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The Daily Writer - from Brock Swinson
Good morning,
Let's talk about what it really means to succeed in film — straight from someone who's been there.
When I sat down with John Grillo, cinematographer for Michael Mann, and he told me something that should be pinned to every film student's wall:
"Pay attention. Be there. If you get the opportunity, the privilege, to work with somebody like [Michael Mann], you have to grab it and you have to make the most of it. Leave your phone in your bag. Be there. Learn. Listen."
Listening to Grillo, I could see decades of set experience behind every word. And here's what struck me — he wasn't talking about fancy gear or technical skills. He was talking about something far more fundamental.
The secret to mastery isn't in the latest camera or the most expensive workshop — it's in showing up completely.
"You don't have to go to film school. You can just be on a set and let it be your school. But you have to pay attention."
Let that sink in.
While your competition is:
Chasing the newest technology
Building their social media presence
Trading business cards at industry events
The real work is simpler and harder:
Being fully present
Actually listening
Learning from everyone around you
"You have to bring all of yourself into what you are doing and discover the passion, or the reason why you're there."
Think about what he's really saying:
Every moment on set matters
Every person has something to teach
Every day is an opportunity to grow
Your job isn't to become famous or win awards. Your job, as Grillo puts it, is to "Learn from everybody. Ask questions."
Now take his advice: during your next opportunity, put your phone in your bag and get back to paying attention.
- Brock Swinson
P.S. If this conversation with Grillo resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. After you finish whatever you're doing right now, of course.
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