Interview with LiveUnbound
A successful filmmaker and thrill-seeker, Yali Sharon’s work has been screened in major festivals, including Tribeca and Sundance. He’s worked as an editor for MTV, Bravo and SpikeTV. His newest creation, LiveUnbound, is not your typical venture.
Tell us about LiveUnbound.
Limitations caused by conditions in our community, our thought patterns and money obligations control how we live. LiveUnbound is dedicated to inspiring people to break free from these limitations and discover how incredible life can be. Right now I’m staring out my window at Skid Row, one of the largest homeless communities in the country. Two blocks away in Downtown Los Angeles is LiveUnbound headquarters. Aside from the cheap rent, I wanted to be around poverty as a reminder of how important it is to succeed. At the same time this fear imprisons us, driving us to spend our lives doing jobs we don’t like or studying subjects that don’t interest us. We do it because the “reward” is money and a sense of security. We stay in the safe zone because the fear of failure scares us to follow instead of lead, to avoid risks and to walk the same path as everyone else. To “live unbound” is the exact opposite. It’s a lifestyle of adventure uncontrolled by the obstacles that stop us from enjoying life everyday.
What is the main message you want to send to your audience?
Awaken your urges and let them guide you. Are you doing what you love? If the answer is no, then have the courage to make changes. It’s common for people to except that it’s okay for their career and passion to be separated. The problem is it’s hard to succeed or make an impact when you’re not passionate about what your doing. So don’t be afraid to create your own path. Not just in your career, in everything you do. Take risks because failure is better than regret. Learn to love failure, it’s just a reminder that your pushing yourself and reaching for greatness. They say escape is the best way to be found so if your feeling lost then get out of your routine and travel. If you pick the right places, you don’t need much money! My friend went to the Canary Islands with $1000 and lived like a king for a month. Wherever you are and whatever your doing be 100% engrossed in the moment. The future is important but the present determines what lies ahead. Be spontaneous and a little crazy sometimes. If your scared of heights, go skydiving. If your sick of where you live, buy a one way ticket to an amazing city. Once you start living life this way, amazing things happen. When you run towards your “unreachable” dreams with courage and belief, the world responds with a guiding hand. Of course you’ll encounter plenty of obstacles but hold on to the belief that everything will align and this lifestyle will lead you to where you need to be.
What methods do you use to send this message?
We inspire through example so we create videos, pictures and writings that tell incredible stories that evoke change. Right now, our main platform for this is Facebook.com/LiveUnbound. On top of the content that we post, people from all over the world tell their stories and share their challenges. This page connects people that believe in the LiveUnbound concept so that we can motivate, encourage and energize each other.
What was the inspiration behind LiveUnbound when it first started?
The first time I had a video reach a million views I realized I had an opportunity to communicate with the world, without any filters. So the question became “what do I want to say?” This way of living has greatly benefited my life so naturally I had a desire to share it. I know there are so many people living unfulfilled lives controlled by pressure and not passion. But as human beings we have the incredible ability to overcome and flourish regardless of our circumstances. I’m just trying to prove that.
Could you tell us a little about the making of “Best Day Ever”.
It was just me and a GoPro HD Hero 2. As far as problems, I got chased by a ski patrol for going out of bounds, but I managed to get away.
Whats next for LiveUnbound Productions?
One thing is teaming up with extreme sports athletes and other people doing remarkable things to create powerful videos. We’re starting the “Best Day Ever” series which is a day in the life of people who live very unique lives, stretching their capabilities and striving to be unconstrained. For example a thrill-seeker doing a new extreme sport that has never been seen before. Or a person who finally conquered a life-long fear. Or it can be as simple as going surfing, snowboarding and skating on the same day like some Californians do around here. And of course, I’m always looking for new subjects, so feel free to contact me directly at YaliSharon@gmail.com.
What advice do you have for other athletes who wish to showcase their sports passions?
Create videos that are a visual representation of how you feel when you’re doing the sport. The best videos are the ones that connect through the human experience. Convey feelings like fear, doubt, bliss, adrenaline, exhaustion. Any intense emotion you might be feeling. I always follow Seth Godin’s purple cow concept: If you’re driving down the highway and see a cow, you might give it a quick look but you’ll probably keep driving. It’s a cow, you’ve seen it a million times. But if the cow is purple, you’re probably going to pull over, take pictures and tell your friends. So create the purple cow! It’s simple, but so rarely exercised.
One Comment
Jaap Wilmink
Love the work, love the life, keep it up. The kiting dutchman. Jaap