I know so and so...
It's not about WHAT you know, it's about WHO you know. A wise man once told me.
This seems to be true in show business than any other business.
Why?
Good question. The more time you spend in Hollywood, the more you realize the people
making the decisions and writing the checks. Tinsel Town is full of creative and
vibrant people inching to make a different in film. You can find them at your local
restaurants and bars serving you drinks and appetizers.
Money is running Hollywood. If you've got money, you can produce, direct and do whatever
else you want. You have no experience with film?
Who cares!
Money talks. You want to make a movie about a retarded goldfish and his handicapped monkey?
Sure! With millions of dollars, you can do whatever you want.
This rich producer wants his nephew to direct this Goldfish and Monkey story. We might
have a problem with this nephew only being twelve but that's only a minor issue. Hire a
great cinematographer; He'll erase all the mistakes.
You say this can't possibly happen. More often than you think. So if you know someone
in the business - latch onto them like a dog in heat. They will be your key to the business.
First Impressions
You spend hours and hours on that resume. Your father and second cousin looked over it
for grammar and spelling errors. You even printed it out on expensive cream paper. It
could be the most amazing piece of work since Shakespeare put quill to ink. No one will
read it unless you have an even better COVER LETTER.
That's right, the cover letter.
Are they lazy? Are they plain hideous for overlooking your precious piece of work?
They don't have time.
The internship I'm slaving over was gotten because of my cover letter. They still haven't
taken a look at my resume; the same resume that took three hours to put together.
Will they ever look at it? Probably not - at least my Mother can brag about it to her
friends.
What are you worth?
The biggest lesson learned so far in Hollywood is that no one wants to deal with you or
even talk to you unless you can make them money.
If you've got a script that James Cameron wants - they will wine and dine you.
If Steven Spielberg wants you in his movie, they'll take you to bed.
If Jim Carrey wants you to direct his next movie, they'll introduce you to their daughters.
If you have none of the above, they don't want anything to do with you.
What do you have to do?
As an agent once told me - you have to make your own HEAT. Heat: when you are hot enough
that people will take your call.
How do you make heat?
Write that script, hope Spielberg sees your movie and kiss Jim Carrey's ass. Sounds like
a catch 22? That's the way it works.
Yes, there's nothing like show business.
Written by Charlie Cheng
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