10,000 NOs

“You can cry, you can cry all you want. By the way, it's great to cry; but we're going to do it anyway.”Today’s special episode is a sit down with my old friend, colleague, & Oscar winner, Will McCormack. Will, a talented actor/writer/director, shares with us the details of his latest short film doc, that he directed alongside his long time friend, Rashida Jones, A Swim Lesson (on the shortlist for an Academy Award). Will's 2020 short film, If Anything Happens I Love You (which you can stream on Netflix), earned him the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. He is also known for writing the screenplay for Celeste and Jesse Forever and the story for Toy Story 4, the former of which earned him nominations for the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay and the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Screenplay, Adapted or Original. He appeared in the television series The Sopranos, Brothers & Sisters, and In Plain Sight, as well as the films American Outlaws, Syriana, and A Wrinkle in Time. He won a Lucille Lortel Award for his role in the off-Broadway one-act play The Long Christmas Ride Home.In this episode, Will gets vulnerable and shares lots of wisdom around staying in the fight, not giving up, and forging on even when facing struggle. From being a parent; to losing his parents; to learning to parent himself-- Will's story is powerful and one you won't want to miss.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you.SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

“And that's what I want you to do in 2025: Build trust in yourself that when you say you're going to show up, you show up. When you say you're going to go work on your lines, or work on the character, do some research, or go to the gym, or do whatever-- you actually do it.”Today’s episode is a direct address to you, our viewers and listeners, to hopefully inspire you to kick off the new year on the right note. Today, we talk about laying the foundation to have a successful and fulfilling year. We go into creating consistent habits and patterns that will lead us towards our goals. There will be ups and downs along the way, but you never know when your next "win" is coming. Keep chipping away, keep putting in the work, and good things will eventually come your way. As Matt says, "Why not me?". 10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you.SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

“You may have something that’s hurtling through the universe on its way to you right now and you don’t know it, so don’t assume the worst. Don’t assume the best either, you know, you’ve still got to keep working, no matter what. Whether the jobs come to you or they don’t.”Today’s episode is a direct address to you, our viewers and listeners, to thank you not so much for watching and listening as much as for being the kind of person who is looking to learn, expand, grow and figure out a way to hone your own unique gifts so you can serve the world with them. It ain’t always easy, but you should be proud you’re on the path, taking your shot and being willing to put up with rejection, failure and embarrassment over and over again as you pursue your goals. We’ll pick it up again next week in 2025. Happy New Year and thank you.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you.SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

“The people that have shaped history… they weren’t lucky. They were willing to go through way more sh#t than you and I.”Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community weekly zooms where Matt addresses the challenges that face our members. Today, we talk about perseverance and drive and the willingness of people that have achieved great things to put up with failure for decades in a row before “stumbling upon” the success that they were eventually known for. Shout out to Founders podcast which was incredibly influential on this conversation.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you.SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

“Make it your own: trust your instinct, trust your intuition and take a chance that they may cringe.”Today’s episode is a rare straight-to-video solo rant, unlike our normal “ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community zooms”. Matt shares a tape he made exclusively for one of his private clients about how to approach your audition with truth, honesty and your own unique interpretation of the material.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you.SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

“Can you deal with it? You should talk to that person and confront that person, but was it too much of a breach of your trust that now you feel like you can’t do your work with that person anymore because now you feel like, ‘do they have an ulterior motive?’.”Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community weekly zooms where Matt addresses the challenges that face our members. Today, in this shorter than usual episode, we get into the minutiae of one of our member’s recent experience with an acting coach who may have shattered his trust to the point of no return. We ask ourselves, and you, how much are you willing to put up with before you need to make a change in the people you hire to help you?10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you.SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

“How can we take these things that are in our head that we want to do , not beat ourselves up for not being there yet, but just meet ourselves right where we are and say, ‘hey, it would be really cool if, in a year from now, you’ve done this thing.’?”Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community weekly zooms where Matt addresses the challenges that face our members. Today, we look back to our first zoom from January 2024, just as we were coming out of the historic and brutal dual strikes of 2023, figuring out where we wanted to go and how we were going to get there. In preparation of the coming New Year, we figured we’d help you start to gear up for it with some of the tactics discussed.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you. SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

“I had to start asking myself how could I get more intentional about where I show up, where I give my energy? And now, let me restructure how this is going to go, moving forward in my life.”Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community monthly VIP zooms with industry insider, Ali Levine. Ali brings her experience as a certified breath coach and celebrity stylist to our group to discuss the importance of slowing down, breathing and realigning with our highest self.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you.SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

“Making strong choices never means doing something just to be memorable or just to stand out. It just means grounded in reality. It always has to be something that you’re finding truth in the scene for yourself.”Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community monthly VIP zooms with industry insider, Casting Director Stephanie Holbrook. Stephanie has joined us before, but today we get to hear her answer specific questions from our members, many of whom are actors just like you, looking for real-world answers from a major casting director who is still in the game.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you.SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

“And that’s a little bit of our conundrum: Acting is our number one thing, but that’s very up and down. So how much do you just wait and put everything into Acting? And how much are you doing things with the down time? And can those be the same thing?”Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community weekly zooms where Matt addresses the challenges that face our members. Today, we get into the common internal battle than many actors face: what is the best way to spend my time while searching for my next gig while also providing for myself and my family? We talk about the price of greatness, the need for focus and doing everything possible to align your goals so that all of your energy is going in the same direction.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you.SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

“There’s nothing better: you negotiate the deal and you start thinking and planning your life… and about two weeks before I was meant to go, I get the call: the European studio backed out, they’re scrapping the entire project, it’s over.”Today’s special episode is a sit down with my old friend and colleague (from Wind River and Teen Wolf), Ian Bohen. You may know him as Ryan from Yellowstone, but as you’ll hear, he’s been kicking around for a long, long time (in fact, he played a young Kevin Costner as a 15 year old in Wyatt Earp all the way back in 1994). His years on the road, hearing plenty of NOs along with all of the YES’s has brought him hard-earned wisdom, which he dispenses with ease for actors, and anyone in a competitive field, to learn from.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you.SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community weekly zooms where Matt addresses the challenges that face our members. Today, we discuss the stoic philosophy of keeping death in mind so that we live each day to its fullest and avoid being surprised when death comes our way. But we also talk about the fact that good things can come our way too, citing examples of people in Hollywood who had careers that took sharp turns toward success. Matt poses the question, “if good surprises happen to people every day, why can’t they happen for you?”10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you. SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community weekly zooms where Matt addresses the challenges that face our members. Today, Matt shares some of the inspiration he received from a podcast that he has become obsessed with: Founders. Drawing from stories of great filmmakers, entrepreneurs and athletes, Matt discusses the parallels between the attributes of those who have achieved greatness in other fields with the attributes required for success as an actor, writer or filmmaker. Success leaves clues. Ultimately, it comes down to what you want: to forge your own path and attempt to create your own destiny or follow a beaten path, that requires less responsibility in comparison, by working for someone else.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you. SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community monthly VIP zooms with an industry insider. Casting Director Stephanie Holbrook (Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, John Wick Chapter 3), who has been featured in other episodes of the show, asked Matt about how he wraps his head around playing unlikeable characters, like the one she cast him in Long Bright River.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you. SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community weekly zooms where Matt addresses the challenges that face our members. Today, we discuss the fact that there is a certain stubbornness required in following our own path, it is also necessary for us to constantly assess what we are doing and get honest about whether those actions are the best way for us to reach our goals.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you. SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

“I had to sleep on people’s couches for a while, because I had no money. And I remember saying to God or whoever… ‘if I can make a living as a writer, I promise you I will write every day.’ So I made this deal with the universe and now I’m stuck with it.”Today’s episode is a special, old-school 10,000 NOs format longform sit-down conversation with legendary television writer and showrunner, Tom Fontana. His awards and accolades are a mile long, but what you’ll hear is a guy from humble beginnings in Buffalo, who loves to write, loves to ask questions, and loves to give back and mentor others the way his mentors helped him.10,000 NOs podcast is now in it’s 2.0 phase: after a long pause from late 2021 to late 2023, it has returned in a more raw format: shorter episodes, like the Monday Morsels of yesteryear (they may be short, solo riffs by Matt on central themes of the pod, excerpts from Matt’s 10,000 NOs Insiders Community Zooms, or excerpts from Insiders VIP sessions with VIPs from the entertainment interview and beyond). Be on the look out as, every now and then, we will likely drop some old school, long-form, classic 10,000 NOs interviews as bonus episodes.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you.Prefer to WATCH (versus listen)? SUBSCRIBE to 10,000 NOs YouTube Channel HERESHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community weekly zooms where Matt addresses the challenges that face our members. Today, we discuss the discipline required for anyone pursuing a career in the Arts. It’s easy to talk about it in generalities, but tougher to do when surrounded by friends and family members who are not on the same path. This conversation will shed light on the pros and cons that can be looked at when making tough decisions.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you. SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community monthly VIP zooms with industry insider, Casting Director Stephanie Holbrook (Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, John Wick Chapter 3), who cast Matt in the limited series Long Bright River, as well as a few other projects. She offers advice to actors about how far to go in forging relationships with casting directors without alienating them. Tons of gems from someone who has worked on many elite projects with great filmmakers.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you. SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community weekly zooms where Matt addresses the challenges that face our members. Today, we discuss the possibility of not doing those things that everyone tells you “you should be doing”. Is saying No lazy? Or is saying No an extension of figuring out what you really want to do with your life and then doing, or not doing, that regardless of what the people around you think? Saying No to opportunities that don’t light you up creates space for you to take advantage of the opportunities you really want for yourself.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you. SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER

Today’s episode was ripped directly from one of our 10,000 NOs Insiders Acting Community weekly zooms where Matt addresses the challenges that face our members. Today, he questions whether his constant advice to members to “bet on themselves” is great or dangerous. We discuss the inherent risks in betting on yourself but also how perseverance and refusal to quit almost always pay off over the long haul.10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you’re battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you’re an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Insiders Acting Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you.SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE A 10,000 NOs INSIDER