There are lots of things I think about. But what I think most about, is WHY. More specifically, why people do the things they do.

"Why" is the primary question I ask any potential client. And it’s something regularly ask myself, too.

Why have I worked as a talent manager for almost three decades?
Because I have a passion for making people feel something they’ve never felt before.
And representing great talent is the best way for me to achieve that.

Why do I write these blog posts?
Because a lot of people have figured that I write to give advice. Although I’ve never seen it that way. That somehow implies that I’m delivering messages from on high and letting them fall to the masses beneath me.

Sometimes I wish that’s how it felt. But the truth is, I don’t see myself as an expert. I don’t see these posts as giving advice. I see it as starting a conversation.

I don’t preach.
I share.

Sharing Mistakes and Making More

When writing for Stage 32 and for my own blog, I revisit mistakes I’ve made in the past so that others can learn from them. I tell my story as an example of what works and what doesn’t. And, if need be, I take a hard look at myself now and evaluate what I need to work on.

I’ve been fortunate to have lots of professional success. My clients are all making great strides in the industry and the More/Medavoy company has never been stronger. But that doesn’t mean things are perfect, and with success in one area comes shortcomings in another.

Actors are forced to obsess over their physical appearance, but looks aren’t brought up as much in other areas of the industry. But the fact of the matter is, I’ve gained a fair amount of weight over the past few years, and I’m just not in the shape I used to be. It’s tough some days, knowing I don’t look the way that I want to.

It’s really tough.

It’s important to have the self-awareness to face up to the hard truths about yourself, the ones that cause a lot of hurt and shame to admit. But here’s the thing about self-awareness: it does no good unless you do something about it. And sharing is a great thing to do.

Sharing Stories Can Help You Save Yourself

We’ve got a really talented intern at More/Medavoy now, one who’s been incredibly helpful on these very blogs. And, like me, he struggles with his weight. We’ve had great talks about the insecurities that come with that, and just in sharing I think we’ve helped each feel a little less burdened. Because when you share your story with someone, when you help someone else, I truly believe you help yourself.

I’ll go one step further than that: you save yourself. I’ve gone through periods of professional success, and I’ve had personal deficiencies come with it. I’ve lost control of a lot more than my weight, and I’ve ended up sabotaging just about everything in my life. I know that I run the risk of repeating that pattern if I don’t acknowledge what could be better. And if I don’t share my story.

So, why do I write these blogs? Because I want to share part of me. I want to start a conversation that can help others avoid the mistakes that I’ve made. I want to help people – for their sake, and for my own.

That’s why.

Other Stage 32 posts by Brian:

• For Creatives: 12 Mindset Shifts to Use as You Head Into 2019
• Getting to Know Hollywood: Sign the Town Before You Sign the Talent
• Does Luck Play a Role in Your Acting Career?
• Hollywood vs Hollywouldn’t: 12 Tips to Help Actors Navigate the Hollywood Landscape
• True Success is About Giving: A Theory to Elevate You to the Next Level
• How One Man, One Speech, and a Series of Letters Shaped a Hollywood Career
• How Do I Get a Meeting in Hollywood?
• How to Get Better as an Actor
• 4 Things to Consider Before You Land in Hollywood
• How Harnessing Energy, Feeding Livestock, and Chopping Wood Prepped Me for Hollywood

Brian Medavoy is an award-winning producer and manager who has been
in the entertainment business for nearly 25 years. In that time he has emerged
as one of Hollywood’s top talent representatives, helping to craft the early
careers of actors such as Ryan Reynolds, Tobey Maguire, Josh Brolin, David
Schwimmer, Jason Bateman, and Maria Bello, among others.

More-Medavoy merged with powerhouse managers Susan Bymel and Evelyn O’Neill
in 1999 to form Talent Entertainment Group. Under their combined banner,
TEG continued to represent A-list talent while developing film and television projects
for their clients. One of those projects, the highly-acclaimed PBS series “American High,”
garnered Medavoy an Emmy award for Outstanding Non-Fiction Program (Reality).
The documentary series followed fourteen students from Highland Park High School in Illinois for one year.

A Los Angeles native, Medavoy has deep roots in the entertainment industry.
His father, prolific film producer Mike Medavoy, is the co-founder of Orion Pictures,
former chairman of TriStar Pictures and current chairman and CEO of Phoenix Pictures.
Brian attended UCLA where he majored in history.

Learn more at: Brian Medavoy

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Joleene at joleene@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

Please help support your fellow Stage 32ers by sharing this on social. Check out the social media buttons at the top to share on Instagram @stage32online , Twitter @stage32 , Facebook @stage32 , and LinkedIn @stage32 .