Dec 14, 2021
The elite copywriting ‘secret’ behind my stint as an actor in a silent movie…
“Okay, now stroke her hair seductively.”
^ Said the director of a silent movie I’d somehow ended up starring in.
No, it wasn’t a Hollywood blockbuster.
It was a budget production created by a film student I was friends with at university.
But still — tens of thousands of people ended up watching it.
And I’d wrangled the main role…
…playing a sexual predator. 😬
Yeah, I know.
WTF.
The only acting qualifications I had was a B in GCSE* drama.
(*There isn’t really a US equivalent… think of it like a High School exam)
But my friend was desperate.
So, figuring it could be a laugh, I agreed.
Plus, it had good intentions:
To highlight how common groping/assault is for girls at uni.
But honestly?
Because I wasn’t told the specifics until I was on set, it ended up being extremely uncomfortable…
Like the library scene, for example:
It starts with a girl innocently flicking through a philosophy textbook, standing in between shelves in a dimly-lit corner of the university library.
Then sleazeball Shetti enters stage left…
Picks up a book and pretends to read it…
While eyeing her up like a lion does to a gazelle. 🦁 🦌
Now, this is a silent movie.
So the director — my film student friend — is giving me acting cues from behind the camera that she’ll mute in the edit:
— -
“Alright, creep up on her.”
I channel my inner Kevin Spacey and slither forward.
“Good, now get in her personal space.”
I start feeling very awkward, but I’m nothing if not an obedient thespian… so I do as I’m told.
“Okay, now stroke her hair seductively.”
I hesitate.
“Don’t worry, she’s cool with it!”
The ‘actress’ gives me a very slight nod, so I’ve got the green light… and the stroking commences.
“That’s great! Now slap her ass”
Wait, WHAT?!
— -
I break character and shoot a very confused look to the director… who, remember, had NOT told me the specifics.
I anticipated creepy looks.
And creepy creeping.
I was even sorta okay with creepy hair touching.
But this was NOT in the job description.
(Actually, the LACK of a job description was the crux of the issue haha)
The girl in the scene says “mate it’s cool, go for it” which makes me feel EVEN MORE weird.
So I suck it up…
Start the scene again…
And get through it…
Fully expecting an Oscar nomination for my efforts.
To my surprise, the film turned out really good!
And while that scene was awkward as hell for me, I had a TON of fun. 😄
Point is:
🌊 Sometimes you just gotta jump in at the deep end.
It sounds super weird, but after being on camera and knowing 10,000+ people were gonna see the film, I became a more confident person.
In other words…
— -
I got out of my safety zone, did something uncomfortable, and grew.
— -
This post has turned into a Tony Robbins ‘sing a song and do a handstand’ type of motivational speech haha
But hey…
If you’re looking to enter the big leagues of the copywriting world…
(Which means a blockbuster income and star-studded clients (forgive the horrendous puns I couldn’t resist))
…you have NO CHOICE but to do the same.
Flaming Camel or not:
👉 Writing for highly successful, direct-response savvy clients (ideally on retainer for work/income consistency) is REALLY uncomfortable.
Especially at the start.
➡️ You WILL feel a ‘twinge’ of imposter syndrome.
➡️ You WILL feel out of place.
➡️ You WILL fail a few times.
But you know what?
It’s part of the game.
So embrace that sh*t .
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 1000 times:
Entrepreneurial, growth-oriented copywriters are the ones who win.
✅ They hit 6-figs.
✅ They land jaw-dropping clients.
✅ They go on to sell their own offers successfully, or transition into royalty deals to make serious bank.
No one else.
So think about how YOU can make yourself uncomfortable, and seek to grow even when it’s awkward, painful, or even a little scary.
That’s the ONLY way you’ll become an elite freelance copywriter…
…and get what you want out of this profession.
(with or without my help inside the Flaming Camel coaching program)
Talk soon,
Shiv Shetti
