bcarrelli said...
Websites are great sources of information but mentoring is the key to success. When I worked for Lindy Dekoven at NBC she provided valuable personal feedback that enhanced my career, and I continue to benefit from her insights. Her understanding of how to break in and stay in a demanding business is invaluable.
Googling Your "Life Path"
BY ALESSANDRA RIZZOTTI
(Film Production Major)
I've done the job search everyday for the last three months. I've Googled "entertainment jobs," only to get more and more unfocused with phrases like "cool careers," "life path," and "pets that will make me smile."
GOOGLING "Cute Cats" = A GOOD WAY TO PROCRASTINATE
Lindy told me to sit down and focus one day. I thought- "WEIRD. But ok." I guess I am in that age range where it's time to start thinking of making something of myself. Neuroscientists say that between 14 and 30 something, our brains start weeding out all the information we don't need to survive. So, my brain started weed wacking.
CONFLICTED BRAINWORK:
I WAS down and out about being laid off from a job involving graphic design, but then I realized, I don't need pdfs, tiffs, and pixels to survive because I never liked graphic design in the FIRST place. I wacked those details out of my brain and as a result, I am starting to become a lot more sane. What I DID need to survive, other than a roof and some turkey sandwiches was WRITING and COMEDY. It's masochistic, but true.
So....this is where Lindy comes into my situation. How do I get those writing gigs?
1) Write stuff
2) Email writers I admire. Ask for informationals. Send them samples and a resume if they say that's ok to do.
3) Look in the Variety for production companies and call them up. Ask if any assistants or PAs are needed. Then, send them resumes.
There's more complicated stuff to talk about (like how to be friendly and get people to like your writing), but those tips above create your foundation. The WGA's website is also pretty helpful.
My next goal, other than writing standup every night, is to start writing a spec script and send it to these agencies and this WGA Writer Access Program. Other than that, I have to keep remembering that everyone is on a different timeline. I just have to keep writing everyday and at some point, my timeline will be successful. In the meantime, it's always good to read some comics...
(Film Production Major)
I've done the job search everyday for the last three months. I've Googled "entertainment jobs," only to get more and more unfocused with phrases like "cool careers," "life path," and "pets that will make me smile."
GOOGLING "Cute Cats" = A GOOD WAY TO PROCRASTINATE
Lindy told me to sit down and focus one day. I thought- "WEIRD. But ok." I guess I am in that age range where it's time to start thinking of making something of myself. Neuroscientists say that between 14 and 30 something, our brains start weeding out all the information we don't need to survive. So, my brain started weed wacking.
CONFLICTED BRAINWORK:
I WAS down and out about being laid off from a job involving graphic design, but then I realized, I don't need pdfs, tiffs, and pixels to survive because I never liked graphic design in the FIRST place. I wacked those details out of my brain and as a result, I am starting to become a lot more sane. What I DID need to survive, other than a roof and some turkey sandwiches was WRITING and COMEDY. It's masochistic, but true.
So....this is where Lindy comes into my situation. How do I get those writing gigs?
1) Write stuff
2) Email writers I admire. Ask for informationals. Send them samples and a resume if they say that's ok to do.
3) Look in the Variety for production companies and call them up. Ask if any assistants or PAs are needed. Then, send them resumes.
There's more complicated stuff to talk about (like how to be friendly and get people to like your writing), but those tips above create your foundation. The WGA's website is also pretty helpful.
My next goal, other than writing standup every night, is to start writing a spec script and send it to these agencies and this WGA Writer Access Program. Other than that, I have to keep remembering that everyone is on a different timeline. I just have to keep writing everyday and at some point, my timeline will be successful. In the meantime, it's always good to read some comics...
College Career Counseling Vs. Lindy's Career THERAPY
BY ALESSANDRA RIZZOTTI
(Film Production Major)
I just saw a career counselor at my former college, a facility that has something to do with George Lucas. It was depressing. In a "group" session, I was told the obvious fact that careers have to do with "networking," the irony being that I didn't want anything to do with one single person in my "group" session. The cinema production part of the career session was incredibly UNproductive, like this:
After going to a college for a very specific major, I realize that I should have studied history, art, philosophy, and literature because even in a very specific trade, I currently do not have a job, but what's worse is I lack some common knowledge about some things that could make me interesting at parties. My point is, although my major provided me with a network of friends and teachers in a specific field, what it still hasn't provided me with is a "how to" on today's job market. I expected to find this at the career center, but instead I found some common knowledge I already knew. Not only that, I was met with some jaded counselors that had already been through the industry and I didn't really want to become more jaded than I already was.
Photo Credit: Richard Legg
Lindy DeKoven's Coaching came to the rescue. Not only professional, Lindy met me with some positivity. I came to her with three dilemmas:
1) I had been laid off, but served as an NBC page for The Tonight Show right before the writer's strike and wasn't sure whether to contact them or not (especially with the current transition to Conan, yada yada).
2) I started doing standup and liked it, but didn't know how to market myself.
3) I was confused.
Now, you may only identify with the third dilemma because everyone is confused right now, but you will be happy to know that Lindy was able to offer me some advice on how to obtain and maintain my connections within the entertainment world. Rather than just telling me to "network," she provided me with the "how to."
Lindy's tips were as follows:
1) Email everyone from the page program and The Tonight Show that you've connected with along with the basic note: "I know we haven't spoken in a while, but I was wondering if you'd be available for an informational session...(etc)" (I had done this before, but she told me to do it again...and I got responses).
2) Send out your headshot/standup reel to market yourself (and she offered some resources for this process).
3) Take your confusion and be resourceful with it. (In my case, because I want to be a writer/creative type, she offered suggestions for part time jobs still connected to entertainment that could provide me even more connections).
SO, IT WAS TIME TO GET OUT MY VIRTUAL ROLODEX:
After a session with Lindy, I felt empowered and way more positive than before. The very personal connection I formed with her was productive because she was actually excited to give me advice. She was my "career therapist," so to speak. Now, the next step is for me to follow through and UTILIZE her techniques.
(Film Production Major)
I just saw a career counselor at my former college, a facility that has something to do with George Lucas. It was depressing. In a "group" session, I was told the obvious fact that careers have to do with "networking," the irony being that I didn't want anything to do with one single person in my "group" session. The cinema production part of the career session was incredibly UNproductive, like this:
After going to a college for a very specific major, I realize that I should have studied history, art, philosophy, and literature because even in a very specific trade, I currently do not have a job, but what's worse is I lack some common knowledge about some things that could make me interesting at parties. My point is, although my major provided me with a network of friends and teachers in a specific field, what it still hasn't provided me with is a "how to" on today's job market. I expected to find this at the career center, but instead I found some common knowledge I already knew. Not only that, I was met with some jaded counselors that had already been through the industry and I didn't really want to become more jaded than I already was.
Photo Credit: Richard Legg
Lindy DeKoven's Coaching came to the rescue. Not only professional, Lindy met me with some positivity. I came to her with three dilemmas:
1) I had been laid off, but served as an NBC page for The Tonight Show right before the writer's strike and wasn't sure whether to contact them or not (especially with the current transition to Conan, yada yada).
2) I started doing standup and liked it, but didn't know how to market myself.
3) I was confused.
Now, you may only identify with the third dilemma because everyone is confused right now, but you will be happy to know that Lindy was able to offer me some advice on how to obtain and maintain my connections within the entertainment world. Rather than just telling me to "network," she provided me with the "how to."
Lindy's tips were as follows:
1) Email everyone from the page program and The Tonight Show that you've connected with along with the basic note: "I know we haven't spoken in a while, but I was wondering if you'd be available for an informational session...(etc)" (I had done this before, but she told me to do it again...and I got responses).
2) Send out your headshot/standup reel to market yourself (and she offered some resources for this process).
3) Take your confusion and be resourceful with it. (In my case, because I want to be a writer/creative type, she offered suggestions for part time jobs still connected to entertainment that could provide me even more connections).
SO, IT WAS TIME TO GET OUT MY VIRTUAL ROLODEX:
After a session with Lindy, I felt empowered and way more positive than before. The very personal connection I formed with her was productive because she was actually excited to give me advice. She was my "career therapist," so to speak. Now, the next step is for me to follow through and UTILIZE her techniques.
Didn't we just say this??
Please, No Board Shorts in the Boardroom
Q. You’re a recent college graduate getting ready for the working world. Can your college wardrobe make the transition with you?
A. If you dressed casually throughout college, you may need to rethink your approach and invest in some new clothes. But it will be worth it. In interviews and in the office, dressing appropriately may be a simple way to gain an edge.
Some young people aren’t aware of the importance of work clothing, said Barbara Pachter, an author and business etiquette lecturer. Unlike more experienced workers, they may not have enough work history to realize that they need to follow new rules, or they think the rules don’t apply to them, she said.
Fairly or not, you are judged to some extent on the visual impression you make. Managers are more likely to hire and promote people who dress in a neat, professional way that shows they fit in with the organization.
“When you’re moving from college into the work force, you need to dress for where you’re going, not from where you came,” said Alison Doyle, job search expert for About.com.
Q. You have an interview coming up. What should you wear?
A. For an interview, it rarely hurts to err on the side of conservatism. “When in doubt, wear a suit,” Ms. Pachter said.
In some cases, business casual can work, but don’t assume that. Ask your recruiter, a department manager or a college career adviser for guidance, said Annie Shanklin Jones, who manages United States recruitment for I.B.M.
Many managers and recruiters can recall wildly inappropriate clothes that people have to worn to interviews. Ms. Shanklin Jones says she has seen people dressed as if they were going to the beach or the gym. She cites men wearing acid-wash jeans with holes in them, along with sandals or flip-flops, and women wearing revealing sundresses or very short skirts.
This does not go over well because “we’re looking for people who can assume the role of a business professional,” she said.
For a man, this could mean a suit and tie and leather shoes with dressy socks; for a woman it could be a blazer and a blouse with a skirt or slacks, along with low heels and hosiery, among several possibilities.
Many young women today have never worn pantyhose in their lives, but the consensus among human resources managers is that you should wear hosiery to an interview, Ms. Doyle said. (Once you have the job, you may be able to go back to bare legs, depending on the office.)
Q. Should you get dressed up for a career fair?
Wearing a business suit, or at least a business casual outfit (like a polo shirt and khakis or a blouse and skirt), is an excellent way to make a good impression at a career fair. Ms. Pachter said a human resources manager told her that she would not have hired anyone at a recent career fair because of how casually they were dressed.
Q. How should you dress once you get a job?
A. You have more leeway once you are hired, but tread carefully at first. Ask if the company has a dress code, but don’t stop there. Observe the people around you before you decide whether it’s O.K. to wear, say, jeans or casual shoes.
Q. What are some clothing pitfalls to watch out for?
A. Be careful about revealing too much. Ms. Pachter said she had heard from some young women that “they thought they had to dress sexy to get noticed in the work world.” They’ll be noticed, yes, but for the wrong reason. She said this view might stem in part from TV shows that portray professional women in low-cut, tight shirts and super-short skirts.
Ms. Shanklin Jones agreed, saying, “It’s what they see on campus and what they see on TV and movies.”
In the real world, Ms. Pachter said, “My opinion is that cleavage is not a corporate look, and not what you want to be remembered for.” The same goes for very short skirts and extremely high heels, but many young people don’t know this, she said.
These aren’t the only danger zones. “Make sure the top of your thong, if you wear one, doesn’t show above your pants,” Ms. Doyle says on her Web site.
Q. You can’t afford to buy a whole new wardrobe. What should you do?
A. A few basic pieces in a few matching and muted colors, perhaps bought at a discount, can go a long way and last a long time. “A classic interview suit that will last for years is a better investment than the latest trendy attire that will only last a season,” Ms. Pachter said.
Q. All this talk about what not to wear is cramping your sense of style. Shouldn’t you have some freedom to express yourself through your clothing?
A. Once you get the job, there’s nothing wrong with showing some individual style. A 23-year-old certainly doesn’t have to dress like someone in his or her 40s, Ms. Pachter said. You may even reach a point where you feel you can break some of the rules, she said, but first you need to know what they are.
Some people are so supremely talented and confident that they can get away with wearing all the wrong things, Ms. Pachter said. But still, for most of us, why take that risk?Professional Associations offer Internships & Training Programs
Thank you Diana Lansleen for this wonderful information. Excellent ideas and resources. Take a look.
Diana Lansleen Hi Lindy,
Diana Lansleen Hi Lindy,
I just love all the resources you are sharing with everyone! One of your blog posts was about getting jobs in the industry and since you suggested it, I'm going to post some resources that might be helpful for your readers that I'm aware of to help spread the word about them.
One suggestion would be to see if professional associations offer any internship or training programs.
I'm a current member of The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, so that's the association that I know the most about, but I'm listing some other industry association links below as well.
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation
http://cdn.emmys.tv/foundation/internships.php
Directors Guild – Producer Training Plan
http://www.trainingplan.org/
Producers Guild of America
http://www.producersguild.org/
The WGAW Writers Training Program
http://www.wga.org/subpage_writingtools.aspx?id=933
Many of these programs offer the opportunity to have a mentor when you get accepted into them.
Source: www.trainingplan.org
Directors Guild, training, internship, intern, employment, job, Assistant Director, stage manager, production, film, television, TV, movie, show biz, show business, industry, entertainment, cinema
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