Listen Now

In this Podcast Episode:An update: we watched the first assembly of the Loved and LostDevelopments within the Film and Family program that we are excited to releaseThe flip side of generating motivation to do things is getting rid of desires for things we don't want to doDetermining which desires you want to keep or get rid ofFocusing on something grows it - what you focus on, you create more ofThe biggest problem people run into when they try to get rid of desireA simple solution - desire something else moreFocusing on the wanted starves the unwanted desireOur desires feed off of our attention. Focus on it and it will growHuman Nature - not judging yourself or othersReleasing drama gives the desire less power Why thoughts with heavier emotions stick more in your memoryLearn about the Film and Family Program:www.InvisibleMansion.com/FilmandFamilyMake Your Feature Film (Free Step-by-Step Guide):www.InvisibleMansion.com/FreeChecklist

 In this Podcast Episode:Why we’ve been gone for a few weeksWhat "Better than Happy" means to usThe purpose of life How pursuing happiness thwarts happiness. (Victor Frankl)How processing emotion allows us to not stay stuck When we avoid pain, we also feel less joyYour level of heartbreak is a measure of how much you allowed yourself to lovePain is inevitable - how to choose between the pain of loving deeply or of regret and numbing your true desiresAn invitation to challenge the typical “happy ending”How to create a meaningful life and meaningful storiesLearn about the Film and Family Program: www.InvisibleMansion.com/FilmandFamily

Free Consultation:www.InvisibleMansion.com/filmandfamilyThe average amount of time it takes to make one feature film (from when it's announced to when it's released) is 2 years, 4 months, and 19 days. That doesn't even include writing the script or prepping/packaging it before it gets financed. Parenthood and feature filmmaking are long-term ventures. In our latest podcast episode, we outline what you can expect that journey to look like for you. By the end, you'll be able to identify which of the four stages of learning you are in right now and what to do next.Do you feel like you are failing repeatedly without seeing any progress or results? You're in stage two. Don't worry, the growth is happening. It's just internal and nearly imperceptible.Does it take you a lot of focused effort to do what is effortless and easy for others? Do not despair. This is a natural part of the process. You're in the final stage that precedes mastery. You're almost there! Knowing the stages of learning can help you know how to move forward and transition to the next stage on the road to mastery. And as you go, you'll be better equipped to enjoy wherever you are now and find purpose in this part of your experience. Which stage are you in?Listen to the episode to find out!Free Consultation:www.InvisibleMansion.com/filmandfamily

Free Consultation:www.InvisibleMansion.com/filmandfamilyIn Stephen King's autobiography, On Writing, he describes in detail his struggle with addiction, which nearly cost him his family. King's powerful conclusion is that,"Life isn't a support system for art. It's the other way around."If we sacrifice too much on the altar of "art making", we deprive ourselves of anything truly meaningful to make art about.Ideally, the purpose of film is not to escape our lives, but to help us appreciate and add meaning to them. The investments we make in our health, relationships, and education bring rich rewards, but these take time. Films can condense this timeline and helps us see a perspective beyond the dull or difficult now; to see a character's triumph in context. Our greatest memories are hard-earned, which makes them all the more valuable.I know our family feels this strongly this week. I (Anna) am in the hospital with pregnancy complications, and Kent is left to manage the home and take care of our other three children single-handedly. We've found it difficult, but necessary, to put some artistic pursuits on hold. But we know the sacrifices we make to bring these little humans into being, are actually the very substance of life.We cannot forget the whole reason we want to make movies in the first place! The medium enables us to share in our relationships, experiences, and the wisdom we gain from our most difficult trials. It would be completely backwards to sacrifice these treasured life experiences in our efforts to express why they matter so much.We hope that no matter what you are going through, that art can function to support and inspire you through it.  Do not allow artistic expression to rob you of the concrete things in life that matter most. As you protect your life experience, you also put yourself into a position to pay it forward, creating art that inspires and supports others because of the meaningful lessons you allow life to teach you. How will you make art that supports life instead of sacrificing your life to support art?Even though I've been away, Kent still managed to record a short "behind the scenes" podcast interview with two of our kids this week, talking about their experience making a feature film as a family. Isn't he amazing? And our kids are pretty adorable too. Check it out.Free Consultation:www.InvisibleMansion.com/filmandfamily

There is no such thing as should. There is no rule book about what everyone should or shouldn't do. When you say "should" you are always judging and limiting yourself or those around you.Looking back, it's not productive to think, "I should have...." because the past is over, and you can't go back and change it. But you can change the way you think about it.Here's the truth. What you did is what you should have done because it's what you did.Don't use the past to define you, but to refine you.Replace "should" with "could" whenever you can. Because it's the truth. You had and continue to have an abundance of options.There is no "should." Only lots of "could"s. And exploring the contrast of life is how you figure out which you "could's" you want to choose.If this topic resonates with you, check out this week's podcast for some more examples of why this simple switch can make a huge difference.Sign up for your free Consultation:www.InvisibleMansion.com/filmandfamily

Making a feature film is a massive undertaking, but that doesn't mean you can't do it. We've created a program that breaks the entire process from start to end into digestible steps and stages that you can move through one at a time.In the Film and Family Academy, we guarantee that if you follow every step we teach you, you will have a finished film by the end, or we'll give you your money back. Most film graduates have still never done what every single graduate from the Film and Family Academy does: actually finish a feature film.Besides the affordable cost to join the program, you don't need to invest any more of your own money into getting your film made. We teach you how to secure the necessary financing as an essential part of our process. Once you're in, you only need time to invest in completing each step. And you can move as fast or as slow as you want to.You don't have to quit your day job, wait until your kids grow up, or finish school before you get started. You can do it with the time you have right now, no matter what your circumstances are.We know that there are more important things in life than film. Ultimately, we want you to make your life your greatest masterpiece. But the things that matter more than film also don't prevent you from making films. In fact, the tools we teach to help you make great films, will also empower you to create an amazing life.Part of our mission is to help more people, like you, who prioritize health and family,  add their unique voices to this industry.To learn exactly how we do that, tune in to this podcast episode.Download the free "Make Your Feature Film" checklist: www.InvisibleMansion.com/freechecklistSign up for your free Consultation:www.InvisibleMansion.com/filmandfamily

Learn More about the Film and Family Program HERE.Did you know that the discomfort of denying dreams is often greater than the discomfort of making them happen?We talk a lot about the discomfort inherent in pursing something hard - about the price of growth and the importance of being willing to fail in order to expand yourself, but there's another discomfort that we often overlook. It's the discomfort of denying a dream.Ignoring your dreams is just as much work and just as uncomfortable. It's exhausting to lie to yourself, make excuses, buffer, or ignore the pull instead of going after something you really want.If you're already uncomfortable not pursuing your dream, what do you have to lose in chasing it? You'll experience discomfort either way, so why not choose the discomfort where your dream has a chance of coming true? To dive into this topic further, click to listen to this podcast episode.Learn More about the Film and Family Program HERE.

This podcast is made and sponsored by Invisible Mansion Pictures. Click to join the Film and Family Interest List here: www.InvisibleMansion.com/filmandfamilySome of the hardest jobs are those of a leader or parent. Didn't it look easy when you saw someone else do it?I remember thinking I was good at parenting because I could babysit other people's kids. As a parent of three (almost four) I now recognize that the two jobs vary greatly in their level of difficulty.Parents function as rule creators and babysitters function as rule enforcers. This applies in the work field as well. Employers create rules and employees enforce or follow them.It's much easier to enforce rules or structures than to create them. And it's especially difficult to act in a role where you are both the creator and enforcer of those rules. In the United States, we have separate branches of government to separate these jobs. But most parents do both. Many small business owners do both.  And beginner directors and producers often do both too. This is why the role of AD is so vital.It's simpler when you didn't make the rule, set the prices, or are able to say, "let me talk to my manager about that and get back to you." Film directors and parents sometimes have the burden of needing to make and defend decisions in the heat of the moment. Emotions can run high. If your children or clients expect an immediate answer, you may get defensive, doubt yourself, or make an impulsive change that you regret later.Try creating some separation between your roles as the creator and enforcer.Treating these two functions as separate will make your job much easier. Either role on its own is significantly simpler than trying to perform both at once.This podcast is made and sponsored by Invisible Mansion Pictures. Click to join the Film and Family Interest List here: www.InvisibleMansion.com/filmandfamily

As a child, you were probably told you couldn't do or have things you wanted because you "weren't old enough yet." Did you look forward to all the freedom and privileges the future would unlock when you could finally date, work, drive, or make more decisions?As adults, we believe that we still can't have everything we want. When we feel like we can't have what we want, our brains may revert to old thinking. We ask ourselves, "What am I not enough of now?"The explanation that you aren't old enough might be replaced with:You aren't attractive enoughYou aren't outgoing enoughYou aren't talented enoughYou don't have enough timeYou don't have enough moneyYou aren't healthy enoughetc., etc., etc.But none of those circumstances are the actual reason you don't have the result you want. You are enough and you have enough right now. We promise this is true.As long as you believe circumstances are obstacles, you'll be stuck behind them. These beliefs are mental obstacles. And they can all come crashing down. In this podcast episode, we discuss the only thing that is truly stopping you from making your film and having the life you want. The Film and Family Academy is now closed for enrollment. To be notified of our next enrollment window, join the interest list HERE. Selected students make their first feature film and subsequent films using our proven model, until they've achieved their dream career. And we do it all without sacrificing relationships, values, or our sanity.

Have you ever taken years to make a life-changing decision? Indecision is one of the easiest time wasters out there. In this episode, we talk about how to make better, more efficient decisions in order to increase your success rate and speed up your progress towards achieving your desired results.Subscribe to our Email List HereThis podcast is owned and sponsored by Invisible Mansion Pictures. For more resources, visit us at: www.invisiblemansion.com

Selling a story and telling a story are actually not that different from each other. In this episode, learn how these skills cross over and can both be enjoyable.Subscribe to our Email List HereThis podcast is owned and sponsored by Invisible Mansion Pictures. For more resources, visit us at: www.invisiblemansion.com

How do you become a film director? Or write any other role for yourself in the film industry for that matter? Today I share the specifics of my experience and how it applies to whatever role you are trying to achieve as well.  Subscribe to our Email List HereThis podcast is owned and sponsored by Invisible Mansion Pictures. For more resources, visit us at: www.invisiblemansion.com

Do you find yourself worrying about what others might think of your art, your life, or any of your decisions for that matter? In this episode we explore how to abandon people-pleasing and making your life and art meaningful and true to you.This podcast is owned and sponsored by Invisible Mansion Pictures. For more resources, visit us at: www.invisiblemansion.com 

Everyone has to start somewhere right? And doesn't it seem like there's always a new challenge to face? We are actually all pioneering something new in our individual lives. Whether we choose to lead others by sharing our experiences or not, we all start somewhere and must overcome obstacles to reach our desired destination. Come join us today as we discuss how to overcome our obstacles to become who we want to be, even when it may seem impossible.This podcast is owned and sponsored by Invisible Mansion Pictures. For more resources, visit us at: www.invisiblemansion.com

Does instability in your mental health feel like it’s stopping you from pursuing your goals? Millions of people in and out of the film industry struggle with mental health issues and you are not alone. Join us today with Kristen Jensen and learn how she has juggled both things together and come out stronger than ever.It’s the last week for enrollment in The Film and Family Academy for select filmmakers. Enrollment closes July 1st, 2021. Apply at: www.invisiblemansion.com/filmandfamilyConnect with Kristen at: www.kristenjensencoaching.comThis podcast is owned and sponsored by Invisible Mansion Pictures. For more resources, visit us at: www.invisiblemansion.com

Come join us today with James Hall and learn how to generate your own motivation, start AND finish a feature film script, and set your own boundaries, so you can have fun and stay healthy. Come see how James did it and is still doing it today.  There are only two weeks left for enrollment in The Film and Family Academy for select filmmakers. Enrollment closes July 1st, 2021. Apply at www.invisiblemansion.com/filmandfamily This podcast is owned and sponsored by Invisible Mansion Pictures. For more resources, visit us at: www.invisiblemansion.com

Come join us today with Cooper and Emma Sutton, a married couple, who are both actors. We have some fun reminiscing but also get down to business to talk about competition, comparison, supporting each other, and how these two are  taking their careers into their own hands.There are only two weeks left for enrollment in The Film and Family Academy for select filmmakers. Enrollment closes July 1st, 2021. Apply at www.invisiblemansion.com/filmandfamily This podcast is owned and sponsored by Invisible Mansion Pictures. For more resources, visit us at: www.invisiblemansion.com

What does it mean to befriend failure? Most of us think we want to do everything to avoid failure, not be friends with it. Come join us today as we go over why befriending failure will benefit your life with our special guest, Redge Flake. There are only a few weeks left for enrollment in The Film and Family Academy for select filmmakers. Enrollment closes July 1st, 2021.This podcast is owned and sponsored by Invisible Mansion Pictures. For more resources, visit us at: www.invisiblemansion.com

What does it truly mean to be a leader? There is a difference between telling people what to do and being a great leader. Sometimes, you don't even have to be in charge to be a brilliant leader. Come join us today as we cover the many different ways people lead, and the most effective ways to influence other people for good. This podcast is owned and sponsored by Invisible Mansion Pictures. For more resources, visit us at: www.invisiblemansion.com

When you're starting out as a filmmaker you may feel that you are at a complete disadvantage. Understanding the advantages you have as a new filmmaker over Hollywood will  help you play to your strengths as you break out. Come learn what small resources can make a big difference in starting your film career. This podcast is owned and sponsored by Invisible Mansion Pictures. For more resources, visit us at: www.invisiblemansion.com