——— 18 ———

Advice From the Experts

As previously mentioned (more than once), a significant part of your success in this industry will be directly tied to your attitude, how you treat others and how you conduct yourself at each and every job you’ll ever have. So even though my philosophy and advice on attitude, treating others, etc., is peppered throughout this entire book (sorry, you can’t get away from it), this particular chapter contains nothing but advice, from me and from other industry professionals. And if you’re the type of person who doesn’t have to learn it all the “hard way,” you’ll value this wisdom that has already been road-tested by the many others who have walked before you. Take these assertions, insights, beliefs and suggestions to heart, and they will serve you well.

The Word According to Eve

• No matter how insignificant your job or position may seem at the time, think of it this way: the TV or filmmaking 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. And once totally assembled, this picture is so rich in detail, it evokes emotion and conveys a story. So no matter what your contribution, the picture can’t be completed without you.
• Your job is what you do, not who you are. Don’t allow your title to become your sole identity. In other words, whether your title sounds important or not, you, as an individual, are important and have a lot to offer. Take pride in everything you accomplish, everything you are and in all your relationships. Realize that these elements are also part of your identity.
• Along the same lines as “you are not your title”: this can be your life’s work, but it’s not your life. One day work may drastically slow down or disappear all together, and you could be left with nothing. So make time (even if it’s limited) for the people you care about and find activities other than work to give your life meaning. It’s easy to lose sight of priorities when ambition and titles become too meaningful.
• If you’re a person who is truly talented, smart, special and/or important, you don’t have to “act” that way. You just are! You show it every day in the way you behave and relate to others.
• Take your responsibility seriously, but don’t overestimate, misuse or abuse your authority.
• Be a person who earns the respect and loyalty of others and neither expects nor demands it through fear or intimidation.
• Don’t be so ambitious you feel it’s necessary to take advantage of or snub other people to get where you think you’re going. It will come back to haunt you.
• Willingly share information, and don’t feel threatened. The better your team or department, the better you look and the more you learn. And back up your co-workers, stand up for them and be encouraging (even if it’s not reciprocal). If you treat others well, they will usually be there to back you up when you need them.
• Prima donnas don’t go over big on teams, so check your ego at the door. In other words, if you’ve moved beyond being a PA, the call sheets need to be photocopied and you’re the only one around, get up and make those copies. If there’s no one around to  make coffee and you want a cup, make a pot yourself. Being busy and needing the help is one thing, but don’t have other people doing things for you just for the sake of your ego. Don’t ever feel you’re too important to pitch in and do whatever it takes to get the project completed.
• Stay healthy and don’t get so lost in your work that you forget to take care of yourself, both physically and emotionally.
• No one is perfect. Give yourself permission to make mistakes, own up to your mistakes, learn from them and get on with it.
• Don’t lie, or it will come back to bite you in the butt.
• Don’t be phony, overly nice or solicitous just for the sake of impressing someone or trying to get ahead. Others can see through the insincerity.
• Don’t gossip or bad-mouth anyone, because you never know who may be listening or if the person you’re talking to may be a friend of the person you’re bad-mouthing. It also won’t reflect well on you.
• Similarly, there’s a saying I’ve always been rather fond of that goes, “Beware . . . the toes you step on today may be attached to the back side you have to kiss tomorrow.”
• Don’t compromise your principles and ethics. Stay true to yourself.
• Be willing to give back to those just starting out the way others took time to help you when you first got into the business. Invest yourself in the success of others.
• You don’t have to know everything; you just have to know where to find everything you need to know.
• Take the word “no” and any form of negativity out of your vocabulary. Substitute:

  “I don’t know” with “I’ll find out.”

  “It’s not my job” with “I’ll make sure it’s taken care of.” “

  “That’s impossible” with “I’ll find a way to make it work.” “

  “We can’t afford it” with “Let me tell you what we can do.”

• Pick your battles carefully; know when you can’t win and fight hard for those you truly believe in.
• Don’t declare an emergency unless there truly is one.
• Stay calm when all around you are bouncing off walls.
• Don’t get so wrapped up in small details that you lose sight of the big picture; and don’t spend so much time weighing the pros and cons of every issue that you can’t make necessary spur-of-the-moment decisions as unexpected circumstances arise. Get too caught up in minutiae, and you’ll lose both valuable time and money.
• Warning: You can do all of the above, be great at what you do and be a fair and considerate person, and you may still come across someone who (for some unknown reason) doesn’t like you, doesn’t want to be a player on your team, isn’t going to be cooperative or communicative and/or wouldn’t hire you again. This does happen from time to time, and you may never know why. The best thing to do is accept the circumstances, deal with it the best you can, and don’t take it personally.
• Realize there are going to be days when you go home at night feeling totally beaten up and stomped on. But be reassured that it does get better.
• Don’t ever forget the phrase: It’s only a movie!

The Word According to Everyone Else

Just as I did for other parts of the book, I’ve interviewed many industry professionals from different aspects of the business and varying career levels and asked each of them to offer some words of advice to those just starting out in the business. And whether you’re just starting out or are knee-deep in it already, there’s something here for all of us to learn, no matter where we stand on the proverbial ladder. Here’s what they had to say.

• “This is an awesome way to make a living and worth the fight. Make sure you want it really, really bad. And if you do, stay the course, be patient, humble and unwaveringly hungry.”—Shawn Levy, Director.
• “Intelligence, combined with hard work, a willingness to try to accomplish anything and a good-natured can-do philosophy will get you further than almost any other quality.”—Stephanie Austin, Producer.
• “Love it or leave it! If you’re thinking about how much money you can make, or how much time off you can have, or how long the hours are—forget it! If you wouldn’t rather be ‘on the job’ than anywhere else, you probably should be somewhere else.”— Phil Wylly, Producer/Production Manager.
• Watch everything, and find a way to learn from everyone. As a wise man once said, ‘Even a broken clock is exactly right twice a day.’”—Barry Adelman, Senior Vice President, Creative Affairs/Dick Clark Productions.
• “If you’re looking for stability, you’re in the wrong business. You’ve got to know going in where you want to end up, and get on the right career ladder at the start. If not, you’ll end up attached to the short-term buck and unable to get back on track.”—Mark McNair, Vice President, Production, Intermedia Films.
• “To quote Charles Bukowski, ‘What matters most is how you walk through the fire.’”—Eric Mofford, Producer/Director.
• “Surround yourself with people who are positive and inspiring. The best way to attract good people around you is to be a good person.”—Morgana Rae, Professional Life Coach/Owner, Charmed Life Coaching.
• “Today, if one insists on being in this industry, one must be very determined. Also, one must never forget that no matter how high you get up the ladder, we are all incredibly dispensable. For each one of us who is working, there are another thirty standing in line who would be totally willing to do our jobs for less money and less attitude. Stay grateful for any opportunity.”—Christine Evey, Commercial Producer
• “You’ve definitely got to have a lot of patience to make it in this business. But more importantly, you need to be consistent and persistent . . . without being annoying.”—Graham Ludlow, Producer.
• “Figure out what it is you want to do, search your soul for the direction that’s right for you and don’t deviate. Also, understand you’re signing up for an entire lifestyle–not just a job.” —Mike Papadaki, Vice President, Marketing and Sales—CFI/Technicolor.
• “You must have a passion for the business; but learn to think before you react, because sometimes passion can lead to volatility. Also, learn everything you can about every job. Respect for your co-workers and their craft is very important.”—Patience Thoreson, Script Supervisor.
• “Work for free for the best people you can connect with.”—Robert Bahar, Documentarian.
• “Many are called but few are chosen, so you better have a passion for this business!”—Warren Vanders, Actor/Writer/Director.
• “It’s easy to avoid everything and throw yourself into the fracas of film production, but be careful lest you wake up one day to find yourself middle-aged and a stranger to your children and spouse. You don’t want your tombstone to read: ‘He went into 50% fewer meal penalties!’”—Jerram Swartz, Production Manager/First Assistant Director.
• “Get smart and educated about the industry. I mean the film industry internationally. It’s a big world. Don’t forget the business part of show business, and don’t waste time complaining. Take actions every day. Don’t ever expect someone else to do it for you. Be assertive and let everyone know what you’re up to. Ask for help and ask to help. Make requests. Everyone loves to contribute.”—Suzanne Lyons, Producer.
• “Read as many scripts as you can get your hands on, and learn what makes a good story. Be prepared to offer your opinion when asked, and always, always, always think before you speak.”—Danielle Daly, Assistant to Director John Dahl.
• “First–try to work with people of integrity you admire and respect at the beginning of your career, because that’s when you’ll be establishing your fundamental working habits. Second—whenever you have a big decision to make, ask three people in a position to know about the issue for advice and an opinion.”—Janet Graham-Borba, Vice President of Production, HBO Films.
• “Tackle each job with complete and total commitment, no matter what the job is; and surround yourself with people who compliment your strengths.”—Ron Lynch, President, The Culver Studios.
• “Tell anyone and everyone what it is you want to do. Shout it from the rooftops, because inevitably, someone will know someone who is willing to give you a shot.”—Vail Romeyn, Production Supervisor/Independent Producer.
• “Be mentally and emotionally ready for the obstacle course that lies ahead.”—Jim Byrnes, Writer.
• “Have a positive attitude. People don’t enjoy working around people who aren’t pleasant and positive. Second, try and have some kind of goal. The goal or goals don’t always have to be long-term, but short-term goals in any situation help give meaning and context to whatever job you’re doing.”—Jay Roewe, Senior Vice President of Production, HBO Films.
• “There are no short cuts—no quick fixes. You have to be in it for the long haul.”—Mike Jacobs, Jr., Producer.
• “It’s important to acknowledge that there’s no one single path to success in this business, but passion and determination are key no matter what you are doing or how long it takes. Learn from every job you have, and try to foster good relationships with those you encounter . . . you never know when you’ll need them. Oh—and keep your sense of humor and humanity. Life’s too short, and this business is too nuts to forget that.”—Lindsay Devlin, Director of Development, Kerner Entertainment.
• “Keep in mind that the PA working for you today could be the producer (director, writer . . .) you want to work for in the future.”—Victoria Paul, Production Designer.
• “Don’t buy the Mercedes until you’ve got a year ‘in the bank,’ and then don’t buy it until you can pay at least 50% in cash!” —John Poer, First Assistant Director.
• “If someone invites you to lunch—go! Make friends on the job, because your friends are your best asset.”—Susan Hirshberg, Production Supervisor, Motion Picture Production Department, Disney/Touchstone Pictures.
• “Do your job, and try not to believe your own publicity.”—Allen Grossman, Line Producer.
• “Never stop learning and wanting to better yourself.”—Chris Zambros, Transportation Captain.
• “Take jobs based on the opportunity they will give you. Don’t get hung up about the amount of money or benefits. Take jobs that will add to your resume. Build your resume, and the money will follow. I will still take on work for no pay if it offers me an opportunity to grow.”—Keith Raskin, Executive in Charge of Production.
• “Network, take classes, ask questions, work for free and seek out a mentor.”—Susan Sullivan, Script Supervisor.
• “Be easy to work with and leave the personal drama at home.”— Michael Coscia, Writer.
• “Keep your promises and follow through.”—Missy Moyer, UPM/Line Producer.
• “Forward progress is largely dependent on experience and relationships. Practice your craft, exploit your talents and build relationships where it matters.”—Steve Molen, Production Executive, DreamWorks SKG.
• “Be positive about what you want to do today, but keep your eyes open to new possibilities; and keep an open mind.”—Matt Kutcher, Special Effects Supervisor/Second Unit Director.
• “Stay open to new opportunities. Very few people end up doing what they originally set out to do in Hollywood. The business constantly changes, and you must keep all options open. And always accept a firm offer with a deal memo over a promise of a better project that has not yet been greenlit.”—Don Zepfel, Freelance Line Producer.
• “Make sure you have a means of support or enough savings to carry you through the start-up stages (a good couple years) that doesn’t drain you or keep you from fully focusing on your career.”—Barbara Schwartz, Screenwriter.
• “Persistence (without being annoying), belief in yourself (without cockiness) and a willingness to hang in there when the going gets tough.”—Carol Byron, Production Accountant.
• “Cultivate good people skills, adopt a willingness to do whatever it takes, be open to all possibilities, learn as much about the business as you can, be a team player and plan your moves carefully.”—Jonathan Sanger, Producer.
• “If you want a career working on set, figure out what career path interests you the most, and then find out how to join the union in that profession. If you get into a union or guild, you will have job and wage protection with medical, health and pension benefits. It’s hard work but a good life.”—Mark Hansson, DGA First Assistant Director.
• “To make it in the entertainment industry, you must first learn to accept rejection and toughen up your heart. As you gain some perspective, you realize how critical the opposite is: to reject acceptance and to keep your heart open.”—Heather Hale, President, Storyworks Entertainment, Inc.
• “Understand the level of sacrifice you’re committing to.”—Wayne Lamkay, Assistant Production Coordinator.
• “Realize that the people you work with are just as insecure as you are, even if they’ve been in the business a lot longer.” —Richard Wells, First Assistant Director/Director.
• “Passion for persistence will pay off . . . and never get discouraged!”—Darren Sugar, Below-the-Line Agent, Prime Talents.
• “Observe, listen and think before proceeding.”—Jean-Pierre Avice, Line Producer/Production Manager (France).
• “Start at the bottom, keep your mouth shut and eyes open for the first two years. Volunteer to do everything, especially the airport runs picking up directors, producers, etc. Read the paper every morning, so you have something to talk about on the set. Never talk about politics or religion—sports is good. Never eat on the set until the rest of the crew has eaten. Don’t get caught up in the gossip or give out personal information. The first two years it’s good to be somewhat mysterious, but also smart and helpful.”— Jonathan Singer, Producer.
• “If you have dreams of being the next hot director or producer— be realistic, because the odds are not in your favor. Have a back-up plan and find another area of the business that would make you happy.”—Cindy Quan, Production Accountant.
• “Be on time—always!”—Joni Wester, Studio Nurse.
• “Stay with it and take any job offered to you.”—Ned Shapiro, Location Manager.
• “Don’t get into this business unless you want it more than anything else in your life. It will require 110% of your waking energies to survive—much less succeed. If you are committed to that, then take on the occupational hazard of moving to Los Angeles, because you must be in the center of the cyclone if you wish to weather the storm. From there, perseverance, tenacity, assertiveness, unbounded optimism and bruised knuckles will become your tools. Strive for success, prepare for failure and maintain an undying confidence in yourself and your abilities despite horrific odds.”—Louis G. Friedman, Line Producer.
• “Don’t be afraid to start at the bottom. The only way to truly learn how to do something is by doing it. Being a PA is the best way to learn how things work, and it gives you a great opportunity to see various aspects of the film world.”—Stephen Marinaccio, UPM/Line Producer.
• “Be willing to endure the big egos and the politics. Don’t be afraid to mess up, and don’t get flustered. Stay calm! Don’t care so much about what other people think! Get the training you need, because the more confident you are and in control you act, the more others will trust you, and the less you’ll get yelled at.” —Michael Brooks, Music Producer and Head of Production for Rafelson Media.
• “Despite your best efforts, things will go awry. The challenge is how fast you can fix it. There will be times when you can’t. Get over it. Accept all you meet at face value, and make your own decisions. Don’t let others make them for you. Don’t lose sight of your dreams, and don’t let anyone tell you can’t achieve something. You decide.”—Dustin Bernard, UPM.
• “Put your ego in your back pocket and sit on it for a while. Be willing to keep your mouth shut, listen, make the coffee and do the runs. The more you can soak up, the more you’ll learn. Oh . . . and be willing to work your butt off!”—Cory McCrum-Abdo, Post Production Producer.
• “Do your best and be your best every day and the work will come. Use your time off as a gift to yourself. Be the most interesting and informed person on the set. There’s a lot of gabinvolved  in getting the job and getting called repeatedly. No one wants to spend 16-hour days trapped with a boring, ignorant, boorish crew member. Cultivate you!”—Peggy Geary, Script Supervisor.
• “If you still love doing it, even after the fantasy of what you thought show business was—is replaced by the ‘reality’ of what show business is—if you still ‘love it’ even after that, then stick with it. Sooner or later, it will love you back.”—Matt Zettell, First Assistant Director.
• “Have a willingness to ‘do the work’ and learn the ropes. Don’t expect a lucky break—create one for yourself.”—Anne Hopkins, Producer.
• “Go into computer games. That’s the future!”—Jack Kindberg, President, Studio Operations & Administration, Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Here  are some other words of wisdom worth noting.

• “You can’t have any success unless you can accept failure.” —George Cukor.
• “There just isn’t any pleasing some people. The trick is to stop trying.”—Robert Mitchum.
• “Create your own visual style . . . let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.”—Orson Welles.
• “Attempt the impossible in order to improve your work.”—Bette Davis.
• “All great work is preparing yourself for the accident to happen.”—Sidney Lumet.
• “Stay humble. Always answer your phone—no matter who else is in the car.”—Jack Lemmon.
• “I do take my work seriously, and the way to do that is not to take yourself too seriously.”—Alan Rickman.
• “Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you need is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”—Oprah Winfrey.
• “Imagination is the highest kite that one can fly.”—Lauren Bacall.
• “You’re not a star until they can spell your name in Karachi.” —Humphrey Bogart.
• “If you want a guarantee—buy a toaster.”—Clint Eastwood.