The Colin and Samir Show The YouTube video that broke Hollywood
12 snips
May 13, 2024 
Guest Wesley Wang, a 19-year-old Harvard student, discusses his viral YouTube video turning into a film deal with Sony Pictures and Darren Aronofsky. They also chat with Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw about the future of creators in entertainment.
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Cold Email From A-List Director
- Wesley Wang uploaded his short to YouTube and it went viral, changing his career overnight.
- Darren Aronofsky cold-emailed him: "watched your film, can you drop out of Harvard?"
Self-Funded Filmmaker Backstory
- Wesley Wang spent years learning his craft, making about 21 shorts before his breakout piece.
- He financed films with chess lessons, crowdfunding, and personal funds, totaling about $45,000 for the short.
Pitch With Confident Energy
- Do pitch your projects with clear confidence to win meetings and trust from studios.
- Wesley Wang says confidence compounds after success, so "So yeah, fake it till you make it."