The Impossible Network

Guest Overview Colby Gains, Emmy Nominated producer and Founder of the TV production company, Back Roads Entertainment. His reality-based programming successes include American Restoration, Pawn Stars and the recent 50 Central with 50Cent.Colby’s impossible journey has seen him take an uncharted course from his Texan roots through the back roads NYC and back to Austin Texas. Along the way, serendipity and his instinct for uncovering and telling stories have impacted the world of reality TV and more recently scripted entertainment and comedy.What we discuss In this show, Colby discusses his upbringing in TexasHow he developed his love of storytelling and comedy, how he learned his craft by just making stuff, developing a gut instinct for what works.How he cut his comedy teeth in University at Texas A&M….how he started out in Pre Med, became an Architecture major, but eventually moved into journalism… but always driven by an enduring desire to produce TV programmingColby discusses his comedy inspirations.– How a serendipitous meeting at an acting class with a business major Brett Montgomery, set him on his journey, ultimately leading Colby and Brett forming Leftfield in NYC in 2002.– Colby explains how his early internships in News and unscripted documentary filmmaking prepared him for reality tv production.– How he learned by doing, working his way up by doing many unscripted production jobs, often learning the hard way and earning the trust of people paying you.– The importance of ‘luck’ and the thought process when creating a ‘hit show’– The importance of curiosity and asking questions in creating hits.– The disposable nature of social media – instantaneous edible and forgettable and transactional people don’t want to invest in the conversation– The need to keep digging.– How he switches off and discovers new ideas…– The formula for success in Unscripted– How Happy accidents that led him meeting his wife, and producing 50 Cents 50 Central show– His fearlessness– The hard choices he made– Undaunted by naysayers– The importance of honesty and ethics– The imperative to educate and support the next generation– To always seek out new talent– The impact of technology on talent discovery– The power and importance of A-List talent– Colby’s reasons for relocation to Austin Texas– The changing nature of the business, the impact of industry convergence,– The challenge for new makers and producers– The need to focus on storytelling as well as the commercial backend– The changing opportunity for brands and agencies– Colby’s future predictions 10 years out– The future focus for BackRoads– His advice to a younger generation on what is possible in entertainment….Discover On social – On Instagram @backrodsent– Email: Colbyg@backroadsentertainment.com–Back Roads EntertainmentLinks in showTexas A&MLeftField Pictures50CentralPawn StarsHow to Win Friends and Influence PeopleEnjoy the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest OverviewTyrique (Rique) Glasgow’s world revolved around the corner of Taney and Tasker Streets, in South Philadelphia. Described as a world he’d been willing to die for, willing to kill for and had gone to war for; Rique has now transformed this corner to a world of hope and opportunity. Running the Young Chances Foundation for the kids of this South Philly community, this is Rique’s story.What we discussIn this Podcast, we learn about how Rique was blessed growing up with his grandmother who ‘covered’ him from the harsh everyday realities of growing up on Front Street, in Philly, a ‘community house’ of up to 40 people of different ages and races. Tyrique credits his grandmother for shielding him from the financial hardship, and the drug, sexual and physical abuse that existed.He discusses how he took the ‘easy way out’ by joining gang culture, that led him to run a unit dealing drugs on Tasker and Tanny Streets. Rique had a bigger picture that ‘going to war’ was not the route to take. His empathy and passion for his community drove him to ensure neighbors kids were protected and cared for. Acknowledging he had taken the wrong path, Tyrique still lived by the mantra ‘it’s not what you but how you do it.” ensuring there were block parties, cleanups and asked for neighborhood feedback. He knew that ‘Doing something better at the wrong thing does not make it right’.Although shot 11 times, he felt covered and believed he survived for a higher purpose.Convicted to Housedale jail – for manufacturing and dealing, his parole was delayed due to a juvenile misdemeanor. That saved him as it allowed him to take classes and focus on not returning to the corner, and the life of dealing and distributing.On being released in 2011, he took a hard choice and decided someone needed to support the youth of his South Philly by showing them another way forward and help understand that they have options beyond falling into crime, selling themselves short, giving them a voice and provide them with hope. Speaking up for the 12-year-old boy’s that had become the men of their households.We discuss how he faced up to a culture of failure that the community accepted, how he asked questions: Why drugs? Why are you here?He focused on delivering the same cover his grandmother gave him …with consistency concentrating on how to solve problems the kids and families face, providing an alternative to kids being drawn into crime and gang culture.He discusses the serendipitous movement that kickstarted his foundation by forming a football team for boys barred from the local Vare community center -calling it The Young Chances – after his grandmother’s name Chance.Rique explains that all the kids wanted was an opportunity to play and be accepted. Soon Tyrique was helping local girls create a dance team and learn to be cheerleaders. At 31 min in, Ryque discusses how he became reacquainted with the local police but in a positive, constructive manner.When he saw over 30 girls turn up to join a dance class – he explains how he was understood issues these girls faced.He set up classes that went beyond dance and also focused on etiquette, learning about hygiene, teen pregnancy and avoiding the negative impact of social media.His help came from unexpected places, as people turned up to give back.The impact – the quality of the community is improving, as old dealers and shooters are forming businesses.Rique talks about the challenges that accompany change and overcoming the fear that incapacitates communities.Expanding and building relationships with city authorities and DA’s office to create opportunities, Rique is focused on working on change; house by house, not just block by block. Small centers of change that can grow to larger centers.We also discuss how Ryque remains positive and energized.What h... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.