The Director’s Cut: How to Write Your Life Like a Film with Sterling Hampton IV | Ep. 31

In this episode of Midlife Crisis, Adrian and Jeff sit down with longtime friend and multi-hyphenate creative Sterling Hampton IV — a filmmaker, director, photographer, and founder of COTAM (Clash of the Artistic Minds). Together, they dive into Sterling’s journey from Inland Empire dance crews and jerkin’ videos to touring with G-Eazy and Black Eyed Peas, directing campaigns for Mercedes and LG, and premiering short documentaries like Kylie and Merman at Sundance and Tribeca.   The conversation explores the creative grind of your 20s vs. the self-awareness of your 30s, touching on ambition, failure, mentorship, and the struggle with imposter syndrome. Sterling opens up about learning to transmute frustration into creative energy, building purpose-driven art, and defining success on his own terms after years of chasing validation through “cool” projects.   They reflect on: Growing up as DIY creatives without industry access How trauma and curiosity fuel great artists The importance of working horizontally with peers rather than chasing up the ladder Balancing artistic authenticity with financial sustainability What it means to “finally feel like yourself” in your 30s   Sterling also teases two feature-length documentary films in production and his latest Oscar-qualified short Feniche about sexual assault survivor and activist Sabrina Lassegue, now screening for Academy members.   The episode closes with laughs about “midlife crisis purchases,” creative discipline, and the ongoing pursuit of freedom — financial, artistic, and personal.