entertainment industry coach question 612:Do you coach a set decorator differently than an actor?

I coach everyone as the individual they are. That said, the tools, strategies, and mindsets are about "the business" not your craft. So a set decorator may have the same obstacles with networking as an actor or the same fear of making phone calls as a writer.

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entertainment industry coach question 611: Should I have my set photography and wedding photography on the same site?

I've seen plenty of Still Photographers do it, that does not mean I agree with it. I think if you want to market yourself as a Still Photographer you have set stills on your site. The only exception would be to have your artistic stills in a section of your site. This can give photo editors, directors, producers, etc., insight into your mind and your artistry.

For me the distinguishing factor is: if it's another way you make money like wedding, music, fashion photography, I advise against having it on the same site. The main reason is because many people who hire you come from the opinion that set still photography is a completely different craft. You're not using your own lighting, you're capturing moments in the filming that will sell the film, and you're around celebrities... which leads me to another exception. If you're fairly new to set photography, but you were huge in music photography and photographed some of the biggest names in music, those photos can be showcased to give credibility to your ability to work with talent.

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entertainment industry coach question 610: Is it stupid to invest my own money in making a movie?

You have to weigh out the possibilities and decide if it's worth the risk. Stupid is a strong word. What is your reason for making the movie? How much money would you have to spend? Do you have the relationships to get it seen once it's complete?

In other words, what is your plan? Until I know more I can't advise you any further- not that I would ever give you a yes or a no, but I could continue to give you questions that will help with your decision making process.

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entertainment industry coach question 609: Actors have acting class, what is the equivalent for writers?

There are plenty of writing classes and workshops. Something else I've done as a writer, is to get a writers' group together where we each bring pages (once/week, two weeks, month) and have actors in the group to read or work out loud.

My acting coach Brad Henke compares class to a gym where you "work-out" your craft. Get a group of writers together who want to work-out with you!

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entertainment industry coach question 608: How many years does it take to get a movie made?

There is no precise answer to that question. Each film that is made, has it's own individual timeline. It depends on so many factors. To name a few:

1. Is a studio making it?

2. Are you making it?

3. If you are making it, do you have money now?

4. How many pages is the script?

5. How many locations?

6. Are there action sequences?

7. Are there special effects?

And so on and so forth. Sorry I don't have a concrete answer for you, but like most things in this industry, there are no rules, only risks.

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entertainment industry coach question 607: Shouldn’t you just focus on 1 area in the industry?

This was a question based on yesterday's blog. The answer is there is no right or wrong answer. You pursue what you're passionate about. Who are we to tell an actor he can't write, or a director she can't edit. People must do what they love. That said, in your marketing materials, you should have separate cards and resumes for classifications that aren't perceived as complimentary like Writer/Director or DP/Operator.

Now, if your focus is all over the place and you're not getting any work because no one knows what you're doing including you, then you may have to focus on the area you're most passionate about first, get good at it, and then branch out.

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entertainment industry coach question 606: How do I juggle family life and the 3 things I do in the industry?

You, like everyone else, in every industry, can only do one thing at a time. I mean literally, not that you have to focus on one area. So, it all comes down to scheduling. I don't know what three areas you are focused on, but in 2005, I was juggling a personal life, an 8:30-5:30 job, executive producing a tv show, writing the scripts, and starring in it.

It all comes down to time management. I was just watching Sex and The City 2, and a big theme was not how much time you spend with the ones you love, but the quality of the time you spend. You have to decide what works for you and your family time-wise, and then give time to each of your passions as they "call" to you.

If feels overwhelming because you haven't scheduled the time into a calendar to see how manageable it can be.

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question 605: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!

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entertainment industry coach question 604:How do I network on Halloween when everyone's in costumes?

I suggest going to "hoity-toity" neighborhoods. I learned where a lot of A-Listers lived on Halloween. Of course, I didn't do anything with that information, because that could creep someone out. But now, I know what coffee shops to haunt if I want to meet one of them if the timing is right.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, 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...

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entertainment industry coach question 603: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.

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entertainment industry coach question 602: Do you have any further advice on this topic before i mail them? Should they be personalized?

piecing together my first mass mailing of headshots/bios this weekend, along with brief cover letters. Do you have any further advice on this topic before i mail them? Should they be personalized? Is one envelope better than the other? As far as your mass mailing, I'm not a big believer in them, I prefer targeted work with referrals and research. Since you've already planned your mailing, here's my advice: 1. YES!!! They should absolutely be personalized which means: 2. Know the person's name (and spell it correctly) 3. Know if the person is male or female 4. Know about the company, including their client roster, so you can explain why you're writing to them. 5. Tell a brief something about yourself that brands you the way you want to be marketed, so they will get to know you a bit and want to learn more. 6. Envelopes are really just an obstacle to getting to seeing the picture. They require opening, so don't lick and fasten, that's a pain in the butt (I know from experience working in a casting office) 7. If you are rich, you can buy a colored envelope that goes with your "brand." So if you want to do romantic comedies, perhaps red or pink. If you're branding yourself for horror, black. Your picture should be branding you, so you can always match what you're wearing with the envelope. Do they really care? Maybe on a day they need a smile, or perhaps their unconscious mind will pick up on the difference in color. 8. The most IMPORTANT thing on an envelope is in black marker either "referred by [name]" or "requested." Now don't even think about writing that if it's not true, but if it is, your envelope could be vomit green and it would still get put at the top of the pile. www.theGreenlightCoach.com FIND ME www.twitter.com/GreenlightCoach FOLLOW ME www.TheGreenlightMentorProgram.com JOIN ME 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!