Get back up, shake the dust off and keep going. Keep going, because Hollywood is set up to make you fail.

I found my father's Super8mm film camera when I was around eight years old and started shooting with it. I had no idea what I was doing at the time, but that's really where my filmmaking began.

Today the challenge is not visuals, but to be able to tell a riveting emotional story, something that can reach deep down inside the audience's heart and twist it like a toy to make them laugh, cry or jump out of their seats to root for the hero.

I spent several years in the film finance business, but I returned to what I loved most about the industry - actual filmmaking, producing, writing and directing.

Several years ago, as I was transitioning from film finance to film production and writing again, someone asked me how long I would try to get back into filmmaking before I gave up? My response was "giving up" was not an option.

My tombstone would someday read I died keeled over at my computer writing a screenplay or a business plan.

There is truly no other business in the world like making movies. It's unique, it's extremely demanding and difficult, but it's also the most rewarding.