — saved him when nothing else was working.

We explore:

• Why learning every job on set made Jay a better director

• The harsh reality of “arriving” — and what happens when it all falls apart

• How to build a sustainable career in film when the industry keeps shifting

• What Spielberg, impostor syndrome, and tequila have in common

• The soft skills no one talks about: leadership, politics, people

• How writing for American Cinematographer changed everything

• The power of community, mentorship, and honest conversations

Whether you’re just starting out or decades into your career, Jay’s story will challenge you to rethink how success is defined — and remind you why you fell in love with storytelling in the first place.

About us:

Larkhaus exists to help filmmakers bridge the gap between where they are today and their full potential.

Larkhaus community members and collaborators are among the world's top filmmakers, working across multiple disciplines in features, commercials, music videos, short films, and more.

We are committed to building a community that will help you grow, learn, and find connections, support, and resources to reach your full potential.

The future is created by those who tell the best stories.

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