entertainment industry coach Question 452: Umm what's the obsession with cheezy people from NJ on reality shows?

Alas, a question that has finally stumped me. I have many DEAR friends from New Jersey, NONE whom are anything like the Garfield/Snooky chick from The Jersey Shore, Teresa from the Real Housewives of New Jersey, or anyone from Jersey Couture or Jerseyliscious.

I truly don't understand this new reality phase. I suppose it's the "train wreck syndrome"; something so awful, yet you can't tear your eyes away from it.

I have no answer. In fact, I just have to leave it at this because I find it disturbing (although I am happy for all of the crew members who have jobs because of them, I just hope their brains are capable of tuning out the awfulness of these freaks.. and by freaks I mean everyone on those shows EXCEPT the Manzo Family members- I'd like to live, and Albie's hot).

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entertainment industry coach Question 451: Do I have to send a cover letter with a resume?

Unless it's someone who knows you really well and says, "hey, send me over your resume," then YES you must have a cover letter. And more than that, the cover letter should make you stand out from the rest of the pile.

Preferably, you want to have a referral name that will be recognized automatically getting yours pulled from the pile. But if you don't, there is a art to crafting a cover letter that stands out.

Otherwise, you're just one of hundreds of people sending in your cold resume with a standard cover letter. Odds are the amount of time you're putting into sending these is not paying off in the same way that spending less time on focused work would.

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entertainment industry coach Question 450: When should I call studio people? Do they have summer Fridays?

Why are you waiting until Friday to call someone? Everyone's hours are different. Call when you think you'll get the person with whom you want to speak in. It's as easy as that.

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entertainment industry coach Question 449: How do I get answers about who hires me when my only sources of info are the people I'm competing with?

This is a great question that people in many different classifications struggle with. When you're let's say, a still photographer, it's not as obvious who hires you for a job. Yet, the people who WOULD know are other still photographers, who are your direct competition, right?

Not necessarily. The only ones in direct competition with you are the ones at your level. If you're breaking into a new market, established still photographers shouldn't feel threatened by you. Some will. Some are very closed off with information. Remember, you can reach out to still photographers all over the country. The camera guild has a directory (it also has one for publicists, which is crucial for still photographers because it lists photo editors and VPs of photography, etc.). If you live outside of Los Angeles (which this person does) you want to do the research of the people who hire you, develop a mentor/advisor relationship through phone and email and then, as you get to know them pretty well, find out a good time of year to come out for a week of meetings. There's nothing like meeting in person, and people really respect someone who is willing to fly out to meet with them.

Los Angeles still photographers (or insert your classification here if you live somewhere else) may be more open to speaking with you because again, you are out of state and therefore, they may not view you as direct competition.

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entertainment industry coach Question 448: I've spent my entire career being typecast. How do I get out?

This inspired by one of the comments on my Facebook wall, when I changed my FB picture from my split screen with my one true love Jack Bauer, to seeking out love with another spy...

My new split screen is with tough-guy spy John Casey from Chuck. My friend suggested that I come between Chuck and Sarah. My response was something along the lines of "why can't I be the nice spy who is secretly a double agent "playing" a bad spy, and finally gets to reveal she's a good spy and fall in love with John Casey. Why do I always have to play the bad girl who splits up the all-American couple?" to which he replied, "you should know better than anyone... sometimes people spend their whole careers being typecast."

True Seth, but as a coach, I also know that once you're typecast it's easier to break out than if you've never been typecast at all. First I encourage people who are fighting against their type, to just give in and get cast as you are seen. Which I finally did many years ago when I was flat out told to "stop telling people you're the 'girl next door!' You're the girl down the street who steals the girl next door's boyfriend." Of course that killed me inside because I would never do that in real life, but as an actress, I had to embrace my type.

Now that I've built up a reel of layered vixens, I can make the break... part of that is exactly what got your attention on Facebook. Writing quick blurbs of story lines I'd like to be "written into." Put outside of the box ideas into the minds of people who've cast me one way that they could cast me another. This character isn't too far off... it's not like I was trying to play Jeff's nerdy girlfriend or something. I would get to be the best of both worlds, hence making the transition without people noticing how.

So, what's close to your typecast that you can reframe people's opinions about? Are you known for shooting comedy but would love to shoot an action film, why not target action/comedy hybrids? Have you directed sitcoms and want to break into episodics? Why not target a dramedy?

Hybrid out of your type-cast- You can do it!

To keep up with all of my fun story-lines, follow me at www.facebook.com/JessicaSitomer

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entertainment industry coach Question 447: I'm trying to get work on TV but people aren't returning my calls. What's wrong?

You're not necessarily doing anything wrong. This is the hiring season for television, so people are really busy. If you're leaving messages about being hired, they most likely "got the message," but if they don't have an opening for you, it can be uncomfortable to return a call where they have to tell you, "I don't have anything for you." And if you're not asking for work, you're just "touching base," you may not be a priority because they are trying to get hired or doing their hiring.

That said, be conscious of the messages you're leaving; your words, tonality, requests, etc.

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entertainment industry coach Question 446: repost of question 384:Will Bret Michaels win the Apprentice?

HECK YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to Holly & Bret for an amazing season of the Celebrity Apprentice, I was rooting for both of you from the start! Bret has always been my guy since Poison debuted in the 80s, so I did have a stronger attachment to him.

That said, I'm still singing "Funky Godfather" Holly SO should have won that task.

Donald, it was a tough task, but you hired the right guy! Now let him rest so we can have him around for a long while!

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entertainment industry coach Question 445: What do I do now that my favorite shows have "finalied" ?

Are you kidding? Can you say new summer line up? There are SO many new shows debuting and some old favorites like Drop Dead Diva starting up again. Check your local listings or get on Cynopsis.com free daily report to see what's premiering every day of the week. I can't wait for the new shows. Woo Hoo!

Hi, I'm Jessica and I'm a television-o-holic... but it's my job!

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entertainment industry coach Question 444: If I'm producing a feature, how many people do I have to hire?

Yikes! Where to start with this one. You need to do some (a lot) of research before you produce a feature film, because that is NOT the first question to ask. You don't pick a number of people and produce around it, you pick a project to produce and find out the budget and location. Once you have these basics down (and a few more that a producer mentor could advise you on) you have to cast the project (which is one group of people) and the crew (which is another group of people).

Each project's location, budget, and equipment will dictate the crew you need and can afford.

Recognize that producing a feature film is a huge endeavor and this is a really basic question. There are a lot of books about filmmaking that you should read before investing your money or anyone else's.

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entertainment industry coach Question 443: I worked with a director not knowing how big he is. Can I compliment him after the fact?

Of course! If you haven't sent a thank you note yet, start there, and then follow up with a letter regarding the work you want to compliment. Be specific about why you're addressing the work, and it should have questions that require you to follow up with a phone call to get the answers.

This is an in depth question that really requires a very specific strategy per situation. I gave you a general answer, so others could make it their own.

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entertainment industry coach Question 442: How and when do I tell my boss I'm pregnant?

I'd love to throw this under "life-coaching" and say it's not my department.

When to tell: I'm not really the right one to speak to about this because there are laws depending on what your job classification is. For example, if you work at a studio, there are protections for you so you can't be fired for taking maternity leave.

Now in other classifications, it can work against you. For instance, a camera assistant, may want to work as long as she can not feeling that her job is putting the unborn baby at risk. However, the production team may feel differently because the camera assistant is carry heavy equipment cases, etc., and may be worried about injury and a potential lawsuit.

My advice, talk to a union rep or someone in human resources.

How to tell: not really sure why you're asking me this. Most people get excited and say, "I'm pregnant," getting all glowy and stuff. Is there any reason why your boss wouldn't be happy for you or that you have to tiptoe around him/her? I'd need more details to be able to help you out with this one.

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