Here’s one HUGE truth I’ve learned in just over a decade in this industry. Being a storyteller is one kick-ass profession. It may just be one of the most rewarding jobs out there. As storytellers we get to meet, and learn from, a collection of folks who introduce us to more experiences and perspectives than many get the privilege of enjoying in a lifetime.

More than that though, as storytellers we get a skeleton key of sorts that unlocks nearly every door around if used properly. We can get access to amazing venues, time with remarkable people, and even have the opportunity to go deep and ask things that normally take years of friendship to be able to discuss.

Just this past year I had the opportunity to tell three stories of absolutely remarkable people. The first was a man who, at nineteen, became quadriplegic when his motorbike flew off the road. With only 6 percent of his body function he went on to get an engineering degree, modify an airplane, and fly solo across Australia. The second was a lady who was raised with an elephant as a sister from the time she was six. She became so close to elephants that she opened a sanctuary and is treated as if she is one of the herd. And the third was the great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin, a very eccentric man who produced many PR stunts such as hosting a dinner party on top of the highest mountain in Peru. He’s now on a mission to fulfill Charles Darwin’s single biggest regret of not being able to do more for his fellow species. Chris is on a mission to prevent the mass extinction of species and his journey thus far is completely fascinating.

Here’s the point though—more than the stories themselves, just the act of spending time with these people changes the way you see the world. And the experiences you have with them stay with you forever. We really do become the stories that we choose to tell. Then we get to take these stories and share them with the world. We can take a story like that of Dave Jacka, the quadriplegic pilot, and spread it across the globe so that his story helps others realize that we are far more capable than we ever imagined.

And this is where it gets really exciting. Never before has the barrier of entry been so incredibly low for somebody to get into filmmaking, create strong stories, and distribute them globally. As a comparison, one of my first paid gigs was for a news shooter whose camera cost him a mortgage on his mother’s house (no joke) and was something he’d pay off over decades. Today, with nothing more than the cellphone in our pocket, we can film, edit, and deliver a story.

With the barrier being so low, it’s no longer a question of who can get access to the tools, and it’s so much more about who can create content that will attract the eyeballs. That’s why this book is so incredibly important. Kurt’s Production House Cinema will help you understand the industry today. It offers you a real-deal portrait of everything you need to do to set up a business, pitch to clients, and set yourself apart.

Our storytelling studio, Stillmotion, started in a university dorm room. We started our own business and as our stories became stronger, they started to get noticed, and we got some amazing calls from people like AT&T, Apple, the NFL, CBS, and more. Not one of those clients asked if we had a formal film degree. They looked at our stories and asked if we could create something like that for them.

Remember, your perspective is the strongest lens you’ll ever attach to a camera. Develop your thinking on what story truly is, on how the industry works today, and dive right in.

The future is yours for the taking like never before.

Patrick Moreau
Co-founder of Stillmotion