High Finance to Feature Films Jaze Bordeaux

"Nobody ever comes from nowhere."  Award-winning director and producer Jaze Bordeaux shares his journey from finance to filmmaking, his rebel philosophy for creating outside the system, and his mission to bring big-scale sci-fi to life from Toronto. This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In This Episode In this episode, Michael chats with Jaze Bordeaux—an award-winning Canadian director, producer, and storyteller whose career began far from the film set. From his early work in corporate finance to creating globally-recognized independent films, Jaze's path has been shaped by an instinct to move against the grain and a deep belief in building his own lane. Jaze shares the inception moments that shifted his life—from walking off a high school track field to pursue the people calling the shots, to a phone call from Alberta that sparked his move into the film industry. His 2023 film EFC defied the odds, winning more than 30 international awards while being produced entirely outside the traditional Canadian funding system. Now, he's leading a 10-year slate of six sci-fi thrillers, including Genesis—a massive, Inception- and Interstellar-scale original story he wrote about the future of thought as currency. He opens up about his collaborative directing style, his vision for Toronto's indie film community, and why patience, momentum, and resisting comparison are essential for creative rebels. Along the way, the conversation flows from coffee culture to the Toronto food scene, from humility learned through winning and losing everything, to advice for "rebels in waiting" about staying consistent and taking the long view. Quotable Quotes "Nobody ever comes from nowhere."  "The one thing you can't buy is momentum."  "Treat others the way you want to be treated. That's the golden rule." Episode Highlights From Finance to Film | Jaze's transition from corporate finance to producing and directing. Defying the System | How EFC was made entirely outside the Canadian funding model. The Inception Moment | Why seeing Interstellar crystalized his directing path. Genesis | The upcoming sci-fi epic about thought as currency in a future AI-driven world. Collaboration Over Dictatorship | How Jaze works with actors, DPs, and crew to elevate the vision. Toronto as a Film Hub | Why the city's growth and talent make it a global film player. Life Lessons | The track-and-field race that taught him to stop comparing himself to others. Rebel Advice | Patience, momentum, and focusing on your own path over chasing instant success. LINKS FROM EPISODE Jaze Bordeaux (http://jazebordeaux.com/) Jaze on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jazebordeaux/) Jaze on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jazebordeaux/) Threads (https://www.threads.net/@jazebordeaux) Jaze on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@jazebordeaux) X (https://x.com/jazebordeaux) Get Your Copy of Michael's Book: "BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable" Indigo | Barnes & Noble | MichaelDargie.com