I Don't Make This Stuff Up...

You are currently a producer trying to earning a living in the film and television industry, or you want to become one. Making a living in this industry has a process. In this episode Thomas J. Bellezza and JD McGibney go over the different avenues in which a producer makes money. While explaining what their job truly is. Zero to a Million Subscribers Series https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P...

The art is valued for the creative mind. It focuses on creating projects, developing ideas, and believes you have to have a product to sell to make money and be successful. Thomas J Bellezza and JD McGibney have a conversation about how the artist brain misleads the business brain. Learn how to make money in the entertainment industry. Zero to a Million Subscribers Series https://www.youtube.com/p...

JD McGibney and Thomas J Bellezza have a nice conversation about the music industry and how a major band walks through the system to stay afloat even during a pandemic. Thank you to Chen Balbus from Orphaned Land and The Secret Saints for giving us a small insight into the world of being a professional band. PREVIOUS EPISODES IN THIS SERIES: • BTS - HOW TO SUCCEED IN ENTERTAINMENT | The Misconcept...

This 2020 year was intense, most of all it shutdown the world around us. For entertainers our opportunities vanished as it did for other industries. What was this year like for us, how will we see 2021 blossom, and things we can do to keep moving forward when at times it seems like we cannot do anything! Thomas J. Bellezza and JD McGibney set up the stage for their 2021 year on this episode of I D...

You want to make a living with your passion. Whether you're an actor, musician, writer, comedian, or even a producer, what you know is all you know. Here's some misconceptions of your industry you should know, and a great deal of helpful skills, tips that will get you on the right path. Thomas J. Bellezza and JD McGibney have a conversation about their adventures to the top. They talk about how th...

You really want to succeed in entertainment. To make a living playing music, acting, writing, doing something in the arts you must learn to do what you hate. This is why if you can see yourself doing anything else in the world you should be placing your time into that. JD McGibney and Thomas J. Bellezza have a conversation about learning how to do what we hate to making a living doing what we love...

Entertainers who create rely on their artistic ventures to make them money. The problem with art is the response is based on opinions. You must love your creative efforts first. When the project is finished shut off your artist brain and allow yourself to find solutions to market the product properly. Your creative effort is not what sells an idea, product, or vision. If that was the case you coul...

Making a living in entertainment is one thing. Working job after job, performing, getting your works heard, seen, felt. Wealth growth in entertainment is the secret to longevity, choice, and the ability to help others. JD McGibney and Thomas J. Bellezza talk about what wealth brings with it, how to develop it, and keeping your direction in line with your brand's choices. PREVIOUS EPISODES IN THIS...

Success is something different for everyone. We are trying to make our way up that hopeful ladder of possibility. Today JD McGibney and Thomas J. Bellezza talk about a few helpful tips for a successful career and some bad advice to ignore, or at least question. PREVIOUS EPISODES IN THIS SERIES: • Building Your Social Media Presence | How Interaction Creates Reaction: https://youtu.be/U-VTN7Kcogk •...

How to grow your social media presence without coming off to aggressive is a process that requires selfless proactive effort. The greatest return on social media, when really working to grow your brand value, is interaction which creates reaction. Celebrities and larger brands do not need to "interact" how we explain it in this episode of "I don't make this stuff up" but they still interact in oth...

When you feel unmotivated to do anything in life for your career how do you find a will to do more? What does it take to find new ways to motivate yourself? You are always going to be capable of doing anything in life as long as you start. Start now, by simply doing one thing. Thomas J. Bellezza and JD McGibney go speak about their experiences of having found ways to motivate themselves to save a...

Your circle of influence should influence you to create new habits that help elevate your mental direction. A career is strongest when you surround yourself with successful people. For the 5 people you surround yourself with become the world you live in. Learn how to build and cultivate relationships to get the most out of your circle. Thomas J. Bellezza and JD McGibney go speak about their experi...

Every award show has their winners. We go over the results of the first Annual BBR Short Film Festival of 2020. JD McGibney, and Thomas J. Bellezza give their insight into what they were looking for in each film. To understand what goes into choosing the winners. They go over what each category represents. At the end of the episode they go over what it takes to make it in the business. Do awards b...

When you hear a song on the radio, watch an actor in a film, listen to a comedian, wonder how this book is even a thing... and say to yourself... how the hell did this crap get made?! This episode is all about explaining the difference between "crap" getting made to make money and how even the greatest of things can still fail. Thomas J. Bellezza and JD McGibney go over their experience of dealing...

The structure of storytelling has a full narrative molded within the tools of the trade. Whether writing a song or a script, how a narrative fills up the character's motivations is a process that has structural rules. Once you know those rules you can break them. On this episode Thomas J. Bellezza and JD McGibney go over how they have grown as writers in all art forms, and breakdown the process in...

Working and collaborating with artists or even entertainers comes with it a struggle or a success. The value of loyalty can add opportunities to working together. What does it mean to truly collaborate with others in the entertainment business. JD McGibney and Thomas J Bellezza talk about their own experiences dealing with collaborations and how they got the most out of it.

What is the process of getting into a Film Festival if you're producing your own films and projects? We speak with producers Elissa Piszel and Debra Lord Cooke. They talk with Thomas J. Bellezza and JD McGibney about their journey of getting "In The Moon's Shadow" filmed and placed into several festivals including the LA Femme International Film Festival. Hiring the right crew is important to gett...

The film industry is filled with many pathways to succeed. How the film industry works is not always what we think it is. Thomas J. Bellezza and JD McGibney take a look at the process through the X-men franchise. They breakdown some similarities to film a major studio film and how it relates to the independent film industry. PREVIOUS EPISODES IN THIS SERIES: • Behind The Scenes Part 1 - The Stream...

The Streaming Debate brings Amazon Prime's "The Boys" and Netflix Cobra Kai in the conversation. Which format is better for audiences. Laying out the full season in a chunk for binge watching or an episode having a weekly release. JD McGibney and Thomas J. Bellezza get into the Business of Streaming when it comes to making money, opportunities, and having a career in entertainment. PREVIOUS EPISOD...

Behind The Scenes - When others discourage you | Your success is defined by you not others. You have a dream to succeed in entertainment. You want to be a successful actor, writer, musician, comedian, you want to make your dream a reality. Yet, there are people who will discourage you because they try to define when success is for you. What is success to you? PREVIOUS EPISODES IN THIS SERIES: • Be...

Who's responsibility is it to draw an audience | What it takes to run an event. Recently on social media bands, comedians, and actors have been speaking out about shows and venues closing down. Saying venues are responsible for drawing crowds for events. Today Thomas J. Bellezza and JD McGibney talk about their own experiences and what it takes to run events. PREVIOUS EPISODES IN THIS SERIES: • Be...

What To Do When Releasing A Media Project | Steps to Release a Film, Album, or even Comedy Specials. You finished creating your band's album, or that independent film you've been working on for a year, even a solid stand-up comedy special, and you want to now release. What is the process to releasing an album, film, or a comedy special to make a strong ROI, or return on your investment. Thomas J....

Artists Holding Themselves Back | Is Fear Holding You Back From Success on this episode of "I Don't Make This Stuff Up" with JD McGibney and Thomas J. Bellezza. This episode talks about how an artist holds themselves back. When musicians, comedians, actors, and creator types hold themselves back by building walls. What should I sacrifice to succeed in entertainment if my art itself is keeping me f...

Misconceptions of success in entertainment | Be so good they can't ignore you. Steve Martin once said "Be so good they can't ignore you" in his book; Born Standing Up. It's an amazingly powerful quote of motivation. But is it wrong? Is success in entertainment about your talent first? On this episode of I Don't Make This Stuff Up, Thomas J. Bellezza and JD McGibney explore Steven Martin's rise to...

My Plan B Is My Plan A | Is A Survival Job Right For Me till I Get A Break? In this behind the scenes look of these two filming their podcast, I Don't Make This Stuff Up", Thomas J. Bellezza an JD McGibney talk about the value of working a survival job in your field of interest. The power of getting involved with your industry. Breaking bad habits of thinking your success is all about you and no o...