The Importance of Problem Solving

 Being a Producer I've learned that the job drills down to one core function...Problem Solving. Whether it's budgeting, hiring the right crew, gathering the need materials for project, or handling on-set crisis. The job mostly involves solving some sort of problem.

 When I first began transitioning into being a producer I got to see the creative process with an entirely new set of eyes. The word "details" soon had a whole new meaning as to what it really took to get a project off of the ground. Countless production meetings, casting, travel, equipment, crew, craft services; even down to the minor things like batteries and locations that have the proper infrastructure for filming started to creep into my dreams. Speaking to colleagues that have been down this road before, they all laughed and gave me the "welcome to the life of a Producer man!" speech. 

 Through the many projects, some successful and others not so much I learned one thing; the importance of learning how to solve problems. In this business you quickly learn that not everything goes as planned. But it was Michael Bay himself that told me, "its not that you need to focus on because it will happen...what makes you success is what you do and how fast you do it when plans go south..." Those words have stuck with me for years and have helped me look at my career as a producer much like I look at bouldering or martial arts.

 Being an avid climber and martial arts practitioner; it has been vital to my work as an actor and a producer. Often times I look at the challenges I face much like difficult move I am learning or that annoying V5 that I can't seem to solve. These outlets often help me look at whatever issue I am facing on or off set in a different way which often leads to creating a new approach.

It is much more exciting to face problems when they become apart of your daily routine. It's even more fun to face those problems when you can use things you love as the foundation to finding new ways to grow and conquer those challenges. So whatever you use as an outlet to relieve stress, try to also see it as a ay to help solve your problems. You never know what can come of it!