July 28, 2025 • 31 mins
Cut The Tie Podcast with Ric “Mystro” Holcomb
What do you do when the image you've crafted no longer fits the person you're becoming? In this episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich talks with Ric “Mystro” Holcomb—a creative voice, coach, and guide for people ready to tell the truth about who they really are.
From hiding behind elaborate presentations and control to finding clarity through stillness, Mystro shares what it means to pivot with truth—and how doing so redefined his work, relationships, and life.
About Ric “Mystro” Holcomb
Ric “Mystro” Holcomb helps people get radically honest so they can move forward with integrity. Known as “the dude people hire when they’re ready to pivot and tell the truth,” Mystro supports clients through storytelling, coaching, and realignment. He’s worked behind the scenes with high-level leaders and influencers, but his current focus is helping people reconnect with their voice and vision through The Truth Pivot Podcast and one-on-one clarity sessions.
In this episode, Thomas and Mystro discuss:
- “I’m the guy behind the guy you probably follow”
Mystro explains how his early career was spent building others’ platforms—until life forced him to reevaluate everything. - Cutting ties with perfection and control
He shares how his obsession with planning and creating the “perfect deck” became a mask that delayed real impact. - Stillness as a strategy
After losing it all, Mystro stopped producing—and started listening. That’s when real transformation began. - The Truth Pivot
He created the podcast and coaching platform as a way to serve people who are stuck and scared to be seen. - “I’m a midwife to purpose”
Mystro describes his role in helping others give birth to clarity—not through force, but by holding space and asking the right questions.
Key Takeaways:
- Let the house of cards fall
You can’t create something real while propping up what’s fake. - Presence beats performance
Mystro found more power in being still than in producing the next big thing. - Clarity requires honesty
His clients don’t need hype—they need help telling the truth about where they are. - You don’t need a 30-slide deck. You need a mirror.
Real progress starts when you face yourself, not when you sell yourself. - Storytelling is sacred work
Mystro treats content and coaching as a place to excavate—not decorate—the truth.
Connect with Ric “Mystro” Holcomb:
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richolcombjr/
🎙️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativemediaatl/
Connect with Thomas Helfrich:
🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutthetie
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich/
🌐 Website:
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Cut the Tie podcast.
I am your host, Thomas Helfrich.
I'm on a mission to help youcut the tie to whatever it is
holding you back from success,and that success is how you
define it.
And today I'm joined by themaestro himself, Rick Maestro
Holcomb.
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
I'm blessed.
I'm blessed man.
I'm happy to be here, I'm happyto keep going.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
I don't look like what I've been through, so I got
gotta give god the praisereally yeah, that's a, that's a
good person to thank, or a thingor entity, or however you think
of god.
It's a good, it's a gooddirection, but you're light.
Yeah, um, I believe so do you.
Uh, you want to take a minute?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
take, uh, introduce yourself and what it is you do
um, I do a myriad of things, butmost people know me as a
videographer, a freelancevideographer.
Um, I won 2019 Atlanta Hip HopAwards underground version of
the Hip Hop Awards.
I won that in 2019, but I'vebeen nominated four times.
I only won once.
But I'm also an amateurfilmmaker.
(00:55):
I put out two short films and Istart production on my third,
which I think will be my bestone, in July.
You know what I'm saying.
I do all the casting, I raisethe money for it and I think
this is going to be the one thatI'm actually going to be able
to submit to festivals.
The last two were kind of likepractice and didn't really have
no money behind them, but thisthird one I wrote it.
It's called the Sign.
(01:17):
You start production that onJuly and then next year I want
to start writing my first fulllength feature film.
It's going to be a horror filmand it's something that's never
been done.
So, yeah, I'm a videographer,but I'm also going into that
filmmaker lane.
You know what I'm saying.
I mean, I've got a passion formovies.
I love movies.
I talk about movies on myYouTube show.
So I was like, let me try tocreate some movies and get my
(01:38):
ideas out to the world.
So that's kind of where.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
I am now.
I love that you're astoryteller too.
It sounds like and the uh.
I met this kid at this uhentrepreneurial, uh reality show
called the blocks and he wasthere supporting his mom and he
had like 600,000 followers onYouTube and I was like what are
you doing?
He's like I actually go throughand explain why movies are
scary in certain scenes.
(02:02):
And he and he had like yeah'slike, he's like I just like I
like to go and say this is whythis scene is scary.
And they go and he replays itand explains it and it's very
simple.
Oh, he's like it justfascinates me why that certain
things scare you.
And he and I was like man, whata beautiful youtube idea.
Some people, that's original,that's a rich, it is, and it's
like it's very simple.
(02:22):
But it's like you know, he hadbeen doing it for six months and
had like 600 000 followers andhad like 40 million views
already, because he's makingmoney, like really good money on
this like and I'm like wow,maybe I so over thought what I
should do on youtube anyway.
Well, we'll take that oneoffline.
I'm because you've had achannel for a few years now as
(02:43):
well, and you're like yeah, um,you know there's that's.
I always ask this question, andyou know and the in the bulk of
the shows about your, yourjourney and what you had to do
to get there, but I always askwhy do people pick you though?
So it's a very competitive thespace you're in, what's your,
what's your differentiator, whatmakes you unique?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
um, for what my customers tell me, or my clients
.
They usually used to say, uh,it's more of the fact that, um,
I just do what I say I'm gonnado.
And actually when I won theaward, that's what I said at the
speech.
I was like I'm not really thebest videographer in Atlanta,
but I'm the most consistent andI do what I say I'm gonna do.
Like, if I say I'm gonna haveit done in 48 hours, it's always
done in 48 hours.
If I say I meet you here at oneo'clock, I'm going to be there
(03:23):
probably at like 1230.
You know what I'm saying andthey love the fact that I just
keep my word about everything,even if it's something going to
be messed up.
I tell them like, look, thisprobably got messed up, so it
might take me longer.
It's about transparency and Ifeel like a lot of other
creatives or some other peopleare not being as transparent
with the clients and not givingthem the information, are not
(03:44):
being as transparent with theclients and not giving them the
wrong information, and I tend tojust tell them the good and the
bad, so they just stay coolwith it.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Was that a conscious business decision to distinguish
that?
Or was it just who you are?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
No, not just who I am .
I grew up in church so mymother was really hard on us
about lying.
You know what I'm saying.
I grew up.
She's like one thing you don'tdo is lie.
You feel me.
So she instilled that into me.
So I just I've always just keptit honest with my clients and,
um, kept it fair.
It was just who I who I reallyam.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
That's a.
It's a good practice.
It's hard to do in life, forsure.
So sometimes you're like man, Icould just stretch just a
little bit.
But you're like, nope, gotta beit of yet, and that's yeah
right so how do you definesuccess?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
um, it's not even based on money.
To me, you know, I'm saying, ofcourse, the more money you make
doing something you love iscool, but it's it's about being
able to have the freedom to justdo what do, what you love.
Like, um, like, with this movie, I'm probably not gonna make, I
might not make no money off ofit, but it's the journey, you
know I'm saying that.
Well, me and the cast go towhat I go through with the
people at the locations and the,the joy I get when people see
(04:48):
my movie and they tell me, likeyo, this gave me inspiration.
You know what I'm saying.
This motivated me.
That's the reward for me.
That's how I look at success.
If I'm able to give somebody agood feeling or give them some
good entertainment, that's areward.
You know what I'm saying forthat's a war.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
You know what I'm saying?
For me, yes, and a little.
The definition of success itdefinitely changes with season
of life and it could be, youknow, yeah, there's money,
there's life, there's faith,there's health, there's just
freedom of creation, there'scaptaining, your calendar, it
could be all that Right.
The fact is, you refined it andthen that's the important piece
, you're not chasing someoneelse's definition of success,
you're chasing yours.
In your own journey to achievethat success.
(05:28):
What's been the biggestmetaphoric tie you've had to cut
to get?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
there.
The hardest part was cuttingoff a lot of friends from
Indianapolis, indiana, where I'mfrom, and I don't even want to
say I cut them off because Iwill swing back around to them.
I've been very, very busy so Idon't have as much time for idle
conversations as I used to oridle hanging out.
I don't really have time to goto clubs because I'm really
(05:53):
focused on trying to create thebest project, even you know what
I'm saying at every level.
You know what I'm saying.
I'm constantly in competitionwith myself to make stuff better
than I made it last time.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
So I just cut the tie to people who I've been on
through this.
It's not that they're they werebad or they're not a good group
, but they're not aligned toentrepreneurship and the mindset
and they're not the group youneed to surround yourself in
this moment to find success.
Yeah, maybe because there'scomplacency, maybe because
you're not going to get thehonest feedback you're going to
need, or they're not on a pathwhere you can attach to the
(06:29):
growth or the journey they'vebeen on.
And that's a very hard decisionbecause it's time you're going
to pull away.
It means you're going to feelmore alone.
Yeah, it's not lonely, but morealone, more disconnected.
And I have a men's group thatI'll talk about later.
But, like for that reason,because that's there's this, I
call it entanglement.
It's around, it's the peoplearound you that you see at
(06:50):
church.
It's the people around you thatyou, that love you and they're
close, but they can't really befully honest with you sometimes.
Exactly right, your kids play.
I don't want to be mad at me ifI tell them this or I don't
want to be awkward at church ifI do that, but what I found is
men in particular need thisgroup that sits outside, that
tells you how it is and also candebate and talk but also can
(07:11):
kind of have a business bondwith it.
And that's hard to find it in avery central circle and it
sounds like you and many otherhunter men that I've interviewed
have the same.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Well, yeah, it's kind of hard to find.
I did have a point in my lifewhere I was very, very lonely
because I came here to Atlantaand I'm really just me, you feel
me.
I came down here to chase mydreams no family, no friends,
just me and my goals.
And I was like man, I kind ofmiss my friends.
But I really don't have time togo back and I want to get new
friends that can, because I'mrunning things by them that I'm
(07:41):
trying to do, but they can'tgive me no advice or they can't
give me no feedback.
So you know, iron sharpens iron.
So I'm like man, I need, I needthe people.
That's kind of going where I'mgoing to help me learn.
So I start picking up mentorshere at Atlanta.
I have like four mentors andthey really been my closest
thing as like a group of support.
You know what I'm saying.
(08:09):
So I look to them when I'mstuck or I can't get something
done or I'm trying to financesomething.
So it's I think it's about.
I still love my friends, butI'm trying to make new friends
in different spaces, if thatmakes sense.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Yeah, there's friends from the past and the friends
of the future, and friends comeand go.
Iron sharpens.
Iron is very true, that's agreat, great, uh, great verse.
Um.
So do you remember the momentwhen you knew you're gonna have
to kind of cut that time?
Speaker 2 (08:27):
yeah, yeah, I knew, uh, and it was actually two of
my longtime friends.
I've been friends with them, uh, one for like 20 years, almost
one like 10 years and I justfelt like, um, the stuff they
were doing with their life wasnot conducive to where I was
going.
So it was like it was like ourpaths were just life, paths were
just separated, and I knew itwas like it's going to come a
(08:49):
time where I'm like I don'treally feel a need to kind of
keep up with you in that worldthat you're doing, and I really
don't think you understand atall or even care what I'm trying
to do.
So I knew it, it was like a pitin my stomach and I knew it
would hurt me anytime I hurtthem.
But it, uh, it just I just hadto do it.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
I remember the.
You know, you start seeing theroutines of every week.
We hang out and we drink atsomeone's house or go do this,
or it's the same thing every,and it's like I want more than
that.
Yeah, I want to chase more thanthat.
I don't want to blink.
And now I'm 70 and and justkind of, you know, I'm with you,
I get that.
Uh, and if those who are outthere listening to their
(09:28):
entrepreneurs to already be like, yep, I get it, or they're
about the, they're feeling thatit's okay, um, the ones who
really care and love you andyour friends will do their best
to support you or understand it,cause they they actually get
(09:56):
you a little bit more Right andthe ones that are resentful or
jealous or truly were justapathetic to you.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
it was just proximity Friendships will whole time
constantly creating.
So a lot of people ask mequestions and I tell them that
they start on a journey.
I ask them about their supportsystem.
I was like, do you have anykind of support system?
Because it's not, it's justgoing to be you and you got to
just do it on your own.
And usually they really don'thave a support system and I was
like this is going to be hardbut you can do it.
(10:22):
You feel me.
You just going to have to breakaway and go on.
But a lot of my notice give upwithin a year.
That's what I've noticed.
A lot of people that I'vementored and actually put them
in rooms with other people totake them to the next level.
I gave them studio to go.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
it will in the, in the creative world, artist world
too but you know the tablestakes are talent yeah, let's
start there and the expectationof instant gratification and I'm
(10:58):
talented.
But listen, when you get put ina room with 100 other talented,
it's network, it's businesssense, it's brand's originality,
it's some kind of distinguisherthat you think you're special
because your group around youdoesn't have it.
But when you get around anothergroup, you're going to see you
sound and look a lot likeeverybody else, and so you don't
have to be the best, but you'vegot to be different and
(11:20):
memorable and marketable.
So those are the elements thatare 95% of success.
You don't lock the door, so yougot to at least be there.
So the passionate stuff, youknow, the 190 stayed out right.
Yeah, all right, you know, it'sjust like you said, it's
longevity plus a bunch of otherstuff you got to learn.
(11:41):
And if you know it all alreadyin 20s, good for you.
But you're not going to learn.
So, and if you know it allalready, in 20s.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Good for you, but you're not gonna learn anymore,
I guess.
So exactly, and you know,atlanta is very competitive.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Like I tell people, I'm like I'm competing with the
best guys with cameras like thebest people, hollywood studios
that have come here to saythat's better to film here
because it's less expensive,more friendly and lots of great
shots to see.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Even with this short film I'm about to do.
I know I saw my competition.
That's why I didn't submit themlast two, cause I saw my
competition.
I was like Whoa.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
I wouldn't have buried myself on that one.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Theirs was way better , way better, and I was like,
okay, I got us, cause I'mcompeting, like and that's where
I tell people I was like, ifsome of the greatest people, the
hungriest people in the world,you can't just slack off, you
got to go hard, you got to putyour all into it and just
sacrifice.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
So you're a, you have an advantage.
You have humility to say that'sbetter, and then the drive to
say I can do better and I'mgoing to be better than that.
Exactly, you don't have that.
You're screwed, screwed, it was100% screwed.
You're like, ah, I'll make allthese entitled excuses of why I
didn't get it.
I'm like, yeah, well, you'llnot get it ever.
Tell me about them.
(12:50):
You got your success, you gotthe journey you're on.
You say, oh my God, I got to dothese things to make it.
And then you identify themoments.
But there's the how, becausethe how is when you get it done.
So what were the first kind?
Speaker 2 (13:07):
um, well, I'm a libra , um, I'm very honest, but some
people say I'm too honest andI'm too blunt, so I don't even.
Uh, I think I just kind of justfaded.
I faded away.
I kind of felt like some peopleI give closure, I had gave
close to, but others I just kindof just faded away.
I just kind of stoppedanswering my phone, I kind of
(13:28):
stopped answering the text and Ikind of just disappeared
because it was too hard for meto just say those words to
certain individuals.
Other people weren't that closemaybe you know I'm saying so,
it wasn't, but I just I was likeI kind of told them I'm really
focused and then I just kind ofjust faded to black and just
kind of faded out their life and, um, I didn't really know any
(13:48):
other way to do it.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
That's just how it happened yeah, it's, and what's
been the impact since then?
Speaker 2 (13:55):
um, well, uh, one of them, uh, when my father died,
um, I think they might have helda grudge because they didn't
show up to the funeral and theywere actually kind of close with
my father and I was like, isthat a way to get back at me?
I't know, but it is whatprobably got more than it does
anything about you.
So I was like that's kind ofmessed up, but at the end of the
(14:19):
day, I'm used to it.
You know what I'm saying.
I really feel like the thingsI'm doing and the people I'm
helping is worth whatevercasualties or sacrifices I have
to make because I have a biggergoal, whatever casualties or
sacrifices I have to makebecause I have a bigger goal.
I don't feel like I was justput here just to be what you
want me to be or whatever boxyou want me to be in and stay in
.
I was like, no, I'm put herefor a lot more.
(14:40):
I have a real purpose and Ithink it came from God.
So I got to do it and I just Ijust wish them, wish them the
best, and I'm pretty surethey're doing fine, but I got to
do what I got to do.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, it's a long life if you want it to be right
and there's no reason.
You know everyone's an NPCunless you do something about it
.
So you can say an NPCnon-player character of a video
game, so you got video games andall you probably shouldn't.
If you're trying to be focused,but an NPC.
If you've seen the movie FreeGuy, it trying to be focused,
(15:16):
but an npc.
If you've seen the movie freeguy, it's by ryan reynolds, yeah
, and he realized I'm more thanthis.
That's such it's.
It's a metaphor for life like,well then, do more, don't let
the role.
Don't let the role be whatpeople said it should be go
define your own, and that'scrazy.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
You said video games because I was a huge video game
player.
Like I used to love video games, but probably about 15 years
ago, 20, 20 years ago, I stoppedbecause I was like I knew once
I get a video game, it's goingto take up all my time because I
love it, like I love videogames.
And to this day I tell mydaughter's mother I was like I
can't wait till one day I havetime to play video games again.
But I put in my 10,000 hours ofvideography.
(15:45):
You know what I'm saying.
I've mastered Adobe Premiere, Imastered Photoshop.
10,000 hours with videography.
You know what I'm saying?
I've mastered Adobe Premiere, Imastered Photoshop.
These are hours of my life thatI beat that and I wasn't
playing video games.
And I used to play video gameswith my friends.
They still play video games, Ijust don't have the time.
But, I've been learning camera.
You know what I'm saying.
I've been learning lighting.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Right the craft.
Uh, you know, you can learn.
You can learn to unlock thatnext skim and call of duty.
Or you can learn you know whatside lighting does and a great
backlight to build a studio,which is what I the training
screen, like I'm really had tolearn all this on my own like
hands-on.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
a lot, of, a lot of youtube videos, constant on
graphics and layers, and I buyroyalty-free instrumentals.
It's a whole thing to bementioning epic greats, to even
be nominated along Some of thepeople in Atlanta.
I've been nominated because Iwasn't playing video games, I
was actually in the studio hours.
You know what I'm saying?
No girlfriend, no relationship,nothing, just focused.
(16:43):
And that's what I think, that'swhat it takes.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Yeah, married to the work and I appreciate, by the
way, the green screen.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
I just said screw it, I'm just going to build a
studio and backlight it right.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
I said I built my own studio at home and just got the
lighting right, so I was.
That was much easier.
It's just so you said the greenscreen was a little too
difficult for you with thelighting, or too hard to control
lighting with just with any,unless you have a dark, like I
have rooms with windows, so Isaid I'll control the lighting
with or without sun anyways.
(17:15):
It was not.
The thing you actually.
You did too is because you'relearning from youtube.
You learn how to make youtubework for you and so, as you
monetize, you start creatingthings, people start then helps
with your own brand authority togo reshare that information,
what you learned.
It just helps the whole, it'sthe whole piece, cause then
you're not consuming, you're acreator, and that's that's even
better.
(17:35):
And then now you have a, youhave also have a format to try,
try out new scenes and checkthis, like this lighting effect
in the scene which also promotesa show that's really showing
about the light Anyway.
So I think it's intertwined.
You already know it'sreciprocal.
You feel me.
It is what it is.
I mean it's more fun too.
What are you most grateful for?
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Really just being able to create whenever I want.
You feel me, I put myself in aposition where whatever idea I
have, I can make right then,like I have, because I used to
be an artist.
I came to Atlanta as the artist.
I was a rapper.
I had two songs on the radioback home.
They said I got to move to abigger market and I was like
(18:18):
well, I'm kind of getting olderand I want to do other things.
I was like I do music for fouryears and then I branch off into
camera work, which is what Idid, but I still have my
recording equipment.
You know what I'm saying.
So I can make an album anytimeI want, because I also know how
to make beats.
I can film a show for myYouTube channel anytime I want.
It's like I can, you knowPhotoshop and make stuff.
So it's like I love, I'm sograteful that I can just create.
(18:39):
You feel me and of course I'mexpelling.
So I used to go to jail a lotwhen I was in my 20s and every
time I was locked up I used tobe so mad that I couldn't create
.
You know what I'm saying.
I couldn't make things to giveto people.
I would write rhymes and Iwould kind of rap them to the
people on the block or whateverin the cell.
But it's not the same, becauseI was performing on stages.
I used to travel around Indianaperforming.
(19:00):
I performed on 30 differentvenues in Indianapolis and about
20 here in Atlanta.
So I used to get a feel ofbeing on stage, bouncing back
with the crowd, that you knowwhat I'm saying and that's what
I love.
That right there interacting,even when I would like go sit
outside and sell my CDs, peoplelistening, like oh yeah, that's
(19:22):
what I'm grateful for, to beable to have that anytime I want
.
You know what I'm saying?
It's just, it's freedom and itmakes life more of an adventure
for me.
It's more fun, like I canliterally just just get my
camera, get on the train and godowntown atlanta, just take
pictures of buildings.
That's, to me, is just freedom.
You know I'm saying, and that'sjust something, small things
like that is what I'm gratefulfor.
Just love that anytime I wantabsolutely love it.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Let's say, uh, this someone who's you 10, 20 years
ago.
What's the what's the lessonand the advice you give them?
Speaker 2 (19:49):
So if that was me 20 years, I would tell them this is
probably going to take longerthan you think I gave myself.
I thought when I first startedI thought I would make noise way
faster than I did, but it tooka lot longer to get recognition
here in Atlanta.
It was hard.
When I came to Atlanta I waslike, oh yeah, I'm fine, I jump
into the game, I do my music, Ido my camera no-transcript, you
(20:45):
feel me?
So I tell them like, look, thisjust might take longer than you
think it might.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
It will A hundred percent will hit that mic.
It will 100 will.
Yeah, if you're, uh, yourestimates are based on zero
sleep and they're based onunreality of life.
Um, you know, you sprayed anankle.
You're out for two weeks onsomething like the shit happens
in life.
Um, if there was a question,maybe actually let me do that
for you.
I, I'd actually like to.
Who gives you inspiration today?
What gives me inspiration?
Speaker 2 (21:12):
today.
Uh, my daughter who?
Yeah, yeah, your daughter.
Yeah, I think my daughter givesme a lot of inspiration.
She's also the reason I'mtrying to um, I'm actually
trying to purchase a retailspace to uh, open up a business.
I don't want to say too much,but it's going to be named after
her.
You know, say actually me andher, uh, her mother, are going
in on together with some otherpeople, um, and we probably
(21:33):
purchased a retail space.
Then it's going to be namedafter her.
But uh, yeah, she's just myinspiration.
Um, she's already.
She's only two, but I can tellshe's already creative.
She loves music, she loved thedance, she talks a lot.
So I don't know what she'sgoing to do with that.
She might do a podcast orsomething like you, or YouTube
show or something like me.
But, yeah, she's definitely myinspiration.
(21:54):
And as far as in the film world,of course, my inspiration is
Tyler Perry.
You know what I'm saying?
I really look up to Tyler Perry.
I used to bug them about hiringme.
I went up to the studio threetimes.
I would send them my resume andthen I would wait, and then I
would go up there and be likedid y'all get it?
And they'd be like we'll letyou know, and then I'd do it
again and go up there.
And then the last time is like,look, we will let you know, but
(22:16):
they never called me.
I wanted to work at TylerPerry's studio so bad, but he's
my inspiration.
I just I didn't get the jobwith him and at first I kind of
got discouraged and I was like,nah, I'm going to just make my
movies, I'm not going to cause Ireally want to work with him.
I was like, well, I can't getin the door right now, so I can
just go make my own movies andsee where that leads me.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
So no reason, you just can't become the next Tyler
Perry.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
That's what I thought , that's what somebody told me.
They was like you don't got towork for Tyler Perry, just be
your own thing.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
And I was like, yeah, and that's when Tyler Perry,
when she can work with him.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
You got to bring up what's the best business advice
you've ever gotten Learn torecognize the opportunity where
there's no money attached to it.
You feel me Like when I firstgot my camera, people was trying
to get me to film stuff and Iremember saying that Like
they're not offering me enoughmoney.
And then some friend of mine hegoes by Spider-Man, he's a,
he's a rapper, but he doesmarketing, does a lot of things,
he got his hand in a lot ofpots but he's like look,
(23:15):
sometimes you should just go youknow what I'm saying Just to be
in that room to talk to thosepeople, whether they pay you or
not.
And after he told me that Istarted showing up everywhere
with my camera for free.
I just started showing up toany kind of like a prestigious
event where I felt like it wasmarketed well and a lot of
people would be there.
I would just go and just showup and film everything and then
tag everybody that was there andthat's how I started to build a
(23:37):
name for myself.
I did so many free events.
It's ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
At some point you got to pay what you're worth, pay
yourself and know your value.
But that's just marketing.
To me, that's just a cost,right and like you know, if
someone goes, hey, can you showup here to go film something
specifically, yes, you need topay me, but if they're bent and
like, oh, I'd love to promote itfor you, that becomes more
collaborative in nature.
I think that's a really.
You got to know your worth.
You can't give it away.
But it's okay to go do somefree stuff to get known and get
(24:02):
a community.
What's up?
What's the most most?
I'm a professional podcast.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
That's why I mum, why a mumple your must read book
Must read book I would sayGuerrilla Marketing by J Conrad
Levinson, or another book calledGenerating Multiple Screens of
Income.
I forgot who wrote that one,but I think those two books
really they really helped me outin the beginning.
(24:30):
I ran a t-shirt shop a brickand mortar t-shirt shop for four
years and them books showed mea lot of different ways about
marketing when you don't havethat much money.
And it was like to me readingall those books.
It was like I couldn't believeall the answers were right there
.
I'm like this is valuable, thisis like gold.
And I got them when I wasliving in a motel.
(24:51):
I worked at a recycling plantand they only paid me $8 an hour
.
But they will, let us keepstuff we found.
So a lot of recycled books camethrough there, a lot of
recycled video games, a lot ofrecycled women's purses.
So I would go sell the pursesin front of the liquor store.
I would get some of the books,I would try to sell them.
I would get the toys, thePlayStations that people donated
.
I would sell them.
(25:11):
I found these two booksGuerrilla Marketing and
Generating Multiple Sources ofIncome from their Recycling.
I read them and I was like thisis going to be the key for me
to start my business with hardlyno money.
It really shows you how to makea business on a shoestring
budget.
So I recommend that to anybodythat don't like really trying to
start a business.
You don't have like that muchmoneyrilla to Marketing by J
(25:32):
Conrad Levinson.
It's like gold.
I couldn't believe.
I was like they're giving thisinformation.
It's almost like I couldn'tbelieve it.
I didn't know that they wasgiving help like that.
You feel me, I guess because ofmy lifestyle.
In my 20s I was a drug dealer.
I was in and out.
You know what I'm saying.
I wasn't open up to the world,but once I set my mind to move
(25:53):
to Atlanta, become anentrepreneur, I changed my
mindset.
Then, once I found out how muchknowledge there is in books, I
started reading all kinds ofbooks, whatever I get my hands
on.
You feel me?
That's what the knowledge is.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
I mean to be fair.
Drug dealers are very goodentrepreneurs.
It's just a risky one.
You are selling and hustling.
I'm not saying this is what youwant to pick.
If you are, just go be a repfor pharma, exactly right.
If you had to start over today,what point in your life would
you go to and what would you dodifferently?
Speaker 2 (26:26):
um, uh.
What would I do differently?
I don't think I would have doneanything differently.
I think I had to go through allof that stuff to have this kind
of hunger.
I think I had to go through thepain.
I think I had to go to go tojail.
Like I went to jail, I think,14 times, all them times on
probation.
(26:46):
Like I think I had to gothrough all the being homeless.
I think I had to go through itto come up with this kind of
hunger.
I don't think without thosekind of struggles, I would want
it as bad.
You know what I'm saying.
I think I appreciate thosestruggles.
I learned a lot from them.
So, yeah, I don't think I woulddo anything different.
I think everything's happenedand I learned over the time that
(27:08):
sometimes it's just abouttiming.
You know what I'm saying.
It's just not your time yet.
You feel me.
You just got to keep goinguntil it is your time, and so I
think everything happens.
Yeah, I think it happens whenit's supposed to.
That's basically what I feel.
So you just have to go throughthose trials and tribulations
and then, if it's for you, it'llhappen.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
I think, yeah, I agree, I think it's the best
mindset you could possibly haveright there, and there was one
question I should have asked youtoday, though, and I didn't.
What would that question havebeen, and how do you answer it?
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Oh, I forgot this was on the email.
I was supposed to have ananswer ready for this.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
What question was it?
Sometimes I leave it off andcall it a mystery question, but
what I find is people sit herefor two minutes going, oh man.
So I was like I got to leadthem up.
Let them know it's coming.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
A question you should have asked.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
I don't know if it's a question you should have asked
, like returning to my businessor my personal life or what it's
a reflection of where you wantto go.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
A question you should have asked what's my motivation
for my films?
Speaker 1 (28:12):
That's a good one.
I like that.
What is my motivation?
Speaker 2 (28:16):
for my films.
That's a good one.
I like that.
What is it?
What is your motivation?
So this this next, this currentone is called the Sign.
It's about he's a drug deal,not a drug dealer, drug addict
and alcoholic.
He's living on the streets buthe wants to change his life, so
he's asking God to give him asign.
That's why it's called the Sign, and I tell the story about how
(28:39):
he what happens in his life tomake him change his life around.
But it's based on a story of aguy named Tracy who was a
crackhead back home who, um, I'ma preacher's kid, so I grew up
in church.
He came to church and, uh, hestarted getting in church and he
completely changed his lifearound.
I'm talking about like a reallife crackhead.
Like he ended up getting like ajob, he ended up getting a car
and then he ended up gettingmarried to a lady at the church
and I couldn't believe it.
(29:00):
It was like the mostunbelievable thing I ever seen.
You feel me?
So I was like and it gave meinspiration.
I was like I can make thatmovie and maybe to help other
people who's down know that theycan change if they see my movie
, just like.
My last one was called Be a GoodCheer.
I had a friend of mine who hiswife divorced him.
He divorced her actuallybecause he caught her cheating
(29:20):
two times.
On the second time he divorcedher.
But he called me one nightthinking about suicide.
He said he'd been thinkingabout killing himself a lot.
You feel me.
So I made a movie based off ofthat, but it has a good ending
in it.
I actually started that myselfand I pretended I was going to
kill myself over a divorce, butI didn't.
I found comfort in thescriptures and I put the gun
down in my movie and so peoplethat saw that they were inspired
(29:44):
.
But it's really based off hislife.
You feel me so I thinksometimes I just see stuff in
the world or I hear a storythat's so compelling I was like,
yeah, I think I should turnthat into a film.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Yeah, so I think that's powerful, I mean, yeah,
really it is.
And so thank you, by the way,for coming on today.
Yeah, appreciate you for havingme.
Yeah, of course, shameless plugtime for you.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
Who should get a hold of you and how do they do that?
Um, who should get a hold of me?
Um, like, the tagline for my,uh, my photography and a
videography company is a visualsolutions for businesses and
events.
So, if you're a business ownerand you would like a like a
commercial, or you need a photoshoot, um, stuff like that, I
really love doing business withother like business owners.
Um, I do do business withrappers and models sometimes,
(30:34):
but I prefer business clients.
You know what I'm saying.
I really liked that lane and ifthey want to get in contact,
they may go on my website.
Uh, it'swwwthecreativemaestrocom and it
has all my contacts on there andit shows you what I've done and
the journey and then you canget an idea of who I've worked
with, who I'm connected with and, yeah, just
thecreativemaestrocom.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
You can find out all my info Awesome.
Thank you so much for coming ontoday.
No problem, no problem andlisten.
Everyone who made it at thispoint in the show listening
watching, I appreciate you.
If this is the first time here,I do hope it.
Welcome to the Cut the Tie podcast.
I am your host, Thomas Helfrich.
I'm on a mission to help youcut the tie to whatever it is
holding you back from success,and that success is how you
define it.
And today I'm joined by themaestro himself, Rick Maestro
Holcomb.
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
I'm blessed.
I'm blessed man.
I'm happy to be here, I'm happyto keep going.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
I don't look like what I've been through, so I got
gotta give god the praisereally yeah, that's a, that's a
good person to thank, or a thingor entity, or however you think
of god.
It's a good, it's a gooddirection, but you're light.
Yeah, um, I believe so do you.
Uh, you want to take a minute?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
take, uh, introduce yourself and what it is you do
um, I do a myriad of things, butmost people know me as a
videographer, a freelancevideographer.
Um, I won 2019 Atlanta Hip HopAwards underground version of
the Hip Hop Awards.
I won that in 2019, but I'vebeen nominated four times.
I only won once.
But I'm also an amateurfilmmaker.
(00:55):
I put out two short films and Istart production on my third,
which I think will be my bestone, in July.
You know what I'm saying.
I do all the casting, I raisethe money for it and I think
this is going to be the one thatI'm actually going to be able
to submit to festivals.
The last two were kind of likepractice and didn't really have
no money behind them, but thisthird one I wrote it.
It's called the Sign.
(01:17):
You start production that onJuly and then next year I want
to start writing my first fulllength feature film.
It's going to be a horror filmand it's something that's never
been done.
So, yeah, I'm a videographer,but I'm also going into that
filmmaker lane.
You know what I'm saying.
I mean, I've got a passion formovies.
I love movies.
I talk about movies on myYouTube show.
So I was like, let me try tocreate some movies and get my
(01:38):
ideas out to the world.
So that's kind of where.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
I am now.
I love that you're astoryteller too.
It sounds like and the uh.
I met this kid at this uhentrepreneurial, uh reality show
called the blocks and he wasthere supporting his mom and he
had like 600,000 followers onYouTube and I was like what are
you doing?
He's like I actually go throughand explain why movies are
scary in certain scenes.
(02:02):
And he and he had like yeah'slike, he's like I just like I
like to go and say this is whythis scene is scary.
And they go and he replays itand explains it and it's very
simple.
Oh, he's like it justfascinates me why that certain
things scare you.
And he and I was like man, whata beautiful youtube idea.
Some people, that's original,that's a rich, it is, and it's
like it's very simple.
(02:22):
But it's like you know, he hadbeen doing it for six months and
had like 600 000 followers andhad like 40 million views
already, because he's makingmoney, like really good money on
this like and I'm like wow,maybe I so over thought what I
should do on youtube anyway.
Well, we'll take that oneoffline.
I'm because you've had achannel for a few years now as
(02:43):
well, and you're like yeah, um,you know there's that's.
I always ask this question, andyou know and the in the bulk of
the shows about your, yourjourney and what you had to do
to get there, but I always askwhy do people pick you though?
So it's a very competitive thespace you're in, what's your,
what's your differentiator, whatmakes you unique?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
um, for what my customers tell me, or my clients
.
They usually used to say, uh,it's more of the fact that, um,
I just do what I say I'm gonnado.
And actually when I won theaward, that's what I said at the
speech.
I was like I'm not really thebest videographer in Atlanta,
but I'm the most consistent andI do what I say I'm gonna do.
Like, if I say I'm gonna haveit done in 48 hours, it's always
done in 48 hours.
If I say I meet you here at oneo'clock, I'm going to be there
(03:23):
probably at like 1230.
You know what I'm saying andthey love the fact that I just
keep my word about everything,even if it's something going to
be messed up.
I tell them like, look, thisprobably got messed up, so it
might take me longer.
It's about transparency and Ifeel like a lot of other
creatives or some other peopleare not being as transparent
with the clients and not givingthem the information, are not
(03:44):
being as transparent with theclients and not giving them the
wrong information, and I tend tojust tell them the good and the
bad, so they just stay coolwith it.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Was that a conscious business decision to distinguish
that?
Or was it just who you are?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
No, not just who I am .
I grew up in church so mymother was really hard on us
about lying.
You know what I'm saying.
I grew up.
She's like one thing you don'tdo is lie.
You feel me.
So she instilled that into me.
So I just I've always just keptit honest with my clients and,
um, kept it fair.
It was just who I who I reallyam.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
That's a.
It's a good practice.
It's hard to do in life, forsure.
So sometimes you're like man, Icould just stretch just a
little bit.
But you're like, nope, gotta beit of yet, and that's yeah
right so how do you definesuccess?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
um, it's not even based on money.
To me, you know, I'm saying, ofcourse, the more money you make
doing something you love iscool, but it's it's about being
able to have the freedom to justdo what do, what you love.
Like, um, like, with this movie, I'm probably not gonna make, I
might not make no money off ofit, but it's the journey, you
know I'm saying that.
Well, me and the cast go towhat I go through with the
people at the locations and the,the joy I get when people see
(04:48):
my movie and they tell me, likeyo, this gave me inspiration.
You know what I'm saying.
This motivated me.
That's the reward for me.
That's how I look at success.
If I'm able to give somebody agood feeling or give them some
good entertainment, that's areward.
You know what I'm saying forthat's a war.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
You know what I'm saying?
For me, yes, and a little.
The definition of success itdefinitely changes with season
of life and it could be, youknow, yeah, there's money,
there's life, there's faith,there's health, there's just
freedom of creation, there'scaptaining, your calendar, it
could be all that Right.
The fact is, you refined it andthen that's the important piece
, you're not chasing someoneelse's definition of success,
you're chasing yours.
In your own journey to achievethat success.
(05:28):
What's been the biggestmetaphoric tie you've had to cut
to get?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
there.
The hardest part was cuttingoff a lot of friends from
Indianapolis, indiana, where I'mfrom, and I don't even want to
say I cut them off because Iwill swing back around to them.
I've been very, very busy so Idon't have as much time for idle
conversations as I used to oridle hanging out.
I don't really have time to goto clubs because I'm really
(05:53):
focused on trying to create thebest project, even you know what
I'm saying at every level.
You know what I'm saying.
I'm constantly in competitionwith myself to make stuff better
than I made it last time.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
So I just cut the tie to people who I've been on
through this.
It's not that they're they werebad or they're not a good group
, but they're not aligned toentrepreneurship and the mindset
and they're not the group youneed to surround yourself in
this moment to find success.
Yeah, maybe because there'scomplacency, maybe because
you're not going to get thehonest feedback you're going to
need, or they're not on a pathwhere you can attach to the
(06:29):
growth or the journey they'vebeen on.
And that's a very hard decisionbecause it's time you're going
to pull away.
It means you're going to feelmore alone.
Yeah, it's not lonely, but morealone, more disconnected.
And I have a men's group thatI'll talk about later.
But, like for that reason,because that's there's this, I
call it entanglement.
It's around, it's the peoplearound you that you see at
(06:50):
church.
It's the people around you thatyou, that love you and they're
close, but they can't really befully honest with you sometimes.
Exactly right, your kids play.
I don't want to be mad at me ifI tell them this or I don't
want to be awkward at church ifI do that, but what I found is
men in particular need thisgroup that sits outside, that
tells you how it is and also candebate and talk but also can
(07:11):
kind of have a business bondwith it.
And that's hard to find it in avery central circle and it
sounds like you and many otherhunter men that I've interviewed
have the same.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Well, yeah, it's kind of hard to find.
I did have a point in my lifewhere I was very, very lonely
because I came here to Atlantaand I'm really just me, you feel
me.
I came down here to chase mydreams no family, no friends,
just me and my goals.
And I was like man, I kind ofmiss my friends.
But I really don't have time togo back and I want to get new
friends that can, because I'mrunning things by them that I'm
(07:41):
trying to do, but they can'tgive me no advice or they can't
give me no feedback.
So you know, iron sharpens iron.
So I'm like man, I need, I needthe people.
That's kind of going where I'mgoing to help me learn.
So I start picking up mentorshere at Atlanta.
I have like four mentors andthey really been my closest
thing as like a group of support.
You know what I'm saying.
(08:09):
So I look to them when I'mstuck or I can't get something
done or I'm trying to financesomething.
So it's I think it's about.
I still love my friends, butI'm trying to make new friends
in different spaces, if thatmakes sense.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Yeah, there's friends from the past and the friends
of the future, and friends comeand go.
Iron sharpens.
Iron is very true, that's agreat, great, uh, great verse.
Um.
So do you remember the momentwhen you knew you're gonna have
to kind of cut that time?
Speaker 2 (08:27):
yeah, yeah, I knew, uh, and it was actually two of
my longtime friends.
I've been friends with them, uh, one for like 20 years, almost
one like 10 years and I justfelt like, um, the stuff they
were doing with their life wasnot conducive to where I was
going.
So it was like it was like ourpaths were just life, paths were
just separated, and I knew itwas like it's going to come a
(08:49):
time where I'm like I don'treally feel a need to kind of
keep up with you in that worldthat you're doing, and I really
don't think you understand atall or even care what I'm trying
to do.
So I knew it, it was like a pitin my stomach and I knew it
would hurt me anytime I hurtthem.
But it, uh, it just I just hadto do it.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
I remember the.
You know, you start seeing theroutines of every week.
We hang out and we drink atsomeone's house or go do this,
or it's the same thing every,and it's like I want more than
that.
Yeah, I want to chase more thanthat.
I don't want to blink.
And now I'm 70 and and justkind of, you know, I'm with you,
I get that.
Uh, and if those who are outthere listening to their
(09:28):
entrepreneurs to already be like, yep, I get it, or they're
about the, they're feeling thatit's okay, um, the ones who
really care and love you andyour friends will do their best
to support you or understand it,cause they they actually get
(09:56):
you a little bit more Right andthe ones that are resentful or
jealous or truly were justapathetic to you.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
it was just proximity Friendships will whole time
constantly creating.
So a lot of people ask mequestions and I tell them that
they start on a journey.
I ask them about their supportsystem.
I was like, do you have anykind of support system?
Because it's not, it's justgoing to be you and you got to
just do it on your own.
And usually they really don'thave a support system and I was
like this is going to be hardbut you can do it.
(10:22):
You feel me.
You just going to have to breakaway and go on.
But a lot of my notice give upwithin a year.
That's what I've noticed.
A lot of people that I'vementored and actually put them
in rooms with other people totake them to the next level.
I gave them studio to go.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
it will in the, in the creative world, artist world
too but you know the tablestakes are talent yeah, let's
start there and the expectationof instant gratification and I'm
(10:58):
talented.
But listen, when you get put ina room with 100 other talented,
it's network, it's businesssense, it's brand's originality,
it's some kind of distinguisherthat you think you're special
because your group around youdoesn't have it.
But when you get around anothergroup, you're going to see you
sound and look a lot likeeverybody else, and so you don't
have to be the best, but you'vegot to be different and
(11:20):
memorable and marketable.
So those are the elements thatare 95% of success.
You don't lock the door, so yougot to at least be there.
So the passionate stuff, youknow, the 190 stayed out right.
Yeah, all right, you know, it'sjust like you said, it's
longevity plus a bunch of otherstuff you got to learn.
(11:41):
And if you know it all alreadyin 20s, good for you.
But you're not going to learn.
So, and if you know it allalready, in 20s.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Good for you, but you're not gonna learn anymore,
I guess.
So exactly, and you know,atlanta is very competitive.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Like I tell people, I'm like I'm competing with the
best guys with cameras like thebest people, hollywood studios
that have come here to saythat's better to film here
because it's less expensive,more friendly and lots of great
shots to see.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Even with this short film I'm about to do.
I know I saw my competition.
That's why I didn't submit themlast two, cause I saw my
competition.
I was like Whoa.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
I wouldn't have buried myself on that one.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Theirs was way better , way better, and I was like,
okay, I got us, cause I'mcompeting, like and that's where
I tell people I was like, ifsome of the greatest people, the
hungriest people in the world,you can't just slack off, you
got to go hard, you got to putyour all into it and just
sacrifice.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
So you're a, you have an advantage.
You have humility to say that'sbetter, and then the drive to
say I can do better and I'mgoing to be better than that.
Exactly, you don't have that.
You're screwed, screwed, it was100% screwed.
You're like, ah, I'll make allthese entitled excuses of why I
didn't get it.
I'm like, yeah, well, you'llnot get it ever.
Tell me about them.
(12:50):
You got your success, you gotthe journey you're on.
You say, oh my God, I got to dothese things to make it.
And then you identify themoments.
But there's the how, becausethe how is when you get it done.
So what were the first kind?
Speaker 2 (13:07):
um, well, I'm a libra , um, I'm very honest, but some
people say I'm too honest andI'm too blunt, so I don't even.
Uh, I think I just kind of justfaded.
I faded away.
I kind of felt like some peopleI give closure, I had gave
close to, but others I just kindof just faded away.
I just kind of stoppedanswering my phone, I kind of
(13:28):
stopped answering the text and Ikind of just disappeared
because it was too hard for meto just say those words to
certain individuals.
Other people weren't that closemaybe you know I'm saying so,
it wasn't, but I just I was likeI kind of told them I'm really
focused and then I just kind ofjust faded to black and just
kind of faded out their life and, um, I didn't really know any
(13:48):
other way to do it.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
That's just how it happened yeah, it's, and what's
been the impact since then?
Speaker 2 (13:55):
um, well, uh, one of them, uh, when my father died,
um, I think they might have helda grudge because they didn't
show up to the funeral and theywere actually kind of close with
my father and I was like, isthat a way to get back at me?
I't know, but it is whatprobably got more than it does
anything about you.
So I was like that's kind ofmessed up, but at the end of the
(14:19):
day, I'm used to it.
You know what I'm saying.
I really feel like the thingsI'm doing and the people I'm
helping is worth whatevercasualties or sacrifices I have
to make because I have a biggergoal, whatever casualties or
sacrifices I have to makebecause I have a bigger goal.
I don't feel like I was justput here just to be what you
want me to be or whatever boxyou want me to be in and stay in
.
I was like, no, I'm put herefor a lot more.
(14:40):
I have a real purpose and Ithink it came from God.
So I got to do it and I just Ijust wish them, wish them the
best, and I'm pretty surethey're doing fine, but I got to
do what I got to do.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, it's a long life if you want it to be right
and there's no reason.
You know everyone's an NPCunless you do something about it
.
So you can say an NPCnon-player character of a video
game, so you got video games andall you probably shouldn't.
If you're trying to be focused,but an NPC.
If you've seen the movie FreeGuy, it trying to be focused,
(15:16):
but an npc.
If you've seen the movie freeguy, it's by ryan reynolds, yeah
, and he realized I'm more thanthis.
That's such it's.
It's a metaphor for life like,well then, do more, don't let
the role.
Don't let the role be whatpeople said it should be go
define your own, and that'scrazy.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
You said video games because I was a huge video game
player.
Like I used to love video games, but probably about 15 years
ago, 20, 20 years ago, I stoppedbecause I was like I knew once
I get a video game, it's goingto take up all my time because I
love it, like I love videogames.
And to this day I tell mydaughter's mother I was like I
can't wait till one day I havetime to play video games again.
But I put in my 10,000 hours ofvideography.
(15:45):
You know what I'm saying.
I've mastered Adobe Premiere, Imastered Photoshop.
10,000 hours with videography.
You know what I'm saying?
I've mastered Adobe Premiere, Imastered Photoshop.
These are hours of my life thatI beat that and I wasn't
playing video games.
And I used to play video gameswith my friends.
They still play video games, Ijust don't have the time.
But, I've been learning camera.
You know what I'm saying.
I've been learning lighting.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Right the craft.
Uh, you know, you can learn.
You can learn to unlock thatnext skim and call of duty.
Or you can learn you know whatside lighting does and a great
backlight to build a studio,which is what I the training
screen, like I'm really had tolearn all this on my own like
hands-on.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
a lot, of, a lot of youtube videos, constant on
graphics and layers, and I buyroyalty-free instrumentals.
It's a whole thing to bementioning epic greats, to even
be nominated along Some of thepeople in Atlanta.
I've been nominated because Iwasn't playing video games, I
was actually in the studio hours.
You know what I'm saying?
No girlfriend, no relationship,nothing, just focused.
(16:43):
And that's what I think, that'swhat it takes.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Yeah, married to the work and I appreciate, by the
way, the green screen.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
I just said screw it, I'm just going to build a
studio and backlight it right.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
I said I built my own studio at home and just got the
lighting right, so I was.
That was much easier.
It's just so you said the greenscreen was a little too
difficult for you with thelighting, or too hard to control
lighting with just with any,unless you have a dark, like I
have rooms with windows, so Isaid I'll control the lighting
with or without sun anyways.
(17:15):
It was not.
The thing you actually.
You did too is because you'relearning from youtube.
You learn how to make youtubework for you and so, as you
monetize, you start creatingthings, people start then helps
with your own brand authority togo reshare that information,
what you learned.
It just helps the whole, it'sthe whole piece, cause then
you're not consuming, you're acreator, and that's that's even
better.
(17:35):
And then now you have a, youhave also have a format to try,
try out new scenes and checkthis, like this lighting effect
in the scene which also promotesa show that's really showing
about the light Anyway.
So I think it's intertwined.
You already know it'sreciprocal.
You feel me.
It is what it is.
I mean it's more fun too.
What are you most grateful for?
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Really just being able to create whenever I want.
You feel me, I put myself in aposition where whatever idea I
have, I can make right then,like I have, because I used to
be an artist.
I came to Atlanta as the artist.
I was a rapper.
I had two songs on the radioback home.
They said I got to move to abigger market and I was like
(18:18):
well, I'm kind of getting olderand I want to do other things.
I was like I do music for fouryears and then I branch off into
camera work, which is what Idid, but I still have my
recording equipment.
You know what I'm saying.
So I can make an album anytimeI want, because I also know how
to make beats.
I can film a show for myYouTube channel anytime I want.
It's like I can, you knowPhotoshop and make stuff.
So it's like I love, I'm sograteful that I can just create.
(18:39):
You feel me and of course I'mexpelling.
So I used to go to jail a lotwhen I was in my 20s and every
time I was locked up I used tobe so mad that I couldn't create
.
You know what I'm saying.
I couldn't make things to giveto people.
I would write rhymes and Iwould kind of rap them to the
people on the block or whateverin the cell.
But it's not the same, becauseI was performing on stages.
I used to travel around Indianaperforming.
(19:00):
I performed on 30 differentvenues in Indianapolis and about
20 here in Atlanta.
So I used to get a feel ofbeing on stage, bouncing back
with the crowd, that you knowwhat I'm saying and that's what
I love.
That right there interacting,even when I would like go sit
outside and sell my CDs, peoplelistening, like oh yeah, that's
(19:22):
what I'm grateful for, to beable to have that anytime I want
.
You know what I'm saying?
It's just, it's freedom and itmakes life more of an adventure
for me.
It's more fun, like I canliterally just just get my
camera, get on the train and godowntown atlanta, just take
pictures of buildings.
That's, to me, is just freedom.
You know I'm saying, and that'sjust something, small things
like that is what I'm gratefulfor.
Just love that anytime I wantabsolutely love it.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Let's say, uh, this someone who's you 10, 20 years
ago.
What's the what's the lessonand the advice you give them?
Speaker 2 (19:49):
So if that was me 20 years, I would tell them this is
probably going to take longerthan you think I gave myself.
I thought when I first startedI thought I would make noise way
faster than I did, but it tooka lot longer to get recognition
here in Atlanta.
It was hard.
When I came to Atlanta I waslike, oh yeah, I'm fine, I jump
into the game, I do my music, Ido my camera no-transcript, you
(20:45):
feel me?
So I tell them like, look, thisjust might take longer than you
think it might.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
It will A hundred percent will hit that mic.
It will 100 will.
Yeah, if you're, uh, yourestimates are based on zero
sleep and they're based onunreality of life.
Um, you know, you sprayed anankle.
You're out for two weeks onsomething like the shit happens
in life.
Um, if there was a question,maybe actually let me do that
for you.
I, I'd actually like to.
Who gives you inspiration today?
What gives me inspiration?
Speaker 2 (21:12):
today.
Uh, my daughter who?
Yeah, yeah, your daughter.
Yeah, I think my daughter givesme a lot of inspiration.
She's also the reason I'mtrying to um, I'm actually
trying to purchase a retailspace to uh, open up a business.
I don't want to say too much,but it's going to be named after
her.
You know, say actually me andher, uh, her mother, are going
in on together with some otherpeople, um, and we probably
(21:33):
purchased a retail space.
Then it's going to be namedafter her.
But uh, yeah, she's just myinspiration.
Um, she's already.
She's only two, but I can tellshe's already creative.
She loves music, she loved thedance, she talks a lot.
So I don't know what she'sgoing to do with that.
She might do a podcast orsomething like you, or YouTube
show or something like me.
But, yeah, she's definitely myinspiration.
(21:54):
And as far as in the film world,of course, my inspiration is
Tyler Perry.
You know what I'm saying?
I really look up to Tyler Perry.
I used to bug them about hiringme.
I went up to the studio threetimes.
I would send them my resume andthen I would wait, and then I
would go up there and be likedid y'all get it?
And they'd be like we'll letyou know, and then I'd do it
again and go up there.
And then the last time is like,look, we will let you know, but
(22:16):
they never called me.
I wanted to work at TylerPerry's studio so bad, but he's
my inspiration.
I just I didn't get the jobwith him and at first I kind of
got discouraged and I was like,nah, I'm going to just make my
movies, I'm not going to cause Ireally want to work with him.
I was like, well, I can't getin the door right now, so I can
just go make my own movies andsee where that leads me.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
So no reason, you just can't become the next Tyler
Perry.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
That's what I thought , that's what somebody told me.
They was like you don't got towork for Tyler Perry, just be
your own thing.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
And I was like, yeah, and that's when Tyler Perry,
when she can work with him.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
You got to bring up what's the best business advice
you've ever gotten Learn torecognize the opportunity where
there's no money attached to it.
You feel me Like when I firstgot my camera, people was trying
to get me to film stuff and Iremember saying that Like
they're not offering me enoughmoney.
And then some friend of mine hegoes by Spider-Man, he's a,
he's a rapper, but he doesmarketing, does a lot of things,
he got his hand in a lot ofpots but he's like look,
(23:15):
sometimes you should just go youknow what I'm saying Just to be
in that room to talk to thosepeople, whether they pay you or
not.
And after he told me that Istarted showing up everywhere
with my camera for free.
I just started showing up toany kind of like a prestigious
event where I felt like it wasmarketed well and a lot of
people would be there.
I would just go and just showup and film everything and then
tag everybody that was there andthat's how I started to build a
(23:37):
name for myself.
I did so many free events.
It's ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
At some point you got to pay what you're worth, pay
yourself and know your value.
But that's just marketing.
To me, that's just a cost,right and like you know, if
someone goes, hey, can you showup here to go film something
specifically, yes, you need topay me, but if they're bent and
like, oh, I'd love to promote itfor you, that becomes more
collaborative in nature.
I think that's a really.
You got to know your worth.
You can't give it away.
But it's okay to go do somefree stuff to get known and get
(24:02):
a community.
What's up?
What's the most most?
I'm a professional podcast.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
That's why I mum, why a mumple your must read book
Must read book I would sayGuerrilla Marketing by J Conrad
Levinson, or another book calledGenerating Multiple Screens of
Income.
I forgot who wrote that one,but I think those two books
really they really helped me outin the beginning.
(24:30):
I ran a t-shirt shop a brickand mortar t-shirt shop for four
years and them books showed mea lot of different ways about
marketing when you don't havethat much money.
And it was like to me readingall those books.
It was like I couldn't believeall the answers were right there
.
I'm like this is valuable, thisis like gold.
And I got them when I wasliving in a motel.
(24:51):
I worked at a recycling plantand they only paid me $8 an hour
.
But they will, let us keepstuff we found.
So a lot of recycled books camethrough there, a lot of
recycled video games, a lot ofrecycled women's purses.
So I would go sell the pursesin front of the liquor store.
I would get some of the books,I would try to sell them.
I would get the toys, thePlayStations that people donated
.
I would sell them.
(25:11):
I found these two booksGuerrilla Marketing and
Generating Multiple Sources ofIncome from their Recycling.
I read them and I was like thisis going to be the key for me
to start my business with hardlyno money.
It really shows you how to makea business on a shoestring
budget.
So I recommend that to anybodythat don't like really trying to
start a business.
You don't have like that muchmoneyrilla to Marketing by J
(25:32):
Conrad Levinson.
It's like gold.
I couldn't believe.
I was like they're giving thisinformation.
It's almost like I couldn'tbelieve it.
I didn't know that they wasgiving help like that.
You feel me, I guess because ofmy lifestyle.
In my 20s I was a drug dealer.
I was in and out.
You know what I'm saying.
I wasn't open up to the world,but once I set my mind to move
(25:53):
to Atlanta, become anentrepreneur, I changed my
mindset.
Then, once I found out how muchknowledge there is in books, I
started reading all kinds ofbooks, whatever I get my hands
on.
You feel me?
That's what the knowledge is.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
I mean to be fair.
Drug dealers are very goodentrepreneurs.
It's just a risky one.
You are selling and hustling.
I'm not saying this is what youwant to pick.
If you are, just go be a repfor pharma, exactly right.
If you had to start over today,what point in your life would
you go to and what would you dodifferently?
Speaker 2 (26:26):
um, uh.
What would I do differently?
I don't think I would have doneanything differently.
I think I had to go through allof that stuff to have this kind
of hunger.
I think I had to go through thepain.
I think I had to go to go tojail.
Like I went to jail, I think,14 times, all them times on
probation.
(26:46):
Like I think I had to gothrough all the being homeless.
I think I had to go through itto come up with this kind of
hunger.
I don't think without thosekind of struggles, I would want
it as bad.
You know what I'm saying.
I think I appreciate thosestruggles.
I learned a lot from them.
So, yeah, I don't think I woulddo anything different.
I think everything's happenedand I learned over the time that
(27:08):
sometimes it's just abouttiming.
You know what I'm saying.
It's just not your time yet.
You feel me.
You just got to keep goinguntil it is your time, and so I
think everything happens.
Yeah, I think it happens whenit's supposed to.
That's basically what I feel.
So you just have to go throughthose trials and tribulations
and then, if it's for you, it'llhappen.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
I think, yeah, I agree, I think it's the best
mindset you could possibly haveright there, and there was one
question I should have asked youtoday, though, and I didn't.
What would that question havebeen, and how do you answer it?
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Oh, I forgot this was on the email.
I was supposed to have ananswer ready for this.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
What question was it?
Sometimes I leave it off andcall it a mystery question, but
what I find is people sit herefor two minutes going, oh man.
So I was like I got to leadthem up.
Let them know it's coming.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
A question you should have asked.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
I don't know if it's a question you should have asked
, like returning to my businessor my personal life or what it's
a reflection of where you wantto go.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
A question you should have asked what's my motivation
for my films?
Speaker 1 (28:12):
That's a good one.
I like that.
What is my motivation?
Speaker 2 (28:16):
for my films.
That's a good one.
I like that.
What is it?
What is your motivation?
So this this next, this currentone is called the Sign.
It's about he's a drug deal,not a drug dealer, drug addict
and alcoholic.
He's living on the streets buthe wants to change his life, so
he's asking God to give him asign.
That's why it's called the Sign, and I tell the story about how
(28:39):
he what happens in his life tomake him change his life around.
But it's based on a story of aguy named Tracy who was a
crackhead back home who, um, I'ma preacher's kid, so I grew up
in church.
He came to church and, uh, hestarted getting in church and he
completely changed his lifearound.
I'm talking about like a reallife crackhead.
Like he ended up getting like ajob, he ended up getting a car
and then he ended up gettingmarried to a lady at the church
and I couldn't believe it.
(29:00):
It was like the mostunbelievable thing I ever seen.
You feel me?
So I was like and it gave meinspiration.
I was like I can make thatmovie and maybe to help other
people who's down know that theycan change if they see my movie
, just like.
My last one was called Be a GoodCheer.
I had a friend of mine who hiswife divorced him.
He divorced her actuallybecause he caught her cheating
(29:20):
two times.
On the second time he divorcedher.
But he called me one nightthinking about suicide.
He said he'd been thinkingabout killing himself a lot.
You feel me.
So I made a movie based off ofthat, but it has a good ending
in it.
I actually started that myselfand I pretended I was going to
kill myself over a divorce, butI didn't.
I found comfort in thescriptures and I put the gun
down in my movie and so peoplethat saw that they were inspired
(29:44):
.
But it's really based off hislife.
You feel me so I thinksometimes I just see stuff in
the world or I hear a storythat's so compelling I was like,
yeah, I think I should turnthat into a film.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Yeah, so I think that's powerful, I mean, yeah,
really it is.
And so thank you, by the way,for coming on today.
Yeah, appreciate you for havingme.
Yeah, of course, shameless plugtime for you.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
Who should get a hold of you and how do they do that?
Um, who should get a hold of me?
Um, like, the tagline for my,uh, my photography and a
videography company is a visualsolutions for businesses and
events.
So, if you're a business ownerand you would like a like a
commercial, or you need a photoshoot, um, stuff like that, I
really love doing business withother like business owners.
Um, I do do business withrappers and models sometimes,
(30:34):
but I prefer business clients.
You know what I'm saying.
I really liked that lane and ifthey want to get in contact,
they may go on my website.
Uh, it'swwwthecreativemaestrocom and it
has all my contacts on there andit shows you what I've done and
the journey and then you canget an idea of who I've worked
with, who I'm connected with and, yeah, just
thecreativemaestrocom.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
You can find out all my info Awesome.
Thank you so much for coming ontoday.
No problem, no problem andlisten.
Everyone who made it at thispoint in the show listening
watching, I appreciate you.
If this is the first time here,I do hope it.
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