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The lure of the entertainment industry, and of course, Los Angeles. It’s something many of us dream about. If you’re a kid from Cleveland like me (Biagio) or a girl from Belgium like Joke, it can seem larger than life, like a fantasy world that’s a million miles away. Many of us come. Some stay. Some move on. But one thing is for sure – L.A. has its own special kind of magic. Now, TV Producer extraordinaire and best-selling author Troy DeVolld has taken the time to really explore why so many of us belong nowhere else but the city of Angels – and he’s done it in the most surprising way! Get ready for a completely unique discussion about life, dreams, work, and the reality that is showbiz and Los Angeles. There are valuable tips and insights here for you that will help you not only chase success, but frame it in a healthy way. What Troy has to say honestly just might change your life for the better, so read on!
Troy DeVolld: Loving Life
If you’ve been around the unscripted television world at all, you’ve heard of Troy DeVolld, including on this podcast. He literally wrote the book on Reality TV (literally.)
Try not to stare too hard at the amazing IMDB page for Troy DeVolld. He’s not only a best-selling author. He’s also a prolific TV producer, and has helped guide some of the biggest unscripted TV shows in history (The Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars, Basketball Wives, and The Surreal Life just to name a few.)
Last time Troy was on this podcast, we discussed the notes process (a must listen if you ever plan to work in this industry.)
But recently, Troy went through a life event that affected him deeply…
Reframing Life
On today’s podcast, Troy talks about why 2020 changed his life (and it’s not because of Covid.) He went though something scary, but as he says, if you’re gonna live in Los Angeles, “you have to learn to turn lemons into steak.”
This turn of events inspired Troy to really think through his time living, working in, and loving the city of Angels. He took pearls of wisdom and great advice and wove them into two…POETRY books!
Now, we know some people are like, “Poetry? Uhhh…” But if you have an affinity for L.A., showbiz, or just chasing dreams in general, this is some of the most fun, rewarding, and insightful reading you’ll do…as evidenced by Joke’s copies of the books. She’s marked up a favorite poem or two:
The poems are short, inspirational, funny, and manage to say so much in so little space – kind of amazing, honestly. If you’d like to pick them up, they’re available on Amazon…and somewhere else very special…
Another 100 Poems About Los Angeles
For the persnickety among you, those are NOT affiliate links. But we hope you’ll pick them up, they’re great! And Troy DeVolld is just awesome.
Now, as for the other very special place you can get these inspiring books – Troy says if you track him down on his Instagram account RealityTVTroy he’ll sell you one AND inscribe it for you! (Don’t pass that offer up!)
A Free Taste and Some Amazing Wisdom
Today, Troy reads a few of our favorite poems from volumes 1 and 2. They lead to pretty fun yet deep discussions of what it means to embrace L.A. and the entertainment industry. There’s a lot of laughing. Most importantly, there’s tons of advice from Troy we think you’ll find priceless.
Just some of what we cover today:
- Frame your shots and mind your audio – it’s about so much more than filmmaking
- How to fall in love with showbiz all over again
- Finding your place in the industry and the world
- Why a little delusion can be a good thing
- The every-day magic we often ignore
- Starting out at the “bottom” and loving every second of it
- Realistic and unrealistic expectations, and finding happiness no matter what
- What is the real prize we should all be chasing anyway?
- And…just one question: Who ya’ gonna call??? (You know the answer, right?)
Hit that giant play button at the top of the page and listen now!
Unraveled: Our New TV Series and Podcast
Last episode we mentioned our new project Unraveled, a hybrid TV series and podcast. Both are hosted by investigative journalists Alexis Linkletter and Billy Jensen. The podcast has already launched, and we asked you if you would mind subscribing, rating, and reviewing.
Well, guess what? With your help we hit NUMBER 3 IN THE WORLD:
Of course, we screen-grabbed that as fast as possible:
Listen to the Unraveled Podcast Now
The Unraveled podcast with Billy and Alexis is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you stream your podcasts.
It also received some great press, including this piece on Vulture, who said:
Now, two formidable true-crime podcasters and native Long Islanders, Alexis Linkletter (The First Degree) and Billy Jensen (The Murder Squad), join forces for a fascinating seven-part investigation that promises to upend everything you think you know about this captivating case. It all begins with an unlikely David, a duffel bag, a snuff film, and a Goliath with a badge. Prepare yourself for a thought-provoking and surprisingly personal journey.
It would mean a lot if you could rate, review, and subscribe! Maybe we’ll hit number 1!
See the TV Show Soon
The first televised episode of Unraveled premieres on Discovery+, the new streaming platform, March 9. It will then play on Investigation Discovery later in the year. We hope you get to check it out. It’s the most in-depth, explosive series we’ve ever made.
Apparently, we have our own “discount” code for Discovery+ if you’re looking to sign up: UNRAVELED
Again, not an affiliate link, and we make nothing if you sign up. But you can save some money if you like! There’s also a 7 day free trial if you want to see our show when it launches on March 9. It will also play later this year on Investigation Discovery.
Helpful and Related Links
You can find Troy at his book website and Instagram – and he’ll even inscribe a book for you!
Troy DeVolld’s first book, Reality TV: TV’s Hottest Market is simply a must-read for anyone who wants to work in unscripted television.
Check out the podcast that goes with our new TV series UNRAVELED. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.
What was that crazy story Troy mentioned about us and the former NBC president Warren Littlefield who we accidentally managed to bamboozle? Check it out here in the podcast with Chad Gervich, who we also talked about today. He’s hilarious!
Let’s Make Some TV Together (Remotely, Anyway!)
Have a great concept and package for an unscripted TV or film project? Documentary? True crime? Looking to team up with us at our company Joke Productions? Read Troy’s books and more inspired than ever to make something happen? Here’s everything you need to know: