Life, Camera, Action!

Today my guest Kyle and I will be discussing all of the key elements that create an amazing director. Including how to prepare for your shoot and how to support your cast and crew creatively so that they have permission to step out and try something new.

Kyle Lawrence is an award-winning DGC Director and producer. With 17 years of experience in the film industry, Kyle began writing and producing a TV series at the age of 16 which was broadcast around the globe. Since then, Kyle has directed feature films, shorts and web series. In addition to directing and producing, Kyle has worked on over 250 episodes of television and a number of other films in various technical on-set and post production positions, including Supergirl, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Disney's Descendants and others.

• Remember: It’s incredibly important to prepare as much as you can before stepping on set for a project. Go in with a shot list, in-depth knowledge of the script, and a clear understanding of the goal for the day’s shoot.
• Research: Who can you collaborate with to expand your circle? In an industry that so heavily emphasizes networking, it is critical to be actively seeking out business relationships to establish and grow with.
• Challenge: When taking on a project, create your own preparation process. This will ensure that you get to set with a clear outline of what you need to accomplish in order to make the project a success.

http://www.victoriaruke.com/

To learn more about Kyle and his work:
https://www.kylelawrence.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/klawrence1987

Follow him on social media: @realkalaw 

Today my guest Samara and I will be diving into her career as a Speech and Dialect Coach to explore the concept, “I am what power sounds like”. Not only will you learn about different vocal tools you can use to step into character as an actor or increase your impact as a speaker, but you will also learn how to own your voice in order to be heard.

Samara coaches actors on projects like Wonder Woman 1984, Eurovision, and American Crime Story: Versace. When not on set, Samara is a public speaking coach for women running for office for the first time, entrepreneurs, and anyone struggling to use their voice in the moments that matter. She has a podcast on iHeartRadio called Permission to Speak and a forthcoming book of the same name published by Penguin Random House about voices and power.

Remember: Creating an authentic accent or dialect is all about muscle memory and recognizing what sounds create the experience you hear. So tune into how the people around you communicate and focus on what they do to form different sounds. 

Research: Out of the different vocal tools listed in the show, such as pitch, up speak, down speak, and vocal fry determine what ones you utilize most often. Are they serving you? What other tools would help you ultimately be heard?

Challenge: Start using your voice with great intention in order to share your message best. Whether it's to step into character with a unique accent or it’s to make a difference as a speaker. Your voice matters, so use it well!

https://www.victoriaruke.com/

To learn more about Samara and her services: https://www.ladialectcoach.com/

Follow her on social media: @samarabay

Get her Voice Tips cheat sheet: https://mailchi.mp/1e2c2d8ecc8c/tips

Today my guest Anna and I will be talking about how she is changing the narrative of neurodiversity in the film industry both on set and in her personal life as an autistic filmmaker.

Anna Czarska is a producer, director, award-winning writer, actress, as well as Managing Director and Creative Head of Development for Sticky Tape Productions. She is most known for producing The Dining Room, Cost You Nothing, and her upcoming film Mildly Different, set to release this year. Her background in business and love for unconventional cinema has allowed her to use her art to address topics involving mental health and societal matters that require greater public awareness. Every project she takes on challenges the audience to think of things in a new way and leaves them with a deeper perspective on life.

Remember: It’s the up to everyone on set to create the collaborative atmosphere that produces incredible projects. Be open to new ideas, listen to people’s perspectives, and respect everyone’s creative process. Even if you don’t apply someone’s idea, you being open to it in the first place drastically affects the dynamic on set. 

Research: To create a really authentic, accurate and properly represented character with neurodiversity, it’s essential that you do your research. Check out what symptoms or behaviors are typical, what ones are uncommon and what is misunderstood. How would they affect your character’s daily tasks? Then, ask the community! Submit a character description or excerpt from your script and request their reviews on it. Then adjust as needed to capture that character’s reality. 

Challenge: What is a cause or societal issue that you have a deep connection with that you could bring awareness to? What demographic could use representation in the cinematic industry? See where you can use your artistic voice to empower a cause that is close to your heart.

https://www.victoriaruke.com/

To learn more about Anna's upcoming film:
https://www.stickytapefilms.com/
https://www.patreon.com/MildlyDifferent

Follow her on social media: 
@StickyTapeProductions
@MildlyDifferentFilm

Today my guest Ben and I will be talking about how musicians and composers can weave storytelling into their music. This ensures that a film score, for example, won’t fall flat and will create an immersive experience for the audience.

Benjamin Lim Yi is a Singaporean stage and film composer based in Beijing. His works have been performed by the most prestigious orchestras and internationally recognized classical musicians worldwide, and his soundtracks for film have screened in major international film festivals. His most recent work for television is currently the top trending tv series in China, 'Vacation of Love'. He also runs a post-production audio studio, BLY Studios, in Beijing.

• Remember: Creating an immersive experience through your music will require you to channel your inner artist. Use “color” and “shading” to express the story in your score. 
• Research: As you’re writing music for a film or theatre production, take into account the inner dialogue of the characters. Rarely do we exclusively feel one singular emotion at a time, so in order to make your music that much more captivating, mirror the range of emotions that the character might be simultaneously experiencing. This will ensure that the music does the story justice and is truly believable. 
• Challenge: As a musical storytelling exercise, find a script - whether it’s from your favorite movie or a fellow filmmaker and practice scoring the film in a way that reflects the story. Be intentional with the emotions the music evokes and don’t forget to utilize the silence when needed.

https://www.victoriaruke.com/

To learn more about Ben and his services: http://benjaminlimyi.com/
Follow him on social media @benjaminlimyi

Today my guest Earlene and I will be discussing the whole idea of supporting the trait of creativity within yourself and others. This conversation is especially for you if you work with a team of creatives or you’re a parent who is raising a creative child.

Earlene Coats is the Founder and President of Everyday University. As someone who went from failing scribble art in kindergarten to becoming a now extremely successful entrepreneur, she knows exactly what it’s like to have your dreams squashed AND what it’s like to achieve them anyway. Today she helps busy moms go from chaos to confidence so that they can raise independent, confident children while creating an unbreakable family bond.

• Remember: Your version of creativity won’t always look like the person next to you. It also might be fueled differently. For example, you might need a more traditional education or you might need an alternative education. Either way, search for what best serves you and don’t feel the need to compare yourself to others.  
• Research: Who were the characters in your life that supported your creativity? Who were the ones that didn’t? Explore how that affected you and your career today. Then take notice of the possible roles you’re playing within the lives of the creatives around you.
• Challenge: Practice speaking life into the creatives around you. This doesn’t mean you need to lie about liking something that you don’t. Be honest and be constructive! Your goal is to challenge someone to be even better, not discourage them from their dreams.

https://www.victoriaruke.com/

To learn more about Earlene and her services: https://everydayuniversity.com/
To schedule some time with Earlene: https://calendly.com/earlene-everyday-university/30min

Today my guest Matti and I will be talking all about how to create opportunities to up level your projects. This allows you to not only become an even more skilled and diverse professional but will also train you to see the value in everything you do.

Matti McLean is a creative artist and writer living in Toronto, Ontario. He has a background in producing, script editing and writing for a wide range of films, shows, theatrical events and podcasts and worked on several shows including Locke and Key, The Handmaid's Tale and The Boys.  His most recent novel THE CYPHER has served as the Inspiration for his ongoing narrative podcast “The Cypher and Avaria Beyond”.

• Remember: Your very first drafts might be really rough. Don’t let that discourage you from continuing. You have to start with something to create an amazing end product. Just stay committed to the process and your project will only get better and better. 
• Research: Before taking on a project, explore how you can leverage it to serve your other projects. This is a way to filter and prioritize your creative endeavors and allow for each initiative to make the others even better as opposed to creating a web of distractions.
• Challenge: Take inventory on every project you’re currently working on, then connect the dots on how you can create an opportunity to make the projects even better. For example, while you’re working on your screenplay, create a collection of art such as a series of paintings that is inspired by the characters within the screenplay. This adds so much more value to both the screenplay and the art and will attract an even bigger and more dialed in fanbase.

https://www.victoriaruke.com/

To learn more about Matti and his projects: http://www.CantStandSittingProductions.com
To check out “The Cypher and Avaria Beyond” : https://www.buzzsprout.com/1354183
Follow him on social media: @thebigshibam

Welcome to Life, Camera, Action! Today I’ll be interviewing my guest Annie about her amazing role as a coming out coach. We will be talking all about how she helps families and her clients live authentically and true to themselves.  

Annie M Henderson is a Life Coach, Counselor, EFT Practitioner and Coming Out Coach for the LGBTQ+ community and families struggling with their child coming out who need some guidance along the way.

Remember: You have permission to live fully and authentically yourself with NO apologies given. Surround yourself with people who celebrate you for who you are and who treasure being on your journey with you. 

Research: How can you become a safe place for others, whether it's for members of the LGBTQ+ community or simply someone who is having a rough day? 

Challenge: If you’re struggling, reach out for help. Not everyone will understand, and someone will! So if that’s you, find a group, professional or trusted love one to confide in. And don’t forget to be that for someone else.

https://www.victoriaruke.com/

To learn more about Annie and her services: https://anniemhenderson.com/
Follow her on social media: @anniemhenderson @life_coach_annie 

Today my guest Kate and I will be having a conversation about what goes into the workflow of a wedding filmmaker, what does the process look like? What is the commitment like? And of course, what are some of the ways you get to let your creativity flow?

Kate Olivia is a young entrepreneur who runs her own wedding videography business. She was asked to film her first wedding at just 16 years old and instantly knew that it was what she wanted to do with her career: be her own boss! Today at just 19 years old, she films destination weddings in beautiful Southwest Florida and beyond.

Remember: Never compare your chapter 1 to someone else’s chapter 100. Everyone has their own journey and as long as you’re hustling and moving forward, someone else’s journey stays irrelevant to you. 

Research: Who are some individuals within your field that you can collaborate with or learn from? Creating a collaborative experience with your peers allows you to shorten your learning curve and supplement your weaknesses with someone else’s strengths in order to develop an amazing end product.

Challenge: Reach out to someone who inspires you within your field and see how you can play together. This is especially true if you are at the beginning of your career and are looking to get more experience or break into the industry. The best of the best have always had mentors and stay a forever student to their craft. So remain open to learning & opportunities and you’ll be shocked at how fast you progress.

https://www.victoriaruke.com/

To learn more about Kate and her services: https://www.kateoliviafilms.com/
Follow her on social media: @kateoliviafilms

Welcome to Life, Camera, Action! Today my guest Jason and I will be talking all about how to get your creative ideas protected, how it works, what actually qualifies for protection, and, at the end of the day, how to evaluate what creative projects are actually worth getting protected in the first place.

Jason Webb is an intellectual property attorney and a Partner at Pearson Butler.  He has a Bachelors of Science degree in Applied Physics and Computational Modeling from Brigham Young University where he assisted in experimental laser physics and cancer research. Not only does he have deep experience in patent, trademark, and copyright law but he also has successfully negotiated licensing agreements and settlement agreements for his clients with Fortune 500 companies.

Remember: When it comes to getting your intellectual property protected, it’s not the protection of your ideas that you’re after, it's the protection of the implementation of those ideas. 

Research: When you think of a piece of your project that could be protected, think about if it actually makes SENSE to protect it. What are the consequences of not getting it protected? Will that affect the project as a whole? Is that an integral component to the success of your project? If not, evaluate where else protection may be more useful. 

Challenge: Take inventory on what you should be pursuing protection on. Start by figuring out what it is about your brand, company, products, services and intellectual property that provides a signature feel that is unique to you. Then prioritize what the most important piece of that experience is and explore how it will be best protected.

https://www.victoriaruke.com/

To learn more about Jason and his services:
https://www.pearsonbutler.com/
[email protected] 
801-495-4104

Welcome to Life, Camera, Action! Today my guest CoCo and I will be discussing Imposter Syndrome - what it is, what it means and some ways that you can avoid or overcome imposter syndrome in your life so that you can live authentically and unapologetically

Cosette “CoCo” Leary loves to live out loud! She is a jubilant Motivational Speaker, Professional Coach, Author, and Educator who has overcome a childhood of poverty, abuse, growing up in orphanages, group homes, and foster homes since the tender age of 12, and finding herself pregnant with her first child at 14 years old. She holds her Degree in Public Administration and has served as a staff member in both a Senatorial and Congressional office

• Remember: Your products and services have REAL value, so don’t sell yourself short. Bringing in sufficient revenue will actually allow you to keep muring into your passions and change the world with your gifts
• Research: Where do you feel out of alignment with yourself? Are there certain areas in your life where you feel like you’re just playing the part? Explore what might be holding you back.
• Challenge: Put yourself in a new situation where you would typically want to impress the people around you or care about what they think. Then, physically pretend to take off your costume and give yourself permission to just be you.

 https://www.victoriaruke.com/ 

To learn more about CoCo and her services:
https://fromwelfaretothewhitehouse.com/
https://www.facebook.com/coco4fun/

Follow her on social media: @welfare2whitehouse