Hollywood Drive

by Honthaner; Eve Light

• ISBN13: 9780240806686
• ISBN10: 0240806689
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-05-02
• Publisher: ROUTLEDGE

Summary

Hollywood Drive: What it Takes to Break in, Hang in & Make it in the Entertainment Industry is the essential guide to starting and succeeding at a career in film and TV. Written by a Hollywood insider, Honthaner's invaluable experience and advice will give those attempting to enter and become successful in the entertainment industry the edge they need to stand out among the intense competition. Because while film school prepares students to write a script, direct a scene and operate a camera, few newcomers enter the job market understanding how this business truly works and how to land a first job-much less succeed in the industry. Hollywood Drive is not merely a book about what it takes to get your foot in the door. It goes beyond that by offering you the tools, attitude, philosophy and road map you'll need to give yourself a good fighting chance at success -- whether you're looking for your very first job or for a strategy to move your career to the next level. This book will allow you to proceed with your eyes wide open, knowing exactly what to expect. Hollywood Drive explores the realities of the industry: various career options, effective job search strategies, how to write an effective cover letter and resume, what to expect on your first job, the significance of networking and building solid industry relationships, how a project is sold, and how a reel production office and set operate. You'll learn how to define your goals and make a plan to achieve them, how to survive the tough times, how to deal with big egos and bad tempers, and how to put your passion to work for you. * Hollywood insider with 20+ years of experience provides realistic advice and tips on getting a first job and moving up in a tough industry * Covers a variety of career choices and the basics of how a production is set up and run * Includes must-have information on breaking into both Hollywood and smaller markets nationwide

Table of Contents

Introduction	xiii
Fade In on Reality	1	(18)
Having What It Takes	2	(1)
Reality Stings	3	(2)
Attend Film School or Jump Right In?	5	(3)
Making Coffee Instead of Movies	8	(5)
Hollywood Means Business---Know Why You're Here	13	(6)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly	19	(12)
The Good News First	20	(1)
Pros From the Pros	21	(2)
The Less Glamorous Aspects	23	(2)
Cons From the Pros	25	(3)
As In Life, This Industry Is Not Fair	28	(3)
Key Ingredients to a Successful Career	31	(14)
Passion! Passion! And More-Passion!	31	(1)
Being Prepared	32	(1)
It's Who You Know and Who Knows You	33	(1)
It's Also What You Know about the Industry	34	(1)
Understanding the Power of Networking	35	(1)
Having a Plan, and Committing to Your Success	36	(1)
Standing Out Among the Crowd	37	(1)
Donning a Teflon Coat	38	(1)
Perfecting Your Craft	38	(1)
Having Good Interview Skills	39	(1)
Being Able to Ask for What You Want	40	(1)
A Winning Attitude	40	(1)
A Willingness and an Ability to Play the Game	41	(1)
Being Well Liked and Having a Good Reputation	42	(1)
A Game Plan for Getting Through the Rough Times	43	(1)
Remembering the Five ``P''s	43	(2)
Career Options	45	(36)
Freelance Vs. Staff	46	(2)
Being Part of a Crew	48	(2)
Unions and Guilds	50	(2)
Independents Vs. Studio Films	52	(3)
Features Vs. Television	55	(1)
The Majors	56	(9)
More Staff Possibilities	65	(1)
An Agent's Life	66	(4)
The Many Faces of a Producer	70	(5)
Production Management	75	(6)
Some Other Interesting Choices	81	(24)
Post Production	81	(2)
International Distribution	83	(2)
Unit Publicity	85	(2)
The Script Doctor	87	(1)
The Educator	88	(1)
Music	89	(3)
Commercials	92	(1)
Reality TV	93	(2)
Casting	95	(1)
Extras Casting	96	(1)
Continuity	97	(2)
Location Management	99	(2)
Studio Operations and Administration	101	(2)
New Media	103	(2)
Life Will Not Go According to Plan If You Have No Plan	105	(16)
Finding Your Passion	106	(1)
Know Where You're Going and How You're Going to Get There	107	(2)
Setting Goals	109	(2)
Keeping Yourself on Track	111	(1)
Managing Your Time	112	(1)
Keeping on Track (form)	113	(2)
Your Vision and Mission	115	(2)
Being in the Right Place at the Right Time	117	(4)
Starting Out	121	(20)
Moving to Tinseltown	121	(2)
Being a Big Fish In a Small Market or a Small Fish In a Large Market	123	(1)
Skills to Fall Back On	124	(2)
The Merits of Working for Free	126	(3)
The Mailroom	129	(2)
Temp Agencies	131	(4)
Network Opportunities	135	(2)
Other Considerations	137	(4)
Job Search Strategies	141	(18)
Looking for Work Is Uncomfortable	141	(1)
Finding Your Market	142	(2)
Likely Targets	144	(1)
Likely Targets (form)	145	(1)
Company Profile & Follow-up (form)	146	(1)
Learning How to Sell Yourself	147	(2)
The Personal Pitch	149	(2)
The Recommendation of Others	151	(1)
You Never Know Where It's Going to Come From	152	(1)
Being Able to Ask for What You Want	153	(1)
Shameless Self-Promotion	154	(5)
The Resume and Cover Letter	159	(24)
The Resume Pile	159	(2)
The Cover Letter	161	(5)
Resume Guidelines	166	(5)
Advice From the Resume Goddess	171	(1)
The Resume	171	(4)
An Acting Resume	175	(1)
The Follow-Up	175	(3)
When to Use a Bio	178	(1)
Safeguarding Your Resume and Headshots	179	(4)
Interviews and Meetings	183	(24)
There's More Than One Kind	185	(1)
Getting Past the Gatekeepers	185	(3)
Preparing for an Interview	188	(1)
What They're Looking For	189	(5)
The General Information Meeting	194	(2)
Seven Steps to a Successful General Information Meeting	196	(1)
The Door-to-Door Approach	197	(2)
Meeting Etiquette for All Occasions	199	(1)
Don't Let Them Scare You Away	200	(1)
Follow-Up after Your Interview	201	(3)
Being Available	204	(1)
A Final Note on the Subject	205	(2)
No One Ever Said It Would Be Easy! What You Can Expect Once You Land Your First Job	207	(18)
Good PAs and Assistants Are Worth Their Weight in Gold	207	(1)
Basic Job Responsibilities	208	(1)
Come Equipped	209	(1)
Proper Phone Etiquette	210	(2)
Know Who You're Answering To	212	(1)
What to Do When Starting a New Job	213	(1)
What Not to Do When Starting a New Job	214	(1)
Becoming Indispensable	215	(2)
The Reliability Factor	217	(1)
A Sense of Urgency	218	(1)
Accepting Boundaries	219	(1)
Working Around Celebrities	220	(2)
Beware! Warning! Bumpy Road Ahead!	222	(2)
Relax and Lighten Up	224	(1)
Networking and Schmooching	225	(16)
Swimming with Sharks	227	(1)
The Secret	228	(1)
I'm a Friend of Marc's and Jeff's	229	(3)
The Giving Part of Networking	232	(1)
The ``How To'' Part of Networking	233	(6)
Tips from Heather	239	(1)
Your Network	239	(1)
My Network (form)	240	(1)
Getting Through the Next Door	241	(18)
The Cultivation and Maintenance of Contacts	241	(3)
There's Always More to Learn	244	(3)
Finding a Mentor	247	(3)
Having an Agent	250	(2)
Making Your Own Film	252	(7)
Pitching and Selling	259	(20)
Pitching Is Just Part of the Game	259	(1)
On the Lookout for Good Material	260	(1)
Scripts, Scripts and More Scripts	261	(1)
First Things First	262	(1)
Becoming One with Your Material	262	(2)
Knowing the Market	264	(1)
Packaging	265	(2)
Getting Your Material in Front of the Buyers	267	(6)
Pitching Tips	273	(1)
Taking This Route to Become a Producer	274	(1)
The Odds	275	(2)
It Only Takes One!	277	(2)
Reel Production	279	(24)
The Production Office	279	(7)
A Reel Set	286	(4)
Getting Into the DGA	290	(3)
The Production Team	293	(2)
Production Team Job Responsibilities (form)	295	(8)
You're Not in Film School Anymore, Toto	303	(16)
Don't Count Those Chickens Just Yet	303	(2)
It's Crowded at The Top	305	(2)
The Land of Big Egos and Bad Tempers	307	(4)
Avoid Burning Bridges	311	(2)
There's a Barracuda In My Office---More on Politics	313	(6)
Show Biz Survival Techniques	319	(18)
A Teflon Coat Comes in All Sizes	319	(1)
Preserving Your Motivation and Confidence	320	(1)
Getting Past the Disappointment and Depression	321	(3)
Walking Around the Brick Wall	324	(1)
``Be Bold and Mighty Forces Will Come to Your Aid''	325	(1)
Reverting to Plan B	326	(1)
Don't Fight a Stacked Deck	327	(1)
Get It in Writing	328	(1)
The ``No One's-Ever-Going-To-Hire-Me-Again'' Syndrome	329	(1)
It's Not a Business for Sissies	330	(3)
Humor Is Still the Best Medicine	333	(1)
Get Real	334	(3)
Advice From the Experts	337	(12)
The Word According to Eve	337	(3)
The Word According to Everyone Else	340	(9)
Remembering Why You Got Into This Business to Begin With	349	(4)
Eve's Recipe for Success	353	(2)
Glossary of Terms	355	(10)
Index	365