An Alternative Walk of Fame | Brett Cooper | EP 448

Jordan B Peterson・2 minutes read

Brett Cooper's journey from early acting experiences in Tennessee to success in Hollywood and YouTube was driven by passion, dedication, and a supportive mother. Her ability to navigate the entertainment industry, set boundaries, and pursue autonomous projects with The Daily Wire highlighted the importance of creative freedom, personal growth, and traditional values.

Insights

  • Brett Cooper's journey from theater to YouTube success was driven by dedication to her craft and the ability to connect with audiences seeking values-aligned content.
  • The speaker's mother played a crucial role in protecting them from exploitation in Hollywood by setting boundaries, monitoring activities, and keeping earnings in savings accounts.
  • The speaker's transition from social media work to podcasting with Daily Wire was marked by the importance of taking risks for growth, emphasizing creative freedom and support for autonomous projects.

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Recent questions

  • How did Brett Cooper's acting career begin?

    Brett Cooper started acting at a young age, supported by her mother, and by age 10, had a strong acting background. She transitioned to Hollywood at age 10 from Chattanooga, Tennessee, driven by her passion for performing. Brett's early theater experiences included community and school productions, leading her to pursue more opportunities in Atlanta. Performing provided Brett an outlet to express herself openly and escape from personal challenges at home. Brett's family moved to New York when she was 10, where she began auditioning for Broadway shows and workshops.

  • What challenges did Brett face in her acting journey?

    Despite her efforts to play Jane Banks in Mary Poppins on Broadway, Brett's height hindered her casting due to height restrictions for child roles. Brett faced disappointment at age 9 when she outgrew the height limit for child roles, leading her to explore film and TV opportunities in Los Angeles. Brett's mother initially resisted the move to LA due to industry concerns but eventually supported Brett's passion for acting. Brett's move to LA at 10 marked the beginning of her successful career, with opportunities in film, TV, and eventually YouTube. Brett's journey from theater to YouTube success was fueled by her dedication to her craft and her ability to connect with audiences seeking values-aligned content.

  • How did Brett's mother protect her from exploitation in Hollywood?

    The individual's mother protected them from exploitation by setting boundaries, monitoring their activities, and keeping their earnings in savings accounts. The individual's mother's sensibility and resilience stemmed from overcoming personal hardships, including the loss of her husband and child, and dealing with a difficult marriage. The individual's mother's unconventional yet traditional values guided her decisions to protect her child from exploitative situations in Hollywood. The individual's self-awareness and assertiveness, along with self-defense classes against sexual assault, helped them navigate potentially dangerous situations and set boundaries. The self-defense classes not only taught physical skills but also boosted the individual's confidence, changed their behavior, and empowered them to say no and stand up for themselves.

  • What led Brett to transition from acting to podcasting?

    The speaker transitioned from social media work to podcasting with Daily Wire. Young people at the Daily Wire offices wanted content they could relate to, based on YouTube and the internet. A video producer was tasked with finding individuals already creating such content. Daily Wire offered to launch a show, initially intimidating the recipient. Taking risks is crucial for growth, even if faced with high rejection rates.

  • How did Brett's involvement with The Daily Wire impact her career?

    The speaker shared a positive experience pitching a show to The Daily Wire and receiving immediate approval. The speaker discussed her involvement in various projects, including an animated comedy series called Mr. Berum and the Pen Dragon cycle. The Pen Dragon cycle was described as a significant project for The Daily Wire, with a focus on practical effects and a commitment to meaningful storytelling. Announcement of the launch of the Children's Division, Bent Key, while only a week into filming Pendragon. Decision to create a new version of Snow White due to dissatisfaction with Disney's approach and values. Jeremy's request for the actress to play Snow White, based on her traditional storytelling background.

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Summary

00:00

Brett Cooper: From Theater to YouTube Success

  • Brett Cooper started acting at a young age, supported by her mother, and by age 10, had a strong acting background.
  • She transitioned to Hollywood at age 10 from Chattanooga, Tennessee, driven by her passion for performing.
  • Brett's early theater experiences included community and school productions, leading her to pursue more opportunities in Atlanta.
  • Performing provided Brett an outlet to express herself openly and escape from personal challenges at home.
  • Brett's family moved to New York when she was 10, where she began auditioning for Broadway shows and workshops.
  • Despite her efforts to play Jane Banks in Mary Poppins on Broadway, Brett's height hindered her casting due to height restrictions for child roles.
  • Brett faced disappointment at age 9 when she outgrew the height limit for child roles, leading her to explore film and TV opportunities in Los Angeles.
  • Brett's mother initially resisted the move to LA due to industry concerns but eventually supported Brett's passion for acting.
  • Brett's move to LA at 10 marked the beginning of her successful career, with opportunities in film, TV, and eventually YouTube.
  • Brett's journey from theater to YouTube success was fueled by her dedication to her craft and her ability to connect with audiences seeking values-aligned content.

14:43

Child Actor's Hollywood Journey with Protective Mother

  • The individual spent time with an agent and alternated three months on and off with their father, eventually moving permanently to Hollywood at 14.
  • Between ages 10 and 14, they auditioned, took on small roles in TV shows and short films, and underwent extensive training in acting, singing, dancing, and fencing.
  • The individual engaged in various activities outside of acting, such as horseback riding, ballet, gymnastics, tennis, and excelled academically in an online private school.
  • The individual's mother facilitated their activities and ensured a well-rounded identity beyond the entertainment industry.
  • The individual enjoyed their time in Los Angeles but acknowledged the prevalence of exploitation and inappropriate relationships in Hollywood.
  • The individual's mother protected them from exploitation by setting boundaries, monitoring their activities, and keeping their earnings in savings accounts.
  • The individual's mother's sensibility and resilience stemmed from overcoming personal hardships, including the loss of her husband and child, and dealing with a difficult marriage.
  • The individual's mother's unconventional yet traditional values guided her decisions to protect her child from exploitative situations in Hollywood.
  • The individual's self-awareness and assertiveness, along with self-defense classes against sexual assault, helped them navigate potentially dangerous situations and set boundaries.
  • The self-defense classes not only taught physical skills but also boosted the individual's confidence, changed their behavior, and empowered them to say no and stand up for themselves.

30:01

"Empathy, Boundaries, and Self-Defense: A Journey"

  • The speaker's mother encouraged her to stand up for herself and taught her self-defense techniques as she grew older.
  • Women are generally more empathetic and agreeable than men, which can lead to difficulty in setting boundaries and saying no.
  • Agreeable people feel others' pain acutely, making it challenging to reject or offend others.
  • Learning to say no and stand up for oneself is crucial, especially for agreeable individuals.
  • Therapy serves two main purposes: dealing with negative emotions like depression and anxiety, and learning to assert oneself.
  • The speaker's husband played a significant role in encouraging her to stand up for herself and control her agreeableness.
  • Agreeableness is beneficial in relationships with infants but can be detrimental in dealing with predatory adults.
  • Establishing routines and rituals is crucial for children and marriages to provide stability and organization.
  • The speaker emancipated herself at 15 due to family turmoil, including her brother's schizophrenia and her parents' divorce.
  • Working at Trader Joe's provided the speaker with stability, purpose, and immediate rewards, contrasting the sporadic nature of acting in Hollywood.

44:46

Navigating Politics, Education, and Career Transitions

  • Radical left ideology leads to social exclusion and cancel culture.
  • Personal political beliefs caused alienation from friends.
  • Family values influenced political views.
  • Emphasis on personal responsibility and accountability.
  • Pursuit of English literature despite political challenges.
  • Negative experience with intersectional literature class at UCLA.
  • Importance of proactive approach in choosing courses and professors.
  • Lack of career preparation in college education.
  • Proactiveness in seeking internships and job opportunities.
  • Transition from social media work to podcasting with Daily Wire.

58:35

"Daily Wire Embraces Risk for Growth"

  • Young people at the Daily Wire offices wanted content they could relate to, based on YouTube and the internet.
  • A video producer was tasked with finding individuals already creating such content.
  • Netsuite by Oracle offers relief for businesses overwhelmed by growing workloads.
  • Netsuite streamlines accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, and more for businesses.
  • Netsuite helps businesses close books in days, not weeks, and reduce costs.
  • Netsuite offers tailored solutions aligning with specific key performance indicators.
  • Netsuite provides a single source of truth to manage risks, improve forecasts, and margins.
  • A major transition requires faith as one may not be ready or know if they can succeed.
  • Daily Wire offered to launch a show, initially intimidating the recipient.
  • Taking risks is crucial for growth, even if faced with high rejection rates.

01:11:54

Empowering Creativity: Speaker's Journey at The Daily Wire

  • The speaker observed a variety of women with different political affiliations, such as Trump interns and creative conservatives.
  • She felt like a normal girl without anyone sharing her values or beliefs.
  • The speaker's content resonated with young people due to filling a gap in relatable content.
  • Working with The Daily Wire was described as incredible, with a focus on creative freedom and support for projects.
  • The speaker highlighted the importance of being left alone to work and having creative ideas supported.
  • The Daily Wire quickly approved and professionally produced high-risk projects like the Exodus seminar and a Western civilization project.
  • The speaker emphasized the importance of being allowed to pursue autonomous projects and the enthusiasm of The Daily Wire team.
  • The speaker shared a positive experience pitching a show to The Daily Wire and receiving immediate approval.
  • The speaker discussed her involvement in various projects, including an animated comedy series called Mr. Berum and the Pen Dragon cycle.
  • The Pen Dragon cycle was described as a significant project for The Daily Wire, with a focus on practical effects and a commitment to meaningful storytelling.

01:26:02

"Snow White Reimagined: Behind the Scenes"

  • Announcement of the launch of the Children's Division, Bent Key, while only a week into filming Pendragon.
  • Decision to create a new version of Snow White due to dissatisfaction with Disney's approach and values.
  • Jeremy's request for the actress to play Snow White, based on her traditional storytelling background.
  • Initial plan to film Snow White during Pendragon, later changed to allow for proper preparation.
  • Urgent call for the actress to fly to Trento, Italy to record a trailer for Snow White.
  • Intense preparation for the role, including voice lessons and dance classes.
  • Collaboration with Jeremy, known for creativity and risk-taking, leading to personal growth.
  • Discussion on women and marriage on the Daily Wire side, emphasizing traditional values and communication challenges.
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