Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1193: What do I do when I have to work and I find out someone in my family died?

First, I'm so sorry for your loss. I have answered a question like this in the past, so I'm going to repost my answer"


At 9:20am, this morning, five minutes before I was supposed to leave to give a seminar for The Actors Fund of America, my 13-year-old Lab had what appeared to be a stroke. I was rushed, confused and torn. I knew I had a group of 70+ waiting for me, but my dog is like my child.

What do I do when I have to work and "life" shows up?

You make choices. Sometimes hard choices. I called my sister, who works across the street, and had her come home and get him so she could bring him to the vet. I told her I'd be turning my phone off, because I couldn't hear any bad news before going on-stage. Once I made the choice, I committed to it, and gave my audience 100%. 

When it was over, I called my sister. I got the update on Jake. It was not a stoke, but he was not out-of the woods. I had a new client to meet. I gave him 100%. I left him, called my sister, she was on her way to the vet and wanted me to meet her. I explained I was driving home for another client, and would come over after. I gave my next client 100%. THEN I went to the vet to be with my boy.  There was nothing I could do for him during the course of the day that my sister couldn't handle. 

What do I do when I have to work and "life" shows up?

1. Make a quick evaluation of the choices

2. Ask for help

3. Use my tools, to be "in the moment" with whatever choice I make

4. Forgive myself for any uncertainty about the decision I made

He's still at the vet who is optimistic. I'll know more tomorrow. 

What do I do when I have to work and "life" shows up? The very best that I can. And that's all you can do.

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1192: I'm watching the Bachelorette. Is it okay for a child that young to be on TV?

Are you asking because you're a parent of a child who's interested in being on TV or are you concerned about Rikki? I'll answer with the assumption that you are interested in having your child on TV. And if you want to know for any other reason, you'll have to send a more specific question.

Is it okay? Yes, it's okay. There are laws and unions to protect minors. There are even requirements for set teachers so children on sets have time for education.

You are watching a reality show which is different than watching child actors. Last year someone wrote me with a similar question because of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and I wrote, "If RHNJ is your inspiration, I must point out the underlying implication of the "controlling stage mom." The entertainment industry can be hard on a child's self- esteem. There is a lot of rejection that isn't necessarily personal. I don't give out parental advice. What I will say is there are plenty examples of Stage Moms gone wrong. I'll say the same thing to you that I say to my clients: you've got to love it and enjoy the journey, or do something else. So, keep an eye on your child and be sure he/she loves it and is enjoying it." 

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1191: What is a DP to do when no one values my craft anymore?

I just had this conversation yesterday with a composer. While to each classification it feels like they are the only ones being affected by the shifts in technology, the desire to get workers for "cheap," and an overall lack of respect and value for what they do, it's not so. It's across the boards.

Here's the thing. In the entertainment industry, there are cycles. Speak to someone who's been in the industry for 40 years and you'll hear about the ups and the downs. Yes, right now technology is changing and the economy is affecting budgets. Many producers are sacrificing "craft/art" for budget cuts, thinking it's okay because the cool cameras will make up for it. But it's part of a cycle.

When someone who really cares about the craft, hires a cast and crew of artists and makes a movie or TV show that breaks out, everyone is going to want to jump on the bandwagon, and talent will be valued and compensated again. At least that's what I choose to believe.

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1190: I'm an actor in India, is that a roadblock?

You have to work with what you're given. If right now you're living in India, and want to train and work as an actor, do your research as to what's available to you. If you can get to Bollywood, it's a great place for you to start. If eventually you want to work in Los Angeles, then create a plan for making your move here. There are roles for every type on the planet (and even some non-humans although that's usually done with make-up and prosthetics).

If you don't have any training and would like to start by working on your craft, acting classes may be limited where you are, but YouTube has videos that can get you started and rehearsing on your own. Type in Acting Training Videos

Also you want to be clear on your type. You may fit into a different category in Bollywood than you do in Hollywood.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1189: Does doing a web series help an out of work actor get more work?

Any opportunity you have to act and be around people who can see that you are directable and a joy to work with can lead to numerous opportunities including work.

Last year, a handful of web series were made into network shows. I haven't checked the background on this years pick ups, but you never know where a web series can lead.

It's also your job to maximize on the opportunity of working on a webisode. Meet the cast and crew, create relationships. This town is 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon. You never know who they know. The young PA whose first job it is could be related to a series regular on a series who'd be willing to mentor you.

Acting is your work, so if you're on a web series you're working. Work leads to more work. And when people ask actors' most dreaded question, "what are you working on?" you'll have an answer that you can be passionate about.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1188: Why do so many crew members wear Hawaiian shirts on set?

I used to wonder the same thing since I've always joked around that the "dress code" for a camera operator is a Hawaiian shirt. Apparently there's a reason. And that reason is... drum roll please.

bdbdbddbdbdbbdddbdbd (that's a drum roll)

Because you can't see all the food stains they get all over themselves when they eat. Apparently stains just blend right in with the patterns on the Hawaiian shirts.

See? It pays to attend networking events. You learn useful information like this. After all you wouldn't want to be the only grip wearing a white collared shirt with spaghetti sauce splatters all over you.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1187: I'd like to work on movies as a costume designer & don't know how to start.

The first place to start is at the union. IATSE Local 892 www.costumedesignersguild.com/ (Or Local 891 in Canada, with all of my new Canadian friends, I'm not sure where you're writing from) You can call and ask a member services representative any questions you can't find answers for on their site.

The second thing I would suggest is to order their magazine.

These two resources should give you a good amount of information to start. Eventually, I would have you pursue mentors, but for now get yourself a strong enough base of knowledge to show any mentor you should choose to pursue, that you're serious and have done some homework.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1186: How many years do I have to work as a loader before I can move up?

That depends on how many years film is around for you to load... oh, bad joke. Sorry. Seriously for you and for everyone who wonders about how long you have to work in a classification before you move, there's no standard answer. There's no rule book. It's time to move up when:

1. people are asking you to

2. you know enough people who are willing to hire you in the new classification

3. you are confident with your skills and ready (and have 1 or 2)

You can also look at demand. Do you want to be a big fish in a small pond and make a living working because the competition is slim? Or do you want to move up into a very competitive position? The other question is what is your ultimate goal? If you are trying to move up the ladder to be "politically correct" that model has been smashed. You're welcome to spend ten years in each classification working your way up the ranks the way the old schoolers did, but if ultimately you want to operate or DP, you have kids in high school making movies who will be light years ahead of you.

Just some stuff for you to ponder.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1185: What are those "techniques and etiquette" to get set or post house visits?

This is a follow up question from yesterday's blog. Let's start with the techniques:

1. Know the sets/post facilities you want to target

2. Ask your contacts if they can refer you to someone who works on the show/at the facility

3. If you can't get a referral, take a step back and focus on building you contact list/relationships first. It's important that you know enough people who "know, like, & trust" you and will therefore be willing to invite you to a set/facility or refer you to one.

4. When you do get a referral, call the referral within 48 hours to request the visit.

This leads nicely into setiquette or post house visit etiquette

1. Be clear on your objective for going; to "take the temperature" of the set/facility, in other words, know the atmosphere so should you be called to work, you are familiar with the way things work. OR in the case of a post house, you may literally want to know the room and be familiar with the equipment they use.

2. You are there to observe and when possible create new relationships. Use your judgement to decide how relaxed or how hectic the day is and either quietly stay out of the way, or politely introduce yourself to people when appropriate.

3. Remember, you are there to help them. When they need someone who does what you do, they want to call someone they know who knows their set/facility. By you giving them the opportunity to get to know you, you are making their job easier when they are stuck in a bind and all of their "regulars" are busy.

4. DO NOT politic for work. You're there to create relationships NOT steal the jobs of the people who are already working there, so don't go with the objective of getting work, go with the objective of building relationships, in order to be an asset to their team when they need someone.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1184: How do you do a "set visit" when you work in post?

You may not. You can, because you still have the opportunities to meet producers and directors who can potentially hire you for future projects or give you referrals to people at post facilities whom you want to meet.

This is one of those situations where I give advice on a strategy and you make it work for your classification. In other words, if I tell an actor or a costume designer to do a set visit, because that's where they do their work (on set), then you would ask yourself...

"where do I do my work?"

And when a little voice inside your head pops up and says, "at post houses like Todd-AO or Warner Brothers," then instead of a set visit, you would visit the post houses. You use the same techniques to get post house visits that you would use to get a set visit. You also use the same etiquette.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1183: How can I pursue my career as a movie still photographer?

Being a movie still photographer is a completely separate business of photography. Your marketing materials are different, your contacts are different, and you have no control over the lighting.

Start by understanding the purpose of your job: it's to create publicity photos. Therefore it's not about getting the most creative shots necessarily, it's about getting the shots that capture the emotion of the scene and will compel viewers to go to the theater.

In the beginning, you will most likely start on independent films and student films. You have to target directors and producers who make the films. Your goal here is to build your portfolio with set stills.

You should also research other Still Photographers by checking out their websites.

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

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