Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1232:I'm trying to get into film scoring, any advice?

Based on the many genres of film, there are many different composers scoring films. It's like in dance where there are different choreographers for different styles. To start, you want to research the types of films you'd like to score. Then, check IMDB, to see who the composer was on each project. Once you have a list of 3-5 composers, do your research on them. Google them, and check their Guild's website to see if there are any interviews or articles involving them. Perhaps there's a bonus interview on a DVD with the composer.

Research will give you many clues about how composers get started in entertainment. In the mean time, look for projects in your area, if possible. Perhaps a film school or an independent film group may have opportunities for you. You want to build your demo.

In addition you can research agents who represent composers and call to ask what the industry standard is for marketing materials for a composer.

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Monday, July 23, 2012

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1231:How do I reenter the biz after taking time off to caretake a parent?

You start by putting together a list of all of the contacts you had before you left the business. People are understanding, and when you're honest about why you had to leave, they will get it. However, be careful not to "over-share." In your message to me, you explained the affect care-taking had on you, and while it's okay to share with a coach, you wouldn't want to share anything more with your contacts than you were taking care of your mother. The reason being, any adverse effects it had on your health can be a concern to a production company that you are not fit to work.

Once you re-establish relationships with your old contacts, you will need to research who the new people are and ask for referrals to them.

Depending on the relationships you had before you left the industry, where they are now, what positions they have available, and how up to speed you need to get with updates in technology, the time table for breaking in varies. Where there is a will there's a way.

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Sunday, July 22, 2012

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1230:You commented on Facebook "tech-etiquette." What are the rules?

What are the rules to Facebook tech-etiquette? I have no rules, only opinions. And here are my opinions:

1. Facebook is a great resource and a necessity for creating business relationships in our industry.

2. Treat people with the same respect on Facebook with which you would treat them in person. If you wouldn't be sneaky and calculating in person, don't do it on FB.

An aside: what I was referring to in my Facebook status about "tech-etiquette" was in regards to a "FB friend" who I did not actually know, posting a link to his business on my wall.

First of all, I think it's rude to post a link for your business, without permission, on someone else's wall. But second of all, and what I found most offensive, was that he tied in my previous status in order to do it. I posted that my mom baked cookies for me. He then posted on my wall something like: I'm going to a concert with my kids tonight, how would cookies tie into that? And if I can help you with your business let me know (with his link attached). HELLO!!! TRANSPARENT!!! If he genuinely wanted to help me he should have sent me a private email.

So what does this have to do with you? Don't go on other people's FB pages and post a link to YOUR reel/website without their permission.

3. People don't necessarily check their FB inbox/page as often as you do. So if you need something in a timely manner don't contact them through FB. If it's your only link to them, don't take it personally if it takes them a while to get back to you. Personally, I have over 1000 messages in my FB inbox that I have not read or responded to. I get 300/day to my business email account. I just don't have time to correspond with people on FB. Not personal...

4. What is FB good for then? Building relationships with people whom before you had no access to. I've built business relationships with people on FB, whom I'd heard about for years. In the past year I've met many of them in person.

How did I build these relationship? I post statuses and links that are helpful to others and informative about me (ie: I don't tell them when I'm going to the bathroom or that I'm "just being"). I post pictures that represent what I like and what others can relate to (ie: I have dogs, I like 80's hairbands, I like gluten free macaroni & cheese) because these are conversation/comment starters. I help others by posting job leads. I comment on other people's statuses that I relate to (I will jump on any Anchorman quote status I see!!).

5. Know your audience! If you have a mix of professional and personal friends, be aware of "who you're being on FB." While your friends may find it funny that you went to a "sexy lingerie party," that's probably TMI for your business associates.

And no, I don't think you need separate FB pages for your business and for your personal, unless you're doing something specific on your fan page. I post these questions on my business page NOT my Jessica Sitomer page. If you are an overactive party person who enjoys over-indulging in drugs, alcohol, sex clubs, and streaking, and must share it with the world... all power to you. Just know that you are narrowing the people who will want to work with you. They may want to party with you, but they won't want to trust you with their 100 million dollar project...

And REALLY remember, that people have long-term memories. So what might be funny to you now at 23 may hurt you in five years when someone remembers your crazy FB antics.

Just my opinions. They could change tomorrow, in which case, I'll blog about it...

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Saturday, July 21, 2012

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1229:I'm not in your business, my husband is, and I just don't get it. I'm very frustrated!

This can mean so many things since you didn't exactly put it in the form of a question, however, I want to address the issue in general. Let's talk about people in the entertainment industry... and the people who love them. Some of you readers, may be under the assumption that she's frustrated because:

1. he's never working or contributing financially

2. he's always working, makes a lot of money, but is never home with the family

3. she doesn't understand how someone can be so passionate about something that may never happen

4. she wants him to "grow up and get a real job"

5. his moods are in direct correlation with his work or lack of

I can go on and on. The bottom line is, it doesn't matter what's causing the frustration. Here is a person who loves a man who works in entertainment. Our industry is like all others in that it has its benefits and drawbacks, but that's usually where the similarities end!

Most non-pros (that's what we call anyone who is not in our Biz) whom I talk with, complain about their job, their boss, their hours, and a whole long list of other things. People I talk with in the Biz, complain about being out of work.

You see, Non-Pro... the Biz person you love, is extremely passionate about what he or she does. The Biz person you love is happy when he or she is working. It's when the Biz person is not working that he or she is unhappy or stressed.

What you don't know CAN hurt you. Because you love your Biz people, it's important that you understand what they have to go through to generate work, because quite frankly, they love working and generally, thoroughly dislike having to generate it. Knowing that you love a job with all of your heart and can't do it all the time, pains your soul. Rejection chips away at the psyche. Being torn between taking a job that materializes out of the blue and the planned family vacation, rips your heart out. These are just a few of the sufferings of a person who is pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.

What I'm saying is, take the time to understand the nature of our Biz. The actors I coach whose parents support them, have their parents read my book to understand what they have to go through to get work. I suggest you read every entry in this blog to see what your husband is dealing with and then ask him to tell you the story of when he knew this is the career path he wanted to take. After that ask him to tell you stories about times when he was happiest doing what he does. Watch him light up, hear his joy, feel his passion.

Understand the driving force that people in the Biz have, so even if you don't "get it," you can respect it, or make the decision that this is not the long-term lifestyle that you want.

If you are specifically frustrated by something I didn't address and want further answers, put it in my comment section.
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Friday, July 20, 2012

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1228:Any tips on technology etiquette? I was at a meeting with a guy who kept checking his iPhone.

Well, it sounds like you need to share this blog with him, because anyone who checks his/her iPhone during a meeting without pre-framing it with you that he/she is waiting for an emergency message is just rude! So, here are some tips:

1. Phones: don't answer them, check texts, or check emails, during a meeting, UNLESS you let the person know beforehand that there's an urgent message you're expecting.

TURN THE RINGER OFF, possibly the whole phone if you're on set. You never know how an incoming call/email/text is going to effect equipment during a take.

2. Texting while on set: do it on a break whenever possible. I know you're always looking for the next job, however you want to be careful that you're not perceived as bored or self-absorbed, so try to do it out of eyesight.

3. Email response: you don't have to respond to everyone especially if they haven't given you a reason to respond. If you do plan to get back to them, the sooner the better. And if you can't get back to them as quickly as you'd like, apologize for the lag time. When I had less than 20 clients, I had a 24 hour rule. Now, I couldn't possibly get back to everyone who emails me within 24 hours--- so sorry, if you're still waiting. I do tell clients that if it's a time sensitive issue, to write that in the subject line.

A great tip I read is: think of your technological devices as "crossword puzzles." Anywhere it's acceptable to pull out and work on a crossword puzzle, is okay to use your device.

If you have more specific issues you want addressed, put it in my comments and I'll write about it.

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Thursday, July 19, 2012

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1227:You say know "everybody," but I gotta tell you, there are some weird people in our business!

... What if I don't want to know them?"


You know the old saying, "don't judge a book by it's cover?" Well, it's okay to judge weird people and not choose to form a relationship with them. What I mean by "everybody" is, "don't judge a person by their classification." Most people tend to only network with people in the same classification/union or with the people who can hire them. What they don't recognize is that there are people out there in other classifications who may not be able to hire them, but know the people who can. And someone who is not in your classification is far more likely to share his/her contacts with you than someone who is the same classification as you.

So when I say everyone, I don't mean that literally... Lord knows I don't! I simply mean know people in all classifications. And don't feel badly for the people you consider "weird," they find each other and create relationships. Like attracts like and everyone is happy.

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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1226:How can I make my career transition without reverting back to entry-level wages?

Unfortunately, when you are changing classification, it may be necessary to start at an entry level job. Let's say you are an editor who has worked your way up after being an assistant editor and now you're interested in getting into development. Yes, as an editor you have to have an eye for creating story, BUT, in the studio world that probably won't transfer. You will have to start as an intern or an assistant to learn the skills of doing coverage, giving script notes, observing how your bosses interact with writers, agents, and executives.

Just because you've worked as a production designer on big budget union films doesn't mean you can easily transition into being a post production supervisor. Different classifications have different skills that you learn as you move up the ranks. You don't always have to move up the ranks, plenty of film students come right out of school as directors of photography without starting as a loader.

It's up to the "industry standards" and it's also up to you. Do you feel you'd be a better director if you understood what all the other departments heads that you hire (DP, editor, prod designer, script supervisor, etc) do? Do you think you'd be a better department head if you'd already done the jobs of the people you're managing?

There are no right and wrongs, just choices for you to make.

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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1225:I want to get back into production after 10 years. What's the best way?

Because I know this person, I know he has transferrable skills from the career he's had over the past decade. Based on that, here's my advice: take meetings with at least 3 people you're still connected to in the "biz" and discuss...

1. What you want to do in production

2. Based on your past production jobs and the skills you have now, where they think you fit in

3. How to market your skills from past and present to make you an enticing package to someone who's hiring. In other words, how do your skills from your job now, give you a unique perspective, tied in with your past set experience, to make you the best person for the job?

Once you and your 3 advisors have come up with a plan of action, ask them for referrals to other people who can help you. Also, get back in touch with your old contacts. If they are no longer in the biz, ask if they can refer you to people they know who are.

You may need my advice on your resume, so feel free to ask. Your corporate resume is not going to translate in the world of the "creatives."

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Monday, July 16, 2012

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1224: I work an 8 to 5 job, which I feel blessed to have. But, it doesn't give me much room to go on auditions.

This question continues... "Should I quit? Others suggested I quit and look for something, but I'm not sure if this is the best choice. What do you think? I know it is a loaded question, and one that's hard to answer with little information and in an email."

It is one of those questions that I can't answer for you. However, I can give you some things to ponder over as you make your decision:

1. Do you have enough contacts that should you quit your job, you'd generate your desired number of auditions?

2. Do you have enough money saved to leave your job without another source of income?

3. The best way to get another job is through people you already know. Can't you send out an email and pursue a flexible day job while still at your current job (on your two 15-minute breaks and your 1 hour lunch break)?

4. Have you gotten yourself into the habit of spending one-hour on your career while in your current job? If not, I suggest getting into the habit first to prove to yourself that you have the discipline to go after your career with consistency.

There is nothing wrong with sticking with a reliable day-job if you're not positioned for success in your craft yet.

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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...