JRE MMA Show #68 with Will Harris

Episode Summary

1. Main Topics Discussed

• The Anatomy of a Fighter Origin Story: Will Harris details his journey from an unfulfilling wedding videography business to becoming a prominent independent MMA filmmaker, starting with a chance encounter at the Blackzilians gym.
• Conor McGregor Dolly Incident Footage: A deep dive into Will Harris's iconic footage of Conor McGregor throwing a dolly at a bus, its controversial and extensive use by the UFC for promotion, and Will's regret over not profiting from its immense value.
• Will Harris's Personal Odyssey: A comprehensive look into Will's life before filmmaking, including his promising basketball career, a debilitating ACL injury, post-college struggles, living abroad in Malaysia and Australia, experiencing periods of effective homelessness, and the ultimate turning point that led him to pursue his passion.
• The Business of Independent Filmmaking in MMA: Insights into the challenges and opportunities for independent creators working alongside major organizations like the UFC, and the navigation of intellectual property.
• Life Lessons & Resilience: Joe Rogan and Will explore broader themes of overcoming adversity, finding purpose after an athletic career ends, and the importance of perseverance through unconventional paths.

2. Key Insights & Memorable Moments

• The Uncredited Viral Sensation: Will Harris, an independent filmmaker, unknowingly provided the UFC with invaluable promotional material for the McGregor vs. Khabib fight via his footage of the dolly incident, which was used extensively without direct compensation to him. Khabib himself was reportedly the first to recognize its commercial worth on the spot.
• From Wedding Bells to Octagon Bells: Will's significant career pivot from an award-winning but unfulfilling wedding videography business to MMA documentaries was sparked by stumbling upon the Blackzilians gym and receiving encouragement from fighters like Tyrone Spong.
• The Birth of a New Passion: A career-ending ACL tear during his college basketball days led Will to purchase a Sony Handycam during rehab. This seemingly small act was described as "the birth" of his new life, steering him towards a future in film.
• Unbelievable International Escapades: Will recounts a wild series of events, including using online dating to secure a visa for Malaysia to pursue a basketball tryout, getting kicked out by a "sex addict" girlfriend, being stranded, and then convincing a friend to fly him to Australia, only to be stranded there as well, eventually relying on a stranger's kindness for a ticket home.
• A "Homeless" Slot Machine Windfall: While experiencing effective homelessness and living with strippers in Las Vegas, Will won $9,000 on a Megabucks slot machine, a surprising turn of fortune that sustained him for a summer. He humorously admits to providing a fake social security number for the winnings.
• The -20°F Epiphany: The pivotal moment that solidified Will's commitment to filmmaking was quitting a teacher's assistant job in Minneapolis after being told to take kindergarteners out for recess in freezing -20°F weather. This moment sparked an intense self-reflection on his life's purpose and direction.

3. Notable Quotes or Revelations

• "Brother, you can get paid from this! It's like bro this is worth a hundred thousand dollars." - Khabib Nurmagomedov, to Will Harris, immediately grasping the value of the Conor McGregor dolly footage.
• "I still wish I would have got something from it." - Will Harris, expressing his regret over the UFC's uncompensated use of his iconic footage.
• "My big black ass was doing weddings which is funny." - Will Harris, humorously describing his previous career as a wedding videographer.
• "That was the birth literally my life changed soon as I bought that camera." - Will Harris, highlighting the profound impact of his first camera purchase.
• "I literally met this girl in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia she was from Canada... she turned out to be a sex addict." - Will Harris, recounting his wild and unexpected experience in Malaysia.
• "I was like man I gotta really do something with my life I'm literally a failure." - Will Harris, reflecting on a period of feeling lost and unfulfilled in his late 20s.
• "That was the last day I ever worked in my life... what am I doing with my life?" - Will Harris, describing the exact moment on March 3, 2011, when he decided to quit his job and commit fully to filmmaking, sparked by an absurd work situation.
• "I always tell people like when when I'm inspiring people now I'm like bro I was homeless once because that's essentially homelessness if you ain't got an address you can't pay bills you're homeless." - Will Harris, sharing his past struggles to connect with and inspire others.

4. Overall Themes

• The Unforeseen Journey to Success: Will Harris's narrative strongly emphasizes that a successful career often doesn't follow a linear path but emerges from unexpected detours, personal setbacks, and a willingness to adapt and pursue new passions.
• Resilience and Reinvention: Despite facing significant adversity—a career-ending injury, periods of "homelessness," and a sense of being lost—Will consistently demonstrated remarkable resilience, reinventing himself multiple times before finding his true calling in filmmaking.
• The Power and Challenges of Independent Creation: The episode highlights the profound impact an independent creator can have, even on major entities like the UFC, while also underscoring the ongoing challenges related to intellectual property rights and fair compensation in the media industry.
• Finding Purpose Beyond Athletics: A central theme revolves around the common struggle many athletes face after their competitive careers conclude, and the often difficult search for a new identity and a new passion to fill that void. For Will, the camera became his new "game."
• Embracing the Unconventional: Will's candid stories of international adventures and personal struggles underscore a life lived outside the traditional mold, illustrating how unique and sometimes chaotic experiences can profoundly shape one's character and drive towards a purposeful future.