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THE BIZ
Hard truths & high-class problems
Hard truths & high-class problems
1. CASTING ABOUT
Auditioning actors should know the director is more anxious than they are. His movie doesn’t work, the dialogue is horrible, and he’ll never find someone to fit his idealized vision. The actor leaves and goes to a Starbucks. The director stays in casting hell.
Auditioning actors should know the director is more anxious than they are. His movie doesn’t work, the dialogue is horrible, and he’ll never find someone to fit his idealized vision. The actor leaves and goes to a Starbucks. The director stays in casting hell.
2. A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET
Thousands of good actors will never walk into the right room at the right time. Hundreds of talented directors won’t get a shot at a good piece of material. But a gifted writer’s work will eventually be read. Why? There are fewer good writers.
Thousands of good actors will never walk into the right room at the right time. Hundreds of talented directors won’t get a shot at a good piece of material. But a gifted writer’s work will eventually be read. Why? There are fewer good writers.
3. COLLABORATION
You already have your own ideas so why not benefit from somebody else’s? Consider choosing someone more talented than you. Especially someone who’ll call you on your shit. Too often when we ask for an opinion, what we’re really looking for is an accomplice.
You already have your own ideas so why not benefit from somebody else’s? Consider choosing someone more talented than you. Especially someone who’ll call you on your shit. Too often when we ask for an opinion, what we’re really looking for is an accomplice.
4. THE GREAT MANDALA
Never stand in the way of getting a movie made even if it means reducing your credit. Every movie is hard to get made, even a bad one. Consider your karma. Someday it’ll be your project in the balance. Great movies aren’t born, they fight their way to life.
Never stand in the way of getting a movie made even if it means reducing your credit. Every movie is hard to get made, even a bad one. Consider your karma. Someday it’ll be your project in the balance. Great movies aren’t born, they fight their way to life.
5. THE ROLLER COASTER
No matter how much success you’ve had, you’re never more than a big failure away from Movie Jail. Happily, you’re also never more than a hit away from being paroled. It’s not the size of the dog in a fight, it’s the size of the fight in a dog.
No matter how much success you’ve had, you’re never more than a big failure away from Movie Jail. Happily, you’re also never more than a hit away from being paroled. It’s not the size of the dog in a fight, it’s the size of the fight in a dog.
6. SOCIALIZING
The best part about a Hollywood party is being invited. The worst part is having to go. You can’t help but sense the hierarchy between those who are trying to meet someone and those who are waiting to be met. It’s like high school on IMDB.
The best part about a Hollywood party is being invited. The worst part is having to go. You can’t help but sense the hierarchy between those who are trying to meet someone and those who are waiting to be met. It’s like high school on IMDB.
7. REVIEWS
If you read the good ones, you’d better read the bad ones, too. But don’t pretend you don’t read them. It’s like porn. Nobody watches it, but somehow it’s a huge industry. Christopher Hampton wrote, “A writer feels about critics the way a lamppost feels about dogs.”
If you read the good ones, you’d better read the bad ones, too. But don’t pretend you don’t read them. It’s like porn. Nobody watches it, but somehow it’s a huge industry. Christopher Hampton wrote, “A writer feels about critics the way a lamppost feels about dogs.”
8. AWARDS
Should you ever be lucky enough to receive one, never say you don’t deserve it. You may have hemorrhoids, but you don’t deserve them, either. Also, as you approach the podium, try to keep in mind how much good work has been undone by a bad speech.
Should you ever be lucky enough to receive one, never say you don’t deserve it. You may have hemorrhoids, but you don’t deserve them, either. Also, as you approach the podium, try to keep in mind how much good work has been undone by a bad speech.
9. SUCCESS
My first agent used to say, “Success doesn’t really change you… it makes you who are.” By which he meant, if you’re an asshole when you’re starting out, you’ll only become a bigger one.” That was before I left him for a bigger agent.
My first agent used to say, “Success doesn’t really change you… it makes you who are.” By which he meant, if you’re an asshole when you’re starting out, you’ll only become a bigger one.” That was before I left him for a bigger agent.
10. PERSEVERANCE
It’s not a question of if you’re going to get knocked down, but when. And how long it takes you to get up. Luke can either lift the X-wing fighter out or make up his mind to quit, "There is no try." Adversity introduces a man to himself.
It’s not a question of if you’re going to get knocked down, but when. And how long it takes you to get up. Luke can either lift the X-wing fighter out or make up his mind to quit, "There is no try." Adversity introduces a man to himself.
