Direct Your Own Life: How to be a Star in Any Field You Choose

Take center stage with your own life script to be successful in any field.

Efren had a choice: Take a high-paying, big-studio role in Alamo, starring Billy Bob Thornton, or take a small, no-money-upfront role as “Pedro” in Napoleon Dynamite. Efren's gamble launched him to international success and he has worked every day since.

Chris had an idea: Why not get a corporation to pay for his college education? He became a national spokesperson for FIRST USA, a division of Bank One. He garnered over 20 million dollars in publicity for the bank and over 80 million media impressions during the campaign. He has been featured on the Today Show, CBS Early Show, ABC, NBC, FOX, MSNBC, CNN and profiled in People magazine twice, including the “25 Most Intriguing people” issue.

Efren and Chris wrote the script for their own lives—and now they're living their dreams. They share their story with tens of thousands of young adults all over the country, and now they share a five-act formula to help college students and young professionals take charge of their future.

EFREN RAMIREZ, “Pedro” from the blockbuster hit Napoleon Dynamite and co-star of such recent hits as Crank and Employee of the Month, has not only been acting since childhood but also writing, producing, and directing. He has played diverse roles in many television shows including Scrubs, ER, Judging Amy, The District and Boston Public. He will appear in American Summer in 2008. When he isn’t filming, he spends his time speaking to students and appearing as a guest DJ in clubs all across the country.

CHRIS BARRETT, who began as a young business entrepreneur at the age of 14, has appeared in several award-winning documentaries and now directs them. As a senior in high school, Chris hit the national and international media by becoming the very first Corporate College Sponsored Student in America. He became a national “spokesguy” for FIRST USA, a division of Bank One. He garnered over 20 million dollars in publicity for the bank and over 80 million media impressions during the campaign. He has been featured on the Today Show, CBS Early Show, ABC, NBC, FOX, MSNBC, CNN and profiled in People magazine twice, including the “25 Most Intriguing people” issue.

Efren and Chris met at Sundance in 2004, which was the beginning of a great friendship and solid business partnership. Together they share a production company, Powerhouse Pictures Entertainment, LLC. Currently they are producing a groundbreaking documentary titled After School, which delves into the recent teacher student sex scandals that have hit the media. They talk to thousands of students every year about how to direct their own lives and careers.