Tuesday, September 21, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 566: A CD told me not to put any links on my emails because they are distracting, is this true?

If you asked 10 casting directors, you'd get 10 different answers. You are a business. You have to promote yourself. If you are sending in a headshot and resume for a project with a note, any additional links to social media, a website, a movie trailer, a reel, a blog, etc., would go under your signature. If they don't want to be distracted, they don't have to read down that far.

That said, make a note of the CD who doesn't like it and when you write to her/him, remove your signature.


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

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Monday, September 20, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 565: How many hats can I wear at one time?

If you mean on one project, you can wear as many as you can handle. The challenge is to do every job well, and when you wear too many hats, the one hat that you want to "excel" at, may backfire on you.

When I've produced shows that I've acted in, I've never been able to do 100% of the work on my acting that I do when I'm just acting. It's no fun to produce a show in order to be seen as an actor and then have the end result be something that falls short of your true talent.

Now, if you mean in general, you can wear as many hats as you want in the industry, BUT and this is a big but, do not mix your "hats" on your marketing materials. It's one thing to be a writer/director, but an actor who writes should have separate business cards for each, as should a DP/Producer. When people start seeing a list of what you can do on your cards and resumes, they figure you're not a specialist in one area.


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

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Sunday, September 19, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 564: Every time I take my daughter to a commercial audition we both book it. Should I get her an agent?

If you want to. Do you want your daughter to go on auditions for herself? Does she enjoy it or does she enjoy it because she's doing it with you? If you're asking if it will be easy to get her an agent, with her working track record, she definitely has an advantage.

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

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Saturday, September 18, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 563:I find some of the things you say to do tedious.

That's not a question, but I'll address it anyway. If you find things tedious, don't do them. You have choices; you can get someone else to do the tedious actions for you, or you can find the actions that work most effectively for you and avoid the tedious ones.

I give you enough ideas that you don't have to do everything. Choose the things you enjoy or don't find as tedious. It is business after all, not everything is going to be creative and fun, but you can still make the most of the actions that are necessary to advance your career.

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

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Friday, September 17, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 562:How long should it take to sell a screenplay?

There is no way to say. All I know is if no one reads it, you'll never sell it. Some scripts get bought up lickity-split and others float around the industry for years. I'm sorry I don't have a more definitive answer for you, but making a living as a screenwriter is taking a risk, a wonderful risk, but a risk nonetheless.

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

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Thursday, September 16, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 561: Why are so many movies the same as old movies?

Because there are only so many stories out there and people want to put their own twist on it. If you mean why are they remaking the exact same movies, again, new times, new technology, new actors, new director, new vision.

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

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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 560: What if you don't want the friend around because he's a "liability"?

This was in response to yesterday's blog. Okay, that's another can of worms. You are going to have to evaluate how important this friend is in your life. For example, you said he is a "couples" friend, and your wife loves his wife. You are going to have to tell him that you are being forced to hire other people. Or, if he knows that's not true, you will have to explain to him that you have another person who you have a better working relationship with and that you really want to keep your friendship and work separate.

The bottom line is.. again, if he's a true friend, he will have to get over his own "stuff" and be supportive of you. If he can't do that, you and your wife may have to find another couple to hang out with.


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

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 559: How do I tell a friend he can't work on my project?

With care. Many times, you have the best intentions to work with your friends and then the project grows and new people get involved. Before you know it, certain "people"become deal breakers. A real friend would not want to stand in the way of you getting your project made. Invite the friend to set so he can meet everyone and begin to build relationships with people so for the next project he'll have a better shot.


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!

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...