SCAD Atlanta opened its doors yesterday to the preeminent and prolific producer Mike Medavoy. Over lunch in the Digital Media Center, I asked Mr. Medavoy to share a few secrets of his success. Here’s what he had to say:

1.    Make a list. 
Upon graduating from UCLA with a degree in history, Mr. Medavoy made a list of every big name in the film business. Over the course of a few years, he met every single person on that list, checking them off name by name. With some of the people, Mr. Medavoy said, it took years to actually sit down with them face-to-face. Others, for one reason or another, were more willing to spare a few minutes for a determined and curious post-graduate.

2.    Become a better writer.
Writing, he said, is vital to every industry. And, in film, the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently is particularly significant. Too often writers don’t understand their audience, grasp their market or fully convey their subject matter. Great writing, across genres, requires a mastery of all three elements.

3.    Never stop learning.
According to Mr. Medavoy, the ultimate key to success is a love of learning. To rise to the top of your field, you must possess an insatiable curiosity for your discipline. To stay relevant, you must expand your knowledge to areas outside your niche, developing a panoramic insight that informs and distinguishes your work.  “If you want to be successful,” he shared, “you must constantly learn new things.”

I challenge all members of our SCAD family to follow Mr. Medavoy’s lead:  list, write and learn your way to the top!