The worst jobs I had while writing were desk jobs. Currently I'm a casual medical courier, which has been hugely beneficial for my writing. I write in the morning before work, and drive around for 8 hours thinking about my screenplay, making notes on my phone between stops, ready for my next writing sesh. People watching at stop lights is a game-changer when it comes to creating and developing characters too.
yeah the best job for creative work is non cognitive heavy work, esp if you move your body a lot. If your day job is desk job heavy on thinking or managing etc, you will exhausted creatively at the end of your work hour
@@jonvia People watching is great for inspiration to write. Sometimes it's as simple as having a conversation with someone or observing other people and I've written comedy from that. You never know what will inspire you.
"Fear dominates...fear will make excuses..." Damn, that's so true. And yes, the competition now is so much more intense than it was in the 80s, which kicks up the fear even more. I need confidence of steel for my creative self to peak out. BTW, I love his workaround - that 15-minute trick just before scheduled to leave.
Everything counts, even your regrets. Born as a music creator and sculptor, I never thought to study music or art and learned finance and work for others in a office until I was 35 years. Then I decided to leave and find my own path. Now at 42 my most beautiful service is to help people to find inner peace through music meditation. A total different path and with the integration of all what I learned and experience. And is just the beginning...
Sweet. Have you tried any VR art or meditation apps/games? There are some really good ones. Vermillion VR is an amazing Oil Painting VR Simulator. Great paint physics. Etc.
It's really tough on a fulltime schedule! "finding the corners" is really good advice. Fight for just a few minutes to give back to your art, again and again. It'll get easier to carve time as you get used to it.
I love that! "Hard work is what you do at the job. Hustle is what you invest in your own self and your own goals". I work a part time day job, so have lots of free time in the evenings to go to open mics, write jokes and songwrite.
He's probably told us everything we need to know in this vid but I would love to hear 10 more hours from him about creativity. And I want to play frisbee with him.
This talk really stunned me for a minute. Mr. Vorhaus' experiences and world view is something that I can really resonate with, even though I'm only in my late 20s. Everything's a hustle for me so far and nothing seems to stick for long. This has been pretty frustrating at times, but I just can't let go of my principles. anyway, there are some compelling concepts and helpful advices in this video, so thanks! If only I heard them earlier, but hey, there's still plenty of time for me to not just sell my time.
This is so relatable. I agree that approaching your creative outlet with the same professionalism you do day job helps elevate it and make you and others take it seriously. It's also hard with a day job, because you might get really tired at the end of the day and become burned out at both. And also the Instagram and TikTok comment is also on point. I'm not making much money from my music, but at least I'm putting it out there, because why not. It's better than nothing.
@@Thenoobestgirl Communism....I would starve to death or be sent to a death camp. So, I should move to communist country? If you learn real history, from many countries, you would break your brainwashing into bashing capitalism, and maybe even understand it a bit. ;)
It's the same for most writers in Hollywood too, and why we're on strike. Part of my issue is people don't even recognize me to use for their projects for free; they're into their own ideas, which is fine, but they don't begin to understand story like I do, or to even respect my input. They also don't go anywhere but their backyards, though. So I've moved on from those people. And in spite of the negative experiences, I'm hopeful! And they're not all bad, as I've met lots of more advanced people that are oriented in film, who are way more understanding and respectful. But for far too many, to give an inch and they take a mile. We just have to be strict with not giving more than an inch.
This was the best video I've watched on this subject in the last 3 weeks. One of my favorites! His advice of forcing yourself to do 15 minutes of "bad writing" is genius.
Working full time is a roller coaster that builds a naturally unhealthy rhythm, where you work and then you're tired and you don't want to do anything. Like what's pointed out in the video. Worse still is that additional cycle of guilt that builds up over not doing the creative things that I want to do. It is such a vicious cycle.
literally setting up my tarot altar to finish up something ive been working on as you mention the fool. i want to own a metaphysical shop and write about tarot after 15 years of trying to become a chef. hit me right in the gut- but then again i ate a heavy dinner last night.
To me personally, this has been one of the best videos on this channel recently. I could relate 100% to the things he said here. That's good advice, dividing your time in thirds. I like that
I love this! Take the step and fly is exactly where I am at. Taking care of my mind, body, and soul is an important part of my mental health and wellness. Mahalo!
Important lesson. Be as diligent in your creative work as you would in your day job. Also, strike a balance in this diligence: 1/3 day job/money; 1/3 creative work; 1/3 family/friends/housework/emotional sustenance.
I’m getting into freelancing as a copywriter and oddly enough I feel like everything he’s saying is just as applicable to me as to someone who’s trying to get into films
This is a great insight and he is right, when one is younger you CAN walk out a cliff and KNOW you’ll be alright… because you believe in it. it gets harder as years go by and you already fell a few times down that cliff… why will next time be different? You also start realizing you’re now to old to get lame side gig jobs, and you’re unskilled - apart from being able to make a feature film on your own for example - which is a strange skill to have. The hardest part imo is believing that one day your art will pay you to live with dignity. That’s when belief becomes faith. I’m still working on that switch…
Been watching everything with him & this is by far the best clip! Its so true how you have to fight to put in the same mindful effort towards your gift-hobby especially in the beginning otherwise you will feel like you earned time to relax which is really you tricking yourself to not work out of fear & reluctance to start...but if you just dare to strictly put in 15 minutes, itll turn to 30 whichll turn to an hour & before you know it, youre excited to return & you realized those invisible walls werent so scary to cross. To succeed in your hustle really does require you to be disciplined enough to force yourself to work the same way your boss at a job would(or youll be fired). I like his rule of 9 too cuz that helps you to not fear failure with all your ego invested in one possibility of failure vs spreading it out among 10 points in which likely at least one will succeed & can fuel your hope in your pursuits.
I am at the moment teaching improvisation and story telling to individuals with various mental health issues... Using tools like Dungeons and Dragons. Stories have tremendous healing power.
The problem is no longer finding a way to, to be specific, shoot a film. Shooting a film as never been as easy as it is nowadays. Having a career, however, has never been this hard, and will only get worse as the streaming wars haze comes into a halt. There’s arguably already too much stuff out there, so it is inevitable that streamers will start to slow down production and begin to curate their offer - which is what should have been done from the start. So, even if in some sense, streamers have opened up the game slighty to a wider group of aspiring professionals, that will come to an end fairly soon. So we are back to the main issue here: getting enough traction to have a career. Up until the 90s/ early 00s, you needed only - well “only” - to have a feature that was competently put together by minimal standards to get some serious attention from top level producers. Or even a very polished short would do the trick. Nowadays, everyone can shoot an extremely polished short with minimum effort, so that is virtually worthless. Nowadays, there are hordes of people completing feature length projects, the majority of them very competently put together, so nothing special about that either. And given the sheer number of aspiring professionals, it is extremely naive on your part to think that the uniqueness of your idea alone will be enough to cut through the noise - not only because the noise has gotten way too thick to be able to cut through like that, but also because (and let’s be real) that idea that you think is so very unique and special is very likely not; it’s just your ego trying to protect you. You can spend your entire life making financial and personal sacrifices to get competent, polished features under your belt and never have a career in this industry. That’s the current reality.
Yeah, that's the part of media no one seems to grasp. Media can be reproduced infinitely for free. Therefore, as the population grows the media industry will shrink in relative terms. Instead of 10% of creative wannabes succeeding, now 1% do. Tomorrow, .1%.
Be MORE diligent your side hustle than your 9-5. Working towards your own goals is far more important than working harder than you need to for a dead end job.
I clicked on this because I want to express why someone chooses to not do chores in a shared living space. They are disgusted by the thought of MORE WORK and it becomes a self defeating practice when they complain the to-do list gets too heavy.
Yeah how to do you work a 40 -55 hours a week job, handle 2 kids under 4, and maintain your marriage, all while you work on your "PaSsIon" of writing? Please have someone tell me this, thanks.
The worst jobs I had while writing were desk jobs. Currently I'm a casual medical courier, which has been hugely beneficial for my writing. I write in the morning before work, and drive around for 8 hours thinking about my screenplay, making notes on my phone between stops, ready for my next writing sesh. People watching at stop lights is a game-changer when it comes to creating and developing characters too.
yeah the best job for creative work is non cognitive heavy work, esp if you move your body a lot.
If your day job is desk job heavy on thinking or managing etc, you will exhausted creatively at the end of your work hour
People watching is key for lyrical writing too! Keep up the great work!
@@jonvia People watching is great for inspiration to write. Sometimes it's as simple as having a conversation with someone or observing other people and I've written comedy from that. You never know what will inspire you.
So you do distractive driving…
@@nandohosp312 * so you practice...
6:34 I love this "divide your time into thirds" philosophy on how to approach life and how you spend your time.
"Fear dominates...fear will make excuses..." Damn, that's so true. And yes, the competition now is so much more intense than it was in the 80s, which kicks up the fear even more. I need confidence of steel for my creative self to peak out.
BTW, I love his workaround - that 15-minute trick just before scheduled to leave.
competition is much more intense in numbers, but not in quality... 80s were mad in quality
“Step off, you’ll never fall you’ll fly.” I needed that.
Everything counts, even your regrets.
Born as a music creator and sculptor, I never thought to study music or art and learned finance and work for others in a office until I was 35 years. Then I decided to leave and find my own path. Now at 42 my most beautiful service is to help people to find inner peace through music meditation. A total different path and with the integration of all what I learned and experience. And is just the beginning...
Sweet. Have you tried any VR art or meditation apps/games? There are some really good ones. Vermillion VR is an amazing Oil Painting VR Simulator. Great paint physics. Etc.
It's really tough on a fulltime schedule! "finding the corners" is really good advice. Fight for just a few minutes to give back to your art, again and again. It'll get easier to carve time as you get used to it.
I love that! "Hard work is what you do at the job. Hustle is what you invest in your own self and your own goals". I work a part time day job, so have lots of free time in the evenings to go to open mics, write jokes and songwrite.
He's probably told us everything we need to know in this vid but I would love to hear 10 more hours from him about creativity. And I want to play frisbee with him.
I want to know how Santa on Stilts worked out
This talk really stunned me for a minute. Mr. Vorhaus' experiences and world view is something that I can really resonate with, even though I'm only in my late 20s. Everything's a hustle for me so far and nothing seems to stick for long. This has been pretty frustrating at times, but I just can't let go of my principles. anyway, there are some compelling concepts and helpful advices in this video, so thanks! If only I heard them earlier, but hey, there's still plenty of time for me to not just sell my time.
This is so relatable. I agree that approaching your creative outlet with the same professionalism you do day job helps elevate it and make you and others take it seriously. It's also hard with a day job, because you might get really tired at the end of the day and become burned out at both.
And also the Instagram and TikTok comment is also on point. I'm not making much money from my music, but at least I'm putting it out there, because why not. It's better than nothing.
I'm 54 with talents but everyone wants to use me for free.
Yep Me too. I’m at my Witt’s end really had enough of Jack Of All Trades Master of Nothing
I bet they're really lovely when they try to get work out of you for free...
That's capitalism for you...
@@Thenoobestgirl Communism....I would starve to death or be sent to a death camp. So, I should move to communist country? If you learn real history, from many countries, you would break your brainwashing into bashing capitalism, and maybe even understand it a bit. ;)
It's the same for most writers in Hollywood too, and why we're on strike.
Part of my issue is people don't even recognize me to use for their projects for free; they're into their own ideas, which is fine, but they don't begin to understand story like I do, or to even respect my input. They also don't go anywhere but their backyards, though. So I've moved on from those people. And in spite of the negative experiences, I'm hopeful! And they're not all bad, as I've met lots of more advanced people that are oriented in film, who are way more understanding and respectful.
But for far too many, to give an inch and they take a mile. We just have to be strict with not giving more than an inch.
Bravo! That was so inspired... easily one of the best videos I've seen on FILM COURAGE. Thank you John Vorhaus.
Cheers Kevin! Now one of our favorites as well!
This was the best video I've watched on this subject in the last 3 weeks. One of my favorites! His advice of forcing yourself to do 15 minutes of "bad writing" is genius.
Working full time is a roller coaster that builds a naturally unhealthy rhythm, where you work and then you're tired and you don't want to do anything. Like what's pointed out in the video. Worse still is that additional cycle of guilt that builds up over not doing the creative things that I want to do. It is such a vicious cycle.
literally setting up my tarot altar to finish up something ive been working on as you mention the fool.
i want to own a metaphysical shop and write about tarot after 15 years of trying to become a chef.
hit me right in the gut- but then again i ate a heavy dinner last night.
To me personally, this has been one of the best videos on this channel recently. I could relate 100% to the things he said here. That's good advice, dividing your time in thirds. I like that
This one is really good! Love our interview with John Vorhaus!
Wow this touched my soul and gave me goosebumps. He is literally speaking to my dilemma in life!
What’s the worst day job you have ever had?
Cleaning.
This one was gooood. Definitely my top 10 film courage videos!
I love this! Take the step and fly is exactly where I am at. Taking care of my mind, body, and soul is an important part of my mental health and wellness. Mahalo!
Important lesson. Be as diligent in your creative work as you would in your day job. Also, strike a balance in this diligence: 1/3 day job/money; 1/3 creative work; 1/3 family/friends/housework/emotional sustenance.
I’m getting into freelancing as a copywriter and oddly enough I feel like everything he’s saying is just as applicable to me as to someone who’s trying to get into films
This is pure genius. Thank you.
Agreed! Great to see you here Tony!
I love his attitude, what an awesome guy.
Great advice!! Thank you for the insight.
This is a great insight and he is right, when one is younger you CAN walk out a cliff and KNOW you’ll be alright… because you believe in it. it gets harder as years go by and you already fell a few times down that cliff… why will next time be different? You also start realizing you’re now to old to get lame side gig jobs, and you’re unskilled - apart from being able to make a feature film on your own for example - which is a strange skill to have. The hardest part imo is believing that one day your art will pay you to live with dignity. That’s when belief becomes faith. I’m still working on that switch…
Bravo! This is so inspiring its simply epic.
Great advice. If you want to step off the precipice and fly better build some wings
Thank you John.
Thanks to you both. Really great!
Awesome!
Been watching everything with him & this is by far the best clip! Its so true how you have to fight to put in the same mindful effort towards your gift-hobby especially in the beginning otherwise you will feel like you earned time to relax which is really you tricking yourself to not work out of fear & reluctance to start...but if you just dare to strictly put in 15 minutes, itll turn to 30 whichll turn to an hour & before you know it, youre excited to return & you realized those invisible walls werent so scary to cross.
To succeed in your hustle really does require you to be disciplined enough to force yourself to work the same way your boss at a job would(or youll be fired). I like his rule of 9 too cuz that helps you to not fear failure with all your ego invested in one possibility of failure vs spreading it out among 10 points in which likely at least one will succeed & can fuel your hope in your pursuits.
He's done so much!
Brilliant advice.
Needed this today. Ready to fly.
Thank you for the inspiration.
I am at the moment teaching improvisation and story telling to individuals with various mental health issues...
Using tools like Dungeons and Dragons.
Stories have tremendous healing power.
Fear and motivation 9:40.
Selling your time with added value. 10:50
Act like you know!
The problem is no longer finding a way to, to be specific, shoot a film. Shooting a film as never been as easy as it is nowadays. Having a career, however, has never been this hard, and will only get worse as the streaming wars haze comes into a halt. There’s arguably already too much stuff out there, so it is inevitable that streamers will start to slow down production and begin to curate their offer - which is what should have been done from the start. So, even if in some sense, streamers have opened up the game slighty to a wider group of aspiring professionals, that will come to an end fairly soon. So we are back to the main issue here: getting enough traction to have a career. Up until the 90s/ early 00s, you needed only - well “only” - to have a feature that was competently put together by minimal standards to get some serious attention from top level producers. Or even a very polished short would do the trick. Nowadays, everyone can shoot an extremely polished short with minimum effort, so that is virtually worthless. Nowadays, there are hordes of people completing feature length projects, the majority of them very competently put together, so nothing special about that either. And given the sheer number of aspiring professionals, it is extremely naive on your part to think that the uniqueness of your idea alone will be enough to cut through the noise - not only because the noise has gotten way too thick to be able to cut through like that, but also because (and let’s be real) that idea that you think is so very unique and special is very likely not; it’s just your ego trying to protect you. You can spend your entire life making financial and personal sacrifices to get competent, polished features under your belt and never have a career in this industry. That’s the current reality.
Yeah, that's the part of media no one seems to grasp. Media can be reproduced infinitely for free.
Therefore, as the population grows the media industry will shrink in relative terms. Instead of 10% of creative wannabes succeeding, now 1% do. Tomorrow, .1%.
What he says about fear is real.
Quite an interesting take on living life off the proverbial Wall 🤝🎇
Get your CDL and you’ll always a) have work b) alone time to think creatively
I’m going to wait to write before 15 minutes before I leave….genius…
Let us know how it works for you
Ide love to meet this amazing man
Don’t forget The GOAT Robert Mitchum told someone he knew how to ride a horse. The rest is history
Bro, I'd take $30/hr _now_ to be Santa on Stilts.
Quite a gig!
13:47 this is my problem right now
how can my work compete with endless free work lol
Be MORE diligent your side hustle than your 9-5. Working towards your own goals is far more important than working harder than you need to for a dead end job.
My motto has always been, "Leap! A net will appear."
I clicked on this because I want to express why someone chooses to not do chores in a shared living space. They are disgusted by the thought of MORE WORK and it becomes a self defeating practice when they complain the to-do list gets too heavy.
Mehn! This man just spoke my life.
I think John is my brother from a different mother.
Jumping off a cliff may be well intent,
As long as that's the person's bent,
Some are like thee,
And others like me,
Who posses no exceptional talent.
Yeah how to do you work a 40 -55 hours a week job, handle 2 kids under 4, and maintain your marriage, all while you work on your "PaSsIon" of writing? Please have someone tell me this, thanks.
Start at 5 minutes a day, work towards 15.