Meet MICHAEL J. EPSTEIN

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful MICHAEL J. EPSTEIN a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

MICHAEL J., thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?
I think it’s true that unsolicited critique and hatred mostly come from places of jealousy. People often have the feeling that they deserve something that you have, and it leads them to reconciling that feeling of inadequacy by lashing out. I stick to a specific philosophy about critique now. If I am going to say something that is potentially negative to someone, it has to be presented with as much compassion as possible, and it has to be presented with actionable options that benefit the person – not just actionable options that benefit me.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am currently finishing up the festival run with a double-feature film concept called, The Once and Future Smash / End Zone 2. In collaboration with my producing partners, Sophia Cacciola and Neal Jones, we tell the story of two aging actors fighting over who controls the legacy of a rarely seen, but highly influential 1970 slasher-film sequel.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Reflecting upon my journey, the three qualities that had the most profound impact are emotional intelligence, persistence, and the support of others.

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is one of the things in my life I have found most difficult to develop and hone, but it continues to play an invaluable role in personal growth. EI involves recognizing, understanding, and managing our emotions, and equally crucial, recognizing, understanding, and influencing the emotions of others. It allows me to navigate through challenging situations, understand perspectives different from my own, and build strong relationships both personally and professionally. I continue to work toward improving EI.

The road to success is fraught with challenges, and there were many times when giving up seemed like the easiest option. However, persistence enabled me to push through those challenging times and remember that sometimes, the most valuable thing is just staying the course, even when it is most difficult. It taught me the importance of resilience and the value of setbacks as opportunities for growth.

I also quickly realized that personal success is intertwined with the success of those around me. By actively supporting, mentoring, and uplifting others, not only did I contribute to their journeys, but I also learned, grew, and opened doors for collaboration and new opportunities.

For those early in their journey, these traits can be cultivated.

In order to develop emotional intelligence, it is important to actively seek feedback when you feel ready for it, engage in self-reflection, and practice active listening. In cultivating persistence, one should embrace challenges as learning opportunities. When faced with setbacks, take a step back, reassess, and remember that every successful individual has faced MANY failures. It’s not about avoiding them but learning from them. We always say that we try to make new mistakes every time! In terms of supporting others, actively seek out mentoring opportunities, both as a mentor and a mentee. Engage in collaborative projects and always be ready to help and uplift others. Remember, as you rise, lift others with you.

Embracing these qualities and honing them will not only enrich your personal journey but also contribute positively to those around you.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Collaboration is the most essential element of filmmaking. Our projects could never be as strong as they are without the time, energy, resources, and wisdom of producers, writers, actors, editors, etc. We always seek others with skills and access we don’t have and love to reciprocate accordingly. We are very active on social media with our production company, Launch Over, and on our personal accounts.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Launch Over

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