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

I recently saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at LA’s Pantages Theatre — and while this isn’t a review, I have to say: it blew my mind. Watching it felt like witnessing real magic. The lighting, the practical effects, the precision — it all made me rethink how we approach live-action filmmaking. In this episode, I reflect on the lessons filmmakers can learn from theater, especially when it come...

What separates professionals from amateurs? It’s not talent. It’s not even opportunity. It’s consistency. In this episode, I break down why showing up week after week, month after month, year after year is the true mark of a real artist. Drawing inspiration from Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art, I explore how professionals commit to their work as a practice—not just when they feel inspired. We t...

Need to send a large amount of footage to someone in another city? Skip the upload wait times and ditch the heavy hard drives. In this quick tip episode, I share a simple, efficient method: SD cards. They're compact, lightweight, and can hold a surprising amount of data—perfect for small to medium-sized projects. I recently sent 250GB of footage to a collaborator in New York this way, and it w...

In this episode, we sit down with Bud Rebel—filmmaker, actor, podcaster, and content creator—whose career spans indie feature films (The Undead, All Screwed Up), over 200 YouTube videos, and a podcast that’s welcomed major Hollywood guests. Bud shares how he built his creative empire from the ground up, the mindset shifts that kept him going, and his strategies for staying consistent across platfo...

Welcome to our monthly book discussion series hosted by Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) and me, Phil Svitek! This month, we dive into Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter — a witty, honest, and relatable novel about starting over when life doesn’t go to plan. We follow Nell, a woman whose business fails, engagement crumbles, and who finds herself back in London starting from...

What if you could start building hype for your project before it’s even finished? Here, I talk about how creators across all disciplines—writers, filmmakers, musicians, visual artists—can use public events like Comic-Cons, book festivals, art fairs, and music expos to generate excitement and gather early fans before the final product is out. These events are more than just launchpads—they're o...

I break down a subtle trap many of us fall into—we compare ourselves not to one person, but to a collage of people, mistakenly treating their combined successes as if they belong to a single superhuman. No wonder we feel like we're not doing enough. But when we separate these individuals and actually study their journeys, we find the challenges, setbacks, and slow growth that got them to where the...

I dive into a simple yet powerful idea that could improve job platforms like Fiverr and Upwork: what if the freelancer who gets hired is paid the average of all submitted quotes? This small shift could reduce underbidding, encourage fair pricing, and promote higher-quality work across the board. I break down how this model benefits freelancers, clients, and the platforms themselves—and why it migh...

The old Hollywood system is crumbling, and two legendary filmmakers—Robert Rodriguez and Mark Duplass—aren’t waiting around. Rodriguez is launching Brass Knuckle Films, letting fans invest in his movies, while Duplass is bypassing streamers to self-release his latest show. This isn’t just a trend—it’s a blueprint for survival. If you’re a filmmaker still hoping for a studio greenlight, you’re alre...

In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with animator and storyteller Toby Cochran, the creative force behind LUKi & the Lights, a deeply moving animated short film about ALS. We discuss his journey in animation, the challenges of indie filmmaking, and the importance of authentic storytelling. Toby shares insights from his years in the industry, his experience with Oscar campaigning, and th...

I share major updates on The Arbiters, including progress on the script, our writer’s room sessions, and the latest developments with our new trailer and proof of concept. I also discuss the investor deck, the filmmaking digital school project, and the strides I’ve made in my novel writing. Beyond that, I explore key topics like the real struggles of indie filmmaking, why companies fail to properl...

Layoffs may seem like an easy way for companies to cut costs, but the data tells a different story. In this episode, we dive deep into the financial, operational, and cultural consequences of layoffs , showing how they often backfire by increasing expenses, tanking stock prices, and damaging long-term growth. 💡 Key Topics: Why 30% of companies that lay off employees end up with higher expenses (...

I break down the basics that filmmakers need to know about film markets—when to attend (and when to skip), how to plan effectively, the major markets worth considering, and the real costs (including the hidden ones no one talks about). I also share my personal experiences navigating these markets, tips for staying organized, and how to maximize your outreach efforts. Plus, I expand on some of thes...

In this insightful interview, I sit down with Susan K. Wehrley, a consciousness coach with 35 years of experience helping leaders and individuals manifest their goals and create a life they love. As the owner of BIZremedies and the author of 13 books, including her recent bestseller SHIFT, Susan shares how personal experiences shaped her understanding of manifestation and how she developed her 4-s...

In a world dominated by social media and AI, our attention is constantly being pulled in a thousand directions. But the greatest gift we can give someone is our presence—real, undivided attention. While the world demands our focus, we have the power to be the change we want to see. Let’s talk about the value of being present, how it shapes our relationships, and why it’s more important now than ev...

The arts have long been built on mentorship, yet today, too many creatives are left to fend for themselves, struggling to learn the craft without guidance. It’s time to bring back apprenticeships—real hands-on learning from experienced artists to the next generation. This isn’t just about tradition; it’s about sustainability, preserving knowledge, and ensuring that skills aren’t lost. Let’s talk a...

Sean Baker’s impassioned speech at the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards (watch it here: https://youtu.be/yIxtMGRlx0k?si=0_QCG3cLpvqFDWKd ) resonated deeply with me. Like him, I’m an indie film lifer—and that’s okay. We get to define success on our terms, and we must demand what we’re worth. The money is out there, and while we’re not asking for a fortune, we won’t accept pennies either. Indie f...

Welcome to our monthly book discussion series hosted by Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) and me, Phil Svitek! This month, we dive into Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, a whimsical and subversive fantasy novel that blends fairy tale magic with witty character dynamics. Follow Sophie Hatter’s journey as she’s transformed into an old woman by the Witch of the Waste and seeks refuge in the myst...

Gene Wolfe once said, “You never learn how to write a novel. You just learn how to write the novel that you're writing.” And the more I create, the more I realize how true this is—not just for writing, but for filmmaking, painting, music, and every other art form. Each project is its own unique puzzle, demanding fresh solutions. You never fully “arrive” as an artist; instead, you become an exp...

We’ve been conditioned to think that if we can’t measure it, it doesn’t matter. But what if the opposite is true? What if the most meaningful things—art, kindness, justice, human connection—can never be captured in numbers? In this episode, I argue that we need to do away with KPIs entirely because they’ll never truly measure real impact. I reference Loretta Ross and her work on “calling in”, shar...

Ne Zha 2 just made nearly $1 billion in China alone, proving that Hollywood isn’t the only game in town. As filmmakers, we need to think beyond Hollywood and understand where the real opportunities lie. In this episode, I break down:🎬 Why knowing your market is just as important as making a great film🌎 How the entertainment industry is truly global, and what that means for funding and distributi...

"Unfortunately, I can't take on any unpaid work to help you make money at this time." You've probably seen this phrase floating around—and while I get the sentiment, the reality is more nuanced.🎭 Yes, you should have a circle of creatives you collaborate with and uplift.📜 If you’re doing unpaid work, everyone should know their role and what they stand to gain. The person who be...

If your emails aren’t getting responses or feel ignored, it’s probably because they’re too long, too vague, or filled with weak phrases. Let’s fix that! 🚀In this episode, I share 10 powerful email tips that will help you:📧 Get faster replies and clearer responses💼 Sound more confident and professional🚀 Avoid common mistakes that make emails ineffectiveI’ll cover weak phrases to avoid, why brev...

I’ve committed to being truly bold in my outreach for my big animated feature. Now, with more time opening up, I’m returning to past projects: updating my novel outline and starting to write this week, wrapping up my digital film school video and 20-year doc with a new editor I’ve gotten to know. As I close out the vlog, I share some observations—like the real difference between having a sponsor v...

Indie filmmakers are always told to keep it small—one location, minimal cast, limited scope. But what if you flipped that thinking on its head? Instead of shrinking your vision, expand it. More locations. A bigger cast. A film that feels massive without breaking the bank. The truth is, playing big doesn’t have to mean spending big. Strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and leveraging resou...