Making “IT” In The Film Industry

A question I often ask the guest speakers who graciously give of their time to speak to my students is at what point in their career did they know they made “it” – achieved their goals.  Most say that no matter what level of success they’ve achieved during their (sometimes very long and accomplished careers), they’ve never totally felt as if they’ve made “it”, primarily due to the instability and insecurity of our business… a feeling I understand all too well.

Then there’s the issue of the illusive, ever-changing “it” – like the times when we decide to take advantage of an unexpected opportunity that comes our way that takes us off course – only to have that detour become a pleasantly surprising substitute for what we thought we wanted.  So what was once “it”, can continuously change or evolve over the lifetime of a career, which is fairly routine for those of us in this business.

I sat on a panel of six authors at a terrific event at Samuel French Bookstore last weekend, and the question came up again.  “When does one know whether a certain level of accomplishment is ever enough to truly feel as if you’ve made “it”?  Filmmaker and panel moderator Jason Tomaric jumped right in by saying (and I’m paraphrasing) that if we expect our accomplishments to make us happy, they won’t…that happiness has to come from within.  We should be happy with our lives now and think of the achievements as the frosting on the cake.  All of us on the panel agreed, and we kept building on each others’ insights while all coming to the same conclusion that the most meaningful part of realizing our goals is the journey – it’s the experiences we have and the incredible people we get to meet and work with along the way.  It’s the travel, the collaboration, the friendships, the creativity, the storytelling, the adventure, the problem-solving, the “I can’t believe they’re paying me to do this” feeling – all of it!  And it all boils down to the fact that…

 “IT” is the journey – not the destination.

FILM PRODUCTION IS A TEAM SPORT

FILM PRODUCTION IS A TEAM SPORT

A friend of mine was very excited about starting a new job recently, but much to his dismay, he was not greeted with open arms by all of his new co-workers.  Several years ago, the same thing happened to me, so I know how what it feels like.  It’s no fun to start a new job and find yourself up against an individual or two who see you as a potential threat or alien invader.  And when you find yourself having to work with people who are standoffish, cool and/or officious – you’ve got your work cut out for you.

You can try to kill them with kindness (which unfortunately, doesn’t always work) or announce at the top of your lungs all day long until you’re blue in the face that you’re there to help, not to step on toes, steal anyone’s job or cause problems – but some people just don’t understand how much energy they’re wasting, how immature they’re acting and how counterproductive their actions are.

We’ve all heard our industry referred to as cutthroat and competitive, but for the most part, I’ve found that to be the exception rather than the rule.  And most industry professionals understand the value of working as a team. 

No matter what our positions at any one time, we’re all here for the same reason… to make movies (or to do any job for that matter) the best way we know how, to do good work and make a difference and to make our bosses and/or our companies shine.  And since no one can do that single-handedly, we’re only as good as the office/team/department we’re part of.  In a perfect world, we learn from each other, help each other, work together to solve problems, share resources, support each other and (hopefully) find some time to have fun.  There’s so much for all of us to do and learn and experience together, that insecurity, jealousy and competitiveness is just a big fat waste of time and energy.  It’s not effective, productive or smart – and definitely not fun. 

Welcoming change, new people and new ways of doing things are all opportunities for us to learn and grow – no matter how old we are or what level of experience we have.  And h-e-l-l-o!!! – new co-workers can easily turn into life-long contacts, mentors and friends.

When you’re part of a team, check your ego in at the door, because there’s no room for personal agendas in offices or on sets.  What so many people don’t fully grasp is that the better the team performs, the more in sync everyone is and the smoother a production/department runs – the more we ALL shine. 

It takes a team to make a film or complete a project, and the process is like assembling a large jigsaw puzzle – where many small little pieces and some larger pieces (each representing a person or element involved in the production) slowly come together to form a complete picture.  Each piece, no matter how minuscule, is just as essential to completing the picture as is the largest piece, and the picture can’t be completed without each member of the team.  And that means you, too!

RAUNCHY BEGINNING FOR FILM PRODUCTION HANDBOOK

I was recently telling some friends this story, and I realized that it would make an interesting (and amusing) blog posting.  So here goes…

My book, The Complete Film Production Handbook… the one that many people are just discovering, has actually been building a following since it first came out in 1993.

It was 1990, however, when I made a deal with my first publisher, (a company I’ll call “Publishing Company X”).  The publisher/owner was also the editor (I’ll refer to her as “Ms. X”), and to say that we had a combative relationship is an understatement.  It took this company an agonizing three years (after I signed my contract) to publish the book, and we had arguments about everything, including the cover design (which is a story for another time).

So, as most of you know, the book has a lot of forms in it.  And right before it was to be published, Ms. X tells me that she wants me to fill out the forms as a way of illustrating how to fill them out.  Okay… makes sense.  But at the time, I was working on a show and extremely busy. 

I had fun making up the fictitious names for the forms (Hollywood Mann, Harry Honcho, Scarlet Starlet, etc.)  My fictitious company was XYZ PRODUCTIONS, and it was located at 1234 FLICK DR.  (References I hand-printed in capital letters over and over and over again on multiple forms – very quickly.)

When I brought the forms to Ms. X’s office, I told her that I had rushed and the pages needed to be proofed – had to be!  She gave me that “you have got to be kidding” look and said they looked fine the way they were.  But after I insisted again, one of her co-workers jumped in and volunteered to take the pages home to proof read that night.

So the book was finally published, and I immediately sent out a few copies to friends and family.  The day my folks received their copy, my stepfather called and accusingly asked, “What kind of book did you write?”  What the hell was he talking about???  Then he instructs me to turn to Page 136.  I grab a copy and quickly opened to Page 136.

OMG!  OMG!!  OMG!!!!!!!!!!!  No one ever proof-read those pages, and as it turns out… on several of the forms I had filled out, the L and the I in FLICK DR. were written too close together.  And my stepfather wasn’t the only one who discovered that.  It kinda jumped right out at you like a flashing red light!  And I was getting a LOT of calls… but they weren’t necessarily to congratulate me on my great new book!

I was furious and mortified.  I had not only waited three years for the book to come out and hated the cover, but now my new book was a big, fat joke.  And when I called Ms. X to see what she had to say for herself, all she could manage was a stiff:  “All of our authors know that the work they turn in has to be camera-ready.”

Needless to say, as soon as I could get out of my contract, I took the book to Focal Press and never looked back.  Publishing Company X is no longer in business.  And considering the success of the book, I’m sure that Ms. X is sorry she was so mean to me.

The Complete Film Production Handbook is now in its 4^th edition and is co-branded by Variety.  It’s used in film schools and by industry professionals throughout the world.  It’s listed on scores of “must reading” lists for filmmakers, will soon be featured on the new website www.ProductionYak.com, is often referenced on the Film Method Podcast (http://film-method.com), is given away as a prize in several competitions and grows in popularity each year.  (So there, Ms. “your work has to be camera-ready” pants!)

As you can see… with time and perspective, I eventually found the humor in the situation (and I’m not quite as bitter about it as I had once been).

Upon hearing the story, my friend Jenna said that if Facebook had been in existence in 1993, the book would have been a runaway hit, because everyone would have wanted to see my Flick Drive references.  She’s right!  And all that extra money might have helped to ease some of the humiliation.

Time Management Hollywood Style

The good news is that you have a job… yeah!!!  The bad news is that you're now working 10-15 hours a day.  So how do you squeeze in all the routine things that come with living a life?  You can take a hiatus from the gym, explain to friends and family that you won’t be seeing them for a while, postpone haircuts and doctors appointments, but you still have to buy groceries, prepare food, pay bills, clean house (a little?), do laundry and call your parents once in a while.  And even those seemingly simple tasks are challenging when you're working long hours, and all you feel like doing on your day(s) off is absolutely nothing.

When working long days, figuring out how to effectively manage your time can be especially daunting when you have other commitments (like a family, home and/or side jobs) you can’t ignore.  So if you’re like me, and there are never enough hours in your day for everything you need to accomplish, here are some suggestions that should help:
 

• Create a to-do list, and prioritize. Ask yourself what has to be done by noon today?  By the end of the day?  By tomorrow?  By next week?  What can wait, and how for long?  And what are the consequences if something isn’t done by a certain time?  Answering those questions will help you arrange your list.

• Schedule all of your time (just like a business).  Block out periods of time for each task, including things like grocery shopping, running errands, straightening the house, answering emails.  If you’ve scheduled an hour to have lunch with a friend, you’re going to be more apt to enjoy the time and meal and not spend that hour worrying about all the other things you need to do.  Once your time is scheduled, you’ll feel more in control of your day.

• Limit your distractions… don’t stop something you’re doing to answer emails, chat on the phone, check Facebook.  

• Break large tasks into smaller portions.  (Better to accomplish something slowly than not at all.)

• On your days off, be sure to schedule in some time for yourself… to nap, read, walk, take a bike ride, get a manicure or massage, have a lovely dinner with someone special or go to a movie.  If you never take time for yourself and are always feeling rushed, that sense of being overwhelmed will never leave you.

• As hard as it often is to do, get enough sleep and eat properly, or you'll deplete your energy, won't function at your best and will possibly get sick.

• Delegate as often as you can.  And if you can afford it: have someone come in every couple of weeks to clean your house and change the sheets; have the dry cleaners wash and iron your shirts/blouses; and find a selection of restaurants in your neighborhood where you can stop off and pick up (healthy) food to-go.

• Don't over-commit yourself.  You’re not a bad person if you have to say ‘no’ once in a while.

• If you freelance, use your time in-between projects to catch up on everything.  And take a vacation if you can.  If you can’t get away for long, sometimes just a day at the beach or a hike in the mountains is enough to catch your breath and feel rested.

LOOKING FOR WORK IN SHOWBIZ IS A JOB IN ITSELF

Over the years, I have met some amazing people in the entertainment industry – smart, creative, hard-working… but even though many of them have remarkable backgrounds and are incredibly talented, they find it excruciatingly difficult to promote themselves and make new contacts.  So they don’t work as often as they should while others less experienced or less talented land one great job after another.  “Not fair” I say!  But who ever claimed that working in this industry is fair or easy.

We all know that looking for work is uncomfortable, but it’s something we all have to do – over and over and over again.  It’s just part of the business we’re in.  And I realize that just telling someone to venture outside of their comfort zone is easier said than done.

While growing up, your mother probably told you not to brag about yourself and not to talk to strangers.  And now all of a sudden you’re being told to get out there and sell yourself and let a lot of important, busy people who don’t know who you are, know how special you are.  It can be pretty terrifying.  But the truth is that if you don’t toot your own horn, no one else will do it for you, and no one will know just how passionate, talented, efficient, organized, funny, hard-working and collaborative you are.  And if you’re not willing to make the effort, or go about it reluctantly with low expectations - you might as well be in another line of work, because you'll be left in the dust while the competition passes you by.  The only good news I can offer is that the more you do it, the easier and less terrifying it becomes. 

So if your job hunt is overwhelmingly daunting, where do you start?

Besides spiffing up your resume and making sure that you have great business cards, start by getting out there and just being with other people.

·      Make lunch or coffee dates with people you’ve worked or have gone to school with in the past and haven’t seen for a while.  Reconnect.

·      Go to networking events, workshops, seminars, screenings… anyplace where you’re likely to meet new people, and then make coffee dates with those individuals you like and connect with.

·      Tell your friends that you want to expand your network and ask for suggestions of people they could refer you to.  Contact them, introduce yourself, and make more coffee dates.

·      Get involved with a networking/support group where others will brainstorm with you.

·      Volunteer to help out on small films or at industry events.

Next:  since we live in the age of social media – create an online presence for yourself.

·      Create accounts for yourself on Facebook and Linkedin.

·      Research Google, Linkedin and/or Meetup Groups that relate to your facet of the industry, and join the ones that interest you.

·      Create a website for yourself (for those less tech savvy, like me… there are sites that can be made with easy-to-use templates).

·      Write a blog about something you’re passionate about.

·      Volunteer to write articles for Websites that focus on your strengths and expertise.

·      Stay on top of job opportunities by monitoring industry-related web/jobsites and trade papers.

It’s much easier to connect with the right people once you put yourself out there – physically and virtually.  And people who like you will often want to help you, without even being asked.

As my brother Peter used to tell me when I hesitated doing something that was difficult... just put one foot in front of the other and start walking in the right direction.  You'll get to where you want to go!

PASSION PROPELS SHOW BIZ CAREERS

Passion excites, it attracts and it sells.  It’s contagious, inspirational and motivational.  It’s the secret ingredient needed to complete the recipe that constitutes your career.  It’s the enthusiasm that makes the difference between a terrific interview and a mediocre one.  It’s the catalyst that often makes the difference between selling a project or not.  It’s the irresistible characteristic that differentiates you from your competitors.  It’s the magnet that pulls others toward you.  It’s the motivation needed to keep you in the game.  And it’s the driving force that keeps you going when the going gets tough.  No matter what book you pick up on this topic, what seminar or course you take, what speaker you’re listening to – everyone agrees:  nothing launches or propels a career (in any business) as powerfully as does passion.   

So what do you do if you’re passionate on the inside but rather reserved on the outside? First of all, you have to start working on a new MO, because other people can’t read your mind.  And there is no pill you can take that will make you visibly more passionate or endow you with a more enthusiastic attitude.  So if you’re one of those individuals who needs to venture outside of your comfort zone, how do you start the journey from shy to compelling… from mild-mannered to compelling?  Easy… start with a smile :)

My niece was in town last week, and I took her to Universal City Walk one evening.  At the very end of a long row of shops, restaurants and bigger-than-life neon signs, there was a street performer dancing the funk and interacting with the audience that had gathered around him.  One of the many things this colorful character yelled out to the crowd was, “If you’re not smiling, put it on your to-do list!”  

I couldn’t stop thinking about that sentence!  After coming off of my 6-week teaching job at USC this summer and having had a few very shy students, it struck me as exceptionally relevant.  I figuratively beat my students over the head with messages like: 

Get involved.  

Ask questions. 

Be the first to say hello. 

Volunteer. 

Get out to meet people. 

Start building a network and creating relationships. 

Learn as much as you can about the industry. 

Have an opinion. 

Figure out what it is that makes you special. 

Find a way to stand out among your competition. 

Pitch yourself and/or your projects with confidence and excitement. 

Don’t sit in the corner behind the potted palm plant. 

Don’t slink down in your seat. 

Don’t stare at your feet. 

Don’t complain or whine. 

Don’t say you don’t know or it’s not your job. 

Be excited about working in this amazing industry.  

Be the one with the good personality and great attitude.  

Be the one others want to invest in, hang with, work with, have around. 

Be the one someone looks at and thinks:  “Whatever it is that guy’s got, I want some!”

You might be able to function in other universes without much passion, but in the business of Show, it’s an ingredient, without which, your career will likely fall flat (just like a soufflé).  So stand in front of your mirror and practice smiling.  It’s a great start.

Entrepreneurial Spirit Fuels Success in the Film Industry

If you haven’t already noticed, our business is insanely, ridiculously competitive, and everyone is scurrying around vying for their place at the front of the line and a way to stand out among the crowd.  And what I’ve noticed more and more lately is that those who are making their mark are the ones who treat themselves as a business and think of themselves as not only an artist, a producer, a writer, an assistant director (or whatever their craft or job happens to be)… but also as an entrepreneur.

A little entrepreneurial spirit goes a long way, and it can clearly distinguish you from thousands of others competing for the same jobs, roles and opportunities.  But you need to be brave enough to jump outside of the proverbial box and take a chance.  Find a need and fill it.  Figure out what you’re good at or passionate about and then share it with others.  

Whatever it is you want to accomplish, start by creating realistic goals for yourself.  Gather as much advice as you can.  Then generate a timeline and a game plan.  Create an Internet and social media presence.  Let everyone you know and meet know what you want to do, and meet as many new people as you can.  Learn everything you can about marketing yourself.  Build a following.  Surround yourself with a great support team, and ask for help when you need it.

Be the one who stands out by being the guy who’s the amazing photographer.  The one who films in third-world countries.  The one who sends out helpful (and humorous) screenwriting tips.  The one who created the podcast, taught the class, wrote the book, put together a network of 40,000-strong, made the amazing documentary, started the organization, created the popular website, lectures all over the world, makes and sells beautiful art.  Be the one who (fill in the blank). 

The individuals who stand out to me are not only the ones who boldly venture outside of their comfort zones and create alternate streams of income (which BTW is nirvana for freelancers), but are the ones whose passions involve helping others.  Some of my entrepreneurial heroes include:  Jeff Gund, Sandra Lord, Stephen Marinaccio, Suzanne Lyons, Anne Marie Gillen, Jenna Edwards, Cindy Freeman, Heather Hale, Kathy McCurdy, Xander Bennett, Marc Hernandez, Cindy Baer, Stuart Altman, Guy Magar, Andy Stoll, Robert Bahar, Mark Indig, Robbie Szelei, Todd Taylor and Susan Spohr.

Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you.  Create your own!