Zac Miller - Be honest with yourself about what you’re good at

Dive into the world of media production with Zac Miller! In our latest episode of 10 Lessons Learned, Zac reveals what it takes to be an overnight success—spoiler: it’s a decade of hard work! 

About Zac Miller

Zac Miller is a video producer who has nearly two decades of experience bringing films, television series, and podcasts to life. He leverages that experience to help media professionals and businesses of all sizes create and implement effective video strategies. Zac currently produces and co-stars in the hit video podcast, The Kim Gravel Show, which is a top show on QVC+. He is launching a new podcast this year about how to harness the power of video podcasting.

Zac began his career in 2005 working on indie films in Boston. He joined IATSE the following year as a grip and then moved to Los Angeles where he transitioned from lighting and tech into production. He quickly rose through the ranks to become the production manager on hit TV shows like Catfish (MTV) and Big Brother (CBS). During that time Zac worked on dozens of television series, feature films, commercials, music videos, and educational videos for clients like NBC Universal, Disney, HGTV, Lifetime, WGBH, Pepsi Co., Harvard Medical School, The National Science Foundation, and The US Department of Transportation.

In 2017 Zac left Big Brother to launch his own full-service video production and consulting company called Uncommon Image Studios where he produces and directs high-end videos for clients from national brands and fortune 500 companies to local businesses and nonprofits. Some of his notable clients include Ketel One Vodka, Westfield Malls, and Alcoa Corp.

Zac is passionate about education and taught video production from 2018 - 2022 at Clarkson University in New York. He has given invited talks at the University of Vermont, Cornell University Extension School, and St. Joseph’s University in Bangalore, India.

He is a member of the Producers Guild of America, and has won national awards for screenwriting, advertising, and directing, including the grand prize of a 2007 Jeep Compass SUV for producing and directing a 60 second Jeep commercial.

Zac was once karate chopped by Shaq on set.

Episode notes

Lesson 1: If you’re presenting anything - be entertaining. 10:34
Lesson 2: Be honest with yourself about what you’re good at. 14:30
Lesson 3: Give yourself permission to suck at first. 16:46
Lesson 4: Win the expectations game - Set expectations and then exceed them. 20:08
Lesson 5: Standing out is 99% about your attitude and reliability. 25:57 
Lesson 6: Look at video as a creative solution for a business problem and be specific. 30:17
Lesson 7: Don’t race to the bottom and commoditize your creative work. 34:08
Lesson 8: Media is changing - "Is this real?" is the wrong question to ask – “who's telling the story?” 38:42
Lesson 9: Rehearsals are an incredible tool. 45:30 
Lesson 10: Overnight success takes a decade to accomplish, be prepared when it comes. 49:43
Lesson 11: Always allow yourself the option to edit something out that isn’t working. 53:39