ON THE JOB TRAINING

Whether you stay in this business for 10 years or 40, you will walk away from it with a great number of abilities that will prove invaluable—no matter where life leads you. This business will teach you any number of vital skills, such as how to: multi-task like nobody’s business; be responsible; follow up and follow through; collaborate; stay organized; create a budget and schedule; be proactive and anticipate the needs of others; think on your feet and problem-solve; work with all manner of people, their personalities and egos; juggle work and home-life responsibilities; operate with little sleep; work under pressure; work from anywhere (a hotel room, a car, a folding table in the corner of a crowded, noisy room); set up temporary offices and take them down over and over again all over the world; move like the speed of lightning; make split-second decisions; and stay ahead of the learning curve.

Because many of us consistently work on a variety of projects, often for different companies in different locations and are faced with a continuum of challenges—we’re constantly learning new things. My friend Matt Birch explains it by saying that as we continue to learn, we keep adding new tools to our toolbox. And each time we move on to a new project, we just pull out the tools we need for that particular job. These skills and tools serve us well, not just at work, but throughout our lives. After years of working on productions of all sizes, do you doubt for a minute that I could pull together a big family function with one hand tied behind my back? I recently read an article written by Arestia Rosenberg, Creative Director of Brand Strategy for The Daily Beast. It’s called “Why Everyone Should Work in Hollywood,” and I totally agree. Whether you stick around in this crazy business or not, these skills will serve you well in any other job in any other industry, and they’re also just great everyday life skills to have.

LEARNING THE HARD WAY

There’s only so much that I or anyone else can convey to you about what this business is truly like, what you should avoid and what you can do to improve your chances of success. And it isn’t that I or any of the other industry professionals who have generously added their voices to this book are wrong. It’s just human nature that most of us only half-listen to good advice—sometimes taking it, sometimes not. Most of us forge our own paths—convinced we know what’s best for ourselves—and no matter what it was like for others, it’s going to be different for us. And while many of you may be or may become quite successful, after you’ve been in the business for a very long time, there are always things you can look back on and wish you had done differently—things you had to learn the hard way, because you didn’t have the guidance you could have used, or you thought you knew better, even if the advice was there for the taking.

I asked a few of my industry friends and colleagues to look back on their careers and answer the following three questions: “What did you have to learn the hard way?” “If you had it to do all over again, what would you do differently?” And “What are you most proud of?” Hopefully, some of these answers will burrow into your brain and stay with you as you start or continue your career. Some touch on themes brought up earlier in the book, but reinforced in a different context, may make more of an impact. I’ll start by answering the questions myself.

What I had to learn the hard way was that I was capable of achieving a lot more than I thought possible. If I could do it all over again, I would have found the self-confidence I needed earlier in my career. I would have found a mentor. I would have stood up for myself more, been more judicious about some of the jobs I took and would have set goals throughout my career. The thing I’m most proud of has got to be a multi-faceted answer. It’s that I’ve made it through all these years in a difficult and demanding industry with a good reputation, have made some amazingly wonderful life-long friends along the way, and I now get to share my experiences and pass knowledge onto my students—proud beyond belief of their achievements.

I asked several people what they had to learn the hard way, and the word that came back to me most often was “humility.” Another word I heard several times was “patience.” And a few industry friends said what they had learned the hard way was how to navigate the politics. Director/cinematographer Steven Bernstein explained that what he had to learn the hard way is that a good personality trumps talent. He said when he was young, everyone told him how brilliant he was, and he thought that gave him license to do and say what he wanted. He said he eventually learned that anyone can be replaced, and a director would prefer to have someone he likes on the set with him every day rather than someone who’s very talented, but difficult. He added that the key is being good at your job and easy to work with. As for what he’d do differently if he could do it all over again, he said he wouldn’t let fear dictate which jobs he took—that he’d follow his passion and do more of what he loved (directing) rather than just going after the big paychecks.

Producer/educator, Eric Mofford relayed something very similar in stressing that he would have concentrated on directing, no matter how financially tight that would have left him, because that’s what he really wanted to do. And CASHet exec and former production accountant Shawn Gillespie said if he had it to do all over again, he wouldn’t have settled—he would have the confidence to try other things. I’m sure if I had interviewed more people, I would have heard more of the same from individuals who wished they had had more courage to follow their passions.

Both Eric Mofford and line producer Ira Shuman said what they were the most proud of was having successful careers in this business while being able to preserve strong and lasting relationships with their wives, children and friends. Several of those I asked said they were just proud to have been able to sustain careers in this business, appreciative of the fun they’ve had, the wonderful people they’ve met and the memorable experiences they’ve accumulated.

Both Ira Shuman and Miss Moyer (another line producer friend) said if they had it to do over again, they would have liked to have had a mentor early on in their careers from whom they could have gotten guidance, reality checks, advice and job referrals. Me too.

Long-time UPM/Producer Mark Indig, a wise man of few words, said what he had to learn the hard way is how to go without sleep. What he would do differently if he could do it all over again is to take the ups and downs less personally. What he’s the most proud of is that he worked consistently for 42 years in a tough business.

What Missy Moyer has learned the hard way is that difficult people are going to be who they are no matter what, and if she wants to retain the delight in the work, she has to be thick-skinned and true to herself at the same time. She said she has to do her best, be open to the new, remain curious and compassionate and put the project first.

Veteran script supervisor Peggy Geary said what she had to learn the hard way was to keep her opinions to herself, adding that gossip travels fast in this business. If she had it to do all over again, she would have made earlier attempts to move her career in another direction. What she’s most proud of is the length of her career, her good work ethic and the high standards she brought to her work—all of which allowed her to retire at the top of her game.

My long-time pal, production accountant Tom Udell, who has pioneered some notable accounting innovations during his career and has trained many other terrific accountants—when asked what he’d do differently if he had it to do all over again, he says he would have bought more real estate and kept it.

MAKING IT IN THE FILM INDUSTRY

A question I often ask the guest speakers who graciously give up their time to speak to my students is at what point in their career did they know they had 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 many of us 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 and takes us off course—only to have that detour become a surprisingly good alternative to 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 in this business.

A few years ago, I sat on a panel of six authors at a terrific event at Samuel French Bookstore in Hollywood, 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.

And while success doesn’t necessarily bring happiness, happiness can (and often does) bring us success. So enjoy the journey!

BREAKING OUT OF THE INDUSTRY

When this book first came out in 2005, a few people asked (in a half-joking, half-serious way) if in addition to a book about breaking in, I could also write one on how to get out of the industry. I’ve heard this a lot through the years from friends and co-workers weary of the on-again-off-again employment (especially those long stretches of time when it’s more “off” than “on”), the long hours, the politics and egos. And as great as it is to work on location and see places you’d never otherwise see or visit—being away from home, family and friends for months on end can also get old after a while. But what the people who want out are most afraid of is that they don’t know anything else and don’t think they’re employable in another business. They’re wrong, and I’m a prime example. Moving from years of having worked in production to a job at the film commission wasn’t that big of a jump, but it made all the difference in the world. It’s a position where I can use my production experience, work more normal hours, collect a steady paycheck and travel for no more than a day or two at a time on the rare occasion when travel is even necessary. I have to admit though, I’m still dealing with politics. And unfortunately, that’s something you can’t entirely get away from, no matter what business you’re in.

Shawn Gillespie, who also found a related business to segue into (as a Senior Vice President, I might add), recommends that you keep your eyes open for a company that needs someone with your skillset, and look at businesses you’re dealing with on a day-to-day basis. That’s another scenario I can relate to. When I was working at DreamWorks, we were clients of Entertainment Partners (EP), and the person I dealt with the most at EP was Joe Chianese, who had taught me a lot about tax incentives. When DreamWorks downsized, and I was laid-off, I kept in touch with a lot of the people I had worked with while there—including Joe. A few years after leaving DreamWorks, Joe reached out when someone from his staff went out on an extended leave and asked if I’d consider coming to work for him until his staff member returned. It turned into a terrific five-month consulting job for me—very different than what I was used to, but my skills came in handy, I learned new skills and made some new friends.

I’ve known people who have left the industry to go back to school in order to learn new skills or obtain a degree they never had time to finish. I’ve known others who left the business to turn their hobbies into businesses. My friend Susan became a full-time artist, sells her art and teaches ceramics. My friend Mike took cooking classes and started working parties with a caterer he knew. Another friend and his wife started a cooking school. Many former industry professionals now teach at various film schools. And one friend started her own business as a consultant to producers.

If it’s something you’re having trouble figuring out on your own, go see a career counselor who’s trained to help people transition into related or entirely new careers. Here are some other things to keep in mind when you’re contemplating a career change:

1. Sock away a substantial nest egg (a year’s worth of living expenses, two if possible) before you cut the cord, because you have no idea how long it’ll take to reestablish yourself.

2. Go on general information meetings with people who are doing what you’d like to be doing to find out the ins and outs of breaking into this other business, the pros and cons of the job and the salary you can expect to make. Walk in with realistic expectations.

3. Start meeting and networking with people in the business you’ll be transitioning into.

4. Create a new brand for yourself highlighting your new business skills— a website/weblog, new business cards, etc.

Take advantage of the advice found in earlier chapters about how to break into the entertainment industry. It works, no matter what business you’re breaking into or transitioning into.

Whether you end up working in the entertainment industry for just a few years or for your entire career, there will inevitably be occasions when you ask yourself “why?” because no career is without its moments of frustration and doubt. Should you find yourself reflecting on why you chose such a tough business to get into, this next section will help you remember.

REMEMBERING WHY YOU GOT INTO THIS BUSINESS TO BEGIN WITH

When you were a kid, did you ever take the Universal Studios tour and, as the tram was driving up and down the backlot, fantasize about how incredible it would be to work there one day, to actually belong on that lot or another just like it? If you did, you’re in good company. And do you remember how alive you felt when you made the decision to go for it and finally started taking steps toward a career in the biz?

Whether it’s getting into film school, making your first student film or getting your first job as a PA, there’s something magical about this time when your feet rarely touch ground. You’re full of passion, excitement, creativity and anticipation. You can’t believe you’re part of this amazing, exclusive world, even if it’s only a tiny part, and you’re willing to do anything it takes to succeed. It’s exhilarating to work with seasoned professionals; to walk onto a real studio or television lot or stage; to walk the halls of famous agencies such as William Morris and CAA; to meet your idols; to learn, to watch and to strive to impress anyone you can. You love reading scripts, going to movies, critiquing movies, talking about the industry and associating with people in the industry. You’ve heard the dire warnings about the insecurity, rejection, competition and uncertainty, but your selective form of tunnel vision prevents you from taking any of it too seriously, because it’s going to be different for you. What a high! You’re starting out on the biggest and most wonderful adventure of your life with the goal that one day you, too, will be discovering great talent; landing substantial roles; writing scripts that create studio bidding wars; marketing and selling films throughout the world; or working on shows that will entertain, influence and touch the minds and hearts of anyone and everyone who views content in a movie theater, on a television, computer or smartphone or through a virtual reality headset. No one can dissuade you from your dream because you live, eat and breathe it.

Now the trick is to find a way to remember these feelings once reality sets in and the harshness of the business hits you right between the eyes. Having the ability to recall those emotions, revisit the thrill, reminisce about what drew you into this line of work and remember what it is you love about the industry will help you get through the tough times.

Director, writer, producer and Action/Cut Seminar founder Guy Magar recommends that we put all of that passion and excitement and all those memories into a little box and tuck that box into our back pocket for safe keeping. Then throughout your career, whenever you’re feeling discouraged, frustrated, rejected, beaten down by the politics or competition, you can just take that little box out of your back pocket and open it up, re-releasing all those wonderful emotions and reminding yourself why you got into this business to begin with.

I love the little-box-in-your-back-pocket analogy, but you can also write out your feelings and leave them in your computer, in a journal, in a file, wherever—just as long as they’re accessible and easy to get to when you need them. Re-reading your notes after a considerable amount of time has passed is sort of like the thrill one gets when re-reading old love letters and remembering what it felt like when you first fell in love with your spouse or partner after the demands of everyday life have taken their toll on your romance. Here are a few other ways to recapture the magic.

• Collect the shows you work on (or appeared in), watch them from time to time, and remember the good times, the craziness, the locations and the people.

• Save memorabilia from your projects (cast and crew gifts, photos, scripts, etc.).

• Stay in touch with the special people you’ve met and worked with throughout your career; get together with them from time to time and reminisce.

• Help and mentor others just getting into the biz, and share your experiences with them. Teaching definitely does it for me.

If you’re in it for the long haul, you’re likely to get involved with projects that will fall through. Then there will be times when you’re out of work longer than you’d like to be or you might very well end up working on exceptionally tough projects with people who test your patience beyond all reasonable limits. Whatever it is, there will undoubtedly be times when you’ll find yourself disillusioned and questioning what demon ever possessed you to choose this insanity.

I hope you’ll always be excited and passionate about your work and that the sense of wonderment never leaves you, but should you ever find yourself up against it and questioning the path you’ve taken—that’s the time to pull the little box out of your pocket. Open it up, take a deep breath and soak up the memories. Or reminisce with people you’ve worked with, share your experiences with those just starting their careers, watch the shows you’ve worked on or find the love notes you once wrote to this business and revisit the feelings. Find your own magic elixir that will keep you from crashing and burning and will effectively ward off cynicism, frustration and defeat.

No matter how long your showbiz career lasts, your ability to remember why you chose this profession to begin with should give you the boost you need to keep going and to tackle most of the obstacles in your path.