Episode 5 - Joshua Seftel Page 1 of 10...Episode 5 - Joshua Seftel Page 3 of 10 millions of dollars...
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Episode 5 - Joshua Seftel Page 1 of 10 Speaker 1: It's time to look for and act on purpose. Welcome to the Purpose Up Podcast, with your host, Ben Stein. Ben: Hello and welcome to episode five of Purpose Up. In this episode, I interview filmmaker, Joshua Seftel. We look at how purpose has evolved in his career from his early documentary about saving orphans in Romania to his latest film, The Many Sad Fates of Mr. Toledano. Which is an exploration into the fear of death. We discuss how his purpose has evolved over time from a need to save the children with every project he did, to now being able to have more fun with his projects. Like his web series with his mother, or taking on projects that he knows will allow him to provide for his family. Please do yourself a favor. Check out the show notes on purposeup.com, and check out his latest film, The Many Sad Fates of Mr. Toledano. I hope you enjoy. Thanks. Hello everybody and welcome to the Purpose Up Podcast. I am very excited today to have with me, Josh Seftel. A filmmaker who I've known for many years. Welcome Josh. Joshua: Hi, Ben. Ben: Josh, thanks so much for being on the podcast. I really appreciate it. I've been a fan or your career and your trajectory over time, and I'm very excited to get a chance to sit down and dissect that a little bit, and look at it through the lens of purpose, so thank so much. Joshua: Sure. Ben: When you're at a cocktail party, when people ask you, what do you do, what's the answer that you give? Joshua: That's a hard one actually, because I've done a really unusual range of things. Which is sometimes works to my detriment. Recently I was talking with an agent, and he asked me this question. It took me a while to answer it. Ben: Didn't have the elevator pitch down. Joshua: I said, I make documentaries. I've directed movies. I direct commercials. I've done radio. I've done This American Life. I've directed reality shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. It's really hard to classify, with all those things it's hard to say it quickly. In the world of entertainment, that can be confusing to people. After I told this agent that what I did, he said, "Oh, huh." He said, "So, you're kind of a jack of all trades." Which I don't necessarily take as a compliment.
Transcript of Episode 5 - Joshua Seftel Page 1 of 10...Episode 5 - Joshua Seftel Page 3 of 10 millions of dollars...
Episode 5 - Joshua Seftel Page 1 of 10
Speaker1: It'stimetolookforandactonpurpose.WelcometothePurposeUpPodcast,withyourhost,BenStein.
Ben: HelloandwelcometoepisodefiveofPurposeUp.Inthisepisode,Iinterviewfilmmaker,JoshuaSeftel.WelookathowpurposehasevolvedinhiscareerfromhisearlydocumentaryaboutsavingorphansinRomaniatohislatestfilm,TheManySadFatesofMr.Toledano.Whichisanexplorationintothefearofdeath.
Wediscusshowhispurposehasevolvedovertimefromaneedtosavethechildrenwitheveryprojecthedid,tonowbeingabletohavemorefunwithhisprojects.Likehiswebserieswithhismother,ortakingonprojectsthatheknowswillallowhimtoprovideforhisfamily.Pleasedoyourselfafavor.Checkouttheshownotesonpurposeup.com,andcheckouthislatestfilm,TheManySadFatesofMr.Toledano.Ihopeyouenjoy.Thanks.
HelloeverybodyandwelcometothePurposeUpPodcast.Iamveryexcitedtodaytohavewithme,JoshSeftel.AfilmmakerwhoI'veknownformanyyears.WelcomeJosh.
Joshua: Hi,Ben.
Ben: Josh,thankssomuchforbeingonthepodcast.Ireallyappreciateit.I'vebeenafanoryourcareerandyourtrajectoryovertime,andI'mveryexcitedtogetachancetositdownanddissectthatalittlebit,andlookatitthroughthelensofpurpose,sothanksomuch.
Joshua: Sure.
Ben: Whenyou'reatacocktailparty,whenpeopleaskyou,whatdoyoudo,what'stheanswerthatyougive?
Joshua: That'sahardoneactually,becauseI'vedoneareallyunusualrangeofthings.Whichissometimesworkstomydetriment.RecentlyIwastalkingwithanagent,andheaskedmethisquestion.Ittookmeawhiletoanswerit.
Ben: Didn'thavetheelevatorpitchdown.
Joshua: Isaid,Imakedocumentaries.I'vedirectedmovies.Idirectcommercials.I'vedoneradio.I'vedoneThisAmericanLife.I'vedirectedrealityshowslikeQueerEyefortheStraightGuy.It'sreallyhardtoclassify,withallthosethingsit'shardtosayitquickly.Intheworldofentertainment,thatcanbeconfusingtopeople.AfterItoldthisagentthatwhatIdid,hesaid,"Oh,huh."Hesaid,"So,you'rekindofajackofalltrades."WhichIdon'tnecessarilytakeasacompliment.
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Ben: Right,itsoundslikeyou'redoingalotofthings,butnotnecessarilydoingthemgreat.
Joshua: Ihopethat'snottrue,butthat'swhatIthinkpeopleareusedtospecializationinthis
field.Peopleareusedtotheideaoftheauteur.Thepersonwhojustmakesmobfilms,likeMartinScorseseorsomeonewho,likeWesAndersonwhojustmakes[twee00:03:32]filmslikethat.Yeah.
Ben: Tellusabouthowyougotstartedinthefilmbusiness.Itwasadocumentarymanyyearsagoright?
Joshua: Yeah,thefirstdocumentaryImadewascalledLostandFound.Itwas,Ihadanopportunityatage22totraveltoRomania.Atthattime,itwas1990.ThestoryoftheabandonedandorphanedchildrenofRomaniawasjustbreaking.IhadtheopportunitytogotoRomaniawithanon-profitfoundationwhowasbringingaidtothechildren.
Ibroughtavideocameraanddocumentedthatconditionsintheorphanages.LivedinorphanagesinRomaniaforacouplemonths.Broughtbackatonoffootagethatwasquitedisturbing,verypowerful,imagesthatIthinkAmericansandpeopleinthewestweren'tusedtoseeing.Whichwasimagesofwhitechildrenwhoarelivinginterribleconditions.Ithinkthatwasveryshockingtopeopletoseethat.Imadethisfilm,LostandFound.Itwasonpublictelevision.Itwasagreatexperienceforme,becauseitwasmyfirstfilmandwhenitwasbroadcast,itledtotheAmericanadoptionofthousandsofRomanianchildren.
Ben: That'samazingthatthroughafilmyouchangedthousandsoflives.Thatmustbefantasticandhuge,emotionalthingtofeel.Hardtoputintowords,right?
Joshua: Yeah.Tome,I'llgiveyoualittlebackstory.Incollege,Iwasintendingtobeadoctor.Myfatherwasaphysician.Ialwaysviewedtheworldasthrough,withthisideathatyouchooseacareerthat'sgoingtohelpothers.That'sgoingtoserveothers.Thatwasessential.WhenIdecidedtobecomeafilmmaker,atleasttrytobecomeafilmmakerrightaftercollege.Iputmymedicalschoolplansonhold.IfeltthatwhateverIdidinthefilmworld,itneededtobetheequivalentofwhatadoctorcouldaccomplish.Itneededtohelppeople-
Ben: Neededtosavepeople.
Joshua: Itneededtosavepeople.Itneededtochangetheworld.Itneededtohealsomehow.Ifeltthatpressure.Infact,Ialways,it'sfunnybecauseIlovemovies.Ilovedwatchingmovies,buttheideaofdirectingorcreatinganarrativefilm,likeacomedyorsomethingthatwasn'tgoingtodirectlyinatangiblewayhelppeople,seemedsoexcessivetome.
Itseemedsowrong,atthattime,whenIwas22.Theideathatpeoplewerespending
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millionsofdollarstocreatesomesillymoviewithcomicactors.Itjustseemedcriminalalmost.Iwasreallystuckonthatidea,andthat'swhyIfeltlikeeverythingIdidatthattimehadtobehavehugeimpact.Hadtobelifechangingforpeople.That'salotofpressure,butdefinitelyfeltthat.
Ben: That'sintense.Oncethatdocumentarycameout,youimpactedalloftheselives,andyoustillgotthispressureonyou.Wheredoyougofromthere?
Joshua: Thetruthisthatit'sreallyvirtuallyimpossibletokeepdoingthat,torepeatthat.Firstofall,justtofindthekindsofstoriesthatarethatpowerfulisachallenge.Thentoimmerseyourselfinthosekindsofworldstakesatollaswell.ComingbackfromRomania,Iwas,itprobablytookmesixmonthsto-
Ben: Getyourheadstraight.
Joshua: TogetmyheadstraightafterwhatIhadseen.Ihadseenreally,reallychallengingthings.Peoplereallysuffering.Childrensuffering.Thatwashardtoovercome.IrememberIfeltsoguiltyaboutwhatIhad,andIdidn'thavethatmuchatthetime.IwaslivinginahouseinSomerville,MasswhereIwasrentingaroominahousewithfiveotherpeople,andpaying250bucksamonthorsomething.Ididn'thavemuch,butIstillfeltlikeIonlyneedonepairofjeansandoneshirt.That'swhatIdidforayearafterthat,duringthemakingofthatfilmisIworethesamepairofpantsandshirteveryday.
Ben: Justwashthematnight?
Joshua: IthinkImusthavehadoneotherpair.Iwouldwashthemandweartheotherpair,butIreallyjustfeltlikeallIneedisthebareminimum.Thatwasprettygratifyingthough.Iwasn'tmissinganything.Ididn'tfeelIwasmissingout.
Ben: Imentionedbeforetheinterview,Ifeellikesomeofmylifedecisionshavebeenmadearoundfearaboutnotmakingenoughmoneyornotbeingabletoprovide.Onceyoulifethatsimple,barebonesexperience,youhaveconfidencethatthat'snotthatbad.You'rejustfineofit,sothatfeardoesn'tdriveyouasmuch.
Joshua: Iguessyouseethatithaslittletodowithhappiness.AlthoughIthinkthatcanchangeasyougrowolder,Ithinkthatcanchange.Iwas22.Idon'tthinkIneedthatmuch.Maybenow,IfeellikemaybeIneedmorenowthatI'minmy40s.
Ben: IknowI'mabigfanoftheTimFerrisspodcast,andhe'sabigfanofthestoics,andthey'vegotthisphilosophyofaboutpracticinghavingnothingregularly.Likethepracticethatyouhad.Hedoesthatregularlywhereheeatssimplethingsandwearssimpleclothinganddoesthatregularly.It'saninterestingpractice.Makethisfilmyourverybarebones,butthenthingsovertime,andyouraspirationschangeovertime,sowhatdoesthatlooklike?
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Joshua: IthinkIgotalotofconfidencefrommakingthatfilm,becauseitalsogotnominatedfor
anEmmyaward.
Ben: That'samazing.
Joshua: Iwaslike,"Wow,thisisprettycool.Ishouldkeepdoingthis."Imadeafewmorefilms,documentaries.ThethirdfilmImadewasaboutapoliticalcampaign.Itwasactually,IwasfollowingthisdoctorthatIhadmetinRomaniawhowastherehelpingtheorphans.HewasrunningforUSCongressagainstTedKennedy'sson.ImadethisfilmwhereIfollowedhimforsixmonthsbehindthescenes.IcalledthefilmTakingontheKennedys,becauseitwasreallyhisexperience,thisdoctorIwasfollowing.
Thatwasreallydifferentinaway.Itwasamorenuancedstory.Itwasastoryaboutourpoliticalsystem.Itwasverysad.Itwasveryfunny.Therewasroomforalotofhumorandtragedy.Lookingbeneaththesurfaceofhowourelectionswork.Iguessithadpurpose,itdidhavepurpose.Ithinkthatfilmmeantalottopeopleintermsofwhatithadtosayaboutthestateofelectoralpoliticsinthiscountryatthetime.Ithinkit'sgottenworsesincethen,butitwasallaboutnegativeadsandthewaythattheissuesdon'treallygetdiscussed.Whywevoteforwhowevoteforandtheroleofmoney.
Whatitmademerealizewasthat,IfeltlikeIwasgettingclosertomyvoice,findingmyvoiceasafilmmaker.Itwasmuchmorenuancedthanmyfirstfilm.Myfirstfilmwasverygraveandserious.Thatwasappropriateforthetopic.Thisfilmwasfunnyandplayfulandirreverentandsad.Itwasalotofthingsatonce,andIlovedthatfeelingofbeingabletobefunnywithmyfilmwork.Tobeabletomakepeoplelaughandusethattomakeapowerfulpoint.Thatwassomethingnewforme.
Ben: Isthatpulledoutinthedirection,theediting,thescripting,alloftheabove?
Joshua: Iwouldsaytheediting.Ithinkdocumentariesarewrittenintheeditroom.Especiallyavéritédocumentarywhereyoujustgooutandshootatonoffootage.Youhavetobeattherightplaceattherighttime,butyoucomebackwith200hoursoffootage,andyou'regoingtocutitdowntoonehour.You'retalkingaboutmakingalotoftoughdecisions.You'rewritingthefilmintheeditroom.IwaschoosingthethingsthatIthoughtwerethemostpowerfulandalotofthemmadepeoplelaugh.
Thatwasarevelationforme.Itwassuddenlytherewas,itwaslikewritingmusicandsuddenlyyoufeltsomenewnotesthatyoudidn'tknowexistedbefore,thatyouhadneverusedbeforeinyourwork.Thatwasreallyabreakthroughforme.Itwasrealexcitedandveryaddictive.Fromthatpointforward,Ialwayswantedtofindawaytobefunnywithmywork,evenifitwasveryserious,averyseriousfilm,Iwantedittobefunnyifitcouldbe.
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Ben: Nice.Thenbringingitfromfuninyourvoicetotodaywouldgiveuswhereyou'vebeenandwhatyou'reworkingonpresently.
Joshua: IguesswhatIwouldsayisthat,IfeellikeIgotseducedawayfrommyoriginalpurpose.IwouldsaythatwhenIwasstartingoutanddoingtheworkinRomaniaandthinkingaboutbeingadoctor.Thatallmyworkhadtobehelpingpeopledirectly.Overtime,Ihadotheropportunities.Oneofmyfirst,Iguessyouwouldsay,mainstreamopportunities,IwasaproduceratCBSNewsinNewYork.IgottoproducepiecesforDanRather,andBryantGumbel,andHarrySmithandpeoplelikethat.
Thefirstthingthatstruckmewas,ohmyGod,there'smoney.There'smoneyherethatwehaveresources.Wehaveequipment,andwe'restayinginhotels,andnotonpeoplescouches.We'reflyinginplanesandnotdrivingacrosscountry.Itwasatotallydifferentkindofapproach.Whichwasverycomfortableandappealing.IrememberoneofthefirstpiecesIdidforCBSNews.IdiditwithMichaelLewis,he'sthewriterwhowroteMoneyball,andLiar'sPoker,andTheBlindSideandstufflikethat.
Anyway,heandIwenttoRussell,KansastocoverBobDolewhowasrunningforpresidentatthetime.IrememberthattherewasanotherCBScrewcoming.Theywerestayinginanicerhotel,andtheyhadallthisgear.ThenBarbaraWalterswascoming,butshedecidednottocomebecausetheydidn'thaveaniceenoughhotel.Iwasthinking,ohmyGod,thisistherealworld.Thisispeopleare-
Ben: Areyouserious?
Joshua: Iwaslike,aren'tweheartojusttoughitoutandbeinthetrenches.Irealizethat'snotwhatalotofpeopleareinterestingin,oratleasttheywanttobecomfortable.Thatreallystruckme.AtfirstIthought,thisiswrong.Itshouldn'tbethisway.Overtime,Istartedtoreallylikeit.Iwaslike,heyit'snicetostayinanicehotelwithhighthreadcountsheets,andwhat'sitcalled,thelittlebar,theminibar.It'ssweet.Therewasalsoaseductionintermsofbeingpartofsomething.You'repartofanorganizationthathasalotofpower,likeCBSNewsandyoucansaythatYoucantellpeopleyou'repartofitandtheyrespectyou.They'llansweryourcall.Beingadocumentaryfilmmakerbeforethat,Iwasusedtobeingblownoffallthetime,ornotbeingtreatedwithrespect.Itwaslike,wowthisisreallydifferent.
Ben: Werepeoplelike,"Getarealjob,kid."
Joshua: Yeahexactly,andIwasseducedbyit,andIwasmakingmoremoney.Idon'tnecessarilythinkmyworkwasbetter.Idon'tthinkithadthesamelevelofpurposetoit,becausetherearealotofotherfactors.Whenyou'remakingsomethingforalargenewsorganization,likehey,arepeoplegoingtoreallywatchthis,andhowdowemakesurethattheydon'tchangethechannel.That'sreallynotnecessarilywhatnews,Ithinkjournalismismeanttobeabout.Obviouslyweknowthatitisandisprobablybecome
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moreso.
ThenIhadachancetodirecttheshowQueerEyefortheStraightGuy.Iwasseducedbythattooinadifferentway.Itwaslikesuddenly,Iworkedonitduringthefirstseason,soIwastherewhenthatshowhit.IwastherewhentheywereonthecoverofEntrainmentWeekly.Iwastherewhen-
Ben: Youhadthetasteofglamour,realityglamour.
Joshua: Yeah,itwascrazy.Wewouldbeonsetandtherewouldbepeoplelineduptakingpictures,andtryingtogetclosetotheset.Justwantingautographsanditwasso,Ijustneverreallyquitebeenatthecenterofsomethinglikethat.Itwasreallyexciting.Itwasreallyexcitingtobeapartofthat.Tobeabletoopentheentertainmentpages,andseeyourshow,andseethateveryonewastalkingaboutit.That'sseductive,andaddictive,andfuntobeapartof.DidthatshowhavethesamelevelofpurposeassomeoftheotherworkIwastryingtodoatthebeginningofmycareer?Probablynot,butitdidhaveapurposeIfelt.
Ben: Changingpeople'slives.
Joshua: Makingpeoplelookbetter.Judgingtheirclothes.
Ben: Didyouevergetamakeoveryourself?
Joshua: Ipickedupafewtipsforsure.Idefinitelypickedupafewtips.CarsontoldmethatIshouldneverwearahat,becauseIhaveaveryniceshapedhead.Itwasstillashowthatwasaboutconsumerism.Itwasaboutchangingyourimage,buyingthingstomakeyourlifebetter,tolookbetter.InalotofwaysIthinkthatshowwasaboutgettinglaid.Itwaslike,heyguys,ifyou,IthinkforguysitwaslikeifIwatchthis,andIdothesethings,Imightgetlaid.ForwomenIthinkitwas,maybeIcanchangemyman.Ithinkbothofthosethingsareappealing.
Ben: Veryaspirationalforbothpeople.
Joshua: Exactly.Thereweregoodthingsaboutthatshow,thatIthinkthatshowwasimportant,groundbreakingshowinsomeways.Itwasn'tlikesavingthechildren.
Ben: Itwasn'tmakingyourmoralheartsing-
Joshua: Exactly.OvertimeI'vegottenolderandIdirectedaHollywoodmoviecalledWar,Inc,whichstartedJohnCusack,andMarisaTomei,andBenKingsley,andHillaryDuff,andDanAcykroydandallthesestars.Again,seduction.Suddenlyyou'reinthisworldwhere,again,there'spaparazzi.There'sfinediningandlimousines.It'sjustcomfortableinsomeways.Ilikedthat.Itwasfun.Ithinkthatfilmhadapurpose,Ithinkthatfilmisabout
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something.It'snotaperfectfilm,butit'stryingtoreallysaysomething,whichmayhavebeenpartofwhyitdidn'tsucceedaswellasitcouldhave.Isthatitwasmaybetryingtoohardtohaveapurpose.WhichIthinkthat'spossibletoo.Sometimeswhenyoutrytoohardit'snotappealing.
Ben: Whatwereyoutryingtoconvey?
Joshua: Warisbad.ThatthisparticularIraqwarwasbad.ThattheBushadministrationwascommittingcrimes.Ifyougotooonthenosewiththings,Ithinkthatthat-
Ben: Itstooovert?
Joshua: Peoplecansniffitout,andtheydon'twantthat.Theywanttobeentertained.That'swhyIthinkwhenIwastalkingaboutfindinghumorindocumentaries,findingthatearlydiscoveryofusinghumor,likeinmyfilmTakingontheKennedys.Ithinkthatfilmworkedwell,becausetherewasamessage,butitwasinthebackground.Intheforegroundwasaveryentertainingandheartwrenchingstorywithprotagoniststhatyouwereinvestedin.Thatwasprimary.Secondarywasthemessage,andIthinkthatgenerallyworksbetter.
Ben: Inyourpurposefuljourney,IknowI'vebeenabigfanofyourwebseriesthatyou'vedonewithyourmother,MyMomonFilms.Ithinkthere'ssomethingveryhumanandtouchingaboutthat,andeachofthemalmostseemZeitgesty.Howdidyoucomeupwiththatidea.Iknowit'sbeenreceivedwell,butdidthereceptionsurpriseyou?
Joshua: Yeah.Whathappenedwas,myfatherpassedawayin2009.Mymomwaswidowed,andshedidn'treallyknowhowtouseacomputer,andshewasgettingisolated.MysistersandIboughtheraniPad.Wewereurgedthatthatwasabadidea.Thatshewouldn'tbeabletolearnhowtouseit.IwenttoFloridaandtaughtherhowtouseit.Shereallylikedit.Suddenly,wewerefacetime-ing.Whichwassomethingtotallynew.Ijustthoughtthatsomeofourconversationswerehilarious,soIstartedrecordingthem.Ieditedoneintoanepisode,andputitonYouTube.
ThenIstarteddoingmoreandmoreofthem.Somehowwegot,startedgettingpressattention.It'sneverbeenahugelypopularseries,butit'scriticallyacclaimedorsomething.Idon'tknow.Peopleseemtoenjoyit.Itallcameoutofmewantingtofindawaytoconnectwithmymom,andperhapstorecordherandhavethatforever.Itwasreally,Iguessinawaythere'salotofpurposethere.Ithinkitwasgoodforher.Westilldoit.We'vemadeover70episodes.ShegottobeonherfavoriteTVshow,CBSSundaymorning,becausetheycoveredourseriesacoupletimes.Weactuallydospeakingengagementtogether.Whichisreallyfun.
Ithinkmymomlovesdoingit,andsoit'sbeenareallyspecialexperience.IthinkhonestlythereasonthatIdecidedto,oneofthereasonsIdecidedtodotheseries,
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besidesthethingsImentionisthat,they'vebeensomanythings,Ithinkthisistrueforanyonewho'screative.Thattherearelotsofthingsyouwanttodo,thatyouneverdo.Youhavealltheseideas.Allthesescreenplaysyouwanttowrite.Alltheseprojectsyouwanttodo.Documentariesyouwanttomake.
Theolderyouget,themoreofthosethingspileupthatyouneverdid.IhavethesefilesthatIcangothroughofalltheseprojectsthatIneverpursued,orjustnevergotofftheground.It'skindofdepressing.ThiswasalsojustsomethingthatIthought,youknowwhat,I'mnotgoingtowaittodothis.I'mjustgoingtodoit.It'seasy.There'snoexcuse.AllIneedistofigureouthowtorecordavideoonmycomputer.
Ben: Ithinkthat'sawesome.Thispodcastformeisoneofthose,Iwaslike,I'mnotgoingtothinkaboutthis,I'mjustgoingtodoit,soIcangetitoutthere.AsIwaswalkingtoyourstudiotoday,IthoughtaboutbeingbackonJayStreetandDumbo.Atthattime,whenIfirstgottoNewYork.IhadmycameraandIstartedfilmingadocumentaryabouttwosetsoffriendsofmineinBrooklynthatwere,onewasdoingbluegrassandtheotherwasmakinghiphop.IwasgoingtodothisjuxtapositionabouttryingtomakemusicinBrooklynatthattime.Neverendedupdoingsomethingwiththefootage,butitisoneofthoseprojectsthatfellbythewayside.Ithinkthereissomethingtobesaidformakingithappen,andpursuingittotheend.
Joshua: Yeah,it'sagoodfeeling.LikeIsaid,there'ssomanyprojectsIhaven'tpursued.Thiswasjustsomething,Iwaslike,Ihavetodothis.It'ssoeasyandnotgettinganyyounger.Iwaswaitingforsomeotherprojectstohappenatthetime.Ijustdidit.WheneverIhavetimenow,Istilldotheseepisodes.Allitisismecallingmymom,whichisnice.It'sturningintosomethingreallygoodforus.
Ben: That'sawesome.Bringingitbackalittlebittopurpose.You'vethreadedtheneedletosavingtheworldtotangentiallyhelpingguysgetlaid,to-
Joshua: It'sanimportantpurpose.
Ben: Itis,itis.Godbless.Toconnectingwithyourmominameaningfulwayandhelpingtobringyouguysclosertogether.Howdoyouthinkyoudefineyourownpurpose.Iknowit'ssomethingthat'sevolved,buthowdoyouthinkaboutthatwhenIaskyouthatquestion.
Joshua: IthinkaboutSiddhartha.ThestoryoftheBuddha.That'sastoryIreallylike.IlovethebookSiddhartha.Inthatstory,theBuddhalosesway,butinhismiddleage,hebecomesveryattachedtothings.Hestartstohavemoneyandsuccessinbusiness.Wearsfinefabricsandscentedoilsinhishairandthingslikethat.Insomeways,it'sthestoryofallofus,ormanyofus.Wegetintomiddleage,westartmakingmoney,weforgetaboutouridealisticselvesthatwhenwewereyounger.InthecaseoftheBuddha,heeventuallywentfullcircleandcamebacktothosethingsthathewasinterestedinwhen
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hewasyounger.Letgoofalotoftheattachments.
IthinkaboutthatalotandwondermaybeI'llmoveinthatdirectionatsomepoint.MaybeI'llfindawaytolivethatpathalittlemore.Nowit'slikeIhaveakid,IhaveanapartmentinNewYork.Ihaverelativelyexpensivelifestyle.Ienjoyit.Ilovegoingtogreatrestaurants,andstayinginnicehotels,andtraveling.Allofthosethingsaregreat.It'sfun,butit'sreallydifferentfromthekidwhowaslivinginaroominSomerville,andmaking,andsleepinginorphanagestomakeafilmabout,Ican'timaginedoingthattoday.Thingschanges.
Ben: Ithinkasyoutalkaboutbeinganewfather,theprioritydefinitelychange,youcouldn'tdothattodayandstayalignwithyourpurposeofbeingafather.
Joshua: UnlessIhadaveryunderstandingwife.Notthatshe'snotunderstanding,butIthinkthatmightbepushingitalittlebit.
Ben: Ihearyou,Ihearyou.Doyouhaveany,IthinktheBuddhaexampleandcomingfullcircleisagreatstoryandresonateswithme.Doyouhaveanythingelseformeandourlistenersintermsofpeoplewhomaybelostonthepath,ortryingtogetbackintouchwiththeirownpurpose.Anyrecommendationsorinsights?
Joshua: Thereisabitofatrapthere,right.Whenyoustarttolikethesethingsthatcostmoney,thenyouarerequiredorfeelthatpressuretoearnmoney,whicheffectsyourdecisionsaboutwhatyouchoosetodo.Idon'treallyknowtoavoidthat.Perhaps,likeyouweretalkingaboutTimFerriss.Idon'treallyknowalotabouthim,butitsoundslikemaybethere'sawaytothinkaboutlivingsimply,sothatyoucanmakedecisionsthatarefallinfavorofwhatyoureallywanttobedoing.
WhatI'vedone,ortriedtodointhelastfewyears.Idirectcommercials.Ienjoyit.Idon'tdoitallthetime,butIdoitfrequently,andIcanmakemoremoneythatwaythanIusedto.ThenI'veactuallyusedsomeofthatmoneytomakeprojectsthatIcareabout.Forinstance,Imadeadocumentarylastyearaboutaguywho'sobsessedwithhismortality.Ididn'thaveanyfunding,soIspentmyownmoneyonit.IusedthemoneyIwasmakingoncommercialstopayforit.ThatfilmiscalledTheManySadFatesofMr.Toledano.It'sactuallygoingtobereleasedthisfall.
Thatfilm,Icouldn'thavedoneitifIhadn'tfoundawaytomakemoneyandstillhavethelifestyleIwanttohave.Ithinkperhaps,that'sonewaytodoit.Istofigureoutawaytomakemoremoneythanyouneed,andthenyoucanpourthatintoyourpassionprojects.Ithinkinotherwaystomaybetrytosimplifyoneslife,andrealizehere'sthebareminimumofwhatIneed.Thenyoumightrealizethatyoucandosomeofthethingsyoureallywanttodo.Ihaven'tgonethatroutelately.Ithink,again,likeIsaid,I'vebeenseducedbyfinethings.NotthatIlivethatextravagantly,butcertainlymoresothanIusedtowhenIwas22.
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Ben: Igetit.Igetit,IthinkI'minthesameboatinmanywaystoo.Wherecanpeoplefindout
moreaboutyouandyourworkonline?
Joshua: Ihaveawebsite.It'smylastname,whichisSeftel.S-E-F-T-E-L.com.Thathasalotofmyfilmsthere,oratleastinformationaboutmyfilms.That'sprobablythebestplace.
Ben: Awesome,Ithink,it'sbeengreatchattingwithyou.Ithinkit'sbeeninsightfulintermsofunderstandingyourearlycareer,veryidealistic,andyourcontinuedsearchofpurposeasyouhaveevolvedfromnewsproducer,torealitydirector,tofeaturefilm,towebseriesstarandmaker.You'vegotsuchagreatvariety.Ithinkthejackofalltrademoniker,you'veearneditandyou'veearnedthebestversionofwhatthatmeans.Lookforwardtoseeingyourfutureworkandseeinghowthis,TheManySadFatesdoeswhenit'sreleased.I'veseenthefilmandit'sverygood,soIencourageeverybodyouttheretocheckitout.Anylastwordsfortheaudiencebeforewesaygoodbye?
Joshua: Ithinkjustthanksforhavingmeon.It'sfuntotalkaboutthisstuff.ThethingisIneverreallyhavetimetothinkabout,soit'saniceopportunitytomuseandlookbackandthingaboutwherehaveIcomefrom,what'snext.Thanksforgivingmethechance.
Ben: No,it'smypleasureandIlovethepodcastmediumasaspacetocreatethoseconversations.It'smypleasure.Thanksomuch,andthankyouallforlistening.
Helloagainfriends.Ihopeyouenjoyedthatepisode.Ifyougotsomethingoutofitandthinkotherswouldtoo,pleasegototheiTunesstore,andgivemearatingandreview.That'sthebestwayforotherstofindaboutthepodcast.I'dreallyappreciateit,sothankyou.Ifyou'relookingforotherwaystoconnect,pleasefindmeatpurposeup.com,onTwitter@purpose_up,oryoucanfindalinktomyFacebookgrouponthewebsite.Lastly,I'llleaveyouwithaquestion.Whatareyougoingtodotodaytolookfororactonpurpose?
