Paperback(Original)
-
SHIP THIS ITEMChoose Expedited Shipping at checkout for delivery by Thursday, April 4PICK UP IN STORECheck Availability at Nearby Stores
Available within 2 business hours
Related collections and offers
Overview
* A breakdown of job descriptions, from casting directors and key grips to stunt coordinators and film editors
* What kinds of deals actors, directors, writers, and producers make when they start out and when they hit the top
* How to protect and sell your creative work
* How movie deals are put together at studios and by independents
* The nuts and bolts of a boilerplate contract
* The notorious and mysterious world of profit participations, with a detailed explanation of why there's never any profit "net profit" deals
The entertainment industry can be an exciting, challenging landscape to negotiate. Having some valuable insight into how to make the most of your career in the movie or TV business can put you on the surest path to success.
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9780684800646 |
---|---|
Publisher: | Touchstone |
Publication date: | 02/06/1996 |
Edition description: | Original |
Pages: | 336 |
Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.90(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Chapter One
Be Prepared
You might be tempted to skip over this chapter. Much of what we say here is self-evident and simple. However, we are willing to lay odds that most success stories in this business involve heeding the simple truths we describe below. It may sound lofty, but this section is about character the personal traits that you bring to the table. Looks, personality, or family connections may get you a job, but only character can build a career. All the sophisticated advice and technical information we give you in the later sections will be wasted if you don't have what it takes to take advantage of it.
Read this section carefully. Maybe even reread it if you find yourself at sea in your career. The solution to your problems is likely to be found at the source, which, of course, is yourself.
Training and Experience
There is a reason why Hollywood has developed into the film and television capital of the world. The town has attracted, for several generations, the most qualified professionals in every branch of the industry. If you intend to compete with these people for the few jobs that are available, you stand a much better chance if you have learned your craft before you arrive.
Despite the hype, most creative talent must be skilled craftspeople to sustain a career in the business. Even if you are great in front of the mirror or at handling the family video camera, you need to be ready if you get a chance to show your stuff. Some people get noticed just about as soon as they hit town, and if they're not ready, they may find in retrospect that they've blown their one shot. Before you relocate, you should take every opportunity to gain the skills and experience you will need.
Yes, you can find training and gain experience once you have arrived, but as we explain below, Los Angeles can be an expensive city, both financially and emotionally. Better to take advantage of training opportunities in your less competitive and less expensive local community before setting out for Hollywood.
Talent
The entertainment industry is a high-octane blend of the creative and the practical. Thousands and even millions of dollars ride on the ability of an actor to work himself up, in a moment's notice, to the appropriate emotional state for each take, each shot in a day's schedule. Even the lowly production assistant must be able to respond to a thousand competing demands each day on the set, demands that would set the busiest air-traffic controller spinning in a tizzy.
Beyond the skill that is necessary for these jobs, a certain inborn talent is required. Do you have that talent? Unfortunately, you cannot answer that question until you try the job. Imagination will not do it. If you take our advice and get training and experience before you come to Hollywood, you will have some indication of whether you have the talent and temperament for the career you are pursuing. If you build sets for your local community theater, you will discover whether you have a feel for building materials and tools. If you act in community theater productions, the roles you play and the response you receive will tell you whether others recognize the immense acting talent you are so sure you possess. These experiences can give you a clue to whether you have what it takes to succeed in the entertainment business.
One cautionary note for actors. We will give you our strong opinions about the state of acting and actor training in chapter 5, "First Steps." For now, let us say that actors especially should take anyone's opinion of their talent with a grain of salt. Most individuals in creative-talent occupations don't get tested before they hit L.A., but actors often start at home. Just because the local community theater director or even the teacher at your prestigious acting conservatory fails to see and reward your talent doesn't mean you don't have any. A few of these people have a good eye for recognizing talent, but most do not. Of course, the reverse is also true. Even if you've received nothing but praise and encouragement from local "authorities," you may very well get shot down in Hollywood.
Courage
This is no profession for the faint of heart. Rejection will be your frequent companion. Poverty may become a familiar condition. More than once your friends and family and even you will question your career. Every successful person in Hollywood possesses the courage to struggle with the demons of doubt, disappointment, anxiety, and low self-esteem each night, then each new day begin again.
Patience
For every overnight success in Hollywood, there are a million people who must build their careers a pebble a day. Most so-called overnight sensations enjoy only a year or two of heady acclaim before they find themselves back at square one, no richer for the experience. When you see the names appear in that long list of credits at the end of a picture just remember that those people spent years toiling away at their craft in obscurity to earn that millisecond of screen time. The people who are likely to be successful in this industry will view their careers from the perspective of five, ten, even twenty years.
Common Sense
While often work in entertainment demands that you exhibit the vulnerability, naïveté, and imagination of a child, the business of making a career for yourself requires the opposite. Many talented people will never be "discovered" because they lack business sense. You must have the maturity and smarts to navigate through the maze of agents, managers, casting directors, directors, producers, and others who stand between you and each job, or at least the common sense to choose your supporting team wisely.
A Good Work Ethic
Woe to the person who lounges in bed each day waiting for the job to come to them. This is a career path that demands constant salesmanship on your part, that demands you constantly train and hone your craft. The twelve labors of Hercules pale in comparison with what will be required of you to make a successful career in Hollywood.
A Little Help from Your Friends
This may not be an absolute prerequisite for a career in Hollywood, but it sure helps. There are so many downs and so few ups in this business that a warm and loving network of family and friends can often make the difference in your emotional and financial well-being. If you can count on someone to come through in a crisis (and there will be many), you'll have that extra cushion that makes the difference between throwing in the towel and hanging in there one more day.
If you have all of the traits listed above, begin your journey today. You have a wonderful gift to share with the world. If you lack one or more of these qualities, do not count on some wizard to endow you with them when you arrive in Hollywood. Instead, stay home. Get a good education. Find a loving partner and raise healthy, happy children. Make a contribution to your community. Let that dream of fame and fortune remain just that a dream. That's where it belongs. After all, even Dorothy knew there is no place like home.
Required Reading before You Come to Town
We've included a list of books in the appendix that you should read as you begin your career. These books will give you additional tips about the various crafts in the entertainment business and some perspective about life and the kind of character you will need to succeed. You don't have to read all of them before you come to Hollywood, but the more information you have, the better.
Copyright © 1996 by Gail M. Resnik and Scott Trost
Table of Contents
CONTENTSPreface
Introduction What It Takes to Work in the Movie and TV Business
Section One
WHAT YOU'LL NEED BEFORE YOU START
Chapter 1
Be Prepared
Training and Experience
Talent
Courage
Patience
Common Sense
A Good Work Ethic
A Little Help from Your Friends
Required Reading before You Come to Town
Section Two
THE PLAYERS
Chapter 2
The People Above The Line
Above the Line vs. Below the Line
Producers
Optioning a Screenplay
Selling Projects to a Studio
Script Breakdowns
Directors
Actors
John's Acting Resume
Writers
Chapter 3
The People Below The Line
Casting Directors
Production Assistant
First and Second Assistant Director and Second Unit Director
Director of Photography
Camera Operator, First and Second Assistant Cameramen
Gaffer and Best Boy
Key Grip
Production Sound Mixer
Production Designer
Set Decorator and Property Master
Lead Person and Swing Gang
Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist
Wardrobe
Stunt Coordinator
Script Supervisor
Production Accountant
Stand-ins and Extras
Matte Painter
Production Illustrator
Visual Effects People
A Note about Animation
Film Editors
Post-Production Sound
Composers, Orchestrators, and Musicians
Technical Advisers and Researchers
Studio Employees
A Few Words about Reality Shows
Chapter 4
The People Who Do Business
Agents
Agents vs. Managers
Managers
Business Managers
Lawyers
Studio Executives
Section Three
GETTING STARTED
Chapter 5
First Steps
Getting Settled
Financial Considerations
Read the Trades
Letting Them Know You're in Town
Do I Have Tape or Film of My Work?
What about Student Films?
Stand-Up Comedy
Industrials and Educational Films
The Porn Industry
Sex and Money Scams
Avoiding Scams
Special Considerations for Actors
Pathways for Directors
Pathways for Producers
Pathways for Agents
Pathways for Lawyers
Pathways for Technical People
Chapter 6
Getting Trained
Acting Teachers and Coaches
Apprenticeships and Internships
Film Schools
Extension Courses and Seminars
Chapter 7
The People Who Represent You
Agents
Getting the Agent to Work for You
Managers
Power of Attorney
Attorneys
Three Good Reasons to Meet with an Attorney
Chapter 8
The People Who Promote You
Photographers
Publicists and Press Agents
When Should You Add a Publicist to Your Team?
Personal Trainers
Chapter 9
Unions
What Unions Are Involved in the Entertainment Industry?
Associations
What Do the Unions Have to Do with My Early Career?
Getting Your Union Card, That Elusive Catch-22
The Union Card Shuffle
Working Non-Union
Financial Core
Section Four
YOUR FIRST REAL JOB
What Is a Real Job?
Chapter 10
Contractual Issues
The Difference Between Movie and Television Contracts
Basic Motion Picture Deals
TV Deals
Compensation for Your First Real Job
Payment
Scale for Actors
Why Actors Love Commercials
Scale for Directors and Writers
Scale for Below-the-Line People
Non-Union Compensation
Residuals
Credit
Is There Anything Else I Can Get This Time Around?
Chapter 11
When Will I Work Again?
What Happens Between the First and the Next Real Job
Surviving the Hard Times
Section Five
YOUR FIRST BIG BREAK
Chapter 12
What Are the Breaks?
Chapter 13
Exploiting the Break
Who Should Make My Deal and Negotiate My Contract?
Should I Change My Agent or Manager?
Major Deal Points for the First Big Break
Compensation
Credit
A Credit Primer
Shared Writing Credit
Multiple Picture and Episode Deals
Why A Seven-Year Rule?
Most Favored Nations
Multiple Pictures with Preemptions
Hiatus
Should I Incorporate?
Why Do They Call It a Loanout?
Chapter 14
Avoid Being Exploited
Location Fever
Don't Get Caught Paying Double
The Ego Problem
What Price Fame?
"Please Take Off Your Clothes"
Sexual Harassment
The Production-in-Progress Scam
Sex, Race, Sexual Orientation, and Age Discrimination
Affirmative Action
Section Six
PROTECTING AND SELLING YOUR CREATIVE WORKS
Chapter 15
The Value of Creative Ideas
Who Needs to Protect Their Creative Work?
Don't I Own All the Work I Create?
The Basic Protections
Copyright Protection
Registration
What If You Think Your Work Was Stolen?
A Few Rules of Thumb about Life-Story Rights
Contract
Work for Hire
Writers Guild Registration
Your Agents and Representatives
Selling Your Rights and Getting Them Back
Should You Give Someone a Free Option?
Section Seven
WHEN YOU'VE BECOME A WORKING PROFESSIONAL
Chapter 16
Top-Level Contract Issues
Do I Really Need to Know All This Stuff?
Chapter 17
Now That You've Got the Power to Negotiate
Why do Deals Fall Through?
Money Issues
Profit Participation
History of Movie Profit Participation
The Hierarchy of Participation Deals
Net Profits
Summary of How Profits are Calculated
Deferments (Accrued before Actual Breakeven)
Breakeven
Merchandising
Tips for Negotiating Your Profit Participation
Credit/Name and Likeness
Sample Credit Provisions
Perquisites
Approval Power
Real Power
Chapter 18
So What Is in That Boilerplate?
Rights and Moral Rights
A (Very) Short Primer on Moral Rights
Screen and Advertising Credit
Representation
Transportation and Living Expenses
Suspensions, Strikes, and Other Force Majeure Events
Tips on Suspensions
Morals Clauses and Other Restrictions
Other Gobbledygook
Chapter 19
Breaking the Contract
Choosing to Break the Contract
Getting Fired
Section Eight
THE RULES OF THE GAME
Chapter 20
Motion Picture Production
Studio Pictures
Negative Costs
Negative Pickups
Completion Bonds
Article 20
Independent Productions
Want Someone to Finance Your Film?
Marketing and Exhibition
Blind Bidding
Chapter 21
Television Production
That Highway in the Sky
Broadcast Television
Cable Television
Syndication
Financial Syndication Rules
Who Produces Television?
Chapter 22
The Marketplace
Festivals and Markets
NATPE/NAB
Affiliate Meetings
Epilogue Final Thoughts
Appendix Suggested Reading List
What People are Saying About This
Debbie Pearl Writer-Producer, Designing Women The Grey's Anatomy of the TV and film business.
Dirk W. van de Bunt Sr. Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs, The Carsey-Werner Company A...breezy and intelligent guide to the ins-and-outs of the dealmaking process. I wish I had had this book when I started my career.
Shelley, Levinson Academy Award-winning Writer-Director When two prominent entertainment attorneys spell out clearly much of the "business" of show business, "Who could ask for anything more?"