Matthew Jacobs: Doctor Who, The Emperor's New Groove, and Finding Your Fingerprint

What is the one question that drives every single thing you create?   My guest this week is the self-described "happy hyphenate" Matthew Jacobs. Best known for contributing to major titles like Young Indiana Jones and The Emperor's New Groove and writing the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie, Matthew joins me to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the TV movie’s release.   Matthew tells me about his "No Rules" approach to creativity and his fascinating method for finding your "Creative Fingerprint"—the hidden linking tissue between the stories you love and the work you produce. And his definition of creativity is my favorite—ever.   Whether you're a fan of the Doctor or an exhausted perfectionist looking to reclaim your own creative authority, this conversation is an invitation to stop performing and start feeling human again.   Ready to send your inner critic to summer camp for an hour and just enjoy some creative company? We get together once a month for a relaxed, co-working-style session where you can work on whatever you want—without any pressure to do it "right." Join the Creativity Circle.   Episode breakdown:   0:00 Childhood creativity and early acting origins 3:50 Transitioning from acting to directing and writing 7:15 The dream based approach to starting a script 11:00 Learning the craft by reading professional scripts 15:30 Why there are no rules in the creative process 20:10 The power of the childhood "why?" 24:45 How to find your personal fingerprint question 32:10 Bringing your unique voice to major franchises 38:20 The truth about the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie 45:45 From "The Llama King" to The Emperors New Groove 50:30 Dealing with creative backlash and legacy 54:00 Closing thoughts and appreciation   Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in theatre, writing, and  Doctor Who. Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and join us for the Follow Your Curiosity Creativity Circle. Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.