Your Creative Journey

Kevin and Paul have a conversation with writer and actor John Crane.

John Crane has an extensive creative career as a Groundlings Main Company Member, Head Writer, and Executive Producer on MADtv, writer for animated shows like Johnny Bravo, CatDog, Rocket Power, and Jimmy Neutron. He was also an actor on Roundhouse on Nickelodeon and the green screen stand-in for Bugs Bunny in Space Jam with Michael Jordan

Highlights from this episode include:

• The lessons of working in a high-pressure comedy writing environment
• Being present in the moment with writing and improv and realizing that failing won't kill you. It just makes you better at your craft
• "Real writers, write. They pick up their sword and go to battle every day."
• John talks about how he's helping students with writing at cranesketch.com

Books mentioned on the show
Writing Movies for Fun and Profit: How We Made a Billion Dollars at the Box Office and You Can, Too! by Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Sometimes you get better at your art by just doing it and learning along the way. In this episode, Paul and Kevin talk about how to push through with your art even in the face of adversity and resilience.

Highlights from this episode:

• Paul shares his experiences with producing and hosting an online weekly 3-4 hr variety show (Paulie's Online Variety Show)
• Kevin shares several stories of where he received some serious resistance with his art
• Kevin gives an update about the project he's been developing as an example of "practicing in public."  (Link to video)

Books mentioned in this episode:

Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield

Social media handles Instagram and Facebook @paulcarganilla
Instagram @kevinmgregg
Facebook @kevingreggshow
@thekevingregg

The trap of perfectionism can keep you from moving forward with your creative project. In this episode, Paul and Kevin talk about ways to get you out of creative paralysis.

Highlights from this episode:

• Criticism is extremely easy, creating is hard
• Even professionals like Bill Pope (Cinematographer “Baby Driver” “Matrix Trilogy”) can be self-critical.
• How to get out of being frozen creatively by doing a simple step.
• Doing "nerve-cited" work can also be a huge step forward. 
• With that said, Kevin shares a project he's been developing as an example of "practicing in public." 

Books mentioned in this episode:
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
Rebel Without a Crew by Robert Rodriguez

Links from this episode:
Ira Glass on the Creative Process
Why Perfectionism is an Entrepreneur's Worst Enemy 

Social media handles Instagram and Facebook @paulcarganilla
Instagram @kevinmgregg
Facebook @kevingreggshow
@thekevingregg

Showing up every day to work on your creative project is easier said than done.

In this episode, Kevin and Paul, talk about techniques that can help you show up and make consistent progress with your art.

 Highlights from this episode: 

• The best time of day to get your work done
• Techniques that Stephen King and Michael Crichton used for their writing
• Building in mini-rewards throughout your day
• The power of consistency
• Potential listeners showcase in the works

 Books Mentioned: 

• Seasons of God by Richard Blackaby
• On Writing by Stephen King

Links: 

• Getting Your Creative Work Done PDF 
• Ted Talk by Jason Fried about fewer meetings for creative work
• JJ Abrams talking about showing up
• Michael Hyatt writing down your goals

“All I have to do is push a button and collect tens of thousands of dollars for my project!”

That is a concept that creatives dream of when it comes to crowdfunding on sites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo

The reality is it takes a plan and a lot of work. The good news is that you can get funding to support your creative project.

In this episode, Paul and Kevin talk about their wins and heartaches with crowdfunding.

Highlights from this episode include:

How Paul was able to raise $50,000 for a feature-length film (and the challenges that come after you get the money)

How Kevin had a fully funded project ready to go…. that he had to cancel!

What is necessary for a successful campaign.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

Funding the Dream with Richard Bliss

http://fundingthedream.buzzsprout.com/

Links to Kevin’s 2012 canceled project 

https://moandaysmovie.wordpress.com/

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1734297088/moandays

A few of Paul's Kickstarter Campaigns

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulcarganilla/winners-webseries

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulcarganilla/sparked-exclusive-creator-collectors-dvd/description

Join us this week for the #7daycreativechallenge

Kevin and Paul talk about creating a support system for yourself as an artist

You can’t do it alone as an artist. Creating in a vacuum doesn’t lead to success.

Highlights from this episode:

The support you can get from others in a class setting

Recognizing what type of people you need in your corner and in your life

- A story of  friends came to the rescue during Thanksgiving years ago

Recognizing what type of people you DON’T want in your circle of friends)

-Are you surrounded by a bunch of people in your life that make you feel like you're the subject of a Comedy Central roast? That may not be a good thing.

-Kevin and Paul talk about the hardest rooms they’ve had to rehearse in.

Creating your own personal board of directors

-Have people in your life that will be honest with you (even if it hurts)

-How Kevin learned to be better at business phone calls

-How Paul had a difficult conversation about his first screenplay

Action steps: what you can do to reach out to people who can help and mentor you.

We didn't want to ignore the death of George Floyd and all that has happened in the United States over the last few weeks.

In this episode, Paul and Kevin want to reach out to those people who may feel paralyzed with anxiety and frustration during this season.

This episode is to help people used techniques to slow down, heal their mind, their heart, and their spirit so they can be the best versions of themselves.

Some of the techniques mentioned:
Stay off social media until 12 noon
Take a 10-minute walk
Read a lighthearted fiction book

Kevin also leaves listeners with a pro-active imaginative exercise they can do this week to jumpstart their creative work.

We know that you will find this episode uplifting and helpful.

Books mentioned in this episode:

12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson
Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon

In this episode, Paul and Kevin talk about creative skill.

Is it something that’s God-given, or is it something that you can crank out with lots of hard work and dedication?

Highlights from the episode include:
Feeling envy towards other artists who seem to be better than you are.

If you’re part of a collaborative project, does the fact that you have amazing talent forgive you for being a jerk?

Why are you doing your art? Do you have an audience for what you’re doing?

Recognizing that there’s always room for growth. Recognizing what needs work.

Being selective with your time as you’re creating.

Being realistic with what you can actually do.

Books mentioned in the episode:

Essentialism by Greg McKewon

Save the Cat by Blake Snyder

Introduction Episode: 

A guy who held up a crowdfunding sign at a freeway and a guy who quit a regular job when his wife was 3 months pregnant.

Paul and Kevin share their creative experiences in this introductory episode.

Book mentioned 

Real Artists Don’t Starve by Jeff Goins

Paul Carganilla and Kevin Gregg talk about the upcoming series Your Creative Journey.
This is a show that will help you move forward with your creative calling.
Paul and Kevin's goal is to inspire the listener to take action and bring their art into the world.