A Day In The Life Of An Attorney And Filmmaker At Bailey Law Firm And YachtKlub Productions
Michael, an attorney and filmmaker, describes a meticulously balanced day, starting work at 7:00 a.m. and strategically incorporating filmmaking tasks, such as script review and meetings with collaborators, during "my like lunch hour" and after 3:00 p.m. when "I always turn off my work phone," showcasing a seamless integration of two demanding careers through careful time management and a collaborative work style with their brother.
Time Management, Entrepreneurship, Interpersonal Skills, Media Production, Work-Life Integration
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michael Erike
Attorney & Filmmaker
Bailey Law Firm & YachtKlub Productions
Loyola Marymount University
Sandra Day O’Connor College Of Law - J.D.
Finance
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Law
Legal
Scholarship Recipient, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. The demanding yet balanced schedule integrating law and filmmaking, showcasing time management skills.
2. The collaborative nature of his work, highlighting the importance of teamwork and leveraging individual strengths within a brotherly partnership.
3. The incorporation of personal wellness practices, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance through physical activity and stress management techniques, despite a demanding schedule.
Transcript
What does the day in the life of an attorney and filmmaker look like?
I'll give an example of how Vanity Fair does it, where people go to the house and then they follow them around all day. Even though it's probably only two hours, they just use the timestamps.
So, most days I wake up at 6:30 AM and try to get into work by 7:00 or 7:30 AM, which is super early. My brother and I did a fasting thing during COVID, and it kind of stuck. So, I usually don't eat until about 6:00 PM.
This allows me to skip lunch and leave work early. If I get to work at 7:00 AM, I can leave at 3:00 PM, or if I get in at 7:30 AM, I can leave at 3:30 PM, or even earlier if needed.
If I have unfinished work from the previous day, especially with an end-of-week deadline, I'll start with that. Otherwise, I'll check my calendar for client calls, whether via Zoom or phone. This client work usually lasts until about noon.
Within that time, I might sneak in a call related to filmmaking if necessary, or have someone else on the team handle it. My brother has more client interaction, and we work as a team, so I try to take on as much as I can. He covers for me in the second half of the day since he can't do that much client interaction in the morning.
Around noon, when other attorneys go to lunch, I might review script material. This could be for current edits on a new project or for other projects we're lining up. Ideally, you finish one project and immediately start the next, always working towards the next film. My brother is very creative and usually has great ideas.
I might use my lunch hour for those script reviews. Then it's back to client casework. Around 3:00 PM, I turn off my work phone, putting it away to fully embrace my filmmaking role.
If we have a meeting, it's usually around 4:00 PM, perhaps starting at 3:30 PM. At this point, I'm completely done with legal work and can focus solely on filmmaking. I get mentally prepared and take a short break before heading into the meeting.
Jake usually takes the lead then. We're both good at communicating in the filmmaking world, but Jake is the director. Depending on who we're talking to, usually a producer, he'll do most of the talking, which is helpful.
When we get into the details of why certain things were written, character flaws, or plot points, I can lean on him. After we're finished with that, I drive home and go for a run.
In Arizona, it can be 110 or 115 degrees Fahrenheit, but I've gotten used to it. Running in the sun is very de-stressing for me. When I come back and shower, I feel reset and can fully dive into the remaining film tasks.
Then I eat, and do more film work. We have a main producer, Austin, whom we've known since we were very young. We'll likely work with him until he pursues his own path. We usually have meetings with him later at night. Since we know each other so well, these can sometimes devolve into a lot of casual conversation.
Then I'll look up, and it's 11:00 or 11:30 PM. I realize I need to start winding down. Jake and I usually talk for another hour, and then it's past midnight. I tell myself it's time to think about going to bed.
I'll probably crawl into bed around 1:00 AM and then wake up at 6:30 AM for the next day, just repeating the cycle.