Ourselves Podcast

• From Lucasfilm to Doja Cat: Warren Fu Reveals How to Land Your Dream Directing Job

  In this episode, visionary director Warren Fu shares an inspiring journey through his iconic work in music videos, his creative roots at Lucasfilm, and the delicate balance of creativity and burnout. We dive deep into his collaborations with legendary artists such as Doja Cat, Daft Punk, The Weeknd, and The Strokes. From overcoming immigrant family expectations and cultural differences to navigating the unpredictable worlds of directing music videos and commercials, Warren offers invaluable insights on the multifaceted role of a director, the importance of editing, and the future of filmmaking with AI.   00:00 Intro 02:54 The Importance of Editing in Directing 04:33 Balancing Creativity and Burnout 06:47 The Journey to Delegation and Trust 12:15 From Graffiti to Lucasfilm: A Creative Evolution 39:40 Visiting Skywalker Ranch 40:03 Quitting Lucasfilm to Pursue Directing 40:45 Immigrant Family Guilt 42:04 Cultural Differences Growing Up 50:44 Challenges of Directing 53:25 Pitching and Treatments 01:00:30 The Music Video Industry 01:04:32 Lucasfilm: A Film School Experience 01:16:06 The Strokes' Mystique and Early Career 01:16:55 Freelancing in LA and Breaking into Music Videos 01:18:04 First Big Break with The Strokes 01:19:37 Building Relationships with Artists 01:22:10 Collaborating with Mark Ronson and Daft Punk 01:30:46 Directing Daft Punk's Iconic Videos 01:42:57 Working with Doja Cat on 'Planet Her' 01:52:35 Transitioning to Commercial Work 01:57:35 Personal Connections in the Industry 01:59:18 Pitching Ideas and Working with Reps 02:01:27 The Role of Specs in Commercials 02:02:47 Keys to Successful Pitches 02:08:23 AI in Music Videos 02:16:58 The Future of AI in Filmmaking 02:27:52 Balancing Work and Life   Follow Warren Follow ⁠⁠Arrad (podcast host)⁠⁠    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: ⁠⁠SPOTIFY⁠⁠ ⁠⁠APPLE MUSIC⁠⁠ ⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ ⁠⁠Ourselves (production team)⁠⁠:  ✩ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠

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• How To Shoot Rap Videos with Major Artists

  Shooting rap videos isn’t for the faint of heart. Missed call times, wild pivots, and $75K wardrobes. Here’s the unfiltered truth about working with hip hop artists. 00:00 Introduction 01:09 The Evolution of Hip Hop and Music Videos 01:55 Creating a Treatment for Music Videos 02:52 Expect the Unexpected: Be Ready to Pivot 04:23 Dealing with Late Artists 05:50 Handling No-Shows and Rescheduling 10:08 Importance of Casting 10:43 Avoiding Catfishing in Casting 13:04 Stripping Your Ego and Developing Thick Skin 15:51 Understanding the Culture 17:15 Fashion and Trends in Hip Hop Videos 18:28 Balancing Production and Wardrobe Budgets 19:01 Capturing the Artist's Best Look 19:56 Embracing the Process 20:33 Don't Take It Personally 21:52 Have Fun and Make It Memorable 23:30 Conclusion   Follow Arrad (podcast host)    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: SPOTIFY APPLE MUSIC YOUTUBE   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ Ourselves (production team):  ✩ Instagram ✩ Twitter ✩ TikTok ✩ Facebook

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• MRCL Lost His Father, Home & Car, Then Found Himself in the Studio with SZA and Frank Ocean

  What do you do when you lose everything — your father, your home, and your car — all in one month? If you’re MRCL, you turn that pain into purpose… and make some of the most powerful music of your life. In this episode, MRCL shares the raw, unfiltered truth behind his journey from sleeping in his car to producing with TDE and working alongside legends like Terrace Martin, DJ Quik, and more. He talks about the moment that changed everything — when SZA casually said, “Should I call Frank Ocean?” — and ended up in the studio with both of them as Frank serenaded the room on piano. But that’s just the beginning. We get into the come-up, the breakdowns, the breakthroughs, the band he built off Instagram DMs, the hustle of being a full-time creative and a father, and how spiritual alignment shaped his debut project Mantras. This is one of the most inspiring stories we've ever heard — and proof that when your back’s against the wall, greatness is still possible. If you're chasing purpose, passion, or just need a reminder that you’re not alone… this one’s for you. 00:00 Intro 02:50 Balancing Creativity and Business 04:26 Early Musical Influences 06:06 Entrepreneurial Spirit 08:27 Meeting West Coast legend Terrace Martin 10:35 Internship Experiences 13:14 Transition to Videography 26:56 Breakthrough in Television 35:46 Personal Struggles and Triumphs 41:33 Creating a Legacy 44:29 Reflections on Parenthood 45:48 Skee TV and Early Career 50:04 Discovering New Opportunities 51:41 Spiritual Awakening 55:00 Creating Mantras 01:00:26 First TDE Session with SZA 01:01:17 Frank Ocean serenading them with the piano 01:03:48 Building Relationships in the Industry 01:13:16 Working with Aftermath 01:14:21 Overcoming Creative Blocks 01:23:04 Advice for Aspiring Artists 01:30:38 Final Thoughts and Reflections   Follow MRCL Follow Arrad (podcast host)    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: SPOTIFY APPLE MUSIC YOUTUBE   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ Ourselves (production team):  ✩ Instagram ✩ Twitter ✩ TikTok ✩ Facebook  

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• The Hidden NICHE Jobs in Filmmaking That Pay More and Have Less Competition!

  Filmmaking is changing. The market is oversaturated, and directors are fighting for survival. But niche workers? They’re getting booked and paid. If you want a sustainable creative career, you need to hear this.  00:00 Intro 00:27 The Rise of Niche Workers 00:55 Oversaturation in the Industry 01:26 The Competitive World of Directors 02:57 The Value of Niche Roles 03:07 Defining Niche Workers 03:51 The Demand for Niche Workers 04:52 Why Niche Workers Are Winning 05:21 Specialization: The Key to Success 06:43 The Importance of Mastery 07:41 Marketing Yourself as a Specialist 08:24 Building Relationships and Collaboration 08:58 Embracing the Less Glory, More Work Mindset 09:34 The Importance of a Strong Team 10:01 Pivoting to Niche Roles 10:19 The Rise of Niche Industries 10:46 Thriving Niche Industries 13:15 Why Specialized Industries Are Thriving 13:35 Recap and Key Takeaways 14:42 Conclusion and Call to Action   Follow Arrad (podcast host)    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: SPOTIFY APPLE MUSIC YOUTUBE   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ Ourselves (production team):  ✩ Instagram ✩ Twitter ✩ TikTok ✩ Facebook

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• Zoya: The Iconic Gay Persian Content Creator Who Took Over Shark Tank!

  From Persian family pressure to Shark Tank success!  Zoya was expected to follow the traditional Middle Eastern path—become a lawyer, get married, and live the “perfect” Persian life. But she had other plans. As a gay Persian entrepreneur, Zoya had to fight against cultural expectations, family struggles, and self-doubt to build her own empire. In this episode, we dive into: ✔️ How Zoya’s parents reacted when she came out as gay ✔️ The pressures of being Middle Eastern & breaking tradition ✔️ How she built a food empire from scratch (and made $$$ from content!) ✔️ The dark truth about raw fish & why she stopped eating sushi ✔️ Her insane Shark Tank journey and what happened behind the scenes Watch till the end to hear Zoya’s message to anyone struggling to live their truth!   00:00 Intro 02:07 Cultural Expectations and Career Choices 16:18 Challenges of Being Gay in a Persian Family 34:28 Coming Out to Family 44:57 Reflections on Luck and Life 46:43 Reflecting on Life's Luck and Fate 47:37 The Lottery of Life 49:16 The Culinary Journey Begins 51:05 From Social Enterprise to Culinary Ventures 55:06 The Birth of Fish Foods 57:58 Challenges and Triumphs in the Vegan Sushi World 01:07:41 Shark Tank Experience and Future Goals 01:19:23 Discussing the Deal: Behind the Scenes 01:20:22 Shark Tank Experience: Expectations vs Reality 01:22:52 Challenges in the Food Industry 01:25:44 Restaurant Business: The Real Struggle 01:32:44 Content Creation: The New Frontier 01:34:16 Collaborations with Gordon Ramsay 01:39:13 Future Plans and Advice for Aspiring Creators 01:52:50 The Value of Engagement Over Follower Count 01:53:34 Earnings and Niche Differences for Content Creators 01:54:27 Negotiating Deals and Knowing Your Worth 01:55:20 Challenges of Sponsored Content 01:55:52 The Importance of Authenticity 02:00:02 Advice for Aspiring Content Creators 02:17:41 Personal Reflections and Future Plans   Follow Zoya Follow Arrad (podcast host)    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: SPOTIFY APPLE MUSIC YOUTUBE   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ Ourselves (production team):  ✩ Instagram ✩ Twitter ✩ TikTok ✩ Facebook

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