This week’s Misfit Entrepreneur is Darren Moorman. Darren is a founder and partner at Reserve Entertainment. A firm specializing in feature film and TV. Darren knows what it is like and what it takes to have a dream and work tirelessly to make it a reality. He grew up passionate about film and media and began acting at age 19. Over the years, he found his calling as a producer and ventured out to LA to pursue his dreams. He found some success and worked on different projects with people like Denzel Washington, Chevy Chase, and others, but he had one main dream which took over 10 years to bring to fruition.
That dream releases in theaters the week this episode is releasing (October 2017) in the form of an amazing film called “Same Kind of Different As Me” featuring an all start cast including Greg Kinnear, Renee Zellweger, Djimon Hounsou, and John Voit – all academy award winners or nominees.
Dave and Darren talk about the film and its message, but just as importantly, they talk about the 10 year journey, the twists, turns, and ups and downs that it took to make it a reality.
www.SameKindofDifferentAsMeMovie.com
Darren’s story starts over 20 years ago when Darren started his first career as a coach and teacher at an all-boys prep school. While there, Darren noticed something unique. When taught kids using the form of a story, they were much more attentive and learned more. They understood things more clearly. It was here where Darren leaned that stories really connect with people. So, Darren, who had some past experience in acting and film, decided to make the journey to LA to become a film maker.
Darren didn’t have instant success, but was a good networker and relationship builder and was able to create some great connections early on for mentors that had been there and done that in the industry. He credits this with getting him going helping his first successes. Now those mentors are business partners of his – after he paid his dues and proved he had staying power.
At the 8 min mark, Dave and Darren talk about simple, but two very important principle for success and that Darren credits with helping him get ahead: Asking for what you want and making it about them and not you.
At the 11 min mark, Darren talks about why he had to tell the story of Same Kind of Different As Me. He talks about how reading the book, a true story, over 10 years ago changed his life and showed him the power of hope, forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation.
At the 14 min mark, Darren talks about the 10 year journey it took to make this movie, how he lost the rights to it twice (including one time to Disney, and finally seized a chance opportunity to make it a reality. He talks about the mistakes he made and how even a chance meeting on a plane ride was needed to turn this dream into a reality.
Darren says the most important thing he did happened 5 years ago where he had a “Jerry Maguire moment” and wrote a manifesto and wrote the vision for his career and the stories that he is supposed to be telling to the world. The story at the top of the list was Same Kind of Different as Me – even though he didn’t have the rights to it. But, when the time came where he could get it, he was focused, ready, and had everything in place to go lock it up. And once he had it, everything came into focus and in-line including the all-star cast and a deal to help distribute it worldwide with Paramount. The latter because of a relationship and connection he had made many years ago showing the power of what relationships can do over time.
What does it mean to have a dream and vision and devote yourself to it for years on end not knowing if it will truly manifest? How do you keep going and stay prepared?
At the 26 min mark, Darren talks about the impact the story has had on his life and the impact he wants for it to have on you and the world. Hint: It comes down to a simple act of kindness.
What has this experience of this film and meeting the real life people of the story taught you about life?
TIME SENSATIVE ITEM: On October 18th, the day this episode if released, there are a 150 red carpet screenings at rescue missions around the US that will show the film to their donors, sponsors, and benefactors to create awareness and show how much impact they can have in their communities. If you are interested in participating, go to
http://www.samekindofdifferentasmemovie.com/group-tickets.php
What does it take to be successful as an entrepreneur?
You have to continue to have more dreams. Once you accomplish one, you have to have what’s next. You cannot settle for accomplishing one dream. You have a lifetime of dreams to accomplish. The key is to be consistent and stay true to your core, but don’t stop…the best is always ahead of you.
What advice for people aspiring to make it in Hollywood or film?
At the 38 min mark, Darren talks about how important the name of his company, Reserve Entertainment is to his mission.
Best Quote: “At moments you question your sanity and what you are doing…then it happens and it’s beautiful. Even if it takes 10 years, you know you are not crazy and meant for it.”
Darren's Misfit 3: