From Atlanta studios to Hollywood sets to inventing new technology, Troy Plota has built a career on persistence and reinvention. In this conversation with Chris Do, he shares how he went from organizing model books to shooting celebrities, the $35K day that changed everything, and the app that transformed still photos into living motion.
But the story doesn’t stop there. Troy opens up about clients who refused to pay, platforms that exploited his work, and why he believes DAOs could finally give artists ownership and fair compensation. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build, lose, and rebuild again in the creative industry, this episode is for you.
Timestamps:
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- (00:00) – Intro
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- (03:29) – Shooting Mariah Carey and Usher
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- (05:00) – Fashion “testing” explained
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- (09:37) – $250 shoots to $35K payday
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- (11:12) – Free work lands a big client
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- (13:33) – Catalog jobs and cashflow struggles
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- (15:58) – Tony Braxton photos used without pay
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- (20:21) – Playboy shoots: nine lights, full precision
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- (22:16) – Investor backs out of VR startup
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- (23:54) – Beta launch earns $230K
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- (24:37) – App turns stills into motion
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- (26:54) – Slammed-fist meeting with acquirers
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- (38:21) – Platforms profit while creators don’t
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- (45:50) – Where to Learn More
Check Out Today's Guest, Troy Plota:
Check out The Futur:
Website: https://www.thefutur.com/
Courses: https://www.thefutur.com/shop
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/
Podcasts: https://thefutur.com/podcast
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/thefuturishere
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere
Check out Chris Do:
Website: https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/thechrisdo
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo
Behance: https://www.behance.net/chrisdo
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