WHAT WILL YOU ACCOMPLISH BEFORE THE NEXT STRIKE?

IT’S GETTING WEIRD IN HERE

There’s never been a weirder time in the entertainment industry than the past 2 years. I’m not going to recount it here, if you’re reading these words you know.

But I’ve been hearing two different trains of thought among aspiring and seasoned professionals.

HELLO, GOODBYE

One group says “I’m moving out of Los Angeles because nothing’s been happening for me the past few years.”

But other group is saying “I’ve got another 18 months before the next strike starts. Now’s the time to make an extra effort to accelerate my career before the industry slows down again.”

Of course, there’s no guarantee that there will be a strike, and no guarantee that things won’t get somehow get worse in the next few months.

BUT HERE’S MY PREDICTION

The Film and TV industries will continue to make and sell product and some breakthrough hits will revitalize production and distribution.

TV production will somehow survive, possibly thrive and certainly reinvent itself and features will be rejuvenated by a new generation of indies. (Filmmakers and financing entities.)

So each of us will have to access different parts of our skill set to address different needs of the market and different ways to make a living to make different projects for different audiences that will be seen and promoted in different ways.

BUT THAT’S NOT THE POINT

The question is: What’s YOUR plan?

What’s your project?

What career changing product, plan or strategy will you put into play in the next 6 months that will elevate you to where you want to be when the tide rises and all ships rise in the next 18 months?

I’M SERIOUS

Starting thinking or talking about it. Get in a group, talk to like-minded creative people, book a session with me. Whatever. Get started. Now.

Be bold. Be inventive. Be creative. Be ambitious and fiscally responsible.

Word a little harder. Work a lot differently. Get better organized. Access your intuition? Dream more. Sleep and exercise more. Say yes to the things that get you excited. Say no to the people and projects that make you miserable.

DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY

Read some different magazines. Revive a lost project.

Brainstorm new ideas with new people.

Work with a partner if you’re used to working alone. Work alone of you’re used to working with a partner. Do both if you’re used to doing one.

Go to a financing workshop. Go to a dream workshop.

Get a stupid day job. Quit your stupid day job. Join a men’s group or a women’s

group. Find a community. Create a tribe.

DECAF? HI-TEST?

Drink stronger coffee. Change to decaf. Go to an accupuncturist. Go to Acapulco. Travel where they speak with an accent.

Sell your car. Decorate your bike. Ride the bus. Talk to a stranger at a coffee shop. Go to burning man. (OK, next year.)

THE HORROR

Watch 15 horror movies in 10 days. Write a romantic comedy in 21 days. Design an iPhone app in 5 days.

See a Broadway show and adapt it as a web series.

Ask a family member about their past. Tell a friend about your future.

Make up an insane plan to transform your career, Hollywood and the world in the next 18 months.

Watch it happen in your mind’s eye. Then figure out the first step.

And I’m not just a remote observer of this moment in time.

I’ve got my own big 18 month plan too. I’m living the same program. You’ll hear about it when it’s time.

BUT THE CHALLENGE IS ON

Bold move or Die. (Professionally that is.)

Let me know your project and your plan.

-db

——-

SEPT SCHMOOZE AND MEET-UP:

“MEETUP” - 9/22 - 7:00 PM

I’ve been experimenting with a new from of schmooze this summer, almost by accident.

I’m doing a two-hour facilitated career strategy event. I’ll facilitate a small group (10 max) of entertainment industry professionals to define their current goals, share and react to current opportunities and then commit to a new action to get you there.

The old schmooze format was freewheeling and you could show up and leave at at any time.  The “meet up” is designed for you to show up at 7:00 PM and stay engaged till 9:00.

You must RSVP on the Meet Up Site and pay a $20 fee in advance. There are a few spots open at the moment. GO HERE to RSVP.

http://www.meetup.com/Hollywood-Job-Hunt-and-Networking-Group/

OLD SCHOOL SCHMOOZE - 9/29

No RSVP. Come when you can. Trust the forces of randomness and synchronicity. Meet cool creative professionals. Be pleasantly surprised.

SCHMOOZE:

Please join me at my  schmooze/hang/networking event. It’s my way of connecting my clients, friends and other interested professionals working in the creative industries and to meet up and chill out.

DATE/TIME - Wednesday Sept 30th - 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

LOCATION: The Literati Café in Brentwood.

12081 Wilshire Blvd (At Bundy) Parking available in the back. (310.231.7484)

Directions/Map here:  http://www.literaticafe.com/directions.php

SOCIAL NETWORKING?

Find me online at:

Linked In:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbrownstein

Facebook

 http://www.facebook.com/davidbrownstein

Twitter

http://twitter.com/hollywoodcoach

http://www.hollywoodcoaching.com

http://www.meetup.com/Hollywood-Job-Hunt-and-Networking-Group/

and the Original Literati Schmooze on 9/30.

It’s not for everyone, but I’m helping first time Showrunners and TV producers get their team running smoothly. Check this link for more. http://hollywoodcoaching.com/newshowrunner.html

Here’s what Jeff Davis (Creator/Executive Producer of Criminal Minds) said:

“I found myself going from writing scripts in a coffee shop one day to producing a television show in the blink of an eye,” he said.

He described the difference as “working with 100 people, finding myself swamped with questions and having to become a leader when you’ve hardly been doing it on your own.”

“With a rare capacity to unearth the roots of problems both professional and personal, David helps you devise a battle plan for your life”

7 THINGS JON HEDER NEEDS TO KNOW TO RUN HIS TV SHOW

Hi there,

ANOTHER FUNNY MAN STEPS INTO THE BIG LEAGUES

I read in the NY Times about Jon Heder (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1417647/) (Napoleon Dynamite, etc.)  getting a contract to develop 100 episodes of a TV series for Comedy Central. (Starting with 10 episodes, of course.)

I’ve never met him and don’t know any of the parties involved, but what I do know is this:

He has no idea what he’s in for

HOW DO I KNOW?

In the NY Times article Jon said: “They kept asking me “Are you you ready for this?” I said, “I’m like, ‘Should I be?’ I haven’t thought this through.”

This heart-warming exchange demonstrates a common and dangerous dynamic in Hollywood.

FIRST:

A team of smart executives recognize a major talent and make a deal for the talent to take an ambitious and smart next step.

THEN:

While they actually do know the traps, obstacles and banana peels that will likely challenge this creative genius, they are unwilling or more likely unable to articulate, prepare or arm their bold adventurer for his or her journey.

INTO THE WOODS

I’m not saying the creative genius isn’t ready or shouldn’t embark on this journey into the deep dark woods of TV production. And I’m not faulting the execs for their vision, their deal or their last minute warning/trepidation.

This dynamic is happening all over Hollywood whether it’s Burbank, Studio City, Culver City, Television City or Manhattan Beach.

A GREAT TEAM IS A GIVEN

And I’m not talking about the creative vision, great jokes, characters, stories or dialogue. A great team will be assembled to support that part.

IF OTHER DYNAMICS DON’T SCREW IT UP

But it’s other areas, rarely discussed or mentioned in Hollywood television circles, that can make the difference between a synergistic, creative/production team and a cluster-f*ck of meetings, notes, headaches, delays, overages and disasters.

LOUSY LEADERSHIP  SKILLS

Have you been there?

I have.

I know there are seven areas where Jon will be challenged as a creative leader of a show (and probably you and your creative team will too)

SO, HERE ARE . . .

THE SEVEN SKILLS of A Successful Showrunner.

1) How to select, manage and empower a writing/creative team.

2) How to navigate, manage and appreciate your teams of executives.

3) How to collaborate, negotiate and get mentoring from your Co-executive Producer.

4) How to win respect, favor and autonomy from your network/studio President.

5) How to get the best from your actors and keep them working for you rather than the other way around.

6) How to develop loyalty and respect from your below-the-line crew and keep them motivated to solve your innovative creative ideas.

7) How to develop a unique leadership presence that is true to who you are, but helps you establish, develop and maintain your power and authority all the time: even when you don’t know what they hell you’re doing!

YEAH, OBVIOUSLY

In fact, these are old problems and old complaints. But what’s new is my approach to developing CREATIVE LEADERS that can solve these problems and stop them from derailing a show in production.

HERE’S HOW WE CAN START

In future articles I’ll discuss each area individually with specific tips to help any creative leader develop their ability to manage the many-headed monster that is running an ongoing TV show (or any large creative project.)

See you soon.

David

PS: Here’s the link to the NY Times Article about Jon.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/arts/television/10heder.html

PPS: For more details about my work with showrunners go here:

http://hollywoodcoaching.com/newshowrunner.html

AND: For a video clip of me talking about leadership development and the TV industry go here:

http://tinyurl.com/dltr4c