Donny Love: How Wearing Every Production Hat And Embracing Resilience Rebuilt A Multi-Decade Entertainment Career

As a part of our interview series with the rising stars in pop culture, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Donny Love.

Donny Love’s career in TV spans over 20 years. He has written and produced over 100 TV shows airing on the Comedy Network, CTV, NTV and Sky TV UK.

Love founded Big Jib Productions where he created and produced such series as Open House NL, Entrepreneur NL, a sports series called Superfan, Friday Night News, and the cult favorite George Street TV. Love produced and starred in a feature film which aired in Cineplex Theatres.

His latest viral hit series is Adventures Unknown, an adrenaline pumping globe travel series. Alongside this he is producing, Reno My Life, soon to be released.

To further his creative endeavors Love founded Tomcod Media, a social media marketing firm that highlights businesses through videos, print and social media.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I grew up in St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador back in the time where no one locked their doors at night, and we came home when the streetlights were on. It was a much freer time to be alive. There were no distractions with cell phones or internet. So, it was a was a wonderful time growing up there in the 90s and the music was incredible. It was the best time to ever grow up.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

I accidentally fell into it. I was always a dreamer in school and wanted to pursue music, so I started with that. I had a band and played on all the big stages in Newfoundland and Labrador, and from that I ended up going into television, where we made a video and pitched it to the local networks. We got picked up by one and that started our careers. We did nine seasons of a comedy show called George Street TV and then that led to opening my own production studio and producing television about other people such as real estate agents and entrepreneurs. Then I did a feature film and ended up learning all the skills that were needed in creating a series. I was my own production company, and I had all the production gear, so I kept going and then ended up going national for a comedy network.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I moved on to an adventure television show called Adventures Unknown, now in its fourth season, and traveled all around Newfoundland, Labrador and over the world. We got a top-rated prime time show on the NTV network. And now I am launching another show called Reno My Life that I created, filmed, and I am putting together.

It is a story about resilience in that I lost my career and house, and it just was not a fun time. I was not going to talk about these things, but I thought it was important because I felt people could relate to that. There are people going through tough times and they see me on TV living the life and traveling and they think wow, you know, you could be envious looking at that person. But the real story is that I was down and out for nine years solid and almost didn’t get out of it.

It has been said that mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I wasn’t always naive, but they say ignorance is bliss. When you get permission to make your own TV show at first, you’re excited but then you discover everything involved in making that show is so incredibly hard and I never really understood that at first. I just dove into it and said, Oh, whatever. And then we jumped on a flight to Toronto, banging on all these network doors. We held meetings with CBC, Global and even Discovery pitching our shows, and I thought it would be easy…and they all said no. So, there were all kinds of mistakes. I don’t think I made a biggest mistake because I never gave in. So, I never gave in by accepting a nine to five job or that career which others wanted me to have. If I took that path, that would have been my biggest mistake, but I never gave up. I busted through everything just to make it in this industry.

At one point I was on television in Las Vegas jumping out of airplanes, which is amazing because I’m creating my own work and I know I’ll now always have work because I know how to always create it. And I always raise the money to do it, and then work on the cameras and edit it. I’d love to be just an actor with a paycheck on a series but I’m proud of myself that I’ve had to wear all the hats.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

So, the new show is called Reno My Life and it’s a story of resilience. About eight years ago, I was coming off the heels of a big national CTV, Comedy Network contract which didn’t get renewed for a second season. So, then we all scrambled, not having any work, not having any money. And then everything fell like a house of cards. I was living in my house with no heat trying to figure everything out and ended up losing that very house. Then I ended up losing my car and had a few other hits regarding relationships, and ended up hitting rock bottom, moving back to my parents’ house in their basement. And delivering laundry to funeral homes. Remember that just two months before that I was on a Comedy Network hit show doing publicity on MuchMusic. I was famous you could say — and suddenly I’m working at a Laundromat making deliveries to funeral homes. I knew I had to film my story which is Reno My Life.

As a rising star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated and overcome obstacles in your career?

It took me eight years to figure out my next step. Then I got some TV shows going again, I had a singing contest event I started, and that worked out well. Then I did television shows about entrepreneurs and real estate agents that also worked out and that helped get my credibility back up. And then I got my Adventures Unknown show on TV and then my marketing company, TomCod media started. Now everything is going great. It is an interesting story because it shows the reality of having it all and losing it. The show is all about my journey through those eight years, how I rebuilt my career and how I rebuilt my lifestyle in fitness and health.

I’m excited to see it air because when I look at the first episode, I remember that guy who was down and out. I lost my house and my car and had no friends, no career, and no money. I was scared and sad. I did not know how I would get out of it. Also my health wasn’t particularly great. I was weak minded and weak physically. Now I’ve got this great career going and it’s amazing. I can’t believe it. I never gave up and was persistent. Now I’m here and can’t wait for the next 10 years of this chapter.

We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?

We have seen a major increase in diversity in St. John’s in recent years and it’s so nice to see diversity in our community. It was beautiful. I mean, it just helps the economy and revive our industries. Also seeing the distinct cultures and the traditions that we have here to experience. It’s a great mix now. So, diversity in our city has been wonderful. Everybody should be inclusive. It opens your world more than what you’re used to.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

1. Success is going to take a long while, it is not going to happen overnight. If you get cast in a role on one show it’s not always going to trickle to bigger parts. It’s just such an up and down lifestyle. At the time I had a series on the Comedy Network I was thinking that’s where I was going to sit forever. You’re so vulnerable to things you can’t control. I wish somebody would have told me how hard this industry is to survive in as it’s so competitive.

2. To be self-aware and be aware of what your strengths and weaknesses are and keep sharpening your talents and that will help you access where you’re not going to be strong.

3. Really find the people who you click with. Pay attention to that gut feeling who you know may be more in tune with your own feelings. When you get bad vibes off someone you feel someone is sucking your energy get rid of them and remind yourself, they are not the people to work with. Just be intuitive with who you chose to spend your time with.

4. Life is expensive and everything you earn will fly away. It just flies away. So, I wish somebody had warned me about being more frugal even if it meant finding a tiny place to put some money away.

5. Things are not always going to be fair as well.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

This is an extremely easy business to burn out in, it is a burnout business. So, I would recommend keeping yourself healthy. That is the biggest part. Get plenty of sleep and keep away from alcohol because being on set is long hours My advice is to go straight home after filming because if you go out and party, well, unless you are a young man, there is no way you can do that. Go straight home after filming. Life is short.

And network. Network as much as you can inside the industry because you need to connect with people who can financially help you do your project. You must network and find those people and make it worthwhile for them to invest in you. Talk to everybody.

And ASK people for help. That is the biggest one — ASK. Do not be afraid to ask for things because no one is reading your mind, and nobody is coming to help you unless you ask others to help you. But if you ask, they will. Ask people if they can help you with your project, ask someone for that $3000 you need to film your video. Ask if you can pitch them an idea. Do not be too proud to ask others for help because people are there to help you. Ask for jobs. And beyond that just be you.

If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I would like to be able to invest money into people who have a dream or an idea and finance that. Even if it was a donation. I don’t mean giving people free money — they would have to work for it in pursuit of their passions. I would like to donate to these people, so they can create their projects whether it’s to make a film or for musicians to be able to get a hold of donated instruments or paint supplies to an artist. I’d like to create an organization where people can donate the things that artists need to create and express themselves. They would not have to forget their creative instincts just to pay their rent. The only stipulation is you must finish your project. You bring your ideas to us, and we will help finance them, but you must show us what you created.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I think Newfoundland and Labrador actor and writer Greg Malone, because we worked with him with George Street TV, and we were so green at first and we worked with him for eight years. I was being mentored by him without even realizing it. Greg is this legendary comedic talent, A Gemini Award-winning legend in Newfoundland and Labrador and even across Canada. We were just some guys who wanted to make a TV show, and we bumped into Greg downtown and ended up working together for eight years. Greg knew how to put together sketch comedy from his work on Codco and edit it and how it all came together. I worked with him every day for seven years, doing everything and absorbed and learned all I could from him. I am like his protégé or something. He taught me so much.

And Scott Stirling who owns the NTV television broadcast network in Newfoundland and Labrador. He gave us our first chance with a television show when everybody else said no. All the big networks turned us down, but Scott gave us a chance.

And my business partner, Kent Brown, who works so hard for our company.

And of course, my family who were supportive in letting me go my own way.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

You must believe in yourself when nobody else does. I fully believe this. When you ask people for advice, they give you answers based on their own objectives and what has worked for them. If you work for a heating company and you are asked by a client if it is better to get electric forced air or oil, they might say forced air because it is easier for them to do but it might not be what you want. I believe in listening to your gut in most decisions.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

Sir Richard Branson because he is cool as hell. He is a businessperson who takes risks, he is brazen and extremely cool. He seems like such a down-to-earth person that if he and I had breakfast or lunch, I think we would become friends, I think we would click. He is such a trailblazer, smart, and risk-taker. I am sure we’d become good friends.

How can our readers follow you online?

My website https://donnylove.com would be the main one and my links are all on there. If anyone would like to watch my series it is streaming at https://ntv.ca

This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!