Meet Michael Worth

We recently connected with Michael Worth and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

The presence of optimism I think can only be present when you discover the gift of living in the first place. As someone whose brother had made a choice far too young that life is not worth participating in, I recognize the loss of the value of your own life becomes the beginning of the loss of optimism. Some might argue it goes the other way around but I think once you recognize that we are both not only alive but alive for only a limited time, you can begin to appreciate and relish all of the many stimuli we encounter in life as optimistic. Even when facing the harshest of critics and scenarios we uncover a positive element of the process. I recently had two weeks of footage filmed for a documentary we did in Asia go corrupt on the return to the states and become potentially unrecoverable. The absolute weight of that nightmare and the loss of weeks of work can make for an almost impossible space to feel optimism. Yet for me, recognizing that there exists the alternative of not having the experience at all, not being able to engage in the journey that lead to the absolutely unimaginable outcome is far worse. And that alternative is nothingness. The alternative is not being able to live on with an experience and a lesson to both apply to your own life but pass on to others. As a life long martial artist, the losses in combat and competition lead you to uncover your optimism. How to rise above it and how to better yourself more from a failure than from any success you may have.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I barely a decade on the earth, I picked up a super 8 mm film camera, and began discovering how I could relate to the rest of the world through celluloid. From that moment on and for the many decades, since I have never steered from that course. Discovering from myself, the many forms of both community as well as creativity in the process of film and documentary work has been nothing short of life affirming. I moved to Los Angeles right out of high school and began working as a Stuntman before finally getting some dial on film, ultimately leading to much more prominent work Where I could begin a process back into filmmaking, directing and producing. I have made a very concerted effort to flow through the many genres and careers as part of the business, including cinematography and writing. Approaching the business from various angles has allowed me to incorporate what I do best and to release those things I am less inclined to be good at. A skill and a trait that is important in any business is to find your strengths and weaknesses. I recently personally financed a documentary I did on my own grandmother in the last six years of her life as she struggled with dementia. It became another learning tool, improving my outlook and acumen with filmmaking. Several films I have also spent years of my life and countless dollars finishing are finally in the completion stages (Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksen, The Sugar Moon Tribe) and am very enthusiastic and excited that their time for sharing is finally here.

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?

I have discovered one skill or trait that I think serves a person best in any business pursuit, and that is tenacity. I have watched some extremely talented people come and go in this business only because their resolve was not as strong. I have watched others who you may argue we’re not meant for the art form they love, but continued to succeed through sheer will. For me, I would say my success, both personally and financially have come from my tenacity

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most impactful thing they ever did was believe in me. When they saw that filmmaking and acting was the pursuit I had latched on, they never once strayed from standing behind me. Their belief in me even at the worst times in my journey of questioning my own path, always gave me the hope and the wind at my back to carry through

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Zenoutlaw
• Linkedin: Michael Worth
• Twitter: @michaelworth