In this episode of Don’t Do What I Did, Mas Moriya tackles Hollywood’s favorite pastime: overpromising and underdelivering. From “let’s grab coffee” to “I’ll send you an email,” empty words pile up fast in LA.

Mas reflects on the cost of taking people at face value, the sting of ghosting, and how social media clout has become a warped metric for trust and friendship.

He shares his own missteps—like times he’s accidentally ghosted—and the lessons learned about focusing on actions, not words. The takeaway: stop putting weight on casual promises, don’t hand out “cheap words,” and invest in the people who actually follow through.

Along the way, Mas also gives updates on Filmclusive, riffs on the “Hollywood no,” and makes the case for reliability as the most underrated currency in both film and life.

Takeaways:

• Don’t rely on words—rely on actions.

• The “Hollywood no” is silence, not honesty. Don’t do it.

• Social media numbers don’t equal character.

• Don’t hand out promises you can’t keep.

• Rejection stings, but clarity is kinder than ghosting.

Links Mentioned:

• Filmclusive – Mas’s platform for creatives

• Hollywood Trades on Filmclusive (Deadline, Variety, THR, TMZ, and more)

Bankruptcy isn’t failure. It’s relief.

In this episode, Mas Moriya shares what it actually looks like to file for bankruptcy — from the emotional weight of credit card debt to the step-by-step process of filing on your own.

He covers the years of quietly paying minimums, feeling ashamed to date, turning down gigs he couldn’t afford to take, and believing that debt was just part of being a “broke artist.”

Turns out, that was bad math.

This is a real conversation about money, survival, and how to take back your power — whether you’re a filmmaker, creative, or anyone just trying to make it through.

Topics Covered:

• Why artists don’t talk about money — and why we need to

• The emotional tax of credit card debt and living month to month

• What filing for bankruptcy really looks like (step-by-step)

• How to do it for free (yes, really — no lawyer required)

• Bad money math: dating, rent, and the invisible cost of survival

• The difference between consolidation and credit counseling

• Rebuilding from zero — and why it feels like power, not failure

Key Resources Mentioned:

• https://takechargeamerica.org – non-profit credit counseling

• https://www.uscourts.gov – official site to learn about bankruptcy

• https://www.accesscounselinginc.org – free credit education courses

• IRS Transcript Tool: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

What I did do:

• Filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy pro se (without a lawyer)

• Used ChatGPT to understand legal forms and prep documents

• Took free required courses via Access Counseling

• Called banks directly to negotiate lower interest rates before filing

• Got the court filing fee waived with a fee waiver application

• Binder clips (yes, really — not staples) for official submission

Don’t do what I did:

• Don’t assume minimum payments are “doing the right thing”

• Don’t stay in debt out of shame or silence

• Don’t confuse hustle with financial literacy

• Don’t wait until you’re drowning to ask for help

This episode is for you if:

• You’ve got credit card debt and no clear way out

• You’re afraid to talk about money with anyone

• You’re a creative stuck in the “starving artist” loop

• You’ve considered bankruptcy but don’t know where to start

• You feel like you don’t deserve a fresh start

💬 Quote from the Episode:“I never thought I’d be debt free. Then I filed for bankruptcy, and in less than a year, I was. I don’t wake up in existential dread anymore — I wake up with a chance.”

Produced by Filmclusive, the only cross-entertainment job seeking platform that doesn't charge a subscription fee. Post jobs for free. Audition for free. Apply for free. From interns to executives and creatives to talent, we're lowering the barrier for new voices to be heard. No more Pay-to-Play.

Here are your show notes for this episode of Don’t Do What I Did, titled “Don’t Work for Free”:

In this episode, Mas Moriya breaks down one of the hardest lessons creatives have to learn—valuing your time and saying no to unpaid work. From 15 years as a filmmaker and photographer to countless emails asking for “just a few shots for exposure,” Mas shares why working for free often does more harm than good—not just for you, but for the whole industry.

He explains when volunteering your skills makes sense, how to negotiate value even when money isn’t on the table, and why putting your true rates (and discounts) on invoices matters. Along the way, he shares stories from protests, nonprofit gigs, comedy shows, and musician shoots, illustrating how offering the right kind of free work can lead to real opportunities—while saying “yes” to the wrong gigs can keep you stuck.

• Why “exposure” doesn’t pay your rent

• When free work can be strategic vs. exploitative

• How doing unpaid jobs lowers rates for everyone in your field

• The power of showing your true rates alongside discounts

• Using volunteer work as intentional networking

• How to structure unpaid work so it leads to paid gigs

• Setting boundaries with nonprofits and “we have no budget” clients

• The difference between NY and LA culture around free work

• Why your personal brand matters when choosing gigs

• Know your rates—and show them, even when discounting.

• Free work is only worth it when it’s your choice and it brings immediate, tangible value.

• Avoid the “forever volunteer” trap—don’t train people to expect free labor.

• Exposure is overrated—build connections with the right people instead.

• Say no with options—refer someone else or offer a reduced scope instead of just declining.

Filmclusive – Entertainment’s first cross-industry marketplace. Free to apply, free to post, and built to break the industry’s pay-to-play model.