Innovation, Risk, and the Future of Hollywood

When I first came to America in 2012, I was a film student trying to make sense of a digital revolution that felt like it was moving at light speed. One name kept appearing in every conversation about the future of tech and Hollywood: Michael Cioni.

For over a decade, Michael has been the industry’s "North Star," calling where the puck is going and placing massive bets on that reality. Recently, he sat down with me on The Axel Axe Show to pull back the curtain on his mental frameworks. We didn't just talk about cameras; we talked about the brutal necessity of change.

1. The Jack Cardiff Lesson: "It’ll Get Better"

Michael’s origin story starts with a lucky accident: sitting next to the legendary Jack Cardiff—a man who shot everything from hand-cranked silent films to the first Technicolor masterpieces.

At 90 years old, Cardiff was more excited about digital cameras than the 21-year-olds in the room. His advice to Michael was simple: Take the risk and bet on the improvements.

In our industry, the "status quo" is a trap. If you assume technology has reached its peak, you’re already obsolete. You have to look at the world through the eyes of a pioneer—questioning everything and betting on the inevitable evolution of the craft.

2. Cannibalize Yourself or Someone Else Will

Michael shared a quote from Steve Jobs that serves as his business North Star: "If you don't cannibalize yourself, someone else will."

In business, we often protect what’s working until it’s too late. Michael argues that self-injury is a requirement for innovation.

By intentionally dismantling your current success (like Apple removing the disc drive or the headphone jack), you force yourself and your team to solve problems that don't exist yet.

This "mutilation" of the present is what unlocks the business potential of the future.

Michael Cioni and Axel Axe on set in Hollywood, CA

3. The Wolves of Hollywood

We talked about the current state of Hollywood—the shrinking budgets, the strikes, and the fear surrounding AI. Michael’s perspective is a dose of cold reality: Nature needs the wolves.

He introduced the concept of the "Zero Interest Rate Phenomenon" (ZIRP). When money is free, weak businesses thrive on resources they don't deserve. But when the market tightens, the wolves (the market reality) weed out the "sick caribou"—the companies and creators who aren't viable.

It’s insensitive, but it’s nature. If you are hardworking, resilient, and talented, you will survive the winter. This rightsizing is what allows the "Meta-Performers" to finally have the resources they need to lead.

4. "Pay Your Dues" is a Scam

If you’re a young person in this industry and someone tells you to "pay your dues," Michael has one piece of advice: Run.

"Pay your dues" is a phrase used by people who are threatened by your speed. It’s a tool for gatekeepers to introduce turbulence into your momentum. A true leader—a "business parent"—wants to make it easier for the next generation to catch up and surpass them. Following the rules in Hollywood is a handicap; you must follow logic instead.

If you’re a young person in this industry and someone tells you to "pay your dues," Michael has one piece of advice: Run.

"Pay your dues" is a phrase used by people who are threatened by your speed. It’s a tool for gatekeepers to introduce turbulence into your momentum. A true leader—a "business parent"

5. Ready, Shoot, Aim

The Donner Party—a group of pioneers 150 years ago—lost their lives because they decided to rest for a few days at the base of a mountain before a storm hit.

The lesson? Do not wait. Ambitious people don't "Ready, Aim, Shoot." They "Ready, Shoot, Aim." You don't need more resources; you need more hunger. Michael slept on a couch, ruined his credit score to buy a $450,000 color correction machine, and ate 7-Eleven burritos to build his empire.

That wasn't "motivation"—it was passion, which in its Greek root means to suffer.

Axel Axe discussing the new state of Hollywood

6. The Big Swing: StraDa

Michael is currently taking his biggest swing yet with Strada. He cashed out his Adobe stock at the top of the market to build a peer-to-peer (P2P) creative network.

While the world is obsessed with the "Cloud," Michael sees it as legacy tech—clunky, expensive, and western-centric. By leveraging P2P technology (think Napster meets Bitcoin), Strata is enabling filmmakers to collaborate on raw 8K files without transcoding or uploading.

He is cannibalizing the very cloud industry he helped build to create something that gives creators total sovereignty.

Final Thought: Ask Boldly

Michael’s final nugget of wisdom is something every creator needs to hear: If you ask for help directly, the answer is usually yes. Most people dance around what they want because they’re afraid of "No." But "No" is a clean answer—it lets you move on. "Maybe" is the worst answer in the world because you can't build a future on lukewarm ground.

Be bold, be independent, and for God’s sake—don't stay on base. Take the leadoff. Risk the tag out. That’s the only way you’re going to score.

Watch the full episode with Michael Cioni on YouTube now to see the full breakdown of Meta-Performance and the future of P2P filmmaking.