Creatives Working Together: Communication and Cooperation for Media Professionals

by Jeffrey Michael Bays

Overview

With this book, filmmaker Jeffrey Michael Bays utilizes a range of professional leadership experience with his background in creative collaboration to guide today’s media practitioners in getting along harmoniously.

 

This book begins by exploring the unique personality traits that make it difficult for artists to work together, then offers solutions with expertly guided tutorials on leadership, motivation, and conflict resolution. Readers are then guided through the intimidating waters of business communication, including how to manage their inbox and send clear, effective emails. The text includes case studies featuring content on real media practitioners, ethics scenarios, writing exercises, as well as surveys and data to back up each chapter’s assessments.

 

Providing a framework for success in today’s media businesses, this book will be an integral reference guide for creative professionals and students who want to gain leadership skills, resolve conflicts, and maximize the efficiency of the creative teams they work in.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781041091899
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/22/2025
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Jeffrey Michael Bays is an American filmmaker and radio producer, best known for his SiriusXM radio play ‘Not From Space,’ the first to record its actors remotely over the Internet. With a Master of Arts in Cinema Studies from La Trobe University, he is a frequent speaker at film festivals worldwide, including places like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Toronto, St. Louis, Palm Springs, Boulder, Buffalo, Santa Cruz, and Bern. Jeffrey is a contributor to MovieMaker Magazine, producer of the collaborative Hitch20 docu-series exploring Hitchcock's twenty works of TV, and author of two filmmaking books: Between the Scenes and Suspense With a Camera.

Table of Contents

Ch 1. Creatives Working Together

Creative Collaboration – Business vs. Art – Success Stories – Collaboration vs. Competition – Starting with Empathy and Understanding – Embracing Cultural Differences – Resisting the Urge to Give Up – Assembling Your Competent Warriors – Ethics: Being an Honest Creative

Ch 2. Navigating Creative Personalities

The Personality Landscape – Understanding the Creative Process – Artist Personalities – Artist Psychology – Artists Working Together – Embracing Differences – Ethics: Don’t Try to Diagnose

Ch 3. Protecting the Actor Bubble

Understanding the Self-Conscious Performer – Actor Personalities – Actor Psychology – Creating a Protective Actor Bubble – Documentary Subjects and Podcast Guests – Toward a Stronger Team – Ethics: Breaching the Actor Bubble

Ch 4. Leadership and Teamwork

A Team of Self-Leaders – Team Etiquette – The Roles of a Leader – Having Influence – Styles of Leadership – Mixing Leadership Styles – Ideal Qualities of a Leader – The Nuts and Bolts of Leading – Moving Forward – Ethics: Influence Gone Wrong

Ch 5. Motivating the Cast and Crew

Propelling the Purpose – Motivation Begins at the Top – Most Creative Projects Feel Bad – Showing Footage as a Motivator – Motivation Theories – What Motivates Creatives? – Needs of Creatives Working Together – When Creatives Procrastinate – Your Team Takes Shape – Ethics: How Not To Motivate

Ch 6. Flow of Information and Authority

Knowing How You Fit In – Flow of Information within the Team – Organizational Design – Anatomy of the Organizational Chart – Chain of Command – A Stronger Collaboration – Ethics: Jumping the Chain

Ch 7. Overcoming Team Negativity

Team Negativity – Causes of Negativity – Preventing Negativity as a Team – When it Turns to Conflict – Solving a Conflict – Approaches to Avoid – The Importance of an Apology – Solving an Actor Conflict – Violence, Harassment, and Bigotry – Moving Forward – Ethics: Another Look

Ch 8. Basics of Communicating Professionally

Starting with Empathy – Being a Smart Communicator – The Communication Model – Choosing the Right Channel – Timing of Your Message – Barriers to Communication – Responding to Senders – On a Smarter Path – Writing Exercise: Say No

Ch. 9 Crafting the Message

Writing the Message – Using the Direct Pattern – Persuading with the Indirect Pattern – Writing the Reply – Special Goodwill Messages – Going Forward with Confidence – Writing Exercise: Revise an Email

Ch 10. Anatomy of a Good Business Letter

Paying Attention to Tone – Recipient Fields – Subject Line – The Greeting – The Email Body – The Closing – Signatures – Attachments – Writing a Paper Business Letter – Looking Good – Writing Exercise: Invite Someone to Collaborate

Ch 11. Navigating the Spam Epidemic

The Spam Epidemic – Keeping Your Emails Out of Filters – Finding Accidentally Filtered Messages – Discerning Real vs. Fake – Ways to Reduce Spam – Competent Warriors Going Forward – Writing Exercise: Rewrite a Spammy Email

Ch 12. Sample Emails for Media Professionals

Apology Note – Request a Podcast Interview – Letter of Recommendation – Cover Letter – Follow Up – Saying No – Quitting a Job – Writing Exercise: Write a Recommendation

Ch 13. Holidays to Avoid

January/February – March/April – May/June – July/August – September/October – November/December

Ch 14. Film Production Communication

During Development – During Pre-Production – During Production – During Post-Production – Release and Thereafter – Sample Communication

Editorial Reviews

“Creatives Working Together uncovers the human qualities of filmmaking that we don't talk enough about. Every creative person needs to read and study this book, whether you are a newbie or a seasoned professional!"

Peter D. Marshall, Director of Fox’s 21 Jump Street and CBS’ Wiseguy, 1stAD on Butterfly Effect and Happy Gilmore

“This is a fantastic book, breaking down the collaborative process from so many interesting angles. Just about anyone who needs to work collaboratively with others will discover gems of knowledge here.”

Sam Price-Waldman, Director of Photography for HBO’s The Vow and Showtime’s The Lincoln Project

“Creatives Working Together gives a fascinating insight into what goes on during the creative process and how creatives achieve their goals. I highly recommend this book!”

Alex McColgan, Executive Producer, Astrum YouTube Channel

From the Publisher