Episode Summary

In this deeply personal episode, attorney Mishawn Nolan interviews her brother, writer/director David Yarovesky, whose films include Brightburn (starring Elizabeth Banks), Nightbooks (Netflix), and Locked (starring Bill Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins).

From dressing as Superman every single day as a toddler and declaring "every day is Halloween for me," to filling their shared bathroom with fake blood and body parts, David's authenticity and vision have been unwavering since childhood. This conversation explores how he converted his obsession with horror into a multi-decade career in one of the world's most competitive industries.

Key Topics Discussed

On Authenticity & Early Vision

• Why David has been obsessed with scaring people since childhood
• The transformative phone call with legendary makeup artist Dick Smith that redirected his path from special effects to filmmaking
• Knowing at 15 years old exactly what he wanted to do for the rest of his life

On the Craft of Horror

• What defines the horror genre (and why Silence of the Lambs isn't actually a horror movie)
• Why the scariest part of any horror film is someone walking through a house saying "Hello? Who's there?"
• The emotional journey from fear to that immediate grin of relief

On Building a Career

• The long road from high school filmmaker to making his first feature at age 34
• Working as a music video and commercial director with everyone from Good Charlotte to 50 Cent
• The brutal milestone of turning 27 when Spielberg, Tim Burton, and Robert Rodriguez had already "made it"
• Realizing at 32: "I bet my whole life on being able to do this and it might not work out"

On Managing Doubt & Staying Focused

• Why David questions himself on every single movie release (and a million times in between)
• The importance of making high-pressure situations look easy, even when you're climbing a mountain
• The profound loneliness of being a director and why there are no peers on set
• The phone call from idol Sam Raimi that reminded David of his original unwavering belief

On Industry Reinvention

• Why the war between industry and artist is shifting in artists' favor
• How democratized tools mean storytellers need the industry less and less
• David's advice for creatives rethinking their path: if you can imagine being happy doing anything else, do that
• The importance of being crushed by feedback, fixing it, trying again, and repeating until someone says "that didn't suck"

About the Guest

David Yarovesky is a writer and director specializing in horror and dark fantasy. His feature films include:

• The Hive - about an infectious virus transmitted through vomit (pre-COVID)
• Brightburn - a retelling of Superman where the hero is evil, starring Elizabeth Banks
• Nightbooks - a family-friendly horror film for Netflix, starring Krysten Ritter
• Locked - starring Bill Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins, about two disturbed men and their twisted relationship

David has also directed numerous commercials and music videos throughout his career.

About the Host

Mishawn Nolan is co-founder and co-managing partner of Nolan Heimann LLP, a law firm specializing in helping creators monetize their creative ventures. Before becoming an attorney, Mishawn was a professional dancer and choreographer, and she brings principles of alignment and flow to her legal practice.