Monday, October 31, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 971: How reasonable is it to pursue acting and production work at the same time?

Extremely reasonable. The people who hire you for acting jobs are different than the people who hire you for PA jobs. Both require the same business tools for generating work, so you can chunk your time. For example, you can chunk out two hours to research new contacts to target. You can spend the first hour researching for acting contacts and the second hour for researching PA contacts.

Both jobs get you on set where you have the opportunity to create relationships.

What's important is to have a "passion story" for both. The reason is if someone who knows you as an actor sees you on set as a PA and asks you about it, you can tell them your passion story. An example may be that your long term goal is to be an actor with a production company so during your pursuit of acting work, you're familiarizing yourself with work on the set.

The key element is believing in what you're doing, so should anybody tell you that you can't do both, your confidence in your decision will prove that you can.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

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Sunday, October 30, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 970: What do I do when I go back to my old ways after I've worked with you?

Okay, this is one of my old clients, so I know his history. Here's the bottom line. Times are tough for some people, my business has changed, and not everyone can afford to work with me. That said, anyone who has worked with me has the tools they need to succeed. This person in particular has extraordinary tools and the ability to use them. So I will ask you this question:
What was different about how you were working when you were working with me?

Break it down for yourself. Just knowing you, I can identify 2 things that I know are different, but you have to be able to recognize them, as opposed to me telling you (and for all of you cynics out there, I'm not referring to his paying me to coach him, I'm talking about 2 specific tools he was using all of the time that I know he's stopped using).

Then you have to ask yourself, "how can I think outside of the box and reincorporate those tools into my business work, even without being held accountable by Jessica?"

My goal is not to have you coach with me forever, it's to teach you the tools, help you to master them, and then send you out into the world to be a success. Every time someone thanks me for what they've accomplished, I appreciate the acknowledgment, but remind them, that they did the work- not me.

A race car driver can thank his pit crew for maintaining his car, but he's the one who drives it to win the race. SO DRIVE, my friend... drive!

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 969: How do I network on Halloween when everyone's in costumes?

Halloween is not really a big networking opportunity if you're trick or treating. If you go to a networking party, all the more reason to be yourself if you have no idea who's under the costume. Who knows who you'll meet...

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 968: When I do BG work I bond with the AD and 2nd AD but don't know how to send a a thank you card to them.

And by BG she is referring to background work. Anytime you create a relationship with someone, you can ask for their contact information. You can be cute and say, "at the risk of ruining the surprise, I'd like to send you a thank you note. How might I send that to you?" They may respond with their address, or give you an email, or their card with the info on it.

If they say, "you don't have to do that," listen very closely to HOW they are saying it. If they are a bit stand-offish, like "I don't want to give this person my contact information," then just drop it and look them up on Facebook a week later. Send them a friend request with a reminder of where you met. If you don't know their last name, try to get a call sheet (If they are a "green set" their call sheet may be on an iPad, and you'll have to use some detective work).

If they say it in a way that they are just being modest, say, "well, I've really enjoyed meeting you and would like to stay in contact. You never know when I may be able to help you connect with someone for another job you may be seeking, etc." Then ask for a card and if they don't have one ask if they'd like to write down their contact info or connect on Facebook.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 967: What percentage of women have children and keep working in entertainment?

I don't have statistics for you nor do I believe a statistic like that exists. The question is, are you a woman who wants to have children and maintain your career in the entertainment industry?

If so, then that is your focus. Find other women in your field of expertise, who also have children. Ask them how they've made it work. The more women you talk to, the more educated your decision can be.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 966: How can I help my husband get work when I'm not in the industry?

That depends on your skill set. If your husband isn't working and he has the talent to be working, he needs help in a number of possible areas:

1. networking
2. marketing
3. selling
4. maintaining relationships
5. follow up

I have coached many couples, where the wife acts as her husband's manager. You also may want to read books on the industry so you have a better understanding of the business.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 965: Last year on Halloween I found out where certain celebs live. Is this a good strategy?

Good strategy for what? What do you plan to do with your knowledge of where they live?

One of the benefits of living in Los Angeles is that, as the tabloids say, "Celebrities are just like us." So yes, they celebrate Halloween just like us. That means that if you are trick or treating in upscale neighborhoods, there's a good chance that you can enter a haunted yard and find Jon Favreau in a superhero costume.

Do not unmask the Superhero! He is enjoying the holiday with his kids and neighbors.

It sounds like you have made some discoveries in past Halloweens and now want to go to new neighborhoods in the hopes of discovering a new celebrity lair or two. I don't understand the strategy because I can't imagine what your plan could be that wouldn't involve you somehow returning to the celebrity's home, and I can't imagine how that would be a welcomed event.

So, if you can give me a good reason why you should know where celebrities live and what you would do with this information to advance your career, I'll give you my opinion. But as it stands, I stand for privacy.


For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 964: Is it true that things slow down at Thanksgiving?

It depends on what you mean by "things". Purchasing slows down. Executives and decision makers have historically wrapped things up in anticipation of vacation time, by Thanksgiving. So, pitching something at holiday time isn't necessarily the best timing.

However, networking is full speed ahead during the holidays. There are tons of holiday parties at studios, production houses, unions, vendors, and at people's homes. It's also a great opportunity to send a holiday card to re-establish relationships.

The old saying, "when one door closes another door opens..." could be applied here.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 963: How do I get a job as a PA?

There are different ways to get a job as a PA. The best way is always through other people. Let everyone you know in the industry or connected to the industry, know that you want to work as a set PA.

Another way, is to send cold resumes to productions in prep. It's one of the only positions where people take chances on people they don't know, if their resume is strong.

If you don't have a strong resume, do free PA work on short films, web series, and indie films to build your resume and relationships.

Also, check out PA Juice.


For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 962: Once I get a mentor, what am I going to talk to him about?

I get this question all the time because people who want mentors worry that they won't know what to talk about once they get them. Worry, in this case, comes from two things:

1. Lack of preparation

2. Jumping ahead of yourself

When you decide on a mentor, do your research and design questions that you want him or her to answer. Once the questions are answered it will lead you to take action and the next conversation will pick up from the results you had based on his/her advice. And so on and so on.

By "jumping ahead of yourself," I mean, you haven't even had a first mentor conversation and you're already worried about what you're going to talk about down the road. When you meet a friend through a mutual friend, find that you get along really well, and make plans to go out to lunch, do you worry about what you're going to talk about three months from now if the friendship blossoms? I sure hope not.

Mentorship is no different. Like friendships, let the relationship happen naturally. Trust that you will always do your pre-conversation work of designing "next-step" questions, and will therefore, know what to talk about.


For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 961: As a recent film school grad & writer/director, is an agent a must to sell a 1st script I want to direct?

Nothing is a "must" in this industry, including an agent. Is it beneficial to have an agent with connections out there shopping your script? Yes. That said, how attached are you to directing your script? Once you sell it to a studio, you directing it, can be a deal breaker. As a recent film school grad, you have no proven track record. The chances of a studio taking a risk on a first time director with no industry experience, especially if big name talent is attached, is not as likely as you making and directing your first film yourself.

Before you set out to direct your first film and invest your time and money, possibly other people's money, you want to get industry feedback. Not feedback from your best friends and family members, feedback from mentors who are development assistants, or other screenwriters who've actually sold something.

The reason I suggest this, is because thousands of people make movies every year and because it's their material, they don't see the flaws. Again, if you're going to invest your time and money, you want to have a good idea that the material is strong, that there's a market for it and you have a plan for it, should it not get into any festivals (as well as plan for when it does get into festivals.)

Agents are always looking for exceptional talent, and you may be it. If that's the case, agents are waiting for you. If you are anything less than exceptional, getting an agent can be challenging and time consuming when you're first starting out. That time and energy may be better spent on making your movie yourself. Then when it's a huge hit, the agents will find you!

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 961: As a parent, how do I find time to use social networking like Facebook?

Great question! Your time is valuable so allocate what works for your life. My suggestion would be 15 minutes at least 2 times per week. This gives you enough time to update your status, reach out to industry connections, and comment and "Like" people's statuses whom you follow.

Facebook can be a real time suck, especially in the beginning when you start searching for people from your past, but it wears off... or not, and if not, have a schedule and keep to it.

I think that social networking is a free, easy, non-threatening way to market yourself and create relationships and should not be neglected as part of your business tool belt.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 961: Do I need a Facebook "Buisness" page?

This is a personal question. I talk about it in my free call "How to Use Social Media to Get Jobs in Entertainment" which you can listen to at GreenlightHollywood.com.

There are bells and whistles you can use on a "business" page, that you can't use on your personal page, the question is do you have time to maintain two pages? I have a "business" page where I post these blogs daily and where entertainment industry professionals can share their links, reels, webseries, videos, announcements, and make requests of and connect with other industry professionals. I generally don't allow them to do that on my personal page UNLESS they are my client.

I feel people get to know me personally on my personal page, and some of that is lost on a "business" page. This is more of a "throw some spaghetti against the wall and see what sticks." If it works for you and you have time for both, then there's no reason not to do it. When you hit 5000 friends, you'll have no choice, but to move people over.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 960: How do people get to see movies at the DGA?

For those of you who don't know what the DGA is, it's the Directors Guild of America; the union that represents Directors, ADs and other classifications that fall under their jurisdiction. The DGA happens to have one of the best theaters in town (no surprise), but to see a movie there, you must be in an organization that is screening a movie there, invited by a member of an organization that is screening a movie there, or attending a film festival there. It is not a regular theater where you can just show up and pay.

Another good reason to reach out and create relationships with people. Some of the organizations that screen movies there in addition to DGA are: The SAG Film Society, The Cinematographers Guild and The Editors Guild.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 959: Why do some shows like Playboy Club get cancelled so fast?

That would be a great question for NBC. Personally, I was enjoying it (which as my loyal readers know is the kiss of death- although Revenge got more episodes ordered yay!).

Look, it's about ratings/money. Bottom line. Things have changed. If networks were axing shows like they do now back when Seinfeld and Friends were on, they would have been axed in the first season.

If you have a serious interest in the networks and how and why they make the decisions they do, then I suggest you seek out mentors in that area.

I also get a lot of "political" insight from my writer friends, but it's different for every show.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1280: I grew up in India and as a result English is my second language (cont'd)

"I grew up in India and as a result English is my second language. I  am looking to improve my comprehension when I read my text book...