Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
From Apache Pilot in the Army to Drone Pilot in Hollywood with TJ Millard
TJ Millard is a Filmmaker, Actor, and Pilot from Las Vegas Nevada. He is a veteran who served in the US Army flying the Apache Helicopter, the most advanced military helicopter in the world. From an early age, TJ had the attitude of a go-getter and a laser-focus that he describes as a "blessing and a curse". That focus would help him overcome many adversities on his way to becoming an Apache Pilot, a dream he had since childhood. On one tour of duty in Iraq, Millard developed a rare disease which caused his fascia to swell, making it nearly impossible for him to even open his hands. He was medically discharged and checked into a hospital where he began his journey to recovery. TJ again had to channel his laser-focus and direct that energy into healing. After many long months or treatment, and use of the Wim Hof Method, TJ was able to re-gain mobility and return to civilian life with a tolerable amount of pain. Once he had recovered enough, Millard moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in film. Today he is a drone pilot for commercials, TV shows, and films, as well as an actor, writer and director.
In this episode, Brock and Will ask TJ about his experience in the military. TJ shares the process of being selected to fly the Apache and some of the adversity he faced along the way. Then the boys segue into TJ's career as a drone operator. TJ shares some stories of pushing the limits in order to get the best looking drone shots. He then asks Will and Brock about their experience with creating the Kane Comic Universe. Finally, TJ shares the story of how he left the Army due to the development of Eosinophilic Fasciitis and how he was able to recover from barely being able to move. This is a great episode for anyone interested in the military, filmmaking, or overcoming adversity.
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