Sometimes I tend to find myself trucking down a road I never meant to be on. The last year and a half has been like that.
I wanted to share a real update—not the polished version, but the actual journey I’ve been an independent writer and producer trying to build something meaningful without losing my sanity in the process.
Recovering, Resetting, and Realizing I Was on the Wrong Path
Last year was rough. Two foot surgeries, months bedridden, and a recovery that felt like it stretched into eternity. Before that, I was making goofy little skits for YouTube—fun, chaotic, low-quality experiments that were more “me dinking around” than actual filmmaking. They were never meant to be masterpieces, but they were fun.
Then, while stuck in bed, I interviewed a ton of writers, filmmakers, coaches, and artists. Great conversations. Great people. But the workflow I built around those interviews? A disaster.
I’d record the podcast, clean up the audio, then spend hours editing YouTube versions—cutting fluff, building hooks, shaping storylines. It was a full production pipeline for something that wasn’t giving me much in return. The podcast audience was growing. YouTube… not so much.
I kept chasing the mythical YouTube “golden goose,” and it kept outrunning me.
The turning point came from something James Rollins said during our interview: most authors waste too much time on marketing. He wasn’t talking about “authors.” He was talking about me.
That one hit hard.
So I finished out my backlog, called it Season One, and pivoted. Hard.
Now, interviews go straight to the podcast. No more over-editing or chasing algorithms. I’m back to focusing on the work I actually want to be doing: writing books and producing films.
Writing Every Day—Even When I’m Driving
This year has been my strongest writing year yet. Two books published. A third on the way—my first nonfiction book, which I never expected to write.
The shift happened when I rediscovered Rod Serling and Ray Bradbury. Bradbury wrote every day. Serling dictated constantly to keep up with the workload of running a production company. Dictation was the missing piece for me.
I commute 45 minutes each way to my construction job twice a week. That’s dead time… unless you turn it into writing time.
So I taught myself how to dictate. It was ugly at first. I couldn’t find a single good resource on how to actually learn dictation as a craft, so I built my own system—exercises, techniques, workflow. It worked. I just finished dictating a full screenplay draft in one week.
That system is now becoming a book: All Hail the Dictator. A small, practical guide for writers who want to reclaim their time and write faster without sacrificing quality.
The Studio Saga: Land, Permits, Delays, and Finally Some Momentum
If you’ve listened to the show, you know I’ve been trying to build a film studio for years. As a general contractor and property developer, I figured I’d have a leg up. Turns out, even with experience, the universe still likes to throw curveballs.
I bought land. Started entitlements. Everything was smooth… until the city dropped a surprise requirement: new approval from the Utah Department Of Transportation for an intersection. The old approval had expired. Everyone who knew the project had retired or moved. Eight to ten months of delays.
The new intersection layout meant some of my planned buildings no longer fit. The studio had nowhere to go.
Then a major developer bought the parcel next door. They were subdividing. We talked. I went under contract to buy part of their commercial section. That saved the project—but meant waiting another full year for their approvals.
The upside? More time to save money. More land. More future cash-flowing buildings to support the studio.
Now, finally, I’m weeks away from final approvals and submitting permits for the first retail building. The studio will be built last, once the cash flow is stable enough to support it.
Slow? Yes. But progress is progress.
Investments, Markets, and the Joy of Getting Kicked in the Teeth
Last year I made 35% in the stock market—my best year ever. This year? Break even. A couple trades went sideways (oil and gold, both painful). Commodities are fun until they aren’t.
With midterm elections coming, I’m expecting volatility. I’ve moved more into cash to wait out the next few weeks. Whether I’ll have any cash left after closing on the new property… we’ll see.
Real estate is slow right now. Construction feels like the 1970s. High interest rates, low inventory movement, inflation—everything is tight.
But that’s the game. You adapt.
The Moby Dick Adaptation: A $50,000 Vision Turned $6,000 Solo Production
One of the biggest updates: I’m officially in pre-production on my next film, an adaptation of Father Mapple’s sermon from Moby Dick. It’s my favorite chapter—Jonah’s story told with fire and weight.
Originally, I planned a $50,000 micro-budget production. But between the studio delays and investment setbacks, that wasn’t happening.
So I pivoted again.
I’m making it for $5,000–$6,000. Solo.
I built the entire set myself. I’m acting every male role—Ahab, Father Mapple, Jonah, and the congregation. My wife is stepping in for the female roles. We’re filming multiple passes, swapping outfits, and comping everything together in post.
It’s more work. But it’s free work.
Principal photography starts Monday. I’ll be posting behind-the-scenes updates on YouTube (even though I’m not chasing it anymore).
What’s Next
I’ve got more interviews coming. More writing happening. More film updates on the way. I’m heading to AFM this year—if you’ll be there, drop a message on my website and maybe we can meet up.
And keep an eye out for All Hail the Dictator. If you’re a writer who wants to reclaim your time, it might be exactly what you need.
Thanks for sticking with me through the chaos. This year has been messy, productive, frustrating, and exciting all at once. But I finally feel like I’m back on the right path.
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