Most People Don't Want Massive Success - Michael Laskin

[@nellosnook4454]

1. As an aspiring playwright myself, my only desire is for my works to be enjoyed by as many people as possible. 2. I’m financially secure. 3. It’s not about money for me. 4. It’s about hoping what was important for me to express, had some importance for others to receive.

[@BionicDance]

The words may be different, but I've said this many times.

[@langdons2848]

I have similar aspirations for my writing. I don't care about "fame" and notoriety. I want to creat something that people love and enjoy. That is a reward in and of itself.

[@BionicDance]

@@langdons2848 I wonder whether it's possible to have one but not the other; it seems like creating something people love and enjoy _gets you_ fame, like it or not.

[@langdons2848]

@@BionicDance sure you can. There are lots of great authors out there who have a good audience for their work but aren't famous. The handful of publicly famous creators could never turn out all of the media we have available. I think the exceptions (like J.K. Rowling, George Martin etc) make it look like success equals fame. Corey Doctorow is an example of a successful author who isn't famous.

[@chasehedges6775]

People want to be be and feel special, not successful. They want to do their best at what they are capable of and do it to best of their ability.

[@lacolem1]

I’m so tired of being “just in the mix”. Honestly I’m not even that far. I’m feeling too old. I want success.

[@noneyabidness9644]

He's right. Everyone who is confident in themselves, have no desire for "success." Because we know we are. Why work for what you already have? Only the completely inadequate, who knows it, care about "success." Literally, no one else.

[@davidlincolnbrooks]

Fascinating. Wish I could take a class with this man.

[@Guigley]

Yet another great interview! I hope we get an interview with the Film Courage interviewer one day. She is amazing.

[@shaggygoatboy1125]

Dante Alighieri (yes, that Dante. The author of the Divine Comedy) described ambition as an archer aiming for the enemy, in the distance. In order to hit far away, the archer needs to aim the bow very high (well above the target), because he knows the arrow will eventually go back down. But if he aims the bow at man's height, the arrow won't even make it far enough to reach the enemy. That's pretty much what Michael is saying at 2:41

[@BionicDance]

I'm not really an actor. I've _acted,_ but only in my own animated shorts. It's not my passion, which is being the storyteller. But being an animator requires the skills of a mime, which means you have to be able to act _a little,_ to convey emotions through movement and facial expressions. I'm not sure how much this video applies to that skillset, but there is definitely some overlap. I have no desire for fame. I might have at one time, but being under the public's eye constantly has to be draining. But I _do_ desire success; I would like my projects to take me to bigger and better things later. And fame seems to be comorbid with success when it comes to entertainment... So whatchagonnado, eh? Part of me would much rather stay indie, even though it limits what I can do just a smidge...and a lot of what I do is sci-fi; I have to be my own Pixar. Ah, decisions. Perspectives. **pshrug**

[@nellosnook4454]

1. Well-expressed, BD. 2. I’ve been a theatre acting teacher for over 20 years now. 3. For me, success in that space has been aiding people to realize their potential as theatre actors & production team members. 4. Aside from my YT channel, which provides catharsis for me, my primary focus is on playwriting. 5. I’m hoping to have a musical comedy of mine produced in 2024. 6. What projects are you working on that have the potential for success as you define it?

[@BionicDance]

​@@nellosnook4454 *_Well-expressed, BD._* Thanks! :) *_I’ve been a theatre acting teacher for over 20 years now._* I could never do stage acting; the luxury of a second take helps me relax and not need it. *_For me, success in that space has been aiding people to realize their potential as theatre actors & production team members._* I know what that means in the abstract, but it's difficult for me to picture. I'm also used to being misunderstood; "benefits" of being neurodivergent, alas. I doubt "potential" is one-size-fits-all, but in my experience, most instructors _behave_ as if they believe it. *_Aside from my YT channel, which provides catharsis for me, my primary focus is on playwriting._* Writing is good. I like writing. I like reading. Writing scripts is hard for me; it took me a few months just to bash out a 44-page script for my current project. I'm impressed by anybody who can do it for a living, who can stick with it. *_I’m hoping to have a musical comedy of mine produced in 2024._* Well, I hope the music is funny; it'll keep me interested. I don't really like musicals; the music is rarely what I'd choose to listen to in general, the lyrics rarely move the plot forward. I like musical comedy, tho; think "Every Sperm is Sacred" from "Monty Python's Meaning of Life". Or that came-out-of-nowhere musical number about suits in "How I Met Your Mother". I like those, and the main factor seems to be how unexpected a song-and-dance number was at that moment. And I guess "Little Shop of Horrors" wasn't terrible; I love the dentist song in particular. But that's it. *_What projects are you working on that have the potential for success as you define it?_* My current project is called "Quinn Redshift"; it's a retro pulp space opera about a guy going off to retrieve a stolen-by-space-pirates device necessary for a newer, better space drive. I have a trailer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGmndGNmdsaJaLM My own voice is in it at the end ("What if this favor you're doing destroys us?") but for the most part, it's the rest of the cast. ...and I've just finished a rough cut, shown it to four people so far; all of them dug it. I couldn't _drag_ constructive criticism out of them, which is both flattering _and_ frustrating. I also have an idea for something I'm calling "Java Centauri". It's a kind of laid-back, deadpan comedy about a coffeeshop in outer space. Slice-of-life kinda thing. I'm also pondering _not_ doing it in English; I've been half working on a speakable alien language--sorta like how there is a Klingon language--and using "Java Centauri" as a platform to develop it. ("Anyumal yunyeg adye" = "Knowledge is powerful", for example.) The aliens would seem to be speaking nonsense, but it can all be translated...and, in the meantime, I would have to keep people interested by conveying what the aliens _mean,_ through movement and expression and tone-of-voice; it would really help me grow even more as an animator. I'm not sure how I'd cast that, and it's only an idea. And I've started a two-episodes-so-far (but more to come) series called "Headmeats", which is my own weird thoughts expressed by a single character in a completely blank environment. How about yourself? Anything besides the musical?

[@Jjrmtv]

bingo

[@avtpro]

What he is saying is important because people think if you are making a lot of money at art, then you are a great artist or genius. I want to make a lot of money at doing art, but I also want to be a great or outstanding artist. Those are two different things. The most money I made at art is the least artwork I have done. The best art art work I have done is for the least money.

[@filmcourage]

Can desire for success be taught?

[@DannyD-lr5yg]

I don’t think it can be taught, per se - but maybe it can be unlocked, or unburied?

[@BionicDance]

I...don't know. Maybe...? I think you can teach a get-up-and-go attitude; not sure you can teach someone to use it unless they want to. Or feel they have to.

[@nellosnook4454]

1. Time-proven PRINCIPLES for success can be taught. 2. What a person does with those principles is predictive of their personal success.

[@derekk2708]

In order to answer that question .. one needs to clearly define (or clarify) what is meant by the word 'Success'!

[@BionicDance]

@@derekk2708 Good point. And it's probably different for everybody, too. For me...I want people to see and dig what I do, to want more. Even if I made no money, that's success. For me.

[@1sihingable]

For some people, like my uncle, he just loved the art. He was successful , retired and still has a house in Calabasas. He travels the world and volunteers as well.

[@musicu-gp6to]

This is why Spanomarkou sisters succeed so much, because in a span of 10 years their eager to create is there and you can see the desire for success. And they always find a way with hard work

[@thomasfairfax4956]

Interestingly I know two successful authors who had no ambition to be authors, let alone be successful. They already had great careers, happy relationships, children, financially independent, and wrote as a hobby. Both went on to be best sellers and write full time now.

[@ricomcclinton2982]

Great videos guys!!

[@Bamazon1990]

Fascinating stuff here

[@Hyplum]

Fantastic

[@leonoradompor8706]

I am Perfectionist but infinitely very simple and spontaneous and free and very beautiful inside outside ***

[@jdsartre9520]

gotta define ur terms bub. "success" is an ambiguous term

[@nickybjammin7629]

I know what that is. Thinking you look or sound a certain way and Boom! You’ve been thunder-struck 🙌🏼 by reality🤣Better come up with a new game plan set it to the side use the good stuff out of it later. You have to keep meeting different people/involve yourself with totally new people it reminds you that others can see somebody different than who you know yourself to be. New people will show you things about yourself you never noticed.

[@proceonproceon6233]

Interesting

[@brendadrew834]

I think we need to re-define success big time! Success exists in more ways than one. I've been a successful NYC fashion illustrator, now retired, as well as a successful floral designer and am a pianist and composer of an American folk opera, 22 songs and an overture which has been performed many times in public with a write up in a major newspaper, but that was when I was younger! I'm in my 70s and have MS and am blind in one eye and as they say, "life gets in the way" and lost a spouse and one of my three beloved children to deadly Covid plus my two beloved cats in 2020! You don't hear that much about serious women composers! I joined an International League of Women Composers years ago and we don't hear any of the music of these thousands of women composers! There are many areas of the arts where women are still discriminated against! Anton Dvorak , the Czech composer in the late 19th century didn't believe women could compose at all and back then they even sexualized classical music as either "Feminine music" or "masculine music"! We're only now beginning to hear the music more of famous European women composers from the 19th century, Clara Schuman, Fannie Mendlesohn and others in the 1800s! Any women conductors? Any women playing the tuba or the kettle drums in a large orchestra?! One is lucky to count them on their fingers! Now I paint a lot simply because I love to, not in it for the money and have more time to continue to be creative! British actress Dame Maggie Smith said "you have to be the steward of your own talent"! Guard and protect it fiercely because you can lose it or have it taken away as many famous singers have lost their once great voices i.e. Dame Julie Andrews, singer Linda Ronstadt, and Joni Mitchell who can't play the guitar anymore or sing due to an illness so she also just paints but doesn't sell her artwork! Many lose their talents due to disease like Parkinson's disease and now actor Bruce Willis has a disease that has robbed him of his voice as well, same thing happened to the late great Robin Williams as well and we all know sadly how his life ended, a great talent, an acting genius! Same for very gifted actor Philip Seymour Hoffman! Never take your youth or talent for granted is the lesson here!

[@shaaziaterry2715]

I want to be a writer full time I want to touch people through my stories I been ding it since I was 14

[@grantgreyguda]

👍 👍

[@danrey5336]

Yes if I make a beat it's tight gets me rich that money is goona run out quick cause that's where my money is goona be invested in my living space and needs to recover I'm started to believe but also I feel like I'm burning out to keep coming with something new different is so draining.

[@Laocoon283]

This is the thing I have never understood while in history class where all of these wars start from ambition. Always gotta get more be better: conquer! I have never ever felt that. I don't know why. I just want to chill lol. Whenever someone starts talking self improvement and optimizing their time and hustling I just don't get it.

[@Thenoobestgirl]

Coffee with cinnamon?! You heathen!!!

[@creatingreality291]

After experiencing how "Hollywood" operates, i have no real interest in massive success. Its just too much of a popularity contest. I always say to myself that Americans as a whole never make it out of high school. And if you piss off the popular kids they become bullies & make life hard for you. Politics also have infiltrated almost every facet of the entertainment industry which is disheartening.

[@janekendall4370]

I used to be ambitious, but I'm not up for the getting the "RAZZED" treatment...

[@corporaterobotslave400]

I've struggled with losers fooling me getting in my way and tripping me up with jealousy and sabotage my entire life; literally have had several films and bands destroyed by them. So I returned to my roots in claymation so I don't have to rely on unmotivated slackers and jealous little b's. Wait 'til those sh*theels see what I'm making next. I really have been shocked by the lack of motivation in ppl who pretend to have it.

[@hamster2845]

Why strive to be anything or collect anything when the government and society that you live in seeks to take everything you worked so hard away from you for a little reason?

[@Amelia_PC]

"Most People Don't Want Massive Success"... What is his concept of success?

[@keni95851]

What is "massive success"? I make a good living, enough to save for my retirement, I love what I do, and i have a great family. That makes me successful. IMO.

[@5Gburn]

2:46 "A lot of it is cultural...minority cultures..." Wait did he imply that certain people may not have ambition because of their culture?! Because "minority cultures" have some scrap and hustle in 'em, far as I've witnessed. And also we Jewishpeople are in our own minority...

[@Ifailedeverything]

Sometimes people’s actual talent is promoting themselves. Look at Madonna, mediocre talent but she can Perform with a capital P.

[@wexwuthor1776]

So if you want to do film or tv, you have to be one note like Seth Rogan?

[@MichaelLaskinStudio]

Not exactly. In fact, he has had the opportunities to really expand and grow as an actor - and has proven that he can. But he has always had a singular way about him that is immediately relatable, and understandable. And, sometimes "one-note" actors become stars and play lots of differing versions of their one note: Jimmy Stewart comes to mind. Cagney as well. Their core quality is always them, but they are able to take that identifiable core and creatively leverage it in different ways.

[@wexwuthor1776]

@@MichaelLaskinStudio I would've felt better about it if he'd said Jimmy Stewart. 😂😂😂

[@psychbomb7543]

Fame and fortune isn’t success to everyone.