“It’s okay to look at others and say, that’s not my path.”
– Richard Sanchez
As creative professionals in the gig economy, it’s virtually impossible for all of us to follow a single path that leads to success. We are not doctors and lawyers. Even if we put in the work and do as we’re told, we can end up miserable on the same projects year after year after year as opposed to working on projects that creatively fulfill us. Heck, we can seemingly do all the right things (and even invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in advanced education and degrees) and still end up fetching people’s coffee!
So what’s the difference between those working consistently on dream projects they love versus those who spin on the hamster wheel of projects and dead-end jobs that go nowhere?
There are those who wait for opportunities to come to them, and then there are those who create their own opportunities.
Assistant editor (and co-creator of the Master the Workflow program) Richard Sanchez has belonged to both camps. In the past he found himself taking the same jobs over and over that didn’t really move him forwards. But after listening to my podcast interview with the creators of Cobra Kai where I systematically broke down my process to create my own dream job, something inside Richard changed.
Richard realized the only thing standing between him and his dream project was himself. This realization was step one in a series of steps that slowly changed the direction of his career and led him to working on his dream project, ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music.’
Listen to learn more about what specific steps Richard took to open the right door at the right time and create his own opportunities so that you can follow the same steps to create your own path to a more fulfilling career.
NOTE: This interview was conducted shortly before the pandemic struck (early March, 2020), so as you’re listening keep that in mind as we discuss things like going out for lunches, meetings, etc.
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Here’s What You’ll Learn:
- Richard Sanchez’s unique origin story that led to him working on Bill & Ted Face the Music (his dream gig from childhood).
- How he transitioned from reality to scripted on scripted/reality hybrid shows. One of which he discovered on EntertainmentCareers.net of all places.
- Richard’s take on ‘luck’: “Luck might get you the interview, it will not get you through the interview.”
- How my Cobra Kai podcast episode inspired him to seek out the Bill & Ted gig and the grit, tenacity, & resourcefulness that enabled him to overcome the obstacles along the way.
- The humble beginnings of Master the Workflow, a course that didn’t exist 5 years ago, quickly became the ‘industry standard’ for editors transitioning into scripted.
- Never lose an interview because of jargon or terminology: If someone asks you if you know something, never tell them “no”. Here’s what to say instead [at 43:26]
- The most common questions Richard gets after his members complete Master the Workflow and the great advice he gives everyone who is just starting out.
- Why it’s okay to jump back and forth between scripted and your previous work until you get settled in.
Useful Resources Mentioned:
Ep69: Cobra Kai…Inside the Edit Suite | with Jon Hurtwitz, Josh Heald, and Hayden Schlossberg
It Is Possible to Be Both Successful and Kind At the Same Time
Dear Hollywood…We Create Entertainment For a Living. We’re Not Curing Cancer.
Our Generous Sponsors:
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Guest Bio:
Richard became interested in editing while majoring in theatre at the University of California Irvine. Getting his start in unscripted television, he eventually worked his way into scripted television and feature films.
Richard’s television work include The Good Place and I’m Dying Up Here, having recently finished VFX editing on Catch-22 for Hulu, and is currently working on the upcoming feature film: Bill & Ted Face the Music.
Show Credits:
This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Glen McNiel.
The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).
Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (at no additional cost to you). Your support is what helps keep this program alive. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Zack Arnold
Zack Arnold (ACE) is an award-winning Hollywood film editor & producer (Cobra Kai, Empire, Burn Notice, Unsolved, Glee), a documentary director, father of 2, an American Ninja Warrior, and the creator of Optimize Yourself. He believes we all deserve to love what we do for a living...but not at the expense of our health, our relationships, or our sanity. He provides the education, motivation, and inspiration to help ambitious creative professionals DO better and BE better. “Doing” better means learning how to more effectively manage your time and creative energy so you can produce higher quality work in less time. “Being” better means doing all of the above while still prioritizing the most important people and passions in your life…all without burning out in the process. Click to download Zack’s “Ultimate Guide to Optimizing Your Creativity (And Avoiding Burnout).”