There are several benefits to being a freelance Production Assistant; one of them is getting to meet new and exciting people. This week I worked a few days at the “Dirty Jobs” gig and than I switched gears and worked with a company based out of DC. It was interesting because they are building a pilot ‘docu-series’ as it was being called but lets face facts folks - it’s a reality show. So, I spent the last two days hanging out with a guy who is a rocket scientist with a need for speed. Thankfully he was not full of himself and extremely friendly.
We started the day at his place which was super nice in Venice Beach and ended up in my hometown Van Nuys at night. The pilot is based on watching him build things with all his rocket science friends. It was fun seeing all his fast cars, and inventions in his house. The series is pretty much already on the fall list called “Mr. Impossible” but they were creating a 15 minute ‘taster reel’ for the network to showcase. I hope they pull it off.
There is also the small world factor in the film world. The girl who is the show runner, she went to school at AFI with all my teachers at Chapman, so we discussed that quite a bit. She went to school for film directing but has done what most do out here - find work in other ways. You see here’s how it works when living in LA and chasing the ‘dream’. You come to LA thinking, “I want to be a director, producer, writer.” Those are the big three right? But than reality kind of sets in and you start finding whatever you can just to live out here (because let’s face it, even though we are in a recession California is a pricey place to live). So you do PA’ing or something in the art department (anything to pay rent) and than you ‘fall in’ as the phrase goes, into that area. It can be hard for some to break free of that once they’re very deeply rooted in this. I believe if you keep striving for your ultimate goal, fighting the good fight and remembering the reasons you came out here, you might have a fighting chance against this pigeon holding that tends to happen.
In many ways I’d like to keep freelancing in stuff, because you network like crazy with people and producers. I’ve already really enjoyed one of the producers at my other place and I’m hoping she’ll let me on her show in May to PA or whatever cuz it sounds like a lot of fun. However I know I need a steady job even though there really isn’t something like that out here. There is no real thing such as job security because you wear so many different hats. On one show you may PA, on another you are a script sup. But I think in many ways our world is also changing into this mentality as well. Jobs are no longer secure and you sometimes don’t know where you’re next paycheck is coming. In the less than a year I’ve worked for 4 different companies (paying gigs) but it was all freelance stuff.
On the plus side though, the place I have been a PA at has hired me on to be a transcriber now. Basically I take the interviews they do with the guests on the shows and write them out for the producers. It’s in the post department and after my shift I can ‘shadow’ some of the assistant editors there for an hour (my shift is from 6 PM to 2 AM and theirs ends at 3 AM). Again it’s all about networking and showing you can handle the work.
I will admit I miss directing. After my thesis I think I swore it off, I was burnt out from just the whole school experience. Cranking out 5 short films over 3 years may seem like nothing but it was more than I’d done in a long time. However, I feel the bug hitting me again. I’m writing more, I’m thinking about stuff in how I want to shoot, locations, stuff that makes me get excited about wanting to direct again. So maybe if I can save some money I can shoot something this summer. Something small, but it would be fun to do it again.
Till Another,
Ne in Hollywood!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Why the hell not?
I figured it was time to share my thoughts in how I've been doing since I've graduated the wonderful world of graduate school. I get a lot of questions on how this end of the business works and figured it was high time I lay it down for all of those who are not aware of how the industry' works.
Currently I've been temping at a reality TV Company for a few weeks and have learned a lot (and may have strained my back a little too) as a production assistant. If you are not sure what that is, basically we do all the grunt work. We go on set runs (taking equipment, people, scripts), or do office daily stuff (restock paper, go and get paper, etc) and of course make A LOT of coffee. It's been nice to do something in this business. Though reality TV is not where I want to end up, but if it pays my rent I'm down for it right now.
Recently I had an argument with a former friend of mine about applying for jobs in Hollywood. They were very insistent that I apply for the new Godzilla movie that's been in the works (which btw is in what is called development hell because it's been talked about for a VERY long time). At first, I thought they were joking. But than came to realize they were being serious about what they were suggesting. They felt they were giving me legitimate jobs (major blockbuster films) to apply for and felt I was being negative about it (when trying to explain that I couldn’t apply for these jobs off the street). They even went so far to insult my creativity, my motivation and devotion to my art. Well, that was crossing a HUGE line for me and I’ve since ended the friendship with such an idiotic person. Now, had this conversation happen to me before I came back from my last trip in Chicago in many ways I would have agreed whole heartily with that statement. But since my return I've been applying, networking, and doing all that I can to get a job out here (I've applied for about 12 jobs in directing which is a lot since they are hard to find) and landed a job (after applying for over 500 jobs) that my friend Mary recommended me for (the job I didn’t apply for and got).
I bring up this conversation because he is not the first one to suggest I go for the big Hollywood movies and have struggled in understanding why I can't apply for them (however have clearly had more logic when I’ve explained to them why you can’t just apply for this kind of gigs). So, I thought maybe this blog can help you guys understand how it works a little out here as I fumble my way through job hunts, resumes and smooth talking my way into the 'industry' as it's called out here. Maybe I’ll throw in a few movie reviews when I can afford to go to the theater too!
Truth be told this town is built on who you know, nepotism, and favoritism. Having a degree does not really help you out, in fact it may actually hinder you in some aspects. People that are much younger than me, who just packed up their car are working the same job I am for the same pay. As my friend Nick tells me, 'I can't just walk into Warner Brothers HR department and apply for a job.'
I'm not saying it's all like that this, but a good 75% of the business is done this way. It sucks, but I've always known that it would not be easy.
Now let’s take a job like Godzilla, that will be a multi-million dollar film, with tons of CGI, as well an A-list cast, will not just hand it over to someone who has not really proven themselves either. You have to win awards, make movies on your own dime and get noticed if you aren't related to someone in this business. Hell Spielberg (who has directed films like ET, Saving Private Ryan, Jaws) actually struggled in getting a film of his produced as well. Spielberg! Times are tough and film companies are dwindling down how many movies they make (quality over quantity but I haven’t seen it in the releases so far). Disney announced last year they will cut their films down to 10 (before they made about 20-25 films) and other companies are doing the same thing.
What I’m currently doing is looking for something steady and work on my scripts. I’ve got a few ideas and I’m really trying to put my ideas to paper instead of dreaming about the ideas, but doing something about it. I need to network and prove my worth. Now that I’ve gotten a little bit of money I can start submit my films to festivals again, and hopefully get noticed that way.
It’s not an easy life I’ve chosen to chase after. There is a lot of rejection and it can feel a little overwhelming when you’re applying for over 500 jobs and maybe get one call. Honestly it can really hurt your soul in a way. But I keep trying. I’ve just been taken it day by day and seeing how the road lays out before me. I’ve been reading a lot about Taoism, and learning to accept what I can control, rather than what I cannot.
That is all for now. Stay Tuned!
Till Another,
Ne
Currently I've been temping at a reality TV Company for a few weeks and have learned a lot (and may have strained my back a little too) as a production assistant. If you are not sure what that is, basically we do all the grunt work. We go on set runs (taking equipment, people, scripts), or do office daily stuff (restock paper, go and get paper, etc) and of course make A LOT of coffee. It's been nice to do something in this business. Though reality TV is not where I want to end up, but if it pays my rent I'm down for it right now.
Recently I had an argument with a former friend of mine about applying for jobs in Hollywood. They were very insistent that I apply for the new Godzilla movie that's been in the works (which btw is in what is called development hell because it's been talked about for a VERY long time). At first, I thought they were joking. But than came to realize they were being serious about what they were suggesting. They felt they were giving me legitimate jobs (major blockbuster films) to apply for and felt I was being negative about it (when trying to explain that I couldn’t apply for these jobs off the street). They even went so far to insult my creativity, my motivation and devotion to my art. Well, that was crossing a HUGE line for me and I’ve since ended the friendship with such an idiotic person. Now, had this conversation happen to me before I came back from my last trip in Chicago in many ways I would have agreed whole heartily with that statement. But since my return I've been applying, networking, and doing all that I can to get a job out here (I've applied for about 12 jobs in directing which is a lot since they are hard to find) and landed a job (after applying for over 500 jobs) that my friend Mary recommended me for (the job I didn’t apply for and got).
I bring up this conversation because he is not the first one to suggest I go for the big Hollywood movies and have struggled in understanding why I can't apply for them (however have clearly had more logic when I’ve explained to them why you can’t just apply for this kind of gigs). So, I thought maybe this blog can help you guys understand how it works a little out here as I fumble my way through job hunts, resumes and smooth talking my way into the 'industry' as it's called out here. Maybe I’ll throw in a few movie reviews when I can afford to go to the theater too!
Truth be told this town is built on who you know, nepotism, and favoritism. Having a degree does not really help you out, in fact it may actually hinder you in some aspects. People that are much younger than me, who just packed up their car are working the same job I am for the same pay. As my friend Nick tells me, 'I can't just walk into Warner Brothers HR department and apply for a job.'
I'm not saying it's all like that this, but a good 75% of the business is done this way. It sucks, but I've always known that it would not be easy.
Now let’s take a job like Godzilla, that will be a multi-million dollar film, with tons of CGI, as well an A-list cast, will not just hand it over to someone who has not really proven themselves either. You have to win awards, make movies on your own dime and get noticed if you aren't related to someone in this business. Hell Spielberg (who has directed films like ET, Saving Private Ryan, Jaws) actually struggled in getting a film of his produced as well. Spielberg! Times are tough and film companies are dwindling down how many movies they make (quality over quantity but I haven’t seen it in the releases so far). Disney announced last year they will cut their films down to 10 (before they made about 20-25 films) and other companies are doing the same thing.
What I’m currently doing is looking for something steady and work on my scripts. I’ve got a few ideas and I’m really trying to put my ideas to paper instead of dreaming about the ideas, but doing something about it. I need to network and prove my worth. Now that I’ve gotten a little bit of money I can start submit my films to festivals again, and hopefully get noticed that way.
It’s not an easy life I’ve chosen to chase after. There is a lot of rejection and it can feel a little overwhelming when you’re applying for over 500 jobs and maybe get one call. Honestly it can really hurt your soul in a way. But I keep trying. I’ve just been taken it day by day and seeing how the road lays out before me. I’ve been reading a lot about Taoism, and learning to accept what I can control, rather than what I cannot.
That is all for now. Stay Tuned!
Till Another,
Ne
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