entertainment industry coach question 288: When I go home for the holidays should I bother to meet new people while I'm there (NY)?

Should you "bother" to meet new people. If it's a bother, then, no you shouldn't. If you want to take the holidays off to be with your family, then do it. If you happen to be around entertainment industry people, why wouldn't you want to create new relationships? You never know when it comes to 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon.

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

entertainment industry coach question 287: After successful working in LA for 15 years, how can I work from another state?

This particular person is interested in living and working in Colorado while maintaining work opportunities in Los Angeles. While many of my clients have successfully worked in Los Angeles while their residency was in New York, New Mexico, San Francisco, Colorado, Chicago, Detroit, etc., this person points out, that with social media, it's harder to mask where you are and what you're doing.

It's a very good point. Facebook has privacy settings, but that can be a pain in the butt. The point of social media in regards to work is to create and maintain relationships. Instead of saying, "I went for a hike in the Rockies," just say that you went for a hike.

When you're working, it doesn't matter where you're working because people go on location all of the time. The fact that you're asking this question eludes to the fact that you're already savvy to keeping yourself under wraps. Keep it up.

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

entertainment industry coach question 286: What do I do to stay busy when times are so slow?

Staying busy during slow times? There are two ways to answer this question from my perspective. The first, is the business actions you can be taking and the second is the actions you can be taking to maximize your "off time."

Business action ideas:

1. Re-establish with 30 contacts

2. Reach out to 10 business advice mentors

3. Visit 5 sets (if it's holiday time, go to 5 parties)

4. Attend 1 networking event/week and meet 5-10 people at each

Many people spend all of their time in between jobs, stressing out about being out of work and then, once they have the next job, they look back and regret not enjoying their time off.

Off time ideas:

1. Hang out with friends you've been out of touch with

2. Once a week, spend a day doing something you enjoy: the beach, a day trip to another city, a movie with popcorn & soda, a sports event, a museum, the planetarium

3. Exercise

4. Pick up an old hobby

That should keep you busy for a while.

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

entertainment industry coach question 285: Where are inexpensive and safe areas to live in Los Angeles for someone right out of college?

Not exactly a career coach question, so I'll give it a shot and ask that my readers chime in. This is what I know about renting in Los Angeles:

Expensive and safe: Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Westwood

Reasonable and safe: Beverly Hills adjacent, Studio City, the college area of Westwood

Cheaper and safe: Burbank

Cheap and sketchy: certain areas of Hollywood & the valley

Sorry I couldn't be more specific. Again, I ask my readers to comment.

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

entertainment industry coach question 284: How do I make it as a director if I have controversial political views that I'm outspoken about?

This person went on to say, "I'm a conservative republican. And that will never change. I've had many friends tell me that 'you have to leave that to make it in this industry.' However, I'm not willing to. I'm not willing to sacrifice "me" to get that next directing job."

Fear not, some of my best friends are conservative republicans others are liberal democrats. This industry is so huge. You have to find the people with like-minded sensibilities. And also have the good sense to know when, and when not, to discuss politics.

This is in direct response to his movie trailer that I watched: Your first directing piece is controversial. If it's controversial enough to make a lot of money, you'll get more work. Keep in mind, that because your first work is so specific, that you may indeed, "pigeon-hole" yourself. That isn't always a negative thing if you enjoy the genre you're being pigeon-holed into.

I always tell people to think about their long term goals and make choices that are in alignment with both their goals and their values. Usually the two don't conflict. If you feel that they will conflict down the line, then you my friend, are at a cross roads, and you must decide... do you want to be known for your political views or your storytelling?

There is no right or wrong answer, just a decision to be made.

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

entertainment industry coach question 283: Is it possible to shoot a studio feature 20 years out of film school?

This was in response to the blog about directing a studio feature 2 years out of film school. And while I know the person who asked the question, was kidding, it's actually a frequently asked question, so I'm going to address it.

MANY people have come to me for coaching and said a variation of these words, "I have been working on non-union films for 20 years, and I'm not going to do another film, unless it's union."

I then have to get into strong rapport with them, look them straight in the eyes, and gently deliver these exact words, "then you may never work again."

It's a harsh reality, I know, but if you don't have the relationships with studio executives, studio directors who have the clout to bring you on, or a track record that will make you sellable ONCE a film of yours "blows up," then not only do you have to continue working non-union, but you also have to spend time building relationships with the people who have the power to hire you at the studios.

Studio politics are impossible to understand if you have never been involved in the studio system. So find people who have been, who can give you perspective and advice.

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

entertainment industry coach question 282: Please provide me with tips on how to negotiate health benefits on a non union movie.

How to negotiate for health benefits on a non-union film, is not my area of expertise. However, I will give you advice, based on three things:

1. That I've produced non-union projects

2. That I worked for the camera union for 11 years

3. That I am now a small business owner/independent contractor

Here's my advice:

The first thing I would do is evaluate the budget of the non-union project. As a producer of ultra low-budget projects, I can assure you, there was no money for health insurance no matter how much I wanted someone on my project or how great a negotiator he/she was. Therefore, if the money isn't there, there's nothing you can do.

If you do believe the money is there, you can anonymously call your union (if you're in one, if you're not, you can still call). Because the IATSE is an alliance, you can speak to a union representative about organizing a show without the producers knowing it was you. The reason they won't know is because, once the rep sees the possibility for organizing, he/she will call reps from other IATSE locals. When reps from 3 to 5 locals show up to organize, there's no way for a producer to know who tipped them off.

If organizing is not an option you want to consider, then if you're not already, you can consider becoming an entity. Without getting too technical, by becoming an official business, (which you are as an independent contractor), you can get health insurance as a small business owner. My suggestion is that you speak to the following before going this route:

1. SBDC- the Small Business Development Center, a non-profit organization for small businesses. This is a FREE service.

2. A Small Business Tax Accountant who has experience with people in the entertainment industry.

Again I want to reiterate, I AM NOT AN EXPERT in this area. I am like you, a small business owner (S-Corp), who works in the entertainment industry, and is in a union in addition to having worked for one. I am speaking from my own experience, and advise you to talk to at LEAST 5 people before making any decisions.

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

entertainment industry coach question 281: What do you do when nothing's happening and you feel disappointed?

It sounds like you're asking me personally, so I'll answer you personally. When I feel disappointed or things aren't happening at the speed I'd like them to, I get back to what got me into this business to begin with. My creativity.

I'm in an acting class once a week, so that keeps me creative. But when I'm really out of touch, I'll work on a script that I'd put down, not a big budget romantic comedy, but a smaller budget script that I could potentially produce. In the past, writing has turned into 4 produced projects.

If I'm so bummed out that the creative juices aren't flowing, I pop in one of my go-to rom coms. Without fail, Pretty Woman, The Family Man, Notting Hill, and two piles high of others, stimulate ideas, while I'm watching, or when I'm dreaming, or while I'm driving and on and on. It's not long before I'm back at my laptop typing out what the characters request of me.

That's my method. I'm sure there are others out there who may want to share, so let's hear from you.

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

entertainment industry coach question 280: What exactly is a spec script?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A spec script is a "speculative" screenplay, one that the Variety slanguage dictionary defines as being "shopped or sold on the open market, as opposed to one commissioned by a studio or production company."^[1]

Spec scripts are written for various reasons:^{[citation needed]}

• by writers who hope to have a script optioned and eventually purchased by producers or studios;
• by writer/directors who want to direct a film themselves;
• by amateur writers hoping to convince a literary agent to represent them or a producer to hire them.

I would like to add that spec scripts are also written for television to show that the writer can write for other people's characters. In television you usually need multiple sample scripts from various shows to prove that if you write one great spec, it wasn't a fluke.

If you want to write a spec, and have no idea how to start, I highly recommend the UCLA extension program. If you live in Los Angeles, nothing beats the class atmosphere where you get help form your teacher and create relationships with the students as well. However, if you're not, you can take online classes and have a spec done in one semester.

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

entertainment industry coach question 279: How many days until 24 premieres?

FORTY TWO days until 24 Premieres with 2 hours of Jack Bauer! January 17th! Thanks for asking.

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

entertainment industry coach question 278: How do I create a website that will get me work?

A website is a marketing tool to help in your pursuit of getting work. It is not a substitute for creating relationships, it simply compliments the process.

To start, you want to research websites that are getting attention and model them. Because it's a marketing tool, you want to spend the money it takes to get it right the first time. Unless you have the sharp know how of do-it-yourself, save the time that you could be networking for work and hire a professional.

Next, get advice from people who look at websites. Find out what they want to see and what they don't want to see.

Finally, be sure that whomever creates the site for you makes it easy for you to update because websites are works in progress, as is your career.

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