I was originally on track to be a doctor. Until a film festival flyer outside the University cadaver lab sparked my creativity. I made a super original dramatic short about love and death. The film had its flaws, but the packed auditorium of college kids didn’t seem to mind. At one point, there were sniffles in the audience! I was dumbstruck. And immediately hooked.
It was the first time I was truly excited about something. And when that happens, I go all in.
So I got to work. And got rejected. Many, many times. But I devoured as much film knowledge and on-set experiences, continually thirsting for more. Boldness and persistence landed me on the set of the TV show BONES, shadowing the director of photography. I asked him for advice on working my way up the seemingly never-ending ladder that was filmmaking. His simple answer was pivotal—
"Don’t climb the ladder. Do something on your own and make Hollywood want YOU."
Damn, it hit hard. I went home to a small town in Utah and started creating. Short films about flying cats, dancing stormtroopers, real life Fruit Ninjas. I sucked up my insecurities and finally put my music out into the world too. I wanted to tell stories, create characters. Ultimately, I wanted to make the audience feel something.
The videos went viral. One after another. Before long, I had over a billion views across my films and over a million subscribers who wanted more. My original music was even landing on the iTunes Pop & Hip Hop Charts. I started working with major brands like Ford, Coca-Cola, Samsung, Budweiser, Oreo. I was making videos with The Rock, Ryan Seacrest, Wiz Khalifa, Kerri Walsh.
Then it happened. "Hollywood" hit me up. I had the opportunity to meet with producing legends Lorenzo DiBonaventura (Transformers, Red, Matrix) and David Womark (Life of Pi, Deepwater Horizon). And currently we are developing a feature film based on my successful High School Dance Battle series.
It’s been a whirlwind with a lot of ups and downs, but if I’ve learned anything, it’s that doctors and filmmakers are kind of similar. I think we’re both just trying to make the world a better place, one human interaction at a time. MIC DROP!