entertainment industry coach question 338:What's a great method an A.D. can use to quiet a crew on set that gets to talking between takes of scenes?

I've never worked as an A.D. so maybe those of you who read this who are A.D.s can chime in (add to the comment section)

I have worked as a producer, and I've also worked on sets for A.D.s as talent. My personal feeling is you get better results by being a morale raiser than a ball buster.

Therefore, when you get the opportunity, call a quick meeting and tell everyone what a great job they're doing and how pleased you are to have such a great crew. Then tell them, one of the best ways to get more work is by creating strong relationships and the best way to do that is by making a good impression on people who can hire you again and refer you to other jobs.

Let them know that by talking in between shots, it could give the impression to the "higher-ups" that they're not focused, not taking the job seriously, or are just unprofessional. Suggest that they stay focused during the hours of the shoot and then, hang out and have fun with each other after the day is wrapped.

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

question 214: How do I know which clips to use for my reel?

I get this question a lot. I usually like to discuss the client's objectives before giving an answer so we can tailor the reel to the direction the client wants to go in.

Because I don't know you, what you want to do, or how you want to market yourself, I'll give you some basic tips:

1. Decide what type of work you want to do and choose clips that reflect that

2. Choose only GREAT clips (you only get one chance to make a first impression)

3. Use current clips whenever possible (definitely nothing over 15 years old, hair styles and wardrobe always give it away)

4. Put recognizable talent up front so people immediately see you can work with name talent

5. Show range within the type of work you want to do

6. Keep the clips short and the reel length current and consistent with the marketplace

7. After doing the previous 6, get feedback from people before duplicating. Sometimes we fall in love with our own work but it doesn't necessarily sell us the right way.

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

Question 81: What do people really want to see in a reel?

It depends on who's looking at it. There are many types of people who will look at your reel. I will address 3 types: 

The first type is the person who knows what constitutes talent in your classification. This person will be looking at your talent & skill. If it's there, then it may or may not matter if you have recognizable talent/projects on your reel. 

The second type doesn't know the nuances of what you do (ex: a writer* looking at a DP's reel). This person is looking for recognizable talent/projects, something that appeals to his/her sensibilities, and his/her medium.

The third type is looking for "his/her movie" on your reel. In other words, if his/her movie takes place in the interior of a restaurant and you're reel is comprised of a montage of interiors in a bedroom, a car dealership, a bathroom, a classroom, and a gym locker room, he/she will wonder, "Yes, but can you do a restaurant?" What are you gonna do? I know a 5-time Oscar nominee that encountered this, which leads me to...

You can't please everybody so:

1. Put recognizable talent/projects up front

2. Get other qualified people's feedback, because sometimes your opinion is biased 

3. Research your competition's reels so that the length and style of your reel is current  

*disclaimer: there are many writers who have a great knowledge of lighting 

For more tips and articles by top entertainment coach, The Greenlight Coach, visit www.theGreenlightCoachBlog.com 

Question 25: Why doesn't talent count for anything?

This question was followed by: 

"I'm sick of seeing people whose reels aren't as good as mine getting work when I'm not!" 

So, to answer the question, yes, talent does count for something.  To comment on the comment that followed:

This is an industry of relationships.  People want to work with people they know, trust, and like. They also want to work with people who lend credibility, money, and any assets such as equipment or locations, to their project.

There are numerous reasons why someone with less talent may be hired for a job. My question to you is, why are you focusing on on something negative that you have no control over? Instead of letting frustration and bitterness take over and therefore seep into everything you say and do (and before you try and tell me you "hide it" when it counts, I promise you, you're not hiding anything... explanation points speak volumes), focus on what you do well, and getting it out there. 

For more tips and articles by The Greenlight Coach, visit www.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com