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

Phil Svitek and Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) do a bonus Bookmarked episode on George Orwell’s Animal Farm—a quick-hit companion to our 1984 episode. We share overall reactions (Marisa read it right after 1984; Phil revisited it for the first time since high school) and dig into the big stuff: how a “fairy story” becomes a razor-sharp satire of revolutions gone sideways, why language manipulation...

Phil Svitek and Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) unpack Paulo Coelho’s Brida , a spiritual coming-of-age novel that blends witchcraft, love, and the search for destiny. We trace Coelho’s remarkable journey—from rebellious lyricist and political prisoner to world-renowned author of The Alchemist —and how his fascination with faith, mysticism, and personal legend shaped Brida’s twin paths of the Sun (r...

Phil and Madina sit down for a full-spoiler conversation about Long Story Short, the new adult animated comedy-drama created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg (BoJack Horseman and Undone). The series premiered on Netflix on August 22, 2025, and has already been renewed for a second season. Set across a non-linear timeline, Long Story Short follows the middle-class Jewish Schwooper family—siblings Avi (Ben F...

Most filmmakers try to cram a character arc into a short film — and that’s where they go wrong. In this episode, I break down why short films should focus on a single event that grabs the viewer, while feature films rely on a full arc that lets us connect and care. Learn how this mindset shift can transform your storytelling approach, whether you’re making a 5-minute short or a 2-hour feature.🚀 L...

After a hectic September filled with moving, Comic Con, and even a mild round of COVID, I’m finally settling into my new apartment and ready to get back into a steady creative rhythm. In this vlog, I share:-Life Update: Finding my footing again after a busy month and building new routines.-Comic Con Recap: Reflections on this year’s experience and what made it special — you can check out the full...

At the Annecy Festival, I watched Julie Ann Crommett masterfully quiet a packed, buzzing room—not by raising her voice, but through a clever and engaging technique. Instead of shouting over people or asking for silence, she said:“Clap three times if you can hear me.”A few people clapped. Then she said, “Clap five times if you can hear me.” More joined in. Within seconds, the whole room was quiet,...

YouTube just dropped one of its biggest updates yet — Collaborations. Think Instagram Collabs or TikTok joint posts, but made for YouTube’s long-form videos and Shorts. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through how to use it step-by-step — from sending invites in YouTube Studio to featuring your collabs on your channel homepage. You’ll learn how to:-Add up to 5 collaborators to a single video or Sho...

Not enough people in positions of power have heard the word “no.”Whether it’s in tech, politics, or entertainment, too many decision-makers operate in echo chambers — surrounded by people who agree with them or fear challenging them. The result? We move forward without ever pausing to consider the merits of an idea, product, or policy. That lack of resistance breeds short-sighted innovation and cu...

I make the case that consistency trumps talent — especially in today’s fast-paced world. Too many creatives still think it’s about making the perfect thing, when in reality, it’s about showing up and delivering good work week after week. Sure, everything can always be improved with more time — but for freelancers and creative professionals working on deadlines, that’s not a luxury we have. The key...

For further resources, tools, plus Arbiters' exclusives visit: https://bit.ly/arbitersinfo Bringing an original anime-style feature film to life as indie creators is no small feat—but we’re making it happen. Join the team behind The Arbiters, an upcoming 2D-animated sci-fi fantasy epic, for a behind-the-scenes look at the creative, technical, and entrepreneurial journey of building a high-qual...

Phil and Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) unpack Foer’s ambitious 2005 novel about nine-year-old Oskar Schell, a mysterious key, and a city learning to live with grief after 9/11. We dig into Foer’s background and why he felt compelled to write about 9/11), the book’s inventive form (child narrator, epistolary letters, visual experiments, and that unforgettable flip-book ending), and the way a simple...

In this episode, I demo Adobe Premiere Pro’s Scene Edit Detection—how to run it and why it’s a serious time-saver. You’ll see how auto-detecting cuts on a flattened file lets you: color grade shot-by-shot, stabilize only the shaky bits, replace music under specific scenes, rebuild a trailer timeline, pull selects for a reel, and study pacing/coverage from existing edits. I’ll show the basic setup...

If you’re making a short that’s longer than five minutes, be strategic about why. In this episode I break down how to pick a runtime that aligns with your endgame: aiming for TV? Make a 22-minute or 45-minute cut so it functions like a real pilot. Targeting kids’ TV? Try ~12 minutes so two stack into a half-hour block. Building a proof-of-concept for a feature? Keep it lean—ideally 5 minutes or le...

Right after the screening of my comedy short “5 Minute Film School,” we got up in front of the crowd at the Silicon Beach Film Festival for a candid Q&A about making a no-budget parody that somehow took two years to finish. 🎬 Watch the short here: https://youtu.be/JrEj-W4Mg78?si=gVfS_5F_HLvqOLTs 🚀 Looking for a Creative Collaborator or Coach? Whether you need help launching a podcast, shapin...

Big life/work update! I just hit send on a major application to Annecy’s Residency for The Arbiters (our indie anime-style feature) — huge milestone and real momentum. Right after that… my old car tapped out, so I had to scramble for a new one in the middle of an already packed September. I’m also gearing up for a quick trip, moving from one place to another here in LA, and prepping for our LA Com...

Exciting news! I’m announcing our upcoming panel Indie Anime Meets Industry: The Bold Journey Behind The Arbiters. Bringing an original anime-style feature film to life as indie creators is no small feat—but we’re making it happen. This panel will take you behind the scenes of The Arbiters, a 2D-animated sci-fi fantasy epic, and explore the creative, technical, and entrepreneurial journey of build...

Every artist loves the rush of motivation—the spark of a new idea, the thrill of inspiration. But motivation doesn’t last. The true test is turning that spark into consistent self-discipline. I break down why discipline matters more than motivation, how to build it into your creative routine, and practical strategies to help you push through resistance when the excitement fades. Whether you’re wri...

Storyboarding is the backbone of any animated project, and over time I’ve developed a process that keeps things clear and collaborative—especially when working remotely. In this episode, I break down my approach: starting with a detailed shot list, pulling visual references (or even filming with action figures when needed), and creating floor plans to map the action. From there, I hand everything...

Deadlines aren’t just about dates—they’re about trust. In this episode, I break down why vague requests like “no rush” or “get it to me Tuesday or Wednesday” set everyone up for confusion and disappointment. If you really need something by Wednesday, say Wednesday. And if you secretly want it by Monday, be honest about that too. Clear, specific deadlines create clarity, reduce stress, and build re...

Phil Svitek is joined by Demetri Panos (@DemetriPanos) and Marisa Serafini (@serafiniTV) to unpack Ne Zha 2—the $2.2 billion global phenomenon that redefined animated cinema. We break down everything from its production scale (over 4,000 artists across 138 studios) to its mythology roots in Investiture of the Gods. Topics include Ne Zha and Ao Bing’s evolving partnership, Lady Yin’s emotional sacr...

Phil and Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) dive into Directed By James Burrows, the memoir of one of television’s most influential sitcom directors. Burrows, the creative force behind Cheers, Friends, Frasier, Will & Grace, and more than 1,000 episodes of TV, offers a funny, candid, and deeply instructive look at his career. We unpack his unique directing style, the alchemy of casting and chemistr...

It’s tempting to think “someone else will handle it”—that politicians, activists, celebrities, or organizations are better equipped to solve the world’s problems. But when we push responsibility outward, we shrink our own capacity for impact. The truth is this: you are 100% responsible for 100% of the relationships in your life—family, friends, neighbors, colleagues. And those connections are wher...

Ever wanted to make a movie but don’t have millions of dollars or fancy Hollywood gear? My short film FIVE MINUTE FILM SCHOOL has you covered. It’s a parody step-by-step tutorial that shows you how to create a cinematic masterpiece using just your smartphone, action figures for emotional performances, and some editing tricks that probably shouldn’t work… but do. Tongue-in-cheek? Absolutely. Believ...

Every once in a while, a thriller comes along that feels both fun and grounded — that was my experience with Relay. Directed by David Mackenzie (of Hell or High Water fame) and starring Riz Ahmed, Lily James, and Sam Worthington, this cat-and-mouse story dives into the shadowy world of whistleblowers and corporate cover-ups. It’s a world I don’t know personally, but the film felt real enough to pu...

Every so often a film comes along that feels like it carries the spirit of Studio Ghibli and old-school Disney charm. For me, that was The Glassworker — a film that first landed on my radar a year or so ago. I became intrigued, dove into the incredible 90-minute behind-the-scenes documentary (which is inspiring in its own right), and now I’ve finally had the chance to see it at a preview screening...