“I want to make sh*t happen, but it can't happen at the cost of the people around me.”
- Mark Gantt

Working in Hollywood as a creative professional can be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand the freedom to express yourself and tell stories that motivate, inspire, and entertain others can be a dream come true. But on the other hand the pressure of having to create on a grueling daily schedule can lead to doubts, insecurities, imposter syndrome and perfectionism (especially the days when you’re just not feeling it), all of which lead to feeling out of balance and out of control. (Been there. Done that. Still living it.)

There is no one who knows this dichotomy better than my guest today, Mark Gantt. Mark is a multi-medium visual and performance artist who has worked in the industry as a graphic artist, a painter, a prop master, a photographer, an actor, a producer, and a director. He is best known for co-creating, writing, producing, and starring in Crackle’s groundbreaking, Streamy award-winning series The Bannen Way. (And if you are a long time listener, you may recognize that title because it is where I got my start in editing scripted television.)

But it wasn't an easy ride to success by any means (and if you ask Mark, he still struggles to call himself “successful”). There were many moments he wanted to give up on his passions and quit. And there were more moments when he wasn't even sure what his passion was after veering so far off the path (a path which includes countless drinking benders and cocaine). This episode is a conversation about persevering in times of doubt and failure. We candidly discuss how it really feels to fail and what it takes to dig deep, forge ahead, and make sh#t happen in your career - no matter the obstacles - and most importantly without sacrificing the most important people in your life along the way.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

How Mark answers the question, "What do you do for a living?"
How he came to have a multi-hyphenate career.
The reason behind Mark's drive to do all the different jobs he does.
Mark has been sober for 33 years.
The story of how Mark and I met.
What the "woo woo" factor is and the significance of The Secret.
How Mark wrestled with limiting beliefs in his acting career.
What fears come from imposter syndrome and how to confront them.
My story of why I failed in my first season of American Ninja Warrior.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Failure is just a bump on the road to success.
How saying yes to an uncomfortable opportunity saved Mark’s career and led to new doors opening.
Mark's battle of negative thinking goes back to his childhood.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Letting go of fear allows space for better decision making to happen.
The dark story behind Mark's drinking and deceptions.
Mark learned that drinking was only a symptom of his real problems.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Sometimes getting out of balance is necessary to appreciate being in balance.
The phone call that changed my life and how I'm still trying to make it happen again.
Mark's pivotal moment when he knew he had what it took to be successful in Hollywood.
Why perfectionism leads to unhappiness and burnout.
The importance of learning to enjoy the process so you can bring your full talents to the project you're working on.

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Ep161: Managing Limiting Beliefs, Imposter Syndrome, and all the “Chatter” In Our Heads | with Ethan Kross

Mark Gantt - Writer | Director | Producer

The Bannen Way (2010) - IMDb

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Guest Bio:

mark-gantt-bio

Whether he’s working on commercial or feature films, award-winning director Mark Gantt is in the business of authentic, creative visual experiences. With a diverse, 25-year career in the industry, he has learned the business from the ground up and had the good fortune of collaborating with top directors, including Steven Soderbergh, David O. Russell, Sam Raimi, and Robert Rodriguez.

A multi-medium visual and performance artist, Mark integrates his talents as a painter, photographer, actor, and graphic artist into each production’s look and style. He utilizes technical expertise, a keen eye for detail, and a genuine love of storytelling to transform words from concepts into visual realities.

As one of the early pioneers of the digital era, Mark is best known for co-creating, writing, producing, and starring in Crackle’s groundbreaking, Streamy award-winning series, The Bannen Way. Mark’s feature directorial debut, Murder In Mexico, was based on the actual events of Bruce Beresford-Redman, premiered on Lifetime. Last year, he directed Model Citizen and The Surrogate, both premiered on Lifetime in 2020.

For two years running, Mark has created successful spots for ESPN and Nissan’s Heisman House campaign and popular and effective branded campaigns for GMC, AOL, Capital One, Kohl's, Fox and Lifetime.

As a writer, Mark’s upcoming Audible Original True Crime books, Injustice Collector and A Devil in the Valley, will be released in the fall of 2021. He is currently pitching two tv-series with his wife, actress, writer, and director, Brianne Davis. The two produce the popular personal journals podcast, Secret Life. They live in Los Angeles with their son Davis.

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino 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).

Ep162: Stop Waiting For Permission to Make Sh*t Happen | with Mark Gantt

The Zack Arnold Podcast