Episode

#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
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1:37:04
Published: Mon Apr 13 2015
Description

 Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) is a man of many talents. He burst onto the acting scene with his role in Rudy.  He first established himself as a writer with the iconic cult hit Swingers, in which he starred. Then, Favreau made his feature film directorial debut with Made, which he also wrote and produced. Other directing credits include Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Cowboys & Aliens, Elf, Zathura, and Chef, which he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in.  Lots of commas! This man does everything. Recent acting credits include The Wolf of Wall Street and Identity Thief. Favreau is currently directing a live-action film with groundbreaking technology that blow your mind — an adaptation of Disney’s Jungle Book, set to be released on April 15, 2016. In our conversation, we dig deep into his creative process, how he writes, the inflection points in his career, how he prepared for Chef, and much more. The impact of Dungeons and Dragons? The value and danger of motorcycle treks? It's all in here. All show notes, links, and resources related to this episode can be found at fourhourworkweek.com/podcast This show is sponsored by: Onnit Labs — See the gear I use by clicking here. 99Designs — See the competitions I’ve run there, including the mock ups for the cover of The 4-Hour Body, which hit #1 NY Times.***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Visit tim.blog/sponsor and fill out the form.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chapters
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00:00 - 00:51 (00:51)
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Tim Ferriss
Summary

In this episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, Tim talks about the concept of optimal minimal and doing the opposite with his guest Ferris Bueller, Joe's take on AI and the potential apocalypse that might happen because of it.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
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Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The Bronx High School of Science is a public school in New York that requires students to pass a test to be admitted, uniting students from different boroughs and backgrounds through a shared experience.
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Education
Summary

The Bronx High School of Science is a public school in New York that requires students to pass a test to be admitted, uniting students from different boroughs and backgrounds through a shared experience. However, the school still accommodates students with diverse educational needs.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
A personal recollection of the importance of revival houses in New York City, particularly for those who wanted access to edgier and classic films that were not readily available in multiplexes during the 80s.
10:52 - 15:01 (04:08)
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Revival Houses
Summary

A personal recollection of the importance of revival houses in New York City, particularly for those who wanted access to edgier and classic films that were not readily available in multiplexes during the 80s.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
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Summary

The speaker reflects on how working in the real world for a year before returning to school gave them a sense of perspective and helped them achieve academic success.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The art of telling stories through Dungeons & Dragons can be similar to filmmaking.
21:09 - 29:36 (08:27)
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Dungeons & Dragons
Summary

The art of telling stories through Dungeons & Dragons can be similar to filmmaking. Both involve a group of people experiencing the story in a subjective way and require the creation of unique characters and stories.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
A discussion on the joys of sculpting, Chef's insights on the art of creating, and the respect that comes with making cool things out of play dough.
29:36 - 34:55 (05:19)
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Summary

A discussion on the joys of sculpting, Chef's insights on the art of creating, and the respect that comes with making cool things out of play dough.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
David Chang discusses the joy of cooking and the importance of being present while spending time with loved ones.
34:55 - 41:04 (06:09)
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Cooking
Summary

David Chang discusses the joy of cooking and the importance of being present while spending time with loved ones. He also comments on the trend of open shelving and restaurant-style designs in homes, and compares it to the fleeting enjoyment of a cup of coffee.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The intense pressure of working on the hot food station is described in detail, with a focus on nailing the timing and perfection of each dish, while navigating a fast-paced, noisy environment.
41:04 - 48:19 (07:15)
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Cooking
Summary

The intense pressure of working on the hot food station is described in detail, with a focus on nailing the timing and perfection of each dish, while navigating a fast-paced, noisy environment.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The process of preparing a screenplay is similar to that of sculpting, starting with a rough draft and gradually refining it until it looks and feels like a real screenplay.
48:19 - 52:04 (03:45)
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Screenwriting
Summary

The process of preparing a screenplay is similar to that of sculpting, starting with a rough draft and gradually refining it until it looks and feels like a real screenplay. This involves a lot of effort, including creating a resume and headshot for actors.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The demand for fresh takes and new ideas in the writing area is constantly growing, making it possible for single individuals to buy houses and drive new cars while making a living as a writer for hire.
52:04 - 55:02 (02:58)
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Summary

The demand for fresh takes and new ideas in the writing area is constantly growing, making it possible for single individuals to buy houses and drive new cars while making a living as a writer for hire. Drawing inspiration from personal experiences and storytelling can lead to success in this field.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The guest talks about how his experience in writing and acting paved the way for him to become a director, giving him more opportunities in the entertainment industry.
55:02 - 57:55 (02:53)
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Summary

The guest talks about how his experience in writing and acting paved the way for him to become a director, giving him more opportunities in the entertainment industry. He shares that being multi-hyphenated in the industry can give someone an advantage in showing their potential in different areas of production.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Neglecting important but not urgent tasks can lead to long-term consequences and even ruin one's life.
57:55 - 1:00:29 (02:33)
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Summary

Neglecting important but not urgent tasks can lead to long-term consequences and even ruin one's life. The speaker relates this to their experience of being inspired to open a restaurant while working in the TV industry due to their love for cooking and exposure to culinary media.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast mentions the usefulness of various storytelling mechanisms, like the Hero's Journey, and how they have been used in the film industry.
1:00:29 - 1:03:28 (02:58)
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Screenplay writing
Summary

The podcast mentions the usefulness of various storytelling mechanisms, like the Hero's Journey, and how they have been used in the film industry. The speaker references their work with Jungle Book and drawing on mythological story structures.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses the difference between the freedom of marking up a notebook versus the preciousness of a sketchbook, and how it ties back to childhood experiences.
1:03:28 - 1:08:08 (04:40)
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Notebook, Sketchbook
Summary

The speaker discusses the difference between the freedom of marking up a notebook versus the preciousness of a sketchbook, and how it ties back to childhood experiences.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Jon Favreau talks about how he prepared for writing the screenplay of his movie "Chef," particularly how he used a notebook to plan out the story and creative elements like music and food.
1:08:08 - 1:11:29 (03:20)
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Screenwriting
Summary

Jon Favreau talks about how he prepared for writing the screenplay of his movie "Chef," particularly how he used a notebook to plan out the story and creative elements like music and food.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
A discussion about the experience of being part of a Hollywood bidding war and the pressures of success, including an anecdote about the sale of a film script and the subsequent Hollywood hype.
1:11:29 - 1:23:51 (12:22)
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Hollywood
Summary

A discussion about the experience of being part of a Hollywood bidding war and the pressures of success, including an anecdote about the sale of a film script and the subsequent Hollywood hype.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Joe Rogan reflects on his life and how he likes who he has become, and also shares his thoughts on Pixar's cutting-edge technology and great story-telling abilities.
1:23:52 - 1:32:08 (08:16)
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Life
Summary

Joe Rogan reflects on his life and how he likes who he has become, and also shares his thoughts on Pixar's cutting-edge technology and great story-telling abilities.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The importance of acknowledging science without disregarding anecdotal information in individual experiences to open up new ways of thinking and questioning things.
1:32:09 - 1:36:58 (04:49)
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Anecdotal vs. Scientific Information
Summary

The importance of acknowledging science without disregarding anecdotal information in individual experiences to open up new ways of thinking and questioning things.

Episode
#71: The Master Creator - How Jon Favreau Went from Swingers to Elf to Ironman to Chef
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show