The last couple of years have been by far the most rewarding as a filmmaker. But also the scariest at times.

Since 2023 I was fortunate to land financing for a feature film, Teacher’s Pet, which has since sold.

I made numerous shorts, including Ovation, which went viral and led to some incredible opportunities. And just this week I directed a short called Jack & Christine – where I got to work with one of my favorite actors, John Hawkes.

But most years didn’t look anything like the past two.

They were often filled with ideas I couldn’t get off the ground, or completed work I wasn’t 100% satisfied with.

So what exactly changed between then and now?

It wasn’t my approach to the craft, or even my work ethic. 

The biggest difference was my willingness to embrace the unknown. To see fear as a guide, rather than a roadblock.

Take Teacher’s Pet, for example. Before that film, I had only written and directed features that were primarily self-financed. That was a smart way to get started, but after making several features, I slipped into a comfort zone. If I wanted, I could have stayed there indefinitely.

So when the opportunity came to make a feature with outside investment and producing partners, I was surprisingly hesitant.

My self contained production system was working, and I didn’t want to blow it up. What if I didn’t enjoy the collaboration? What if there were too many cooks in the kitchen? What if I couldn’t deliver something worthy of a sale?

The easiest option would have been to return to the status quo. Only being accountable to myself.

But I realized that choice would have been driven entirely by fear.

Fast forward two years, and Teacher’s Pet has become a springboard for some of the most meaningful outcomes of my career. New collaborations with people I could have only dreamt of. Opportunities in both commercial and narrative work. Long-term producing partners I’m now developing multiple projects with.

The lesson was simple – My fear was unfounded and irrational. It was anxiety masquerading as logic, trying to keep me where I already felt safe.

Piecing that together has impacted virtually every aspect of my working life as a filmmaker.

Today, when fear creeps in, I quickly remind myself that means I am on the right track. It’s a sign I am stepping outside my comfort zone. And if I can do that, I can level up as both an artist and a person.

Think about it. If you or I were infinitely good at everything, we’d have it all figured out. We would write the perfect script at the perfect time. We would know how to raise millions of dollars and convince the best actors in the world to say yes. We would all be equally unstoppable.

But none of us know everything, especially at the beginning.

And the barrier between what we don’t know and what we need to know is driven entirely by fear.

Everything good I’ve experienced in the last two years felt uncomfortable at the beginning –

Should I invite that big guest on my podcast? What if they say no?

Should I make a one-take short film for $0? What if people hate it?

Should I ask a legendary actor to read my script? What if they don’t?

As it turns out, the answer is always the same. Stop over thinking, and just try. None of this is life or death.

Earlier this week, my wife and I were sitting in our parked car on the side of the street. Out of nowhere, a drunk driver slammed into us at full speed and took off in a hit-and-run.

Miraculously, we were okay. The car was not.

It was a stark reminder of what actually matters. And how silly it is to fear getting a “no” via email, or to not recoup a few dollars spent making a film.

Filmmaking is not life or death. When we treat it like it is, we do ourselves a disservice. We run from the very experiences that help us grow and become more capable.

So the next time you feel fear around a decision that sits outside your comfort zone, imagine the worst-case scenario.

If the outcome isn’t dire, run toward it – Even if it feels uncomfortable.

And don’t stop there. Leveling up is a lifelong pursuit. Breaking through one barrier only reveals the next.

That’s the point.

If we aren’t challenging ourselves to get stronger and more capable, what are we doing?

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