A Phil Svitek Podcast - A Series From Your 360 Creative Coach

I was honored to be invited as a keynote speaker for The Los Angeles Screenwriting Competition Awards Ceremony 2023 ( https://lascreenwriting.com/ ). It's a wonderful film competition for writers and so I wanted to do justice by them and share the tips that have benefited me in my writing. You can catch all the nominees, speeches and winners here: https://www.youtube.com/live/XaAZXbmJOCE?si=AX...

We've become very reliant on technology and think as it advances, it can't fail. Certainly, we look at "the cloud" as this mystical term that means our data is available all the time. However, that data is stored somewhere physically. Sure, it has redundancies to prevent loss, but it doesn't mean there's a zero chance of that happening. Climate change has a HUGE effect on...

Podcasts are evolving, or at least what we perceive as podcasts even though many "podcasts" don't fall into the technical definition. Either way, as consumers adopt the term beyond the true meaning, so too are content creators trying to meet those demands. This has lead to a rise in "video podcasts." Many people strive to publish both audio and video podcasts. However, they...

Diamond, my foster dog, is going to be adopted. It's been quite the journey with her and so I wanted to reflect back on the month and a half we got to spend together. As much as I try to distill lessons, it's also a way of me sharing the lovely memories we made so I can always remember them. So check out this episode and please share your thoughts down in the comment section or hit me up o...

Screen Craft published a blog about a technique that filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki uses called "Ma" ( https://bit.ly/47pD8kC) . So what is it and how can it benefit you? To answer the 2nd part first, it allows the film to connect with audiences on a deeper, more psychological level. As to what it is, you'll have to check out the episode. Don't worry, I give plenty of examples to illus...

Revision and editing are processes meant to enhance a writer's story. It clarifies, trims, and eliminates any plot holes or contradictions. One specific technique I've found that helps me during this phase of writing is to do a revision that's character-centric. This means I read the story from a character's perspective to see if there's any inconsistencies or ways to elevate w...

In a recent episode of The Goop Podcast, guest Casper ter Kuile gave some advice on how to build a community ( https://goop.com/the-goop-podcast/rebuilding-the-bonds-of-love/ ). One of his pieces of advice was geared towards people who love books. And you know I love books. Because of that, I wanted to share that advice with you! So check out this episode and please share your thoughts down in the...

No. It's a word that can also be used as a full sentence but too many of us are afraid to use it as such. But by utilizing it, we gain so much. The Olsen sisters have talked about the benefits of learning this lesson early on from their dad and I wanted to share it with you! So check out this episode and please share your thoughts down in the comment section or hit me up on social media @PhilS...

Starting a podcast from scratch can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. I share the mentality and approach you can take to allow you to ease into the venture and find success. So check out this episode and please share your thoughts down in the comment section or hit me up on social media @PhilSvitek. And for a more step-by-step process, check out my how-to at https://philsvitek.com/get-...

Many people have a sleep schedule during week days and then change it up for weekends. This leaves their body always trying to catch up. That's why I recommend having a consistent sleep schedule every day. So check out this episode and please share your thoughts down in the comment section or hit me up on social media @PhilSvitek. Lastly, for more free resources from your 360 creative coach, c...

Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) and I are book lovers and we've decided to do a monthly in-depth book discussion. Our 17th book is Imagining Argentina, written by Lawrence Thornton, and next month we'll be chatting about Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer. What's Imagining Argentina about? "Cecilia, a dissident journalist in Buenos Aires, is kidnapped by the secret police, lik...

Max rebooted Project Greenlight and this relaunch focuses, under the guidance of Issa Rae as Executive Producer, on the next generation of diverse, up-and-coming talented female filmmakers who are given the chance to direct a feature film. In the first season that filmmaker is Meko Winbush. I've had a chance to watch the whole season and the film they made, called Gray Matter. As a fellow film...

I've been meaning to do reiki for a while, but recently I finally went ahead and did it. As such, I wanted to share my experience of it. So check out this episode and please share your thoughts down in the comment section or hit me up on social media @PhilSvitek. And if you'd like to book a session with Grace specifically, visit her website at https://www.reikihealingwithgrace.com/ . Lastl...

What's the alternative? That's a question I often ask myself in life and with my art. The reason I ask this is because even though the way in which I move forward is not the ideal way, "what's the alternative?" Often times, it's inaction. And this question has been top of mind in the past several days because I've been fostering a dog named Diamond ( https://youtube.c...

I really enjoyed season 2 of The Bear. Shocker, I know. It's so good and everyone loves it! And since there's been lots of good discussions online about it, I felt I'd add my perspective and continue the conversation. So check out this episode and please share your thoughts down in the comment section or hit me up on social media @PhilSvitek. Lastly, for more free resources from your 3...

I recently heard a wonderful acronym of L.O.V.E., which means to Let Others Voluntarily Evolve. This is a wonderful reminded to me, and I'm sure to a lot of others. So check out this episode and please share your thoughts down in the comment section or hit me up on social media @PhilSvitek. Lastly, for more free resources from your 360 creative coach, check out my website at http://philsvitek....

Because it was the week of July 4th, I had decided a bit ago to take a mini get-away to Solvang with a friend of mine. Though it wasn't a true vacation, I was able to relax. I've also committed my time to train Diamond, my two year old German Shepard mix foster ( https://www.laanimalservices.com/pet/a2080943 ). If you'd like to adopt her, let me know. Also, here's a wonderful video...

Recently, Tom Cruise promoted Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Oppenheimer and Barbie. Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie responded in kind, with tickets to Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 (full details: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/margot-robbie-greta-gerwig-tom-cruise-barbie-1235526774/ ). I think this is a wonderful trend that should continue. So check out thi...

I read quite a bit and only recently implemented a better system for retaining the information I read. That's what I wanted to share with you! It's a way to remember various details and cataloging them in such a way that you can return easier to them when needed. So check out this episode and please share your thoughts down in the comment section or hit me up on social media @PhilSvitek. L...

I begin by talking about writing the second draft of my fantasy script and the first draft of my 2nd non fiction book (a filmmaking how to book). There's specifics I share about each process, but the similarity between both is the idea of testing ideas in the early stages where it's cheap to try things. After, I talk about fostering a sweet pup named Diamond (she is available for adoption)...

When recording voice over or ADR, I suggest always redoing the beginning of the session at the end. Why? Because the person is in a rhythm by that time. It'll be more consistent with the rest of the session in terms of pacing, energy, etc. So check out this episode and please share your thoughts down in the comment section or hit me up on social media @PhilSvitek. Lastly, for more free resourc...

Nisa Ahmad is a Hollywood producer and a dear friend. Recently, she went viral with a TikTok ( https://www.tiktok.com/@prettyrabid/video/7222066189420334379 ) that examined how the recession affect people's grocery shopping habits. I thought it was a very different perspective than what others were sharing, yet so obvious in hindsight. That's what makes great art (and artists) though—the a...

This vlog dives into the power of friendship. Sure, I begin with catching you up on a creative meeting I had. But even that showcases that in order to elevate your art, you need good feedback from people you trust. I also discuss how my friend Derrial Christon and I were tourists in our own city and how that deepened our friendship. (It also illustrates the importance of curiosity towards one'...

Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) and I are book lovers and we've decided to do a monthly in-depth book discussion. Our 16th book is You, Me, U.S., written by Brigitte Bautista, and next month we'll be chatting about Lawrence Thornton's Imagining Argentina. What's You, Me, U.S. about? "Best friends Jo and Liza are as opposite as night and day. Sex worker Jo swears by the worry-fre...

Don't let things linger. Take care of them right away. This principle has served me well in my life to avoid unnecessary headaches and so I share it with you. Check out this episode and please share your thoughts down in the comment section or hit me up on social media @PhilSvitek. Lastly, for more free resources from your 360 creative coach, check out my website at http://philsvitek.com . RES...