Latest / Breaking The Meta / AI Is Taking Their Jobs! They Are Fighting Back | Lawson Greyson

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AI Is Taking Their Jobs! They Are Fighting Back | Lawson Greyson · Breaking The Meta

• Mike Winson: she's married a billionaire CEO, Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yes. Yes. Mike Winson: married mafia or mobs billionaires, Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Thank you. Mike Winson: werewolf billionaires, many billionaires do you think you've, you know, had illicit children with or or had contract marriages with since you started doing this? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: so many. I joked because I've been married so many times in these and had Mike Winson: Okay. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: so many children that I was like, guys, I don't even need to go wedding dress shopping. Like I already know what I want. Mike Winson: Ha ha ha. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I think I counted some once and I've been in over like 30 different bridal gowns and like weddings in these. And then I think I probably... Yeah, it's definitely bizarre. It's Mike Winson: Dang. Does it ever get weird? Does like be Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: weird when you like forget who you've married Mike Winson: Hello, everyone, and welcome to Breaking the Meta. Now, for those of you that are used to our content, Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: No. Mike Winson: today's topic is not going to be weird. We're gonna talk about AI, we're gonna talk about drama, and we're gonna talk about AI drama. Our Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Awesome. Mike Winson: guest is familiar with all of that, but not in the way that most of my community Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: NNNN Mike Winson: is used to. Our guest today is Lawson Grayson. She is an actor, a director. A producer, a co-founder of a studio, a Jiu-Jitsu. Is that what I read? Jiu Jitsu, a dancer, Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, for saying you did it. my god, you do your research. It's awesome. Mike Winson: former gymnast. She does it all. That that's pretty much what I've learned. and you do some other things that I found that I'm excited to talk about because they overlap with things that I do. For for everyone in this in this who watches this podcast, we I I learned of something new today. We talked about this a little bit Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: You Mike Winson: right before. I learned about microdramas and that's what that's kind of where we're going here. But first I wanna just welcome Lawson. Thank you for being here today. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Thank you so much for having me. I'm very excited. Mike Winson: Well, good. I'm excited to talk to you. so let's just so everyone just kind of gets a little background on you. Just kind Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Next. Mike Winson: of how you got because I I was reading through and you started out as a gymnast and a dancer Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Mm-hmm. Mike Winson: and then went to acting and moving to LA and becoming an actor. Like what how Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Mike Winson: did that happen? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Great question. So like you said, I was a gymnast and dancer at like a pretty high competitive level. And then I think when I was about 16 or 17, I kind of came to this weird transition where I was like, dance and gymnastics are very intense on your body. And having done it for so long, my body kind of got at the point where it was like, I think we're done, we're done, no more. Mike Winson: Ha ha Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: dealing with lot of injuries and just like constant aches and pains and I was like getting sick Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: all the time so I like kind of came to this weird because I had planned on being a professional dancer like that was like the goal Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: and I did it a little bit when I was a teenager and one it's a little bit better now but at the time the dance community especially competitively or in like a professional sense was like extremely competitive like even Mike Winson: Okay. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: more than acting to the point where like Girls were trying to like knock each other over and audition. It was like crazy level of kind of like. Mike Winson: Whoa. So like like like dance mom's kind of a world. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Very much so. Like that was the feeling of the whole industry. So I think I like went to a few open calls and I was like, I don't know if this is for me. It's like, I don't know if I have that level of like toxicity in my body to handle it. So Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I said an X-Nay to that. And then I like weirdly stumbled into an acting class. It was always something I like found interesting because I loved performing. And Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I did an on-camera class specifically for like TV and film. And I like just got the bug. I was like, this is the thing. Like this is it. And so I kind of went full steam ahead for a few years in Arizona, which is where I'm from. And then I got reached out to a manager, I think when I was like 18 and she was basically like, you move out to LA in two months and I'll rep you. And I was like, okay. So yeah, as an 18 year old, I packed up my bags, I moved to LA Mike Winson: Wow. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: and yeah, I've been pretty much doing it since. I took a little bit of a break, like you said, to do some jujitsu like between, for about three years. I was like, you know, it was right after COVID and I was like, I'm not Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: sure. if I want to do this anymore, especially being young and getting so many opportunities and so close to it, and then COVID kind of wiping everything out I had lined up. Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: So I was like, I'm gonna try something else. So I did, and I loved it. And then I had, once again, kind of like a manager reach out to me when I was in Texas doing Jiu Jitsu, being like, why aren't you acting? And I was like, I guess. I didn't know that was even really an option anymore. And then I booked my first vertical drama and I've done 40 cents. Mike Winson: Yeah. So let's let's Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: GAH! Mike Winson: talk about let's talk about vertical microdramas. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, it's rule. Mike Winson: yeah. you can tell me if I'm wrong, but vertical microdramas basically are are feel like to me soap operas of the of the mobile world. Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yes. The modern age. Exactly. It's like any dopamine hit you can get to your brain through drama and chaos. It is that. I Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: would say they're even like a heightened level of soap operas, honestly. And yeah, it's kind of for this new generation that's like constantly online. And they've really taken over the industry or least over the last few years. Like, I think most of my friends went from especially people in the indie space who were willing to take risks on projects, went from maybe booking one or two projects a year to being employed almost every day of the year through these micro dramas. Mike Winson: Hmm. So and and I just want everyone to know because this is this is if you if we were to take Lawson's world based on Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Mm-hmm. Mike Winson: the the micro drama she's been in, she's married a billionaire CEO, Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yes. Yes. Mike Winson: married mafia or mobs billionaires, Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Thank you. Mike Winson: werewolf billionaires, Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: been a liking to movie times. Mike Winson: How how many billionaires do you think you've, you know, had illicit children with or or had contract marriages with since you started doing this? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: so many. I joked because I've been married so many times in these and had Mike Winson: Okay. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: so many children that I was like, guys, I don't even need to go wedding dress shopping. Like I already know what I want. Mike Winson: Ha ha ha. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I think I counted some once and I've been in over like 30 different bridal gowns and like weddings in these. And then I think I probably... Yeah, it's definitely bizarre. It's Mike Winson: Dang. Does it ever get weird? Does like be yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: weird when you like forget who you've married and like in what context. I've literally like gone because the vertical space is pretty tight knit like we're always constantly going through events with her. Mike Winson: Yeah, it's it's the it's the same like you get us the guys and girls that are the main characters all kind of y'all are yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. They get recycled, especially because the acting is so specific and we're shooting so fast. So they want people who they know they can do it. And so it's weird. It's like a mini Hollywood and the fact that we're constantly seeing each other at events and parties. But it is strange walking up to someone and being like, I can't remember if we've made out. doing that, that's pretty bizarre and something I didn't anticipate going into these. Mike Winson: Yeah. and I wanna ask you if this is true because if it is, I'm actually very interested what it's like for you in this whole process. I read that you are basically deaf in one ear. Is that true? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, I'm like 50 % hearing loss, maybe even a little bit more in my left ear. So yeah, that's a... Mike Winson: Okay. What what's that like trying to do what you do and actually like s do you do you have a hearing aid or is it just something you've learned to work through? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Okay, so very funny thing. I had a hearing aid for almost 10 years and then I was on a production and is what it is, they lost it. Cause I can't get it wet. Yeah, I can't get the hearing aid wet. Obviously, and we were doing like a long spot. Mike Winson: no. Yes. And and people in micro dramas like to get thrown in pools, by the way. Just that's a big one. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: They do. They like to get thrown in pools. They like to get water thrown on them. I think this one specifically was like... Mike Winson: Wine gets thrown on them a lot. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I think this was like a water splash. I was like, let me take it off. I handed it off to someone for safekeeping and then let next thing you know, it was gone, which is what it is. But it was one of those things where like, it's been a year and I should get another one. just, I haven't yet. So I've been managing decently well without it. I'm really good at reading lips. I will say the only thing is there has been times where like... I know people have called my names repeatedly and if I'm not facing you or you're on my left side, I have no idea what's going on. So luckily, Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: people like Brittany Marzeczek, who you found me through, who's one of my best friends and co-founders, she's on set with me quite often. So she'll just look at people and be like, she's half deaf. So it's not you. Mike Winson: Okay, well, let's go, let's go really deep, and then we'll we got I got some other things that I want to go into. But so Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Cool. Mike Winson: the reason we're having this conversation your co-founder Brittany Marzichek. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: then Mike Winson: Basically, what came up was she did a vertical microdrama, Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Mm-hmm. Mike Winson: and instead of using Her face for all Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Mm-hmm. Mike Winson: of it. They AI'd her face and and but used her voice for the whole show. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, they basically put an AI skin suit on her and it's funny I'm actually in that one with her and I was also AI'd into something totally different which is wild without our consent as well. Mike Winson: Yeah. So, and this is the interesting thing because when I heard this story, the first thing I thought was I remember there being a SAG AFTRA strike, and one of the big problems was not having AI take over the business. But it seems that production companies have found a slight loophole in the Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: you Mike Winson: micro drama side of things at this moment. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Right. They definitely have. The problem with micro dramas is they're at such a quick pace and such a low budget that most of are not in union. So we are not protected by SAG rules. And unfortunately for a lot of those productions, I've even had no AI clauses in my contracts. So like saying that Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: they can use any generative AI to change my appearance. But because a lot of these companies aren't based in the US and they're companies outside. it's almost impossible to take any legal action because the production companies that are based here that are outsourcing to them kind of like put up their hands and are like, can't, like it's not us doing that, it's the companies itself. So it's like this really weird position where we're all kind of just stuck like, well, I guess this is what it is and we can speak out verbally, but as far as legal action goes, we're kind of like our hands are tied. Mike Winson: Yeah. So you, Brittany Marzichek and Faye Amara, if I hopefully I said it right, are Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Mm-hmm. You did. Mike Winson: are the people that started basically you three said we want to start a company, a production company that doesn't use AI. And it's Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Mike Winson: called gratitude. can Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, great. Mike Winson: you give us just an idea of how this whole idea came about? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, I can. It was really funny. So, Faye and Brittany. So, Faye Amar is an actress, stunt coordinator at the vertical space, not an actor, she's done network TV, and then a brilliant writer. So, it was funny. I was off in Pittsburgh filming a movie and they were, you know, obviously the work's dried up, so they were writing together. And they brought me a script I just gotten into producing and I read it and I was like, this is brilliant. Like this needs to be made. So originally we were going to bring it to a studio and then we kind of got the same impression that like if we did, it was going, all creative liberties were going to be taken away. So then we kind of came to this like crossroads where... Things were being overtaken by AI. We kept being on sets that were ethically run really poorly, whether that was in finances or in like the way they treated crew or cast. And kind of repeatedly when you're put in these compromised positions, you get like fed up to the point Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: where we were all just like, we have to be a part of the change. Like we can't continue this. level of just the way people are treated in this industry. Cause I think in the majority of industries, like the things that happened on set just wouldn't happen because you have HR, have like protocols in place to protect people. And when you're on a set, it's just different and not even to necessarily anyone's fault. It's just kind of how sets have always been. And so it's like, okay, we can either be a part of the problem or be a precipice for change. So I think we chose the latter. And so we got together and just due to necessity and frustration, we were like, we could do this. And that's how Gratitude 3 Productions was born, which is crazy. Mike Winson: So what has what has the experience been like for you guys? Because I mean, starting a production company is not something that most people do. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: No, I think we've been incredibly fortunate in having each other. Like we talk about it a lot. I literally like I'm glued to my phone anymore because we have a group text that's like constantly like I didn't message them and be like, I'm going on the podcast. I can't talk for an hour and a half because we're just in constant communication of like, OK, Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: we have to handle this and we have to do that. But having three people and three women I like trust with my life has been, I think, truly the same grace. I don't think I would have taken on this venture by myself. Or maybe I would have gotten halfway through and been like, no, thank you. Mike Winson: Yeah, I'm done. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: That's way too hard because there's been Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: multiple days and multiple crash outs from each of us of being like... Because it's just a lot. There's a lot of things. We're very fortunate in the fact that I think together we've done something like 300 projects between the three of Mike Winson: Wow. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: us. So we're very experienced when it comes to being on set, but starting it from the ground up is very different. obviously than just filling a role, whether that's producing or acting or stunt coordinating or anything of the sorts or editing. It's like when you're coming in from like getting the money to talking to crew to talking to cast to hiring department heads to figuring out all the logistics and then also making sure we're not like doing anything illegal in the like in the interim. You know, Mike Winson: Who come on now. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: like you would. mean to, but then you're like looking at all these laws and you're like, wow, it's like really easy to like not do something that you think is right. It is, it's crazy. It's Mike Winson: It it really is. That's yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: like meeting with lawyers and you know, just making sure that we're also not going against our morals or values that we started this whole thing for. So it's been incredibly challenging, but unbelievably rewarding. So I think, I think if you would have like shown how hard it would be in the beginning, I would have been like, yeah, no, I'm good. But I'm so glad that we've like gotten through that and it feels like we're at a point now where we're really starting to break some ground. Mike Winson: And it's pretty amazing because you you guys have a GoFundMe. And for those Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: We do. Mike Winson: of you that by the end or go I want to give, just so you know, I will put it in the description below so everyone can give. But also, and amazingly, you guys have had that up for what, a week and a half-ish? Week, week and a half. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Not even, even, I think we just hit a week. Mike Winson: And you guys have already hit twenty thousand, which was your which was your initial goal, which is amazing. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. then we, which is crazy. mean, and now it's up to 50 just cause you know, the more we can get the better. Like that means more money that we can put into this project. And it's also a great look for investors. Like, cause that the whole point of our GoFundMe was like showing investors that audiences are not only interested, but are already willing to give their money. Because like at the end of the day, investors just want to know that they're going to make their money back to a certain extent. Because I think everyone knows or least any experienced investors know that film is not a good investment, like 99 % of the time. And I think we're really fortunate in the fact that we have a really wonderful structure and the fact that we're making it as safe as possible, but at the end of the day, it's still film. understanding that people invest in films not to necessarily make money, but it's to be a part of something bigger than themselves. And that's hopefully gonna touch more people than your standard company would. Mike Winson: So you guys made Gratitude Three with the idea of using real people, not AI. Is there anything else about it that you feel stands makes you guys stand apart from a normal production company that that most people in Hollywood would consider? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, I think us being fully female is like a pretty big deal. Like only 7 % of films have more than 10 women in their crew, which is like very low number and ours Mike Winson: Wow. Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: are always going to exceed that, which we feel really grateful for. And we think that we're creating a lot of change in those numbers. There's a big number thrown around by like only 2 % of directors are female. That's not exactly correct, but only 16 % of the top like 250 grossing films ever were female directors. And like considering Mike Winson: Dang. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: we're half of the population, that's pretty low. Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: And so we're really excited to create opportunities for women in the industry and also people who are minorities who feel like their stories aren't being told. And then also we're creator led, which is another big thing. Like most people who are at the top of these companies are... business people and they're not really experienced in the creative realm. So I think that's something that like we've been in everyone's shoes on set. And so with Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: that knowledge, we can create the most creative, safe and conducive set to everyone doing the best job they can do while also feeling safe and having fun. I can't even tell you now, like being an actor for 10 years, how many sets I've walked off of and felt incredibly drained. not only because the project itself wasn't something that was fulfilling, because we all have to eat. We all have to do the projects that we're not exactly super excited of doing, but also just the lack of feeling heard and safe. Safety is such a priority on our set, and not just physically, but emotionally. I want you to feel like every person on the set, whether you're a PA to one of our top EPs, that you can come to us with your ideas. with your thoughts, with your concerns, and those are going to be held in a way that make you feel heard and safe. Like safe just keeps coming back, because like I said, that's like an unfortunate thing, like being in this industry, hearing countless female stories, whether you're behind or in front of the camera, where you were taken advantage of, and that is something that we're still taking a stand against. Mike Winson: Yeah. So the the real important part of this entire thing is your first movie, the first thing you are raising for. Do you want to talk about what that is? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, so it's called The Perfect Date. It's like bringing back very nostalgic romantic comedies. We decided to start here because we actually had a film that we originally gonna start with. It's the first script that they wrote and I read that I was like, I have to produce this. That was a little more like psychological thriller, something that we definitely wanna delve into, but the budget's larger. And when you're taking your first leap into something, people want security and the fact that they know you can make it and they can know you can make it for cheap. Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: So our first film is something that we felt like just drawn to in the fact that like we're missing... Like rom-coms are starting to make a resurgence, which is such a fun way to make film and it feels lighthearted and easy and it's also telling love from a female perspective Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: that feels true and it doesn't just focus on romantic love and this is my favorite part of the movie personally. I think there's so many rom-coms that are just like girl and boy fall in love but our... film also focuses on familial love and what it feels like to have friendships and people around you that love and support you and genuinely want to be around you. And so I think this film is just so conducive to the feeling that we want to create on set, but also being a movie where everyone's going to walk out of the experience, whether they're watching it at home or at our premiere, something of the sorts that they're going to walk away from and just feel good and be like, Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Like those relationships exist and with a sprinkle of chaos in between, because every good movie has to have that, it's like gonna be a wild Mike Winson: Always. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: ride. Like where it's very much like the proposal meets bridesmaids. So it's gonna be awesome. Mike Winson: Yeah, this is this is this is this is a vertical micro drama. Someone's someone's gotta get someone's gotta get accidentally pregnant or or s Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Luckily, this one is like, we're leaning more towards feature. We are gonna shoot a dual format. So we want vertical companies to come on. We're Mike Winson: okay. Gotcha. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: more than welcome to. We're doing that very purposefully because with micro dramas, we love them. It's where we got our start with the AI thing. We kind of got to wait for that to cool down before we can jump Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: in because at the moment they're just, they're not getting funded to the level Mike Winson: Gotcha. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: that they were. So we're kind of doing both, which is I think even more fun. So we're hoping to like take this one as a feature to streaming and then crop it vertically as well. Cause Mike Winson: Heck yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: it does still have those chaotic elements of verticals that we love, but with also like avoiding the violence and the Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: like, especially the violence towards women that a lot of unfortunate verticals have and that we've all been Mike Winson: Yes. Yes. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: a part of that we haven't necessarily had a choice because they were paying our bills and like we said. Mike Winson: It Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: people have to eat. So I love that our film is steering away from that and hopefully gonna make a change in features as well within hopefully if it ends up getting sold as a vertical as well. Mike Winson: That that was one of the things that I I think actually excited me when I was learning about what you guys were doing was as I was learning about microdramas and and watching Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Okay. Mike Winson: at minimum trying to watch yours and Britney's and and the people that that are a part of its stuff. it there were definitely some that were not just cringy, but almost I there were just some really Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: taking us back 50 years? Yeah, we know. Yeah. Yeah. Mike Winson: At at least if you're if we're lucky. Yeah. And and just it was definitely gave that soap opera feel like the guy coming up goes, I'm gonna make sure that nothing ever happens to you ever again. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I have so many funny stories like this from set. I'll never forget one time on a vertical they let me like, this is like movie magic, people were not actually punching each other. But Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: they like gave me the okay, because originally it was like a slap and I had already done like been slapped so many times in these things and I was like, can a woman punch someone for once? It feels less like, you know, and I was like, we're already just... putting abuse out there, we might as well give her little bit of strength. And Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I'll never forget, and I really don't think this actor was trying to be malice by any means, but I come from a martial art background, and so we do this stunt punch, and he kind of started giggling in the take, and I'll never forget I looked at him, and I probably should have maybe bit my tongue in this moment, and I said, promise you wouldn't be laughing if I actually punched you. Mike Winson: Whoa. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: And I just, thank you. But I remember Mike Winson: Let's go. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: the whole set kind of going, And he just looked at me and he's like, no, you're right. You're right. And he's like, I'm sorry. And he was really sweet about it. Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: But it was one of those moments where I was like, what are you doing, dude? So I Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: think that experience within itself is kind of like what we're trying to separate Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: ourselves from. We want to give people strength through their words and their actions Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: and not through physical violence. Mike Winson: Well, and and even more than that, one of the cool things about this conversation, one of the reasons that I wanted to talk to you is, you know, obviously Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Mike Winson: AI is a huge issue on the political side. That is a very huge part Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: right? Mike Winson: of this platform is dealing with Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Mike Winson: politics around the country and how we can come together and learn to have these hard discussions about things and you know. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Mm-hmm. Mike Winson: To find out that there so many people like yourself are dealing with AI in Hollywood when me, dumb me, who just isn't involved in it, didn't realize that there's a whole group of actors and actresses that are dealing with Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: . Mike Winson: AI taking their jobs away. Because that is a fear that so many in the country are dealing with. And it's it's really it's really cool to to find these. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, Mike Winson: crossovers and things and it's just I I'm excited. I got excited again. I I told you I was already a fan of Brittany because she she does React, which I love, and she's she's she's an awesome person. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: she's the best. Mike Winson: but I'm just it's really exciting to see some amazing women put together an amazing company to do some amazing things to bring your industry into the 21st, whatever you 21st century, into the real into 2026, into a time where Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Mike Winson: where women can have jobs and a house and a and and have kids without without a husband involved at all and be happy and and all the other things. And not that it's not that there's a problem having relationships and all of that other stuff, but it's just Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Mike Winson: it's a it's a perspective that we need to That we need to get past that old fifty year perspective. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, it's actually funny you say that. It is because it's really, it's so funny that you even said that, we're already having kids. Because one of our really good friends that are close to all of us is like adopting a baby by herself because she just came to the realization that she doesn't have to wait for the thing she wants out of life for someone Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: to come around. And I think us starting this production company is doing, like you said, the same thing. It's like we're not going to wait for permission to do the things and make the things we want to make in the stories that we feel are so important to be told. And we're tired of taking on projects that we read and we go, Like you just say a prayer, you're like, really hope people aren't, they're just taking this as entertainment and not as like permission to do these things. Mike Winson: I I laughed. I was laugh. I crack up at like probably half of the lines that you guys did. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, and that's what we're hoping. We're hoping like people are taking it that way, but you never know when you're putting those things out there that your face is on and that you're not contributing to the problem. Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: So hopefully we're making up for that. Mike Winson: Yeah. Well, I think you are. I was doing obviously more AI when it comes to your industry. I was doing just Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Mike Winson: research on it, and I came across a company that s supposedly does ethical AI for the industry. Do you see do you see a possibility of having AI in the industry in an ethical way? Or do you think Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, Mike Winson: You do. Okay. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I really do. And I've never been like hard against anything because I think when you get to that place, then you're unable to see the potential positives and outlooks of things. Anytime you're steadfast in something without one of my favorite quotes in the world is if you have a belief and you don't know why, then it's not your belief. Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: And I think a lot of people are like in this place where it's very scary. AI is terrifying because it is taking people's jobs. But I think there's a way to integrate it, like you said, ethically and use it in a way that's positive. And unfortunately, that's not happening. So if there's companies that are doing that, I commend them. Because I actually did do one vertical that they used AI, but it was purely just to make some of the graphic effects more realistic. Because with these verticals, and honestly, any low budget feature, we are dealing with like penny pinching. Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: you talk about like one catastrophe and like the whole film's not being made anymore. So I think there's a way to use AI that to fix little things that aren't possible within the budget where you're not actually taking away someone's job because you couldn't have done it regardless with the budget. Like no one would have been Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: paid for that position period. But at least the movie's still getting made so then all the people who are still on the film are getting employed and are making Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: their budget. So I think as long as you're doing it in an ethical way and you're not taking someone's likeness or using generative AI, and you're using it maybe in like more like the pre-production stages or the post-production stages, I think that AI can make things streamlined and make the use of it in a way that feels, like you said, ethical and positive. Like that world exists, but I think there needs to be a lot more guidelines in place for that to happen Mike Winson: Hm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: because I think Unfortunately, when you give someone the good of something, they're going to take it and meld it into something bad and icky and that isn't used in the way it was intended. Mike Winson: Yeah. So you have a twin brother. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I do. Mike Winson: Taylor. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Mike Winson: again in my research, I found that you have used him as a makeup test dummy, Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yes. Mike Winson: a fashion model, and he's Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: huh. Mike Winson: co-star in plays with you. what is it like? What what what was that like? Like how I mean, talk to me because it seems like you guys have a pretty good relationship. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: We do, I can't believe you found all that. You're amazing. I'm so Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: blown away. I was like so incredibly fortunate that my brother was like so gung-ho to be a part of whatever chaos ensued in our house. I was very much like, he was so sweet. my brother taught me how to regulate my emotions and be like an emotional Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: swim. Cause I think we came out like, him being very sensitive and this beautiful soul that was so attuned to the world around him, where I was like a spitfire, like burning everything in my path. And so... Mike Winson: To to be fair, that doesn't surprise me at all. I've watched many of your videos since. I think your video Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yes! Mike Winson: started this morning. today's video started with yes, I'm wearing the same shirt that I was wearing yesterday. Don't get on me. Yeah. Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: judge exactly so you get it. Like I was very much going to like make the world my oyster whether it wanted to be my oyster or not where Mike Winson: Yep. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I think my brother was very good at being slow and like being so aware of the world which was just such a beautiful thing and so having him as my brother and like my total opposite which we literally could not have been more different when we were young Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I think just taught me to like slow down and like be much more aware of the things I was doing and the people I was talking to and the effect I was having on people around me. I'll never forget when we were growing up, I was like, like a type control freak to the max. And so that came out on him for sure, where I was like, I remember him, he used to say constantly, stop moming me. You're not my, like we're literally the same age. So I had nothing on him except for maybe a little bit of height when we were. Mike Winson: Is he the older brother or the younger brother? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: This is a crazy story. I don't if I've ever told this on a podcast. We actually don't know who's older. So Mike Winson: Really? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: yeah, my mom had a C-section, obviously with us being twins, it's very common. Mike Winson: Yep. Yep. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: And she, our whole life, her and my dad told us that we were the same age because we had two doctors and we were pulled out at the same time. Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Which I don't know why, like logically, even like as I got into like my teenage years of being like, that makes sense. Like that's... Mike Winson: Yeah, sure. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, and then when we were 18 years old, my dad on our birthday was like, one of you is older. So we were like, it felt like the rug of our entire existence was ripped out from under us, but they Mike Winson: Yes. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: wouldn't tell us who was older. And then at 21, my mom slid us our birth certificates face down and said, you can Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: see who's older. And my brother and I looked at each other and went, I don't want to. And it's funny because I think it's for different reasons. My reasoning is I think he's older than me and I don't want him to have that over me. Where I think his reasoning is like, you know what, we lived our whole lives like this, let's just keep it even. Which... Mike Winson: Yeah, that yeah, that sounds about right based on your descriptions. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Exactly. But yeah, he's the best. He was always so down to do whatever. He was, on the first film I directed, he was literally holding lights and holding up different shades and so down to just help me in my chaos. And now he's across the country from me, but I told him when this movie is in production, he has to come and at least be in the background of a shot. Because he's been a part of pretty much every... production I've made from the ground up. So I don't think we're stopping that now. Mike Winson: Yeah. why why would you choose Jesus or Elvis to have lunch with? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: okay. So Elvis, because being someone of that caliber, like I don't think other than like maybe The Beatles or Michael Jackson, we've seen anything like that. And he really Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: was the first to have that level of notoriety and that level of like, I don't want to say control, but Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: like he touched so many people. And I think I would just love to sit down with him and. see how that affected his psyche because now knowing what we know and kind of like the life trajectory he had, I think that level of fame isn't good for anyone. And I think Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: being able to hear that from a firsthand account would be so unbelievably interesting, especially in the time before we had social media, like what that felt like from actual humans, not just like comments online. Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: And then Jesus, just because like, He's a prophet in almost every religion, regardless of what you believe, whether, you know, like I'm like a big person on like, if you believe in something, that's a beautiful thing, even if it's Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: nothing, like at least you have a belief rather than just going, well, I don't know. And I think so, like someone like Jesus, like, I just want to know, like, tell me all those stories, like, how did you part the red C? And like, I Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: need to know, and like, why and to what, like, I just want like a firsthand account from things that have been like, Mike Winson: Wouldn't we all? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: write a verbal telling. Yeah, because like what profound knowledge you would probably gain in an instant. Mike Winson: Yeah. so again in my research I found out that your favorite karaoke song is Jolene. So obviously you wouldn't know this because there's no reason you would. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: No Mike Winson: I used to be a full time karaoke streamer. I I used to sing eight to ten hours a day online singing karaoke. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: That's so incredibly impressive just from your vocal chords. Mike Winson: Yeah, I didn't start out that long, but by the end I Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Okay. Mike Winson: was doing I was doing probably fifty, sixty hours a week of singing. So Jolene is a good choice. I pretty much was saying that as someone who used to do it, I Jolene is a is a great is a great choice. Do you did you do a lot of singing growing up too? Or is it mostly just the dancing and stuff? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, I did actually. My mom took me to my first vocal lesson, I think when I was like 10 or 11, and I remember the coach was a little mean, to put it nicely, and made me cry. And I grew up with pretty, you know, like parents of like, up and keep going. And so I Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: remember going my mom and being like, like just bawling in the car like, I don't want to go back. That was terrifying. And my mom's like, Why? You can handle it. And I was like, okay. And like coming from gymnastics, like that wasn't too out of the norm. So then I went back, still didn't like it. And then I kept going for like 13 years. And so yeah, I did a lot of vocal training. It's something I love doing on my own. It's so funny. I am terrified of doing it in public. Like even Mike Winson: Really? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: doing karaoke makes me wanna like fall over. I think it's something about just having all the attention on you. Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Because when you're acting, it's a conglomerate. Like, yeah, the director's watching my performance and then maybe the producer, but everyone else is focused on everything. Like, your Mike Winson: On their job, yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: script is focused on your lines and they're focused on the light and they're just not looking at you. You're a part of the story playing someone else. But something about singing in front of people where it's like just you and like that's all they're thinking about, I'm like, I'd rather do anything else. Yeah, but I love Mike Winson: Yeah. That's yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: it. It's something I really enjoy and I'd love to do it in film. I've done it in film before. Cause that feels like you're a part of the story rather than it just being all on you. But yeah, no, my mom wanted me to be like a pop star and I just, that Mike Winson: Ha ha. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: was not unfortunately in my bones. Mike Winson: Well, if you ever do a musical, hit me up. I would love Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Okay. Mike Winson: to I would love to sing in a musical. That is I've done like I I've done like Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: my gosh, I will! Mike Winson: Gilbert and Sullivan and and all like the all those fun things. And so yeah, that would be that would be amazing. Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: we definitely will. Hopefully we'll produce one because that sounds like... what a blast! Like I think that would probably be one of the most fun movie productions just to be a part of. Mike Winson: Well, and that's the thing. You look at the you look at a lot of the movies that have really taken off. Like when we're living in a time where there's just a lot of stress. There's a lot of fear. There's a lot of just the future looks very unknown. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: uncertainty. Mike Winson: There's something about music that just breaks through all of that. And when you can get a song that just speaks to you, again, the there yeah. I I'm one of those people that will just will hear. one bit of a song and start singing it for an entire week. My family literally hates me when cause they're like, Why do you keep singing that song? Stop singing that song. I'm like, I can't help it. I'll just I won't even be paying attention. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: You're like, stop. that's awesome. I'm kind of, that's hilarious. I'm similar in that way. But yeah, like you said, there's something about music that like lifts people's spirits. So. Mike Winson: Yeah. last last major question I have, because again, I Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Mike Winson: I think this is just as someone who has been in a lot of different things since you started acting, who is someone that you who is the dream co-star in a show for you? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: What a wonderful question. there's so many. probably Jodie Comer. I Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: don't know if means her. She's been in a lot. She was in a show called Killing Eve, and I will never forget. I think this was actually during my hiatus of acting, but she Mike Winson: Okay. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: had a monologue where she was switching in between all her different accents, because essentially she's a spy in the show who's wearing all these different masks of who she is. And it's one of the most brilliant things, and I think she's like my age now, she was like 26, and watching that level of depth in a human was like just so profound to me. And I think having a scene partner like that, it actually kind of reminds me of Brittany. Brittany is just such a brilliant actress. And like, I kind of have a bad habit that I'm trying to break, but if I'm like acting with someone who's really good, I forget that I'm acting. So like, Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I will fully just be watching them. So like I go from like being emotional in the scene to just like, whoa. Yeah, or like it'll come to my line. my God, it's happened so many times where Mike Winson: And they're like, hello, losing line. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: they're like, they stopped talking and then I'm looking at them and like watching them like, this is when I talk. Like I'm, I'm Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: acting. I think that's also kind of the moment that I was like, I might be a better director. Like Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I don't know if I have it in me to just like be that. Like, because I'm so present, but then I forget I'm acting. Which Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: has, yeah, it's definitely got me in a bit of trouble a few times. But I think that might be my problem with her of like just being in scene and then no longer. Mike Winson: And that's what and that's one of the things you're doing in this for this movie, right? You're one of the directors for it. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah, I'm co-directing it, which I'm unbelievably nervous, but like in the most exciting way. I Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: think, I'm sure you feel the same way anytime you kind of approach something new. I've directed things like, but they've all been shorts and smaller productions. And I'm also directing a lot of people I know really personally. Mike Winson: Mm. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: So there's a lot of trust in coming to them and being like, hey, listen, this is my first feature. And then going, I'll never forget one of our casts, we haven't announced her yet, but when we do, she, before I signed on to be a director, I kind of like gave, we were getting coffee and I was like, I think I want to direct. And she just goes, you would be an amazing director. And that was like the biggest ego boost Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I've had in my entire life that I was like, maybe I can do this. Mike Winson: Yeah. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: And I'm, yeah, I'm really excited. I think this is like the next chapter and hopefully it'll go well. Mike Winson: Do you guys is there I know you guys are still raising money. Is there a a Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Mike Winson: a goal for finishing perfect date by? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Absolutely, we're looking to shoot at the end of this year, so like October, November, and then we already have our editor locked in place and she's doing about a 10 week turnaround for us. Obviously, Mike Winson: Okay. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: money goes kind of crazy, it's also gonna be a little bit through the holidays, but we're hoping by middle of next year we'll have the finished project and ready to go out, if not sooner. But it's film, so it could take longer, but I think it'll be out sooner than people expect. Mike Winson: Yeah. Well, Lawson, thank you so much for being here. I cannot wait to see Perfect Date. for anyone Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Thank you. Mike Winson: interested, as I said before, make sure you if you want to help a female led production company build a non-AI movie, Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Mike Winson: please check out the link in the description below. Help them in their GoFundMe. where can they find if they want to learn more about Gratitude Three or any other part of this, where can they find you? Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yeah. Absolutely. You can find us at gratitude3.com, just spelt just like it is down here, .com, or you can find us on Instagram through my Instagram, Brittany's Instagram. It's just our names, Brittany Marzeczek, Lawson Grayson, and Faya Mara. and then we have an Instagram page for the production company as well, and that's going to be gratitude3productions. And, yeah, you'll see a lot of us in the next few months as we're promoting this film. I'm just like praying that people don't get sick of us. Mike Winson: Well, Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Somehow I've been getting this feedback. Mike Winson: you know what? You guys are all welcome back on here to talk about it. I would love to talk to you guys more when it's all done. that would be great. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: I would love that so much. Mike Winson: So thank you again. for everyone else listening, thank you so much for listening. It it means the world to me. I'm sure it means the world to Lawson. We cannot do what we do without Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Yes. Mike Winson: the amazing people like you that watch our stuff and share it out and help push this content out. Please hit all those buttons below. It means the world to me. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: Mm Mike Winson: Just so you know, for those of you that may be new to this podcast, breaking the meta is about having hard conversations when necessary, fighting to break the status quo and the idea that all people, no matter your race, religion, gender, or identity, deserve rights, respect, dignity, and safety. Again, thank you, Lawson. And everyone else, we'll see you next time on Breaking the Meta. Bye, guys. Lawson Greyson - Gratitud3 Co-Founder: hmm.