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)

  
  

  Music by Bearded Turtle -
  3 Hours Copyright-Free Space themed background lo-fi music for Streaming - Space Lo-Fi

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PBtasypIsI&list=PLffGjiIj4sY00xIjd_nCB24dZw6OW0Znk

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.

In this episode, Mas Moriya digs into one of the most overlooked skills in the film industry—and pretty much every industry: giving and receiving feedback. From unsolicited screenplay notes to interjecting at the wrong time, Mas shares personal missteps, awkward moments, and the lessons that came from them.

He explores why feedback is often poorly delivered (or avoided entirely), why bad feedback can be worse than no feedback, and how good feedback—given the right way—can change careers. This is part confession, part industry PSA, and part call for a proper feedback workshop in filmmaking programs everywhere.

• Why every creative field should teach feedback as a skill

• The problem with giving notes no one asked for

• How not to react when you get feedback you don’t like

• Learning to write feedback down before reacting

• The danger of “helpful” interjections at the wrong time

• How bad feedback can break trust in a group or collaboration

• Recognizing when your notes aren’t actually helpful

• The importance of tone when delivering critique

• Why friends who can’t give honest feedback aren’t really helping you

• Filmclusive updates: new self-promotion tools and token-based boosts

• Don’t give feedback no one asked for—unless safety or ethics demand it.

• Don’t take feedback personally—write it down first, react later.

• Don’t offer vague or unhelpful notes—focus on specifics that can actually be applied.

• Do present feedback privately when it might embarrass someone.

• Do be open to feedback yourself—you can’t improve if no one tells you what’s wrong.

Filmclusive – Entertainment’s first cross-industry marketplace. Free to use. Free to apply. Free to get seen.

🔑 Topics Covered:💡 Takeaways:🧠 Quote of the Episode:“Non-helpful feedback is also not helpful. If you don’t know, it’s better to say nothing than to derail someone with useless notes.”🔗 Brought to You By:

I talk about something a little more personal — my health. Specifically, how I handled an ear infection before it got worse.

We talk about:

• Why “pushing through” when you’re sick is rarely worth it

• How to know when it’s time to see a doctor (hint: sooner than you think)

• Why your RSVP doesn’t matter more than your recovery

• Embarrassing stories involving poles, kites, and seven-inch lacerations

• What I learned about acid, tomatoes, and not Googling your symptoms too hard

• Paul Graham’s colon cancer PSA and why it hit me

• The importance of taking advantage of your insurance while you have it

• Don’t ignore the signs your body is sending you.

• Don’t go to events just to “show face” when you’re not well.

• Don’t assume no pain means no problem.

Do:

Go to the doctor. Tell people when you need to cancel. Take your body seriously.

Filmclusive – The only cross-industry entertainment marketplace that doesn’t charge you to apply or audition. Claim your username and turn your resume into revenue at filmclusive.com.

• Web: dontdoitpod.com

• IG: @masmoriya

• Platform: filmclusive.com

In this episode, Mas Moriya unpacks the years he spent hiding in plain sight—behind the camera, behind the work, behind humility—and the long-overdue lesson of stepping into the spotlight. From his early photography days in New York to founding Filmclusive, Mas reflects on how being invisible—culturally, professionally, and personally—impacts our relationships, identity, and growth.

He explores the emotional cost of always being the one who shows up for others, but never for yourself. Whether you’re an Asian American who’s been taught to prioritize the group, or someone who’s quietly fading into the background out of fear, this is a reminder to stop shrinking. Visibility isn’t vanity—it’s responsibility.

• Overcorrecting for invisibility as an Asian American

• Using photography as a form of belonging

• What it means to be excluded from your own memories

• The emotional toll of always texting first

• Cultural humility vs. self-erasure

• Hiding parts of yourself to be accepted

• The cost of staying quiet in your own story

• Being visible so others can see themselves too

• Shoutout to the Uprisers streetwear brand

• Don’t stay invisible. If you’re not in the room, your story won’t be told.

• Don’t be the only one reaching out. Relationships should be reciprocal.

• Don’t erase your identity. Whether it’s your race, culture, or queerness—own it.

• Don’t hide behind “helping others.” Self-sacrifice doesn’t equal self-worth.

• Don’t wait for permission to be seen. You don’t need it.

Mas gives love to Uprisers—a streetwear brand for and by Asian Americans—for their community-forward designs and consistent support of cultural visibility.

Filmclusive – Entertainment’s first cross-industry marketplace. Free to use. Free to apply. Free to be seen.

Ever hit “send” and instantly regret it? Say something and wish you hadn't? In this episode, Mas digs into the hard lesson of learning to pause an action. Whether it’s an email, a group call, or a random DM, reacting without thinking has real consequences. Through a series of personal stories—some awkward, some explosive—Mas shows why taking a beat can save your relationships, your reputation, and your sanity.

• How speaking too quickly can derail good intentions

• The danger of assuming your intent is the same as your impact

• Why clarity of mind (and sometimes sobriety) changes how you respond

• Why Filmclusive exists—and how it’s trying to fix broken industry systems

00:00 – 01:04

Intro: What This Podcast Is About

Mas introduces the show and sets up the topic of the episode: don’t say the first thing that comes to mind.

01:05 – 03:27

Noisy Nights and Take Two

From loud neighbors to tech hiccups, Mas talks about recording in real-life chaos—and why it matters to keep going.

03:28 – 06:00

Clarity, Sobriety, and Overactive Thinking

Mas shares how quitting weed for three weeks has sharpened his thinking—and made this podcast possible.

06:01 – 08:13

Tech Breaks, Barrel Exports, and Creative Waiting

How a slow code export process feels a lot like waiting for a VFX render—and why “productive waiting” matters.

08:14 – 10:12

Why You Need to Think Before You Speak

Emails, meetings, and group chats—how blurting things out has cost Mas, and what he’s learned.

10:13 – 12:23

Website Feedback Gone Wrong

An honest recounting of calling out a broken website in a public Zoom call—and how that backlash led to leaving an entire organization.

12:24 – 14:03

The Impact of Words, Even If Intentions Were Good

Mas unpacks the difference between intent and impact, especially in advocacy spaces and group dynamics.

14:04 – 16:06

Reframing Instead of Reacting

A simple chat becomes a lesson in saying the better version of what’s on your mind. Mas shares how he reframed his gut response into something constructive.

16:07 – 18:14

Think Before You Think

It’s not just about what you say. Mas explains why even your internal monologue matters—and how changing it can change you.

18:15 – 20:08

This Podcast Is the Only Format That Works

Interviews take too much time. Mas leans into solo reflection and shares how he’s finally finding his voice.

20:09 – 23:00

Filmclusive Update: What We’re Building

A breakdown of the platform’s progress and mission: fixing the broken hiring system for creatives—without charging them a cent.

23:01 – 25:50

Wrap-Up: Build Your Own Resume Hub

Why creatives should stop paying to apply for jobs, and how Filmclusive lets you link everything—your work, your identity, your community—on one page.

25:51 – End

Closing

Mas signs off with gratitude and a reminder: think before you speak—online, in-person, everywhere.

• Filmclusive – Free creative job board and portfolio system

• California Labor Code §450 – on job application fees

• SAG-AFTRA vs. Casting Networks (referenced)

• dontdoitpod.com – Official podcast site

In this premiere episode, Mas Moriya—filmmaker, tech founder, and lifelong overthinker—shares why not starting is one of the worst mistakes you can make. From failed podcasts and broken video feeds to decades of film footage gathering dust, Mas unpacks the cost of waiting too long. This is the episode for anyone teetering on the edge of a new idea, project, or creative leap. Just start.

• Why starting before you’re ready is better than never starting at all

• The hidden cost of procrastination and perfectionism

• How past failures (nonprofits, relationships, side projects) still teach you something

• Why “just try it” might be the most honest creative advice you’ll ever hear

00:00 – 00:22

Opening: Who This Podcast is For

Mas introduces the podcast’s mission: a brutally honest warning label for creatives.

00:53 – 02:13

Lesson 1: Don’t Wait to Get Started

Even with tech issues mid-recording, Mas pushes through. The point? Start anyway.

02:14 – 03:39

Podcast Format & Attention Span Reality

Why short episodes work better—and why this show won’t waste your time.

03:40 – 05:07

Digging Through Old Hard Drives

Reflections on 15 years of filmmaking and why salvaging old work still matters.

05:08 – 06:46

What If You Never Start?

From Lego stop motion to failed love stories—Mas argues experience is earned by doing.

06:47 – 08:00

Audiobooks, Motivation, and Patterns of Avoidance

How Les Brown and late-night routines shaped this podcast’s birth.

08:01 – 09:11

Discipline vs. Inertia

You don’t need perfect conditions. You need to begin.

09:12 – 10:12

The Tasters Club Philosophy

A childhood lesson about food becomes a metaphor for trying anything new.

10:13 – 11:22

Parents, Pressure, and Creative Rebellion

Why being a filmmaker wasn’t the plan—and that’s exactly why it had to happen.

11:23 – 12:23

Tech, Coding, and Starting Over

From no-code to full code, Mas shares how fumbling through tech can still lead to progress.

12:24 – 13:54

Dating and Insecurity

An honest aside about a relationship that fizzled—and the courage to try again.

13:55 – 15:20

Nonprofit Burnout & Knowing When to Quit

Why stopping something can be just as important as starting.

15:21 – 17:13

The Midnight Spark: How This Podcast Began

One spreadsheet. Fifty regrets. A moment of clarity at 2am.

17:14 – 19:16

Creativity Is Fleeting—So Act Fast

Mas shares a story from Big Magic about why ideas don’t wait around.

19:17 – 21:00

Filmclusive and the Legal Fight Against Paywalls

A plug with a mission: creatives deserve job access without a subscription fee.

21:01 – 22:00

Wrap-Up: Just Try It

Mas signs off with a reminder to take the leap—even if it’s messy.

• Filmclusive – the free entertainment industry platform

• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

• California Labor Code §450

• NY State labor laws on job application fees

• dontdoitpod.com – Official podcast website