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DC Young Fly
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Will Packer
They said the DVD back back then.
DC Young Fly
It was vhs, okay?
Will Packer
I had vhs.
DC Young Fly
I don't remember vhs.
Refresh Advertiser
Stop playing.
DC Young Fly
Don't lie to these people.
Will Packer
I had Ninja Turtle tapes, okay, so.
DC Young Fly
You do know about vhs.
Will Packer
America. Once again, welcome to Another episode of Hawks and Friends. Man. Listen.
DC Young Fly
Oh, that's what the AF stands for.
Will Packer
Yes, that's what the AF friends. I thought it was, too.
DC Young Fly
They said D.C. young Fly was hosting a podcast and it was called Hawks af. No, I said, oh, they have let the nephew loose. I was, for a second, not too Lou. Okay. All right. So we still want brand.
Will Packer
Yeah.
DC Young Fly
We still on advertising.
Will Packer
We still on brand. But I got to give you the proper introduction.
DC Young Fly
Yes, sir. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Will Packer
You're an icon.
DC Young Fly
Go ahead. My bad.
Will Packer
You a legend.
DC Young Fly
It's cuz we know each other. Yeah.
Will Packer
This my dog right here.
DC Young Fly
Yeah, go ahead. Do it. Do it right.
Will Packer
I have to let the people know. Okay, now today's guest. All right, My OG man. Someone I. I could. I could call on, especially when I have. You know what I'm saying? Advice. When I need advice. He's a Hollywood icon, filmmaker, producer, director, handling his business. Make some noise for Will Packer.
DC Young Fly
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Thank you for having me, baby.
Will Packer
Come on now.
DC Young Fly
Come on.
Will Packer
Come on now.
DC Young Fly
It's good to be here. How you feeling, man?
Will Packer
You feel good?
DC Young Fly
Yeah.
Will Packer
Also gave me a job.
DC Young Fly
Yeah, I see that.
Will Packer
They told him to come on back.
DC Young Fly
So this is job number 3729.
Will Packer
3722.
DC Young Fly
The Crazy Thing is that you lied to these people, told them you didn't have a job, and that's how you got this one. And that's why I love you.
Will Packer
But you know what? I did tell him I wanted to add the money to the tickets.
DC Young Fly
Yes.
Will Packer
Cause them season tickets are expensive.
DC Young Fly
They are tough. They tough.
Will Packer
How's it going, man?
DC Young Fly
Listen, you know, I'm still on my Hollywood grind.
Will Packer
Yes.
DC Young Fly
I'm blessed. I cannot lie. I'm here chilling with you. Hawks gonna pull off a win tonight. I'm feeling good. I really am.
Will Packer
Are you a Hawks fan?
DC Young Fly
Of course. What do you mean? Oh, I'm a longtime Hawks board member. Oh.
Will Packer
Oh, yeah. Hold on. Wait a minute.
DC Young Fly
Wait a minute.
Will Packer
I didn't even know there was different boards.
DC Young Fly
So what you mean by board there are. Yes. Yes.
Will Packer
You mean, like, you gotta say so?
DC Young Fly
Well, on this train. Well, I'm not gonna say that. No, I have nothing to say on the actual basketball operations. Okay. Okay. This is the Philanthropic board, so. Okay. Okay. Now we get back to the community and do all those things. And so, Mr. Tony Rustler and Jamie Gertz, very good friends of mine.
Will Packer
Yes, sir.
DC Young Fly
Majority owners of the Hawks, they invited me to be a part of the Board. So I have been a longtime member of the board and now they're transitioning, so I go on and do some other stuff. But I was proud of my time on the Hawks board.
Will Packer
Okay?
DC Young Fly
So, you know, it's levels, D.C. you know, it's level.
Will Packer
So I'm trying to get on the board next time.
DC Young Fly
Well, speaking of boards, easy now.
Will Packer
You've been on the Atlanta board for, for quite some time, especially in the, in the film industry. Like, how is it different from when you first got into the game to where you see filmmakers now today?
DC Young Fly
Oh, it's different. Yeah. The game is constantly changing. And I tell people that all the time, right. If you want to get into film, you and I have had this conversation before. You have to be malleable and you have to know your audience, right? Because a lot of people are always trying to get to folks like me and other Hollywood executives. And there's nothing wrong with that. But the major media companies are looking for people. Honestly, dc, I would say this whether you're here or not, but like you, that have a brand. So I'm telling people all the time, your brand is very important. And so what that means is that you gotta be careful with what you're doing all the time. All the time, okay?
Will Packer
You just can't just produce anything.
DC Young Fly
You can't produce everything. You can't. You can't tweet and post everything, right? Because it is your brand. You're building a brand. But what you want to do is you want to have an audience that connects with you. You want to have an audience that will follow you wherever you go, and then the media companies will come. So I'm telling people all the time, don't think that you can only get into Hollywood by going through gatekeepers like myself. Because there is a way, especially now. This is the time of what I like to call the democratization of media. Right? If you're somebody that has an amazing idea and amazing talent, you can go out and take it directly to the people. And so I encourage folks to do that.
Will Packer
And if they like it, then you.
DC Young Fly
Have absolutely the media players like myself. We will come find you. Right? And so that's why I encourage people to do so. I'm still out here. The game has definitely changed, but I think in a good way it's changed because there's more opportunities. As tough as it is, it's still very tough. This is an industry just like sports entertainment, very high profile industries that a lot of people want to get into. But the reality is that if you are grinding and building your own brand and building your own audience, folks will find you.
Will Packer
So speaking to building a brand, because you know, when we did Almost Christmas.
DC Young Fly
Yes, sir.
Will Packer
Appreciate it. You OT Davey Tavern.
DC Young Fly
Yes, yes.
Will Packer
Put me alongside some stars.
DC Young Fly
The theatrical debut. Debut.
Will Packer
Yes, yes, yes.
DC Young Fly
D.C. on the big screen.
Will Packer
And to this day, man, I'm so grateful.
DC Young Fly
If you haven't seen it yet, Almost Christmas. It's every Christmas. Every Christmas. It is a staple.
Will Packer
Every Christmas.
DC Young Fly
Got a lot of people that tune into that movie every Christmas. DC steals the show. I'm sure.
Will Packer
I appreciate the opportunity. And I always tell you that because it doesn't matter how far we get in the game. I think as peers and you know what I'm saying, comrades, we always gotta tell each other when we're appreciative and when we're thankful 100%, because that little boost is the boost that I needed or that little boost showed the world. Like, look, he's on his way. And it's on you to continue to grind. Now, you came from FAMU now.
DC Young Fly
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. You went to Florida A and M University. Florida. In case there was ever any mistake, which there should never be, the journey.
Will Packer
From FAMU to where you are now, like, to stay consistent and stay hungry. Because you and Kev, like, y' all don't play.
DC Young Fly
Yeah.
Will Packer
Kev Hart, y' all don't play.
DC Young Fly
Me and Kev are each other's most frequent collaborators. Right. Kevin Hart has never worked with another producer as much as he worked with me, and I've never worked with another actor as many times I've worked with him. Right. You know what the commonality is, Dee? The work ethic. Kevin Hart is going to work hard. Hard. You're not going to outwork him, and you're not going to outwork Will Packer. And so if you watching this podcast right now, you're saying, well, I want to get to where D.C. fly, yo, fly. I want to get to where Will Packer is. The answer is that you have to go out and make sure that you're outworking all your peers.
Will Packer
Right?
DC Young Fly
That's the bottom line. People don't want to hear that. It's not a magical formula that you can put together. And a lot of times people think because we are in the age of social media, you can just put up a post and hit send and get a trillion views, and now you're rich.
Will Packer
So a lot of people don't understand the hustle. They don't know where to find the grind. They think that once somebody tells you no, it's over with. So when you say outwork your peers, you have to consistently take the yeses and the nos.
DC Young Fly
Correct.
Will Packer
You have to take the nos as if it was a door, saying you might can't make enter this door, but there's a door down the street.
DC Young Fly
Let me tell you why. Nos can be good, right? I call them fortuitous. No. A no can actually cause you to adjust what you're doing, to think about the game differently. Correct. I have been told no so many times, man. It changes your perception. Because just because you got told no doesn't mean that that dream, that endeavor, whatever you're trying to do, is dead. It means you might have to adjust it. You might have to go about it differently. And in going about it differently, you can actually make it better. Correct. That's the thing that I want people to know. I didn't get to where I am because I just got told yes a bunch of times. Correct. I got told no so many times. I was constantly falling on my face, constantly failing. But I never accepted it as failure. I never accepted somebody telling me what I couldn't do as the final answer. I got the final answer. You got the final answer. You got the final answer. Whatever you say is what ultimately goes, not somebody else because they got some position of power. So somebody telling you no is really just an opportunity for you to tweak what you're doing, think about it in a different way and come out better.
Will Packer
And to speak on that, back then, it was not too many black filmmakers or film production companies. And when you came from famu, you took your education and your knowledge and you said, let me start to apply it.
DC Young Fly
Yes.
Will Packer
And you came out with rainforest films.
DC Young Fly
That's real.
Will Packer
Come on now, explain a little bit about rainforest.
DC Young Fly
Yeah. So coming straight out of famu, we made a little tiny movie while we were there. It's called Chocolate City, right? And we sent to Hollywood, and Hollywood didn't care. They sent it back. They said, please don't send us nothing no more.
Will Packer
They talking about they sent the DVD back.
DC Young Fly
Back then it was vhs. Okay. All right. Stay with me. Okay? Okay, okay.
Will Packer
I'm with it.
DC Young Fly
Before your time.
Will Packer
I had vhs.
DC Young Fly
I don't remember vhs.
Refresh Advertiser
Stop playing.
DC Young Fly
Don't lie to these people. I had vhs, okay?
Will Packer
I had Ninja Turtle tapes.
DC Young Fly
Okay? So you do know about vhs. We were sending VHS to Hollywood with this movie. We had worked so, so very hard on it. We made independently. Nobody would watch it. Nobody would respond to it. Okay? What it did is it forced us to then go out and make another movie independently without Hollywood. That was our first movie we made after we moved right here to Atlanta, and it was called twa. Myself and my OG player partner to this very day. His name is Rob Hardy. He and I started Rainforest Films. That was our production company. We didn't want to go to New York, we didn't want to go to la because we felt like we would be just another small fish in a big pond. This is a testament to I don't care where you are. Right? The magic is not the city. The magic is not the market. The magic is not the industry. The magic is you. So we were able to be successful not being in a major film market at that time. We moved right here to Atlanta. This is back when control your parameters where you can absolutely 100%. We move here because the music industry was popping this back in the days of LaFace, so. So death organized noise.
Will Packer
It would be a fresh start.
DC Young Fly
We came in like, hey. And, you know, we thought we were going to come in and we were going to be able to produce music videos for all the new hip hop labels that were coming up dc. We came to Atlanta, couldn't get one music video. No. Nobody would hire us. None of these people are my folks right now. Right? Jermaine Dupri would not hire Dallas Austin. No. None of them. LaFace, Louisiana or Babyface. Nobody could hire us.
Will Packer
None of the faces.
DC Young Fly
None of the faces. We couldn't get one face to hire us. But that's that for two of us. No, Right. They all told us no. And what it was was that we were the new guys. They knew, the people they had cast that were already doing music videos for them, Right? It made us then say, all right, we can't depend on that industry. We're gonna go out and make our own movie. And we shot our own independent film, that was twa, which ended up coming out and making a million dollars completely independent of Hollywood.
Will Packer
Right?
DC Young Fly
If we were able to go and do music videos, if we got told yes instead of no, we never would have went off and shot our own independent movie. That's what was meant to be.
Will Packer
So by y' all doing that, gave y' all the, you know, I wanna say, like, the dream to say, you know what? Just continue to keep going. Stomp the yard.
DC Young Fly
Yeah.
Will Packer
Come on now.
DC Young Fly
Now you getting to the good stuff.
Will Packer
Now you gotta wake up to understand. Cause like you said, you are the. Yes, for real. You are the vision. It took those lessons for you to be like. To get to this point.
DC Young Fly
No question.
Will Packer
Now, stomp the yard.
DC Young Fly
Stomp the yard.
Will Packer
Tell us about the process with Stomp the Yard.
DC Young Fly
Stomp the Yard was a movie that we dreamed of making, a movie about black college life.
Will Packer
Right.
DC Young Fly
We took it to Hollywood, and literally every studio told us, no, Everybody. You name a movie studio in Hollywood, they said, we are not making this movie. But we didn't let that kill our dream. We adjusted the way that we pitched the movie, and we said, you know what we're gonna do? We've been selling it as a black college movie. Now we're gonna go and we're gonna sell it as a dance movie that happens to take place at a black college. And the studio's got that.
Will Packer
You switched the pitch. You're getting the same move as that.
DC Young Fly
Switched up. That's what we did. We switched that pitch up. All you need is one yes. I don't care if you get a thousand nos. You don't need but one yes. We got that one. Yes. Stomped the yard. Right? That was our very first number one movie. Number one at the box office two weeks in a row. Absolutely. And nobody wanted to make it, but we made it happen. Absolutely.
Will Packer
We got human hands in here.
DC Young Fly
Come on. We do. We do. Please, come on now.
Will Packer
Now, you got an amazing book out right now. Who's better than you?
DC Young Fly
Yes. Now tell us, who better than you?
Will Packer
Who better than you? Yes.
DC Young Fly
Yeah. Cause the implication is that there is nobody better than you, Right? To achieve, not medium level success, not good success, but great success. But to do that, you have to have what I call healthy arrogance. The most successful people I know have a supreme level of confidence, not just that they could be successful, but that they are meant to be successful. These are people that believe no matter what I am supposed, I am predestined for success. So what I do in this book is I break down stories and some stories I never told before. Over 30 years in Hollywood, and I'm working around some of the most high profile, most successful people in the world. And they all have very similar traits. They have healthy arrogance, and they dream big. And so this book is me. It's like a masterclass. It's like for somebody that's just starting off or wants to transition into a new career or wants to figure out how to live a more full life. And I'm saying you can do that. And the way to do is by understanding that there's no one better than you. So to do it. So the book is out right now.
Will Packer
Talk Your talk?
DC Young Fly
Yeah, man.
Will Packer
Before we go play this game right now against the Bucks, you know, because I got to see this new talent that the Hawks got.
DC Young Fly
What you think?
Will Packer
I think, I think it took some time for me to evaluate.
DC Young Fly
Okay. All right. What is your professional sports opinion?
Will Packer
My professional sports opinion. These are some of my friends.
DC Young Fly
I'm going to go, whatever you say. I'm taking it straight to ownership.
Will Packer
I had to sit down and think.
DC Young Fly
Do you approve, sir?
Will Packer
You know, I don't approve of the players leaving now, but I do understand why they had to go.
DC Young Fly
You understand the decision and I understand.
Will Packer
The value that we got from. Okay, so if we traded DeAndre Hunter.
DC Young Fly
Yes.
Will Packer
They gave us two players and three second round picks. I'm like, okay, so he was valuable enough for us to get a lot.
DC Young Fly
That's correct.
Will Packer
So who's ever in control, just utilize what we got.
DC Young Fly
Do you feel like it's a good long term move?
Will Packer
If. Cause I'm thinking at it like right now, I'm like, if I was on the board.
DC Young Fly
Yep, yep.
Will Packer
You know what I'm saying? Cause I ain't on the board. But if I was on the board.
DC Young Fly
If you were.
Will Packer
If I was on the board. Talk em, talk to him. I would say don't give up too much money up front. They have to work for it. So if that's saying quote unquote, if somebody signed a bad contract, which means if the Hawks gave up too much money up front.
DC Young Fly
Yeah.
Will Packer
And now the player is starting to develop on his fifth, sixth year.
DC Young Fly
Yeah.
Will Packer
You done gave him 150 already. Now he wants 300.
DC Young Fly
Yeah.
Will Packer
When it's time to negotiate, it only goes up.
DC Young Fly
It doesn't go down. It goes. You feel me?
Will Packer
So it's like, okay, give the new guy the 50. The 40 by the 6 year, 150 sound way better than that 40.
DC Young Fly
It would be a lot of NBA players that would hate you as an owner because you don't mess around. You would be stingy AF as an owner.
Will Packer
I ain't stingy.
DC Young Fly
DC Young fly would be stingy and friends as an owner. Because if you think about it right.
Will Packer
Now, like some players getting paid on the bench. I'm just saying these season tickets, if they was a little cheaper, I wouldn't be tripping.
DC Young Fly
I can't wait.
Will Packer
They making us pay like we coming to see LeBron, Michael Jordan. It's the all in One.
DC Young Fly
It's Atlanta. I can't wait till you buy your team. I'm gonna be right there.
Will Packer
Listen, that's why I Got a Little League team. Listen, I gotta start off small.
DC Young Fly
You ain't gonna have no stars on your team.
Will Packer
I got a youth team.
DC Young Fly
Y' all playing for whole have a youth team. And Gatorade, they gonna be playing for compliments from D. You did good. You did good, sir. They're gonna be playing for pictures. Way to go forward. They ain't gonna have real names on the back of their jersey. It's gonna say forward guard.
Will Packer
That what Alabama do. You gotta work.
DC Young Fly
And look how they won, huh? Look at that.
Will Packer
Don't Nobody know who Sco Black saving up here. They didn't know. It's 82, but no OG man, we appreciate your presence, your time, and everything that you've done for the game. Now, before we go.
DC Young Fly
Yeah, man.
Will Packer
With your legacy, I don't see it stopping no time soon. I don't. It's just too much going on out here. And we need the real directors and the producers in the game. Like you say, they can speak for us. Like you said, Stomp the Yard was a success. You knew it was a success because you are the people. You're there. You're touching it. And like you said, I want to do something new that ain't been done before.
DC Young Fly
Real.
Will Packer
They don't understand what I'm saying. Let me just readjust the pitch to make it fit, comfortable for them.
DC Young Fly
That's right.
Will Packer
And we still get our point across, period. What do you want the people to remember from your legacy?
DC Young Fly
You know what? It's very, very simple. It's not what I've done. It's not the billion dollars in box office or the 10 number one movers. Hold up.
Will Packer
You're not just gonna walk past that.
DC Young Fly
I mean, you hold up.
Will Packer
He said it like that.
DC Young Fly
I don't know.
Will Packer
Billion do.
DC Young Fly
Are we not giving stats? We. At the Hawks game, I just figured I would just give my stats. You know what it is, though, in real talk? It is the people I've affected. You know, it's you. It's the next generation that looks at me and says, you know what, og? I'm inspired by you.
Will Packer
Right.
DC Young Fly
That's what I want to leave behind. Right. When we all leave this earth, we will be remembered by the people that we touched and the people that we affected. And so I am definitely at that stage right now where I'm trying to make sure that I'm leaving an impact that I'm making sure that others who encounter me are better for. And I try to be very, very intentional about that.
Will Packer
Hey, man, you did that Man.
DC Young Fly
Thank you, brother.
Will Packer
We appreciate it. Don't let this be your last time.
DC Young Fly
I'm coming back.
Will Packer
When the next time you drop another.
DC Young Fly
Move, if they let you keep the show, you over here hating on the play.
Will Packer
I'm gonna be on the ball.
DC Young Fly
Players overpaid.
Will Packer
I ain't hating on them.
DC Young Fly
It's your last day.
Will Packer
Oh, no, no. What I'm saying is I see what they're doing.
DC Young Fly
You know what? They love you. Cause you real. That's real. And you speak. You have always speaked, spoken, the voice of the people.
Will Packer
That's all I'm saying. I'm the vop, baby.
DC Young Fly
When you walk out here with dc, he can't even walk through the stage. He's like one of the players. Everybody know him. Dc. Dc. What's up, nephew? Young blood. Everybody knows you. Everybody loves you. Don't ever change.
Will Packer
Come on.
DC Young Fly
Keep it just like that.
Will Packer
Listen, we gonna keep God first.
DC Young Fly
Absolutely.
Will Packer
We gonna stay thankful.
DC Young Fly
He's all we got.
Will Packer
We gonna stay grateful.
DC Young Fly
Yep.
Will Packer
Because, like, you know, we came from the bottom, period. And once you realize when you was at the bottom, you still had the same tools you got now.
DC Young Fly
Yep.
Will Packer
You just waited for the opportunity. You waited for when it was your time. And when your time came, like you said, you took the yeses with the nos and you just stayed going.
DC Young Fly
Period.
Will Packer
That's the only way to win, period.
DC Young Fly
Period.
Will Packer
So we appreciate you.
DC Young Fly
Thank you for having me. My guy.
Will Packer
Hey, atl, America Hawks and friends. We'll be back.
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Will Packer
Foreign.
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DC Young Fly
You're listening to an iHeart podcast.
Episode: Hawks AF - Will Packer on Choosing Atlanta Over Hollywood, Kevin Hart, & a Secret of Stomp The Yard
Release Date: May 13, 2025
Hosts: DC Young Fly and Will Packer
Description: In this episode of Club Shay Shay, NFL legend Shannon Sharpe welcomes filmmaker and producer Will Packer. They delve into Packer's decision to base his operations in Atlanta instead of Hollywood, his collaborative relationship with Kevin Hart, and unveil a behind-the-scenes secret about the making of the blockbuster hit Stomp The Yard.
The episode kicks off with a playful exchange between DC Young Fly and Will Packer. Will introduces himself as a Hollywood icon, filmmaker, and producer, highlighting his extensive experience in the industry. DC expresses his admiration, stating, “You’re an icon” (02:51).
Will Packer discusses his strategic choice to establish his production company, Rainforest Films, in Atlanta instead of the traditional Hollywood hub. He emphasizes the importance of being “malleable” and understanding one’s audience, asserting, “Your brand is very important” (05:27). Packer highlights the shift in the industry towards the “democratization of media,” encouraging aspiring filmmakers to build their own brands and audiences outside of Hollywood’s gatekeeping.
Packer shares his early struggles in Atlanta, where despite the booming music scene, securing projects was challenging. He recounts the rejection of their independent film Chocolate City, which led them to pivot and create TWA, an independent movie that grossed a million dollars without Hollywood backing. “If we were able to go and do music videos, if we got told yes instead of no, we never would have went off and shot our own independent movie,” Packer notes (12:16). This story underscores the theme of perseverance and adaptability in the face of industry obstacles.
The conversation shifts to the significance of brand building. DC Young Fly emphasizes that both he and Kevin Hart collaborate frequently due to their strong work ethic. He advises, “You have to go out and make sure that you're outworking all your peers” (08:08). Packer reinforces this by discussing the necessity of resilience, stating, “You have to consistently take the yeses and the nos” (08:20). They agree that a strong personal brand and relentless hustle are critical for success in the film industry.
Will Packer reveals insights into the making of Stomp The Yard. Initially pitched as a “black college movie,” Packer and his team rebranded it as a “dance movie” to secure studio backing. “We switched up the pitch. All you need is one yes,” Packer explains (13:17). This strategic repositioning led to the film becoming a box office hit, demonstrating the importance of adaptability and understanding market demands.
DC Young Fly introduces Packer’s new book, Who’s Better Than You?, which delves into the traits that successful individuals share, such as “healthy arrogance” and unwavering confidence. Packer describes the book as a “masterclass” aimed at those looking to transition into new careers or live more fulfilling lives. He asserts, “To achieve great success, you have to have what I call healthy arrogance” (13:46), encouraging readers to believe in their predestined success.
In the closing segments, Packer reflects on his legacy, emphasizing the importance of the people he has influenced. “When we all leave this earth, we will be remembered by the people that we touched and the people that we affected” (18:50). Both hosts agree that making a positive impact and leaving behind a meaningful legacy is more significant than financial success or accolades.
The episode concludes with expressions of gratitude and affirmations of ongoing collaboration. Packer and DC Young Fly emphasize the values of staying grateful, working hard, and maintaining integrity in their endeavors.
Will Packer (05:27): “Your brand is very important. So what that means is that you gotta be careful with what you're doing all the time.”
DC Young Fly (08:08): “You have to consistently take the yeses and the nos.”
Will Packer (13:17): “All you need is one yes. I don't care if you get a thousand nos. You don't need but one yes.”
DC Young Fly (18:50): “When we all leave this earth, we will be remembered by the people that we touched and the people that we affected.”
Strategic Location Choice: Will Packer's decision to base Rainforest Films in Atlanta instead of Hollywood was driven by a desire to stand out and avoid being lost in a saturated market.
Perseverance and Adaptability: Facing numerous rejections, Packer and his team adapted their strategies, leading to the successful creation and release of Stomp The Yard.
Brand Building: Establishing a strong personal and professional brand is crucial for success in the competitive film industry.
Healthy Arrogance: Confidence and the belief in one’s destined success are vital traits highlighted in Packer’s approach to achieving greatness.
Legacy Over Accolades: Making a lasting positive impact on others is portrayed as the ultimate measure of success.
This episode offers valuable insights into the film production landscape, emphasizing the importance of resilience, strategic thinking, and the power of a strong personal brand. Will Packer’s journey serves as an inspiring blueprint for aspiring filmmakers and entrepreneurs seeking to navigate and succeed in the entertainment industry.