Balancing Passion with Paycheck: a Documentarian's Journey - Ep 6 - Glenn Østen Anderson

Join your host, Ian McClellan, as we dive into the captivating world of Glenn Østen Anderson, an Emmy-nominated documentarian and a dedicated professor of media and communication studies at Catholic University. Glenn takes us through his journey from high school athletics to an esteemed documentarian, highlighting the highs, lows, and all the lessons in between. In this episode, Glenn shares his behind-the-scenes experiences from his latest documentary, "Coogan's Way." This heart-touching film reflects the trials and tribulations of an Irish pub that became an essential part of the Dominican community in Washington Heights during the 80s and 90s. Østen reveals the fascinating journey of documentary film production from the struggle of creating art on a tight budget to the exhilaration of achieving an Emmy nod. Check out "Coogan's Way" at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/coogansway or watch the trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwxgdhimfhc Leave a comment with something you learned from the conversation! *Key Takeaways* 🎓 The road to achieving your passion can be winding but rewarding. Glenn shares his journey from being a high school athlete to an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, teaching us that there is no one set path to success. 🎥 Making art, especially film, requires resourcefulness and creativity beyond just the conceptual level. Managing finances and resources is a key skill. 👥 The influence of kindness and community in any creative endeavor is powerful. From Lin Manuel Miranda's unexpected support to the unity within his small film team, Glenn shows how kindness and collaboration can make a project bloom. Everyday Insights is a video podcast where we discover life lessons from the stories of our friends. Veteran researcher Ian McClellan leads a series of interviews that delve into the common struggles we all face in life…dealing with change, defining personal success, handling loss, the stages of our career, raising our kids, etc. Watch each episode to see and hear a friendly long-form conversation that teaches you a new bit of wisdom you can use in your daily life. 00:00 Ep 6 - Glenn Østen Anderson 00:00 Introduction 01:13 Guest Background 07:38 Rivals become friends 08:43 Combining Passion and Career 10:55 Freelancing is tough 12:42 Journalism vs Film Training 18:17 Creating "Coogan's Way" 20:24 Making Art on a Budget 21:31 Emmy nod - Achieving goals the most roundabout way 24:35 Reconnecting with mentors 25:31 Toughest part of making a documentary 28:15 Leaving things on the cutting room floor 29:36 Kindness from Lin Manuel Miranda 30:49 Kindness follows a cause 31:46 Filming as a small team 34:28 Releasing the film and measuring success 35:20 Paying the bills while making art 42:00 Figuring out what is next 47:29 Modern vs Traditional media publishing 56:02 Changing your name for show business 57:59 AI impact on filmmaking 01:06:53 Finding people to work with 01:12:09 From a bar to a family 01:15:03 Similarities between being a teacher and a parent 01:18:09 Success Goals for our kids 01:21:21 Handling Regret 01:24:32 Wrap up #Filmmaking #Documentary #MediaStudies #FilmEducation #emmys --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/everyday-insights/support