From $4 Eggs to Movie Producer: John Mashni's Journey from Law to Hollywood

February 6, 2025

Get ready for an inspiring conversation on this episode of The Big Fish Cares Podcast as host Benny Fisher welcomes John Mashni — a dynamic lawyer, entrepreneur, professor, movie producer, and passionate storyteller. John opens up about how his diverse career journey has empowered him to help artists and entrepreneurs transform their creative passions into thriving, sustainable businesses.


Discover how John uses storytelling to teach life lessons, including writing children's books with his kids as a fun way to instill entrepreneurial skills. Learn about his approach to balancing creativity with business savvy, and his passion for empowering creators to thrive in both worlds.


Reach Out to Benny Fisher & John Mashni — Connect Beyond the Podcast!


Check out John’s book with his kids at CinderToot:


John Mashni & Mavacy Law:


Subscribe to The Big Fish Cares Podcast for more inspiring stories from leaders and changemakers!


Chapters

00:00:00 Trailer & Introduction

00:04:16 The Reality of Independent Filmmaking 

00:08:18 Revenue Streams in the Film Industry 

00:12:03 Streaming Models: Binge vs. Weekly Releases 

00:16:11 Do You Need a Film Degree to Make Movies? 

00:20:38 Reinventing Myself: From Compliance to Law School

00:24:45 Strategies for Proactive Change 

00:28:47 From Law School to Practicing Attorney: The Missing Skills 

00:32:55 The Story of "Cinder Toot"

00:37:13 Choosing Charities and Making Donations 

00:41:38 Lessons from Writing Books with Kids 

00:46:09 Balancing Creativity and Logic in Everyday Life

00:51:01 The Importance of Honoring Your Creative Desires

00:55:17 The Power of Storytelling in Influence and Business

01:00:58 Balancing Boldness and Ego in Communication

01:03:40 Balancing Passion Projects and Impact

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