My life before discovering Friends in Film was aimless. I knew I wanted to be someone and what I wanted to do, I just didn’t know how to get there, I didn’t see anyone close to me that actually went after their dreams and made it a reality. So I was just floating, daydreaming about what could be and not actually doing anything about it.

After finding out about Friends in Film and watching the videos, it makes sense!! I wish I would have known this years ago.

The one thing that I am so excited about is the fact that I am connected to people who are just as passionate about film as I am. I am excited about the network, this is what I needed.

I love that I can connect with someone if I don’t get something. I love that they can connect me to sites and pages where I can go and do PA jobs.

I love to see that we are all connected, learning how to make our dreams come true together. To the point where we will one day work together.

The exciting thing about this whole program is that I am learning how to listen again. My ears open up when I hear something that is helpful that will help me in every aspect of my life. Something that I am coming to understand that you have mentioned many times is to be open and curious and to ask questions, ask the why, what, how, where, when. Which is alot like being a child, except this knowledge is being directed to be experience. I have been around both types of learners, those who don’t care to learn and those who think they know everything, but neither have the courage to experience.

This program is bringing me to life. It’s making me get up in the morning and work towards my goal. Whenever a thought comes into mind that is not helpful, I always think JANET! and I am right back on track. Because when I keep you in mind, I am reminding myself that there is a goal that I need to achieve, so it helps me stay focus. I was hard in the beginning but the more I do this, the easier its becoming to create my day and not use my son as an excuse as to why I haven’t gotten anything done.

Janet thank you very much for everything that You are doing! You have no idea how grateful I am!!

I’m finally living my dream. I’m not all the way there but it feels good to be making progress. I’ve done a little bit of indie work but the paid gigs I have gotten were for the Food Network, Hoarders and Tanked.

I started Friends in Film in February but prior to that I kind of felt lost. I was thinking about going back to school but trying to find a technical school because what I heard before was that you have to go to school to be in the industry. Which I now know is such BS!!!

I was having trouble because a lot of the schools wanted so much money down and I didn’t have it.

One day while I was on Facebook, Friends in Film came across my timeline and I was like let me check it out! From that 10 day free training I learned so much about myself and I actually had hoped that I could live my dream of working in the film industry! Because my leave wasn’t paid I had to figure out a way to come up with the money to pay for the program. When you want something bad enough you will make a way.

Prior to the program I didn’t know anything about set lingo or set etiquette. I thought that I had to pretend to be someone I wasn’t. Some of things I’ve learned was how to network. In this business you have to be able to talk to people and by me reaching out to a PA on FB I got my first paid gig Hoarders!

I also learned about volunteering for films and festivals through the program. Doing volunteer work for the Atlanta Film Festival I met some great people and learned about other workshops that would allow you to meet people in the industry and get hands on training!

All the tips and tricks about the magic list and the boomerang method a lot of people are not doing this stuff. Its great!! Also the gold nuggets about how to write an email and how to do your resume is so amazing! I didn’t know how to do any of that until FIF.

Before Friends in Film, I felt very alone, as a filmmaker. I’ve been working on short films for the last couple of years, zero budget productions, basically. Funding everything myself, producing everything myself and it had gotten very exhausting.

When I heard of Friends in Film, I was in the middle of a crowdfunding campaign to gather the funds necessary to finish my most recent short. But it wasn’t going anywhere. I over-estimated the generosity of friends and family and I thought I could do all of the campaign marketing myself.

After watching a couple of your videos, I realized there was another way. I mean, I always knew about people working in production, starting out as a PA and then making connections and expanding their network. But after watching your videos, it seemed like a possibility.

Living in Atlanta, GA, you hear about a lot of productions in town but I had no idea about how to get my foot in the door. Now I feel like I can do it!

After watching a couple of your videos, I basically cancelled my crowdfunding campaign and decided to just get a job and fund it out of my own pocket, like I initially did to shoot the short. I feel like a weight has been lifted! I’ve also started looking for film work online and I feel more confident about getting those jobs.

I just started the program so I’m not sure all the material that you will go over but so far, I have experienced a change in my mentality. I’m more sure of myself and my talent and the potential to make great relations in the business. It’s not a matter of “if”, now it’s a matter of “when.” Thanks!

Before Friends in Film I was busy building my video business but to be honest it felt like I wasn’t doing everything to succeed. I remember signing up for the Career on Fire training with some skepticism but by the end of the training my wife and I knew this was an investment. It’s been great to have a community of people who are striving for similar goals. Not only that, the training is the real deal.

Before discovering Friends in Film I had been in the film industry for a few months. This was a new career path for me and I jumped in. I loved everything about the industry and knew that this was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. The only problem was that I didn’t know how to do it. This is where this program came in and really helped me to learn the industry and how to be successful in it. It taught me the steps to take and how to really get out there and make it happen.

I have so many examples of what happened to me because of what I learned. The first thing that I learned was that Chicago is a different market than other cities. We have been getting more and more things that are filming here which is making this a great city to start off in.

After 3 months in the business I received an opportunity to work in production. I was able to work in the extras casting office for a major NBC show. I started to get to know a lot of people in production on this show as well as all of the extras in the business. The importance of knowing the extras here is that most of them are looking to move up in their careers as well. By May, I had made connections with so many people and had helped them, that they were willing to help me as well.

I never would have gotten this job if not for you, Janet, and Friends in Film.

This program has impacted my life for the better. I now know what steps to take and no longer feel stuck as a bottom feeder in the industry.

It has helped me to learn exactly what to do and how to make it in the industry without taking years. I have only been in the industry for 1 year and 2 months, and feel that I have learned what should take years to accomplish. Not only that, I now have a plan. I know exactly what I need to do to make it to LA!

Before FIF, I was in school trying to get a degree to get a job. I thought that was the only way.

After Friends In Film, I feel like I wasted time in school when I could be getting my experience doing it the FIF way. It’s the best way to get into the business and the quickest.

After joining the program, I’ve been getting on shoots and I’m doing what I want to do. I’m proceeding in my dreams.

I first learned that you can start out being a PA and move up to any position you want as long as you work at it.

I’ve learned most of the positions in a shoot, what their roles are and how they get to do what they do. I learned that there are union shoots and shoots that are not in unions and to be with the union is well rewarding.

This program has impacted me because I didn’t know there was a way to get into the business the FIF way. Seeing how this program works makes me feel like it’s not so scary and hard to get into the business. It’s easy as long as you apply yourself.

Also FIF has such a good connection with the people that have the same interest and passion as yourself, its such a good feeling to have a group of like-minded people and a mentor that has so much success in the business and to teach the same thing to us is such a blessing.

Before Friends in Film, jobs and gaining experience in the film industry didn’t come by that often because there was never any guidance or insight on how to break into the industry other than reading books on the subject or just sending resumes and business cards to jobs that you already knew a million other people were applying to.

Janet gives a lot of inside access to what people are looking for from resumes, to interviews, experience, and just how to have a great experience on set.

One big thing that also happened for me after joining Friends in Film was that it was a big confidence booster. The weekly calls gave me an inside look into the workings of a film set but they also help to put my mind at ease about not walking on to a set and not knowing what to do or where to go.

The first time I was on a big set after after starting the program I was still somewhat nervous but at least I knew what to do, where things were, and who to go to if I had questions which is something I can definitely say I didn’t get any help with from film school.

I think one of the biggest things I have to say about this program is that it gives people a way to break into the film industry without going to film school.

And from experience, it gives a more in depth look into the workings of a film set than most film schools could.

From my experience at film school, you get to learn how to light a scene, write scripts, realize who does what on a film set but they never once taught about how to start looking for a job, make connections, or gave us an inside look on how the industry works outside of a school.

So I think that has been one of the biggest impacts on me from this program is that you get the chance and experience to make it on a professional film set which is something that my school never spent any time talking about.

Before FIF I was working a job I really hated while trying to figure out what I wanted to do in life. The problem was I already knew what I wanted to do. I’ve known I wanted to act since 3rd grade. It was a passion that I pursued through school, however somewhere along the way I let all the negative things people said get to me.

The moment I told someone I wanted to act they would say things like, “You and everyone else,” or, “Good luck, you’ll need it. It probably won’t happen.”

I had convinced myself acting wasn’t the way to go. I was trying to choose another path I wasn’t passionate about and that wasn’t fulfilling.

Now that I have been through the FIF program I have not only learned a lot about the film industry, I have learned so much about myself. I feel immensely positive that I have the skills and knowledge to be successful anywhere I choose to go. I see myself as a go getter and it’s not as scary anymore.

I know I have my FIF family on my side encouraging me to keep going if ever my mind starts letting those negative thoughts in again.

The most exciting thing that has happened thus far is being a part of the Mythbusters crew. I couldn’t imagine in my wildest dreams that I would be a part of putting together a show that I had watched back in the day.

FIF has made a huge impact on my life! I now know that I have found my calling in life. The feeling I have after leaving the set is almost indescribable. I know that this is where I am supposed to be.

I love how I am able to help out and be creative and work together with such creative people. I am glad that almost a year later I have so much experience and that my career has really taken off.

Wow, what a year I had this year! I finally feel like I have my foot in the door. Already, I’m booking dates for January, and more keep coming in.

My goals for next year are to get into the union, take some master classes, and get on some MAJOR productions as either a production assistant or even makeup assistant. Or maybe even a higher title than that! I also want to expand my makeup abilities, and do beauty makeup, also learn how to make the big things like sculpting and molding prosthetics.

I’m going through the modules again as a refresher and polishing my job game. I’ll be doing things like updating my magic list again, heading out to studios and hand out my resume, now that I have a lot of work on them, and so much more. This is why I love the program so much, because there’s new stuff put up every day, and I’m constantly learning.

I’m so super excited to continue to grow and learn. I uploaded pictures of my work throughout the year, livin’ my dream!

This year I got my foot in the door. Next year, I’M GOING TO KICK IT DOWN!!! Bless this mentorship program, and bless all of you for being there with each step I take. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!!

Super fun day on set yesterday shooting the 2nd in a line of new Vaporizer commercials with one of my favorite YouTube production companies : )

I met them early in my FIF career while onset and am now their main casting director and a producer for videos on their page as well as acting in videos that they specifically write with me in mind : )

Love the networking techniques that Janet teaches us — follow them, I have never once had a connection and my hard work not lead to future opportunities :D

Early call time tomorrow on L&O SVU!

Heading upstate to work at a correctional facility. The hotel is provided :D

Working on the show until Friday !

I feel like I have a secret weapon. When people tell me how hard it is and how little work there is out there I smile because I have the ninja training to find work and get even more.

I have also gained an immense amount of confidence. Before I thought I had to be tough and mean to get anywhere–and I am not that person. So I struggled for a long time trying to figure out why I wasn’t getting anywhere.

But through the training I realize it’s the opposite. I have to be a loving, caring, helpful, thoughtful person to get ahead. And I LOVE that. That means just be who I am and work hard and I can accomplish what I want. It’s a game changer.

On a Nike commercial today and tomorrow with Maria Sharapova! Also just wrapped a Nickelodeon commercial where I office PA both gigs paying $200 plus a day : )

GUYS! Spielberg stopped into set today! He was at the monitor checking out Janusz Kaminski’s shots haha crazy! Working with some top people on this job :) Thanks to FIF!

So today I am wrapping on an indie feature, my FIRST full run of an indie feature and I have a late call time today allowing me to post this with some thought : )

It’s been quite an experience..I learned a lot, I solidified truck driving skills, it feels like a car at this point, I’ve made many connections with many crew members AND actors, they shared where they trained and would give me comp tix to their shows, very fun AND the exec producer and DP AND line producer bought me drinks (yes I got a little shwasty that night, shed my professional image I was working on and lost my wallet BUT it’s all good now + the crew is really chill at this point..) and the exec prod looked me in the eye and said “you are such a hard worker, I’m glad you can finally relax, you are going to go very far in the biz”

Anyway, I’m glad that I have that credit, that experience in my back pocket and I learned a couple things, now I’m ready to reap what’s next!

Before Friends in Film I was working a job that I had been in for almost 6 years. It was eating away at my soul, because eventually, it became a job that had a poisonous environment. I knew I had to do something different. I made a CHOICE to take a risk and to really pursue my dream. So I did, well kind of.

I had graduated from film school and had the knowledge but not a lot of experience. I felt out of date and out of the loop.

How do you get into the industry when you need experience to get your foot in the door?

How do I connect with professionals?

I had all these questions circulating my brain over and over again. It was a nagging; almost a button being pushed saying, “YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING”. It was on repeat and all it did was create anxiety, fear, and I felt lost. I kept strong by writing a script, and kept sane-but knew I wanted MORE, and that something needed to change.

A year after I made my big leap, I found Friends and Film on Facebook. I was soo curious about it; interested.
Could this be helpful?

Is this for real?

Is it for me?

I mean I graduated from FILM SCHOOL. I knew what I wanted to be, a Director. I knew I didn’t want to PA because I had “passed that stage already”.

Last thing I need is to get scammed! I listened to Janet for the first time and felt a sense of calmness, I liked her! She made me laugh, was knowledgeable, and seemed legit.

The deal breaker for me was when Janet asked the question of looking into the future of 5, 10, 20 years ahead and to imagine all of the MISSED opportunities because of fear. I was literally in tears. I knew she was right. I thought I knew everything, but I didn’t. I had experienced life like how you had to in order to tell stories. I followed society’s “rules” and thought I did everything the right way by going to College (film school) after High School. I played the role of a Director, have won awards in film festivals, but that wasn’t enough.

That was not going to give me continuous work, that is not GET IT FACTOR.

I knew it was FEAR of the unknown, fear of failure, and fear of facing myself because I wasn’t perfect and I didn’t know it all. I needed “significance” and before Friends in Film; certainty. I felt it in my soul that I was missing something; I wanted to grow. I knew I had to join.

I had absolutely no idea what I was about to learn, and HOW MUCH I’ve grown in 5 months than I have in 5 years at the same job! Yikes!

I love that this program is not JUST about the film industry. Its about learning how to take control of your life, happiness with your higher self, control of your thoughts, feelings (yes, even the negative energy we all can have) and emotions.

Staying positive, and focusing on your strengths along with focusing on love and support for others.

It’s about learning to free yourself and be yourself. Knowing that it’s OK to make mistakes because we are all learning, but to learn from your mistakes and know what to do for the next time!

I see the world through different eyes. I do feel as if I am going thru a transformation of some sort; evolution or metamorphosis if you will.

Specific examples are simple. I’m a much happier person, self confidence is rising, I’m learning about myself and how to take charge of my life and career; and just growing up as a whole.

I’ve met wonderful people in the industry so far, including idols (the Backstreet Boys) that I have wanted to work with.

Another wonderful thing is being told I “am the ray of light on set”. I have also been told that “I am their favorite person on set”. That makes me feel wonderful and just overall accomplished. I know that I am being myself and doing things from the heart-and people can see and/or feel that.

Friends in Film has really been an eye opener in all of the departments of life that makes us well…us: personal life, psychology as well as the logistics of film making (the step-by-step training of what to actually do for each situation you come across in the industry, how to be prepared, PA backpack, how to deal and accept your anxiety/yourself, how to ask empowering questions, etc ).

These are secret weapons for LIFE, not just the film set! Learning how to conquer fear, always having a level 10 experience, using my anxiety by deciding to accept myself and move along anyway, being vulnerable and not being afraid to act like a fool, and understanding that on the path to mastery, everything will go wrong.

Understanding that “Luck favors the prepared and persistent, and very few are successful right away”. Internalizing these ideologies is how one becomes successful!

So serious!

Great call today everyone! = ) I have wonderful news! I booked two jobs back to back for the first time! Yay!

I actually did have to “check my schedule” when confirming dates which felt AMAZING!

One is a documentary for the National Geographic channel called, “Years of Living Dangerously” Season 2.

The other job I booked is from November 3-6 (Tuesday-Friday) for a commercial.

Both the doc and commercial pay $200 a day.

Positive thoughts to EVERYONE!

We are ALL WINNING!!

Hope you have a great week!