Monday, May 9, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 800:How do you pitch a character for yourself to a show?

The question was more detailed: "I went to the Glee Event at Paramount last week. The producers/writers were talking about adding new characters to the show for next season. It made me think of a character. How do you pitch a character? Who do you pitch it to? What's the proper way and more important what's the worst way?

First, let me say that all shows are different, so the "who to pitch to" is on a show to show basis. Which is why one good resources is

1. To get TV writer/producer mentors if you don't know how to get a mentor check out The Greenlight Mentor Program.

Here are some more ideas:

2. Through an agent if you have one, who has a relationship with someone on the show.

3. Through referrals from people you know to the people they know who work on shows. Now keep in mind that many writer/producers can't listen to unsolicited pitches because if they come up with a similar character they don't want to be sued.

4. Write a spec script for a DIFFERENT show, using the character you created. So find a teen show and write an off beat spec that includes your singing character. The reason I say write a script for a different show is because, if you write a Glee script, they most likely won't read it. But if you write a fantasy 90210 where someone trips on payote and has a "musical vision" with your character in it... could be cutting edge... or could be lame like the Glee induced Grey's Anatomy Singing episode GAG! So get some feedback from good writers before submitting it.

5. Create a video blog or webseries about your character. I'm doing a FREE seminar on June 9th from 2-5 in Los Angeles on just this topic. "Creating your Own Webseries" I will do a 'fill in the blank' content creation workshop so all you have to do when they leave will be Press Record! Annnnnnd.... I'm going to have People Magazine contributor Paula Chaffee Scardamalia, the dream coach to the stars, join me, to help you connect with your creative writing muse. It's for actors, writers, and anyone who wants to put a team together to create web content to brand themselves. If you're an actor who can't write, maybe you'll learn how OR maybe you bring a writer with you to the seminar. The beauty is you don't have to be a writer. There will be details in my newsletter tomorrow, so if you don't get it, sign up for free at TheGreenlightCoach.com. If you know you're interested now, send an email to events@thegreenlightcoach.com SUBJECT LINE Webseries seminar RSVP

Now, as far as the worst thing you can do: Be unprofessional. No one wants a "stalker" or someone who hasn't done their research. Don't send unsolicited material. Don't do 'crazy antics' to get attention, while it's important to take risks, they should be calculated risks and representing yourself in a way that gets a producer's attention as someone he/she wouldn't want on their set is not good. Do not show up at their house or production office in your costume and start performing. Note: these are my opinions. You may hear a cooky story about someone who dressed up in full knight armor and got a job on a period piece, but these stories are 1 in a million, and I don't coach to those odds.


For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com
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Sunday, May 8, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 799:Can anyone work in entertainment?

If Dog the Bounty Hunter and Snooky can, then I would have to say the answer to that is yes. It depends on what you want to do, but if you have no specific preference, there is something for everyone. The more into a craft/art/skill you target, the more of an education/natural gift/tools you need. But there are plenty of positions that don't require an education, natural gifts, or extensive tools if you just want to be a part of the team that makes the magic happen.

The one thing I will say is that anyone can work in entertainment if they are willing to be located where movies/TV etc., are being made. You can't expect to work in entertainment if you're living in a small village in a third world country and you're not willing to move. That's even extreme. You can live in a small town in the US, and never work in entertainment if you're not willing to relocate. Although, even that may not be entirely true, because I've got to assume that Snooky crawled out from under a rock... to say she was raised in a barn would be an insult to all of the good farmers out there feeding our country. But I think you get the point...
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Saturday, May 7, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 798: Is it possible to have a full time job and pursue a career in entertainment?

Is it possible? Of course. You definitely have to master the art of the 80/20 principle in that you want to be doing 20% of your work for your entertainment career and have 80% results coming from that focused work. I had a full time job for 11 years and wrote screenplays, auditioned, produced 1 pilot and 4 episodes of a television show, acted in projects, directed a short, and on and on.

It's about time management. When you get to the point that your entertainment career needs more time than your full time job permits, that's what I refer to as an A-list problem. Give me a call then and we'll work it out.
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Friday, May 6, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 797: I'm a mom and I wonder if it's unprofessional to bring my baby to commercial auditions?

I know of a few babies who have lofty college funds because their moms took them along on an audition and the mother and baby both got cast.

If you audition a lot commercially and you're in the "mom-range" I'm sure you see babies all the time. But since you're asking this question, I'm guessing you don't audition a lot and you're afraid to put yourself out there because now you have a baby.

The best solution is to find a friend who can come with you and take care of the baby while you're in the room. This way if the baby gets fussy, your friend can go for a walk outside of the casting office. BUT, just in case they're looking for a mother/baby team, it could be a great opportunity having your baby there. And you'll certainly feel a lot more comfortable auditioning with your own child than a strange baby.

Disclaimer: If you do not have a friend who can come with you, it would not be professional to tote your baby into your audition- especially, unannounced. Nothing worse than improving with a guy who's supposed to be your husband and you're deciding if it's time to start a family and your baby in the corner starts crying.
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Thursday, May 5, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 796: Why don't people help each other in Hollywood? They're always looking out for themselves!

Wow! That's a limiting belief if I ever heard one. Who are these "people" to whom you refer? Because I've met lots of people who like to help and aren't looking out only for themselves. A typical coaching question is: What are you doing to attract people who don't want to help you? Or who are you being that people don't help you?

I know, I know, you don't want to hear that. You don't want to take any responsibility for what's happening because these "people" to whom you refer are awful and only looking out for themselves.

As a "person" in Hollywood, who not only looks out for others but has blogged for 796 days straight, to help you (I don't get paid for this), who has interviewed people who want to help you (and didn't get paid for it), and who's met hundreds of people who've helped me along the way, all I can say is this: YOU'RE HANGING OUT WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE!
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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 795: How do I sell an idea for a script or project?

This is a GREAT question for mentors. If you have questions about mentors, let me know.
So, for now:

1. Know that you can’t protect an idea, so you have to be smart about it. You can protect a script and a bible for a project... to an extent.

2. Know who you want to sell to. Do your research. Make sure the company who has produced your genre in the past is still interested in the genre.

3. Know that there are proper channels to take when submitting material. If you have representation, they will set up pitch meetings for you. If you don’t, you may be able to get an entertainment attorney to submit for you.
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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 794:How do I sell a project I made with a group of friends?

There is no one way to do this. Here are some ideas:

1. Submit it to a festival (film festival for films, ITV.org for tv or webseries)

2. Put it up on YouTube and create buzz

3. Screen your project for decision makers

4. Create a website and sell corporate advertising space

5. Submit pitches for an article on your project to papers & magazines

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

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Monday, May 2, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 793:Which industry (film, television, commercial) would you say is easiest to get work in?

They are all equally as easy and as difficult to get in to. Did that sound like Yoda? No, I'm not trying to do a Jedi mindtrick on you. The business tools and strategies for breaking into each area, are the same. The people and companies you target are different.

The quantity and quality of your business relationships in each area will determine your fastest path to work. Here's how to determine where you're starting out:

1. Make 3 lists, one for each area

2. On each list, write down who you know

3. Next to each person write a number 1-5 based on how well you know them

4. Circle in green, each person who can potentially hire you

If you don't know anyone and you're starting from scratch, decide which area you are most passionate about and target people who work in that area.
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Sunday, May 1, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 792:Is choosing a medium like choosing a major; once you're in it you're stuck with it?


What this person asked in more detail was if he were to start his career in reality TV since it's easiest with his connections to break into the medium, if that's his best place to start. Ironically he compared it to being stuck in a major. The irony being, that once you choose a major you can either switch majors, double major, and even graduate with that major and go into a career having nothing to do with the major.

It's the same thing with a medium. From what many seasoned mentors have told me, it wasn't always that way, but in the last decade we've seen a lot of classifications moving from TV to film to commercials and back again.

What you have to ask yourself is, if you start in Reality TV and your goal is to be in another medium (such as scripted television), how long are you willing to wait to achieve that goal? I ask because each medium has different relationships to be created. Therefore, while working the long hours and possible distant locations of Reality TV, you must also be building your contacts and deepening relationships with people working in scripted television.

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Saturday, April 30, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 791:Do I really need a good academic background to make it in Hollywood?


Well, that’s what my parents told me… but that was so I’d have something “to fall back on.”
It depends on what classification you’re in and what kind of academic background you’re referring to. It helps for a writer to know spelling and grammar. Some below-the-line classifications like an art history or fine arts background. Directors may want a psychology degree to help them deal with the different personalities they’ll have to manage.
Overall, most classifications don’t need an academic background. What you do need is:

1. Training in your craft/skill

2. Marketing and sales training

3. Business training

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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...