Copy And Credit

50 cent coffee!

2010-12-17T10:02:00.000-08:00

Drinks are the social lubricant of the industry. But offering to meet over a beer might send the wrong message, especially to the person you're meeting (as in "Have you heard of AA?")

However, coffee is a safe bet but can have negative side effects with too muc. Aside from the jitters and causing chronic diarrhea, it can add up to a hefty sum over time. There is a way around this if you're willing to be a bit environmentally friendly and show up early.

Here's a little known secret: bring your Starbucks coffee cup back and they will refill it with Pike Place (aka the regular coffee) for only 50 cents! As long as you arrive before the person you're supposed to meet they have no way of knowing that you did this.

Of course, I don't recommend carrying around an old, moldy coffee cup as that's just gross and not worth the health risks. Not to mention it will be pretty obvious that you have an old cup. But if you are willing to keep it for a day or so, and possibly rinse it out, you will be fine - usually the baristas offer to change it for you anyway per store policy. If you want to not be a total cheapskate, you can buy a bagel for a dollar, or, better yet, leave the other 50 cents as a tip for the barista. That way they'll know that at least you're not ripping them off. Besides, you may end up having to work there one day, especially if you're trying to make it in the freelance world of acting/writing/directing/producing.

Walking In LA

2010-07-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

Unless all your friends live next to you and your work is nearby, it is very difficult to get from point A to B in Los Angeles. This city is so big you could fit all the major cities within the city/county limits and still have room left over, according to I read.

So it is ironic that a city so obsessed with image and health and being green (or so it claims to be) has such poor public transportation, as well as being one that does not encouraging biking or walking. Weird because not only is that a healthier route - yes even factoring in the smog you breathe in - it is significantly safer and cheaper. Of course, it is a big distance to cover, and when you're addicted to using your car, it's very difficult to change your habits. You're almost better off not getting a car in the first place and using a bus, bike, subway or walking as it would prevent such a habit from forming. Taxis are far worse, they are far more expensive here than in NYC and equally as unhealthy.

I'm reevaluating my own car usage in this time as it is more expensive overall, though it is less per month if it were just gas. Cars have a whole other set of expenses not included in public transpo or free means of transport - parking, maintenance, insurance, cleaning, taxes and of course gas.

So cost effectively while it is better not to use a car, assuming you travel on a daily basis, and it is better in terms of health as well, the main trade off is time. If the average person walks a mile in 15 minutes, then just to get 4 miles can be an hour, which could otherwise take you under 10 minutes in a car. There are options though - planning ahead is a big one, which is the main reason people rush from A to B. Or you could carpool with friends and split the gas. Or you could even take a zipcar which is rented by the hour.

Some places offer free travel to home from their location (within reason) such as Ralph's which has free shuttles to help you lug everything home.

The added side effect of trimming the transportation expense down besides lower expenses include a greener planet and exercise. So this is a triple savings: you can save yourself a gym membership as you get healthier, you can save money from no wear and tear on the car, and you can save time and money on destressing activities like drinking or therapy since you'll be getting more exercize. Interesting how by using something meant to simplify life such as a car makes things more difficult in the long run.

Unlimited Edition

2010-06-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

Communications.

Besides being a bullshit degree, if you're in Hollywood, technically you're in this industry. Fortunately it's at least the fun side (or is supposed to be) of the equation, unlike the part dealing with fiber optics and circuitry. You know, the thing with wires and people in white gloves and hardhats that we see in stock photos for hot new job fields.... Or so we would like to believe.

Let's be honest, everyone, from creative types to assistants, needs some combination of email, fax, text and/or phone as there is so much communication done every day with deals, updates, poaching, staying in touch, job postings, submissions, news, contracts, scripts, packages, reels, appointments, and most imporantly, Facebook / Twitter updates and YouTube links.

(Well, almost everyone uses email and texts, though there are some ~~dinosaurs~~ "old schoolers" who don't - or worse, they print out every single email, write a response by hand, then have their assistant send it).

And all of this costs money. Sure you can try to be all Ralph Elliston Invisible Man and live off the grid, but then why are you in Hollywood in the first place? (How's that for a nerd reference - and potential movie? Anyone?...)

But you don't have to get the most technologically advanced gadgets to get ahead; as cool as it is to get a Droid or an iPhone, those things are expensive at $200-300 a piece, not including plans and the contract (which includes an expensive termination fee if you can't handle it anymore). There are cheaper options.

I just switched to Metro PCS for $40 a month to get unlimited web, text and calls. I did have to buy a new phone to qualify. It was a bit upfront, but I got a deal on it, plus a rebate and I figure it will save me $14 a month on average (so it will pay for itself in 4 months) vs. my old phone and contract plan. We'll see how it goes but so far for what it is, I'm happy with the service.

There's also VOIP, which is usually free or bundled with your internet provider if you are paying for it. Basically this is something like Skype and is free - not including headset, speakers and computer of course. But if you work at home as a writer, editor, or are unemployed, it's a pretty good deal as well and completely eliminates the need for a land line.

There's also prepaid phones, which I've not used but I hear do save a lot of money IF you don't use your phone that often. A great site to see how many minutes you use is billshrink.com for this.

And of course if you're lucky to be (?) working, you could use the office phone for calls but this should be done sparingly as it will piss off your boss that you're calling on their dime and not doing your job.

Get only what you need in terms of minutes and texts and internet for calls, for the least amount possible and if you can avoid a contract that is the best, especially if the service sucks it will not be hard to change. DO get a quality phone, but never pay full price - scour ebay, craigslist or get the lowest deal through the dealer if you must, and a rebate. Get a bundle if that turns out better than piecemealing it together.

At least now, unlike everyone else in this town who is just a talker, you can proudly hold your head high and say yes, my talk is cheap and those are my two cents.

More Income, Better Outcome

2010-06-28T19:15:00.000-07:00

Well folks, after a full year of sticking it out at the entry level, low paying, long hours, deal with insults, pay-your-dues assistant I've finally got a new job!

Sure it's as an assistant again but I'm really looking forward to it for many reasons: the dress code is relaxed, the people seem fun, the atmosphere is casual, the office is beautiful, it's close to where I currently work, we get to sit in meetings and actually contribute opinions, the work is less stressful, it's closer to my ultimate goal of producing and they have a great benefits package and increased my salary 50%! Hey if I have to eat crap, let me say it has never tasted so good!

The tricky thing now will be to keep living as I already am, and by that I mean keeping my expenses exactly the same, or possibly even reducing them. The problem with most people who get a raise either at work or at new jobs is that they increase spending to fit their new incomes. If anything, this will finish my goal of reaching my 6 month emergency fund in no time, and can start saving for a home & retirement as well as ultimately financial freedom. But for the next 2 weeks I will have to eke by on the $40 in my account until my next paycheck....

I'm Baaack!

2010-06-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

Hello handful of loyal blog followers, I'm back! Many apologies for the long absence, as I was overwhelmed during my first pilot season and my computer at home is gone. But I've gone mobile finally and can write remotely so this will no longer be an issue...

To fill you in on what's been going on with me since I last wrote:

*I've dug myself completely out of debt - no credit cards, no auto loans, no personal loans, and best of all, no student loans. See my complete loan payoff history here.

*I'm currently 3/4 finished funding with my 6 month emergency fund, which means that the next step is (FINALLY) investing for retirement and saving for a home.

*I've been at my job almost a year - in 3 1/2 weeks marks the anniversary date.

I've also realized during that time, I don't have so much of an expenses problem as I just have a very low income. While I do well considering I realize I need to get a new job that pays better, and there are other positions in Hollywood that will help with attainig financial freedom... this is an upcoming blog post though.

Upcoming posts will tackle issues of transportation in LA, phones, starting your own business and income needed to acheive financial independence.

Look forward to getting back on the bandwagon!

Go 2010

2010-01-04T18:21:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to copyandcredit and to the new year! So the entertainment industry is back up and running again, pilot season is ready to begin, prospects of an improved recovery are showing and everyone has made new years' resolutions (including yours truly).

Per someone's comment on an earlier post, I did find a way to eat for under $20 a week while eating healthy, which is my challenging new year's resolution - keeping my expenses still very low while eating well (as in pretty much eliminating carbs & fat, which is a feat, let alone doing it on the cheap). A recent trip to the 99 cent store revealed the following:

Frozen garden mix - .99
Frozen strawberries - .99
Frozen raspberries - .99
Frozen broccoli - .99
Frozen green beans - .99
Dry Black beans - .99
Dry Red Kidney beans - .99
Large tub of salad/spinach - .99
Romaine Salad mix - .99
Lite salad dressing - .99
Dozen eggs - .99
5 chicken cans @ .99 each
5 Tuna fish cans @ .79 each
Tapatio hot sauce .79

Total was $19.60 and has lasted over a week. Drink water and you're good to go. This is also a good book to check out as well on healthy, cheap living:

I know it seems tough to acheive more than one goal at a time (in this case eating well and keeping expenses very low) but with focus, creativity and determination it is possible. What goals do you have that may come in conflict with livng a less expensive lifestyle?

The Path (Home) Less Traveled

2009-12-25T15:15:00.000-08:00

I'm staying in LA this year instead of doing my usual routine of going home to visit family and friends. Why? For one thing, I don't get that much time off in the new job as compared to before in other ones. But more importantly, I find that every time I do go home, I come back incredibly broke and somewhat bitter about the experience. I mean, I love my family but can only take them for about 3 days or so. As for being broke, I take full ownership but there is a lot of pressure to adhere to society's expectations of being social; I think this has to do with the mentality that I take on which goes something like 'Hey, I'm on vacation! I'm with family again! They used to pay for stuff, now it's my turn! Screw my responsibilities, besides, who knows when I will see them again? Life is short!'

And as such, I go out on the town, buy people meals and drinks out of guilt, or a feeling of obligation, or to renew friendship (as if true friends could be bought) and so on. Plus there's all that gift-getting, going to and throwing of parties, catching movies at the end of the year, sightseeing, travel, going out to eat and social events from before Christmas to the New Year. So by the end I have nothing in my wallet except tons of receipts, an overdrawn bank account (or a high credit card when I used to have one) plus I usually weigh another 10-15 lbs heavier and have some regret and resentment at not better planning my stay.

Each year of course, I vow that the next will be different, and of course, it always remains the same. That is why this year I am abstaining from travel, much to the chagrin of family and friends who don't understand that I have a long-term goal here. Many think I am being odd, selfish or unsociable when instead it's merely a vacation from the old routine which has become quite tiresome over the last few years. It's nice to stay at home in LA and do some day trips to places I've never seen due to time constraints that are fun and inexpensive, without that social anxiety and pressure which comes around family and old friends. It's not super eventful but it beats coming home broke and upset about the whole thing.

When I do travel, I do try to look several months in advance (think July) and use a metasite like Kayak.com which combs all the travel sites. But that's for down the road when money is less of an issue and the career is a little more secure. After all, what fun is it going home to family if you have to beg, borrow and steal or make excuses about money when you're in your late 20s?

Don't get taken to the cleaners

2009-12-12T14:13:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you but scrounging for quarters is always a pain in the ass be it for street parking or laundry. As for parking, I try to go where it's free if possible.

But I've been recently when doing laundry, instead of the spending extra $1-3 bucks every time you go to the laundromat or in-building dryer from 1-4 times a month, why not simply air dry it on your coat hangers? Or if you can use a clothing line, as we're in sunny LA anyways, all that much better.

It actually keeps your clothes lasting much longer and fresher; dryers beat up, shrink and de-fuzz/cloth your items, not to mention eat one sock almost always. It's also more environmentally friendly and you don't have to wait for one of the driers to free up. It also saves you the step of having to transfer your dry clothes to the hanger anyway, so it's quicker really - unless you need the item in a pinch but I'm talking regular laundry here. If you really need to spruce things up, iron your shirts & pants - which you probably would have to do anyway even if it were from a drier. Doing this will usually save between $50-150 a year on laundry for most people.

Of course there's times you should spend the extra bit on bigger/heavier items like blankets, towels, and so forth since those are space intensive and also take longer to dry. Likewise, dress clothes (suits, work shirts) which would require dry cleaning as they don't look right being thrown in the was are worth paying extra for in the long run. But for the most part, on weekly/biweekly/monthly laundry routines, this is an expense that you can do without...

Anyway it's a lot more fun to use quarters for drinking games at the bar.

Eating on 50 cents a day

2009-11-24T12:09:00.001-08:00

OK actors, writers, and assistants scraping by. Everybody has to eat, no getting around that. We're being reminded by this with Thanksgiving coming up (aka fill up while you can on your parents' dime if you're going home - assuming you can afford the flight back) and your grumbling stomach probably helps.

I've decided to keep eating as though I were unemployed to increase my savings as much as possible and have been able to live on about 50 cents a day. Here are some delicious CHEAP meals (inspired by 'A Million By 30' by Alan Corey)

Breakfast
Oatmeal
Cost = 16.5 cents for 1 cup of oatmeal which is 2 servings ($2.50 a drum at Ralph's)
For extra flavor, add flavored creamer & sugar from work (aka 'ghetto oatmeal' which I eat regularly at work)

Lunch
Ramen - that old college standby
Beef, Chicken, Shrimp, Oriental, Roast Beef, Chili, Creamy Chicken, Roast Chicken...
Cost = 16.5 cents each (6 for $1 at the 99-cent store)

Dinner
Beans & Rice - vitamins & protein!
Cost = 17 cents
Add salt, pepper, and/or ramen packets for flavor.

Do this for 30 days and you will not only lose a lot of weight, you will spend on average $15-20 monthly on groceries, which is a major reduction in bills and body mass. Now you can be a thin actor by choice and have money to spare! I don't think this is sustainable long term, but in terms of reaching a financial goal very quickly it is probably doable for 3 months - then you might risk scurvy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

LA FREE BEE - Hail to the Cheap

2009-11-18T18:00:00.001-08:00

Quick Post but this is a great site for anybody in LA looking fun stuff that is also free - a hard combination to come by I know. It's a great way to find new places and things in LA as well as impress your friends with a cool event that's free which they may not have heard of. Only downside is that they are often filled up fast because it's free, but usually worth it.

Check out:
www.LAFreeBee.com

Enjoy!

I'm a Thousand-aire

2009-11-10T18:00:00.000-08:00

"Wish I had a thousand dollars in the bank..." sighed one of the other assistants in my office. This was in regards to another assistant in my office who was - rightfully - upset someone hacked into his bank account for $1,000. Fortunately he was fully covered by his bank for the amount, but the comment got me wondering just how someone who has worked here for 3 years does not even have a grand saved in the bank. (No this person was not joking either)

And there are others in the office who make the same type of comments:

Coworker #1 (on their birthday) "Another year older, another year in debt"

Coworker #2 "How the hell am I supposed to afford it on an assistant salary?!"

Coworker #3 "OK, listen. I - WORK - IN - HOLLYWOOD - AS - AN - ASSISTANT - I - DON'T - GET - PAID - SHIT!"

Coworker #4 "I'm so sick of being broke..."

Am I denying we don't get paid much? No; $25K per year is pretty low for the crap we go through, with that I agree. BUT I have realized that since I can't control my paycheck income, I can control my income from outside sources and more importantly I can control my expenses... and thus my outcome. I have seen that, while challenging, saving $1,000 is definitely acheivable as I have over 3 months of savings having worked here just over 4months. I'm not saying this to brag, but since I make the same salary (probably less since I'm newer) it seems strange that this could happen.

So, back to why does this person does not have $1,000 in the bank. Granted I don't know this person's entire financials, but I have a fairly good idea; this person loudly discusses their personal financial/legal issues during work on the phone with creditors, lawyers, etc. while the rest of us have no choice but hear.

Part of it is bad luck and poor planning (in collections due to subletting to someone who never paid rent - lesson: get the rental payments from subletters upfront and get something in writing), but this aside, before this situation exploded into financial meltdown drama I've noticed this person's habits:

They are consistently appearing in new and cute outfits, as well as brings a lot of food for the rest of the office to eat. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about this person looking good or the free grub. But if you were in collections, don't you think you'd be doing all you can to save cash?

So maybe I'm coming off as a little bit judgmental here but it's amazing to see this and recognize some of my old behaviors and attitudes at work. As I know is possible, one can definitely rise above their meager means and pay off debts, save, and begin planning for the future - if I can do it unemployed and now here, as well as a small handful of other assistants, it is possible.

But what are your thoughts regarding this? Am I being too harsh?

Slaving to Savings?

2009-11-09T14:12:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the LONG delay - I've been taking some of my own advice from previous posts and have been busy with lots of little side jobs and selling a lot of useless crap in my apartment on craigslist and eBay.

In my last post I wrote about going from being someone scared of leaving your job because you've got nothing to fall back on, to becoming someone empowered once you have a few months worth of savings tucked away. Was able to acheive my 3-month emergency fund in about 2 months and can sleep better now.

Now what to do after that? The way I see it I have 4 options:

1) Start living it up and spend my discretionary income on clothes, going out, etc.
While I agree that you should have a life, if you've read any of my previous posts, you will know that I'm all about doing things on the cheap here in LA to reach future goals. (www.lafreebee.com is a great site) Plus this should be accounted for in the monthly budget anyway so it's really a matter of priorities. Seeing my account balance go up and the possibilities that open with it is much more fun for me anyway. (nerd alert!)

2) Save until I have a 6-month-to-1-year emergency fund (earns 2% now).
Having 6 months to 1 year's worth of savings is a good idea, especially in this very unstable economy and industry. But it won't get me very far beyond a little more basic security since an emergency fund is just for emergencies - not to get ahead. That said, it's probably a good idea to continue putting SOME money here to pad out the possible (aka definite) lean times ahead.

Instead of a bigger E-Fund though, it might make more sense to view this as a down-payment on a home to keep me motivated. Gotta start that by the way...

3) Pay down my student loans ($11 K @ 1.63%).

Almost everyone new to LA & Hollywood has these after graduating with a useless film degree, and these seem like an eternal ball and chain which never will die.

By throwing everything I can at the student loan, I can pay it off in under 2 years assuming no major incidents or pay raises. But since the payments are just $96 a month and tax-deductible, it's definitely manageable. Plus once taxes factor in, it's more like paying 1.38% (yes, I went over my IRS forms to see how much difference it made to pay this or not... hey, never claimed not to be a nerd. I write a fucking finance blog for God's sake!) The "spread" here - that is, post-tax interest difference between savings & loans - is only 0.6% though.

So paying this off won't do much other than lower my monthly expenses and eliminate a liability. I also miss out on compound interest at a higher rate than 0.6% - which I can use to buy a home/rental property, reinvest, start a business or ... make a low-budget feature. Still kind of torn on this one and there's no universal answer here as everyone's circumstances are different here so I can only speak for my own situation. Like savings, I might put some excess towards here as well.

4) Invest the excess money in real estate, stocks, 401Ks, mutual funds, IRAs, etc.

Of course this is the big moneymaker here, though I don't know much about it aside from what I'm trying to educate myself on through books, websites, etc. I do know that this is pretty much the only real way to get ahead though as it definitely won't be on my $25 K salary per year.

So what are your thoughts on this? I'm including a poll on this site for your opinion. No pressure but I need you to save my life!! Results will be posted in a few weeks.

OK assistants, so how are things on your end regarding savings and such?

Quitters Never Win

2009-10-11T18:04:00.000-07:00

With the recession still underway, many of my friends are afraid to leave their jobs. Hell, they'r not even LOOKING since they feel like there's no chance at finding anything and should be grateful for the job they hate it.

Is it worth staying in a job you hate with people you don't like with low wages, just for the shot of maybe possibly landing a better one? This is something I'm wrestling with now on my job... most assistants I talk with do too, so I know I'm not alone. Most "good" assistant jobs require 1 year on a desk to show you have what it takes - assuming you're only replying to online posts. (Of course you can circumvent that and network your way into something better).

Before quitting, ask yourself why you're in the current job. Then ask "Will this new job resolve my issues?" For example, if money is the main reason you're there (though I don't know why you're working as an assistant in entertainment in the first place if that's the reason you're doing it), and the next job is great in all ways except for pay, then you'll kick yourself. Or if you're there now to learn and the new job doesn't teach you anything or allow for growth that's another bad move.

But, if you dread work every day, get sick from stress, complain about your job all the time to friends and drink to alleviate your problems, those are clear signs you should go. Life's short, don't make it shorter with needless stress and suffering.

So why don't we leave obviously bad jobs? Maybe we're too scared to make the change for fear that we're wrecking our careers, or that we'll never find another one as good as this (though we hate it) and will soon be left jobless and ultimately homeless and destitute if we do, our friends shaking their heads at our funerals thinking how we should have hung in there instead of hanging ourselves. There's always a risk to your career by quitting and there's always the chance you won't find work - but really what are the chances of that? And what's life without risk? Besides, who got anywhere they wanted to by playing it safe? Anyway, living in fear and misery is no way to live; if you're miserable, your work and productivity will suffer, coworkers will hate you (goodbye chance at sleeping with the hot girl in distribution) and you'll eventually get fired anyway - if you don't bring an AK-47 to work first.

Good news: despite what the media tells us, there ARE jobs (good ones!) out there. One of our interns just got hired last week with no experience after 1 month with us.

That said, don't be an idiot and outright quit unless you have another source of income to lean on. Not only will future employers think you're a dumbass for leaving with nothing in hand, but also they'll think you can't handle the pressure of the job. Also you won't get any unemployment benefits to keep you afloat as you look for work, which is most important. Besides, when you're working, it's always far, far easier to find work instead of when you're unemployed (I think it's due to the desperation factor and the fact that people think that you're obviously good enough to find work with someone else so they're taking less of a gamble on you).

So here is CopyandCredit's 5-step plan (one per finger) to make the switch:

First: Stop being scared. Fear paralyzes you.
Second: Look for things that you want to do via job postings, friends, events, etc.
Third: Save a few months worth (at least 3 if possible) of expenses.
Fourth: Polish your resume and apply to jobs discreetly.
Fifth: Do your job as best as you can in the meantime.

Saving is key for 3 reasons (& a giant middle finger to work if using your hand):

1) If you get fired or quit, you have something to fall back on for a while.
2) Each dollar you save takes away a little bit of the fear as it gives you options for the future. Someone with options is way less scared than someone without any.
3) It boosts your confidence as you feel more secure. Meaning you'll probably do better on the job too. You might even work harder in order to save more for that big quitting day and as such make yourself indispensable - perhaps even more respected. Now you've just reduced your odds of being let go and, quite likely, improved your status with the company - you might even get treated better and like it more. Maybe now you won't want to quit after all.

But who knows? You still might be working for a real asshole who doesn't respect you even after all the hard work you do and results you give. But fear not, after all you now have options and a few months savings to live off of should you not be able to take anymore of it (and you really shouldn't if it's killing you).

Hopefully, you'll have been networking and making it well known during all this time that you're looking for something new and specify what it is that you're looking for. By now you'll have people working to help you out, as well as a few more months under your belt of job experience as you hung in there to save some cash. Great! You're that much more marketable and have some longevity on the resume which makes you look more valuable, so should you get that good job and quit the old one you'll have a lot less fear about possibly losing this one since (and even if you do, you'll still have the few months saved so you can enter the new job confidently).

And you know what? The best part about working in a bad environment is that you will probably love your next job so much by comparison, you'll work even better at it. If you could do it while working in the bad one, you can do it anywhere. So perhaps you did learn something - maybe the job you have right now isn't all bad after all....

Now quit reading this and get back to work!

Clutter-F***ed

2009-10-04T20:08:00.000-07:00

Yes I'm still alive. My stuff is here too.

Been moving into my new place for the last 2 weeks and shedding an old roommate. 2 guys, 1 co-op - not pretty. Trust me. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're REALLY good friends with the other person or REALLY desperate - I was out of work at the time and about to run out of unemployment so that was my reason. But now that I'm getting settled, I'll save $140/month for a bigger, better place and will get my deposit back in full so actually I'm losing nothing in the process of moving.

I'm also amazed at just how much crap I accumulated over a short period of time; I'm a person whose apartment you could say is fairly spartan (and not just because that was my High School mascot) yet after 10+ trips in my car to move this stuff plus the help of a friend to move the big things, I realized how much of it was just taking up space. Lugging that junk in the sweaty summer heat puts it all into a new view.

I'm selling a lot of this junk on craigslist/ebay while it's still in view and fresh. Most was stuff I kept telling myself that I might use someday but never did and haven't for the 2+ years I owned it. What's painfully obvious is that if I didn't need it then, I probably don't need it now. And if I do, I can always rent it for the day I'm using it (or better yet borrow) or just get it back on craiglist/ebay for cheap.

That said, cleaning out my possessions was emotional on many levels - nostalgic memories, feeling liberated, feeling vulnerable without it, feeling mild sadness parting with it, feeling regret for spending money on something I didn't need, feeling generous in that I can give my stuff to people who could really benefit from it, and so on. After distancing myself emotionally, I realized it's just material possessions, I possess them, not in reverse - but it has felt like that on a subconscious level. Sure I'm taking a loss on these items as they've depreciated, though I'd probably lose more if they were destroyed in an accident, stolen, tossed or left to collect dust. It's also good to know that my stuff can be turned into money quick if I am in a pinch, but I'd rather keep my money in banks and investments, not in material things.

While doing this, it also reminded me of the people I have worked with in Hollywood (see, I'd tie it into the theme of this blog loosely somehow). I always noticed that those who had offices that looked as though their file cabinets had vomited all over their desks and the floor and the guest chair and table got sick more, were always more upset and unhappy. Conversely, those with clean offices and were generally laid-back, happier, emotionally stable and seemed more productive...and they worked in the same building in the same company with very similar types of jobs. Now of course I never had access to the inner workings of their lives so it's hard to say why some people were so swamped while the others could make their fung really sway, but I feel like this was more of a symptom than the cause; clutter filled execs would often waste time feeling bad, complaining and so on - which only led to falling behind and more clutter. So obviously there's something going on behind the scenes here and maybe some of it was being out of synch with values, spreading their selves too thin, or distract themselves from doing work and taking time off in order to avoid the real issue.

Like any good script, it's all about keeping it simple. Sure you can have a ton of crap going on and feel confused like when watching the latest Hollywood SFX tentpole - but usually they don't make sense and you come out feeling somewhat ... off. I've found it is so much more helpful to get my life simpler and thus my mind - since not having to clean my place is one less thing to have to do - and as a result I can focus on my values. Besides, if I don't declutter while I'm alive, my heirs will have to do it for me and divvy up my junk ... and I don't want people thinking why the hell did he hang onto this?

Marked By The Branding I-Earn

2009-09-16T08:38:00.000-07:00

"Everyone loves their own brand" my brother once said. He was right; how you market yourself to others is extremely important with any business, especially in the image-based business of Hollywood. (Granted, he was referring to how guys enjoy sniffing their own farts, but you get the drift... Heyo!)

I'm not necessarily talking about clothing and image; dressing for success is always good it is also unnecessary to spend hundreds on new clothes each month. In fact there are people who are known for bucking the trend, as much as embracing it. Do whatever is natural to you...THAT is your brand as it makes you unique. Me personally I'm not into clothes (I'm not a nudist though, sorry to disappoint) so I could care less as far as this area is concerned.

Instead focus on what you unique. For example, if you're an aspiring producer, the types of scripts you acquire and go out with are your own brand...whether you know it or not. Go out with schlock and you'll be known for schlock, go out with comedy you'll be known for comedy, and so on. When you think Jerry Bruckheimer, what comes to mind? Dumb (but admittedly Fun) Summer Action, Explosions, One liners and Boobs. (I'm still waiting for a movie with exploding boobs).

That's part of the reason so many actors and actresses are careful about what projects they do - their past precedes them and can pigeonhole them. That's why some actors try to break their brand - Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, Bill Murray, Adam Sandler and so on are trying to be "serious" actors since they get stuck in the same comedic roles over and over again, and eventually people get sick of it (see "Land of the Lost" with Will Ferrell to know what I mean...or better yet, don't).

"That's all fine and good for them, they're experienced. But what about when I'm starting out?! I need to get some credits and exposure!"

That's a very valid concern, but since everyone knows that when you're just starting out you must take whatever you can get (the one exception to this might be going into porn). It is very rare that the first thing you do will define you. Look at James Cameron's first credit (Piranha II), George Clooney worked on "Return of the Killer Tomatoes!" and there are countless others. Likewise, you can go from top to crap fast: Halle Berry did "Catwoman", Cuba Gooding Jr. has been spiraling out of control with "Snow Dogs", "Love Boat" and "Daddy Day Camp" to name a few recent gems, and so on. The point being is that even the most successful people make mistakes - and they have more pressure on them to make the right decision as they have more to lose.

"But isn't branding yourself basically a way of 'selling out'?"

Every day we are subjected to hundreds if not thousands of brands and advertisement all around us. We tend to stick with what we're familiar. Even those who try to buck the trend to save the bucks by going generic and with store brands are still going to a "type" of brand. Their preferred brand is frugality vs. appearances and "fitting into mainstream society" (and sometimes vs. quality depending on the buy...but that's a different issue altogether). Being anti-brand is still a brand and a type of conforming just as much as being a non-comformist is conforming to that group.

That being said, branding is just marketing yourself in a certain way to the outside world. You don't have to be schmucky about it, but whether or not you're conscious of doing it, you already are creating a brand of YOU in some way to others. You're only selling out if you're not being true to yourself. By trying to be something you're not, or by doing something you don't believe in, people will sense that as disingenuous and not want to "buy" you. After all, taste is subjective so what one might think is pure crap another might think is pure genius (case in point - Bjork), but at this very early stage in the game, focus on whatever you believe in and what you feel would be a good representation - and thus extension - of your personality. Being true to that will make you a brand people would want to invest their time in and, hopefully down the road, their money as well.

My Reading List for the Weakened

2009-09-12T12:34:00.001-07:00

This weekend I'm slogging through a pile of scripts I'm possibly looking to option as well as some books on the biz so I can educate myself as to what the hell I'm doing.

So far I'm working on "The Hollywood Assistant's Handbook: 68 Rules for Aspiring Power Players" and it is really useful and informative, plus it's all true. THUMBS UP.

I've also just read that tome of a classic "The Mailroom". This was both encouraging and deeply depressing - I don't know if I could handle that type of abuse myself. But it is interesting to see how power players started out doing the most degrading of grunt work. I'm not so sure I would actually re-read it - it's really f---ing long (about 450 pages!) but it does have a lot of good information that a lot of power players recommend me to review.

For those who want to write, develop, produce and/or market films then you have to read "Save The Cat!" - my personal favorite by the late Blake Snyder. I was fortunate to meet him last year before he passed away last month. It's funny, fun and down to earth on script writing which is now the go-to book for Hollywood.
Also less known but perhaps even more effective "Your Screenplay Sucks!: 100 Ways to Make It Better" is an incredibly in depth look at how to improve a script, including excess words, typos, mechanics, formatting, titles and so on. It's intense but great.

"Make Your Own Damn Movie!" by Lloyd Kaufman is one of the funniest books I've read period. Plus there's some useful how-to's on writing, making, funding and marketing your own indie film from the last truly independent and incredibly successful director/producer/schlock-meister who also helped launch the careers of many through his little company known as TROMA.

I'll be reviewing and adding more as I go, but the thing is that the more you read, even if it's a generally shitty book, so long as there's just one useful nugget of information in there, then it is worth it. If you're not doing coverage now, this is the type of stuff you should be reading so when the time comes for that coveted interview, the fact that you're lugging one of these around will be enough to impress. In fact it's what helped get me where I am right now...someone's bitch.

Credit Check

2009-09-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

Ah IMDb. It's the only resume that even counts in this town. Getting a credit up there is the reason so many of us will work for free on stuff when starting out (or later). Once you're up there for a while it's no big deal - but it's HUGE when you start out. I remember looking myself up when it first happened and being extremely proud. It was if I had finally "made it" and was accepted as being legitimately in the business. I could say I was six degrees from Kevin Bacon. Plus it's got a ton of eyes looking at it each and every day, so you can brag and show off to people back home that you're Hollywood now. So what if you worked on "KILLER MUTANT MONSTERS TAKE MANHATTAN PART 3"? Baby, you've arrived.

Another bonus for those who are financially and business motivated - you can promote your film through the site by uploading your film via withoutabox to be streamed by viewers, and you can sell the film through its owner/partner Amazon - the only reason the site exists in the first place. (OK that's not true, it was started as a noble enterprise to categorize film information in one place for movie buffs, but, surprise, Hollywood caught on and money drives Hollywood! On that note, please check out one of my films, also for sale on Amazon - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0839753/ )

But is the upgrade to the "behind the scenes" worth it for IMDbPro? Friends, I have seen behind the curtain and let me tell you the answer is - it depends. If you can get it for free through work or someone you know (which is how I still do it), use that. Hey, you have to stretch every cent you got - especially when you aren't even being paid to work on a film whose business information you can't see on IMDbPro.

That being said, there's tons of valuable information up there on IMDbPro. Mainly contact info, which is useful before you have an interview so you can research the people and company before you go in. Of course, you could search for free on google or yahoo, but the information might also be outdated or not available. Plus it's all in one place. And it is used daily by industry professionals as well, so it's legit.

But IMDb is not 100 % accurate or even close, though they try bless their profit-motivated geeky hearts. There's millions of movies these programmers are trying to track, in addition to monitoring the message boards of dorks and trolls with nothing better to do. It's also not that hard for people to make themselves look bigger than they were (ie an extra pretends he's an actor and changes the credit to "MAN DRINKING COFFEE IN BAR"), remove their own credits or others' - assuming they're not major celebrities whose credits are easily verifiable - or simply get the wrong spelling or credit up there for the world to see. In fact, I'm missing a few credits for some godawful straight to DVD no budget "movies" as are a few of my friends (thank God for me - but information purists may cry). So it's no wonder many of these credits are not 100% true - especially the smaller, less viewed/legit ones.

But some record is better than no record... at least it can be fixed once up there.

On the upside to IMDbPro, you can also add your own resume, photos and a reel to the site. People can see if you're really an actor on the film when you say you worked on a film, or if you were just an extra trying to pull a fast one. And you can see what projects are in the works (PacMan The Movie? Really??!) though StudioSystem is a lot more reliable - and expensive.

Personally, if you're just using IMDbPro to find work, I don't think it is worth paying the price of IMDb as your credits should speak for themselves. Yes there are job boards up there but I've never seen anything there except desperate writers trying to sell their scripts to whoever stumbles across their post. However, if you do have a good headshot, it IS worth the price to put it on IMDb - it's a 1 year thing, so you can change it if you don't like it and it's not expensive either. It will separate you from the wannabes and sleazebags who have no real credits.

Point is, IMDb credits are awesome when you start out - unless your name is really generic, then you will end in Roman numerals - take that John Smith (XIV)! Just see if you can find a friend who can get you access to their account first. If not, don't worry about IMDb and just work on a few films - odds are you're bound to end up there. Just be careful which film it is so it doesn't follow you around for years to come.

Nice Cans

2009-09-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

Recycling was one of many ways I put extra cash in my pocket as a PA and assistant. Being in production was particularly easy since there were tons of people on set and in the office drinking soda and bottled water all day, and by week's end I took home 3-4 bags full of bottles and cans. Of course, the price for this is that you have to be willing to get a little bit dirty and have a few odd looks. But when you pull in an extra $30-50 cash each weekend ($120-200 a month) I think that's all worth it. Besides, it's not like you're homeless and doing it to survive, you're doing it to save your paycheck and fulfill your financial goals. I actually know a guy who produced his first movie for $10,000 entirely by recycling bottles and cans. If that's not ambition, I don't know what else is.

Of course, it is best to be upfront about your intent and ask if you can collect these. Usually they do not care and accept that if you're a lowly PA or assistant making little to no money they will understand. Still, better to be safe than sorry.

Just bring gloves and perhaps a trash liner for the trunk of your car. Look up recycling centers (tomra.com or replanet.com) most of which are at Ralph's. Prepare to spend up to 30 minutes in line and don't bring clothes or shoes you care about possibly getting dirty. Also, I would only advocate getting it from work and going nearby, otherwise the cost of collecting this stuff gets outweighed by gas. Once you're done you collect your laundry, gas and fun money without affecting your pay!

Another thing you might want to consider recycling is printer cartridges from work. Staples has a recycling program where they give you $3 store credit per returned cartridge, and you can save these towards CDs, DVDs, paper, Final Draft, and so on. Like I said in a previous post, there is a ton of waste on sets and in Hollywood offices, and if you're willing to humble down and dig through, you can make some decent cash for under an hour's work.

So why not clean up as you're cleaning up?

The Space between your ears

2009-09-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

With all the talk about the prices of falling real estate, toxic assets (huh-huh, I said "toxic ass"), and all the other doom and gloom in the news, it seems like there's not anything worth investing in right now.

Of course when you're making $25K or less as an assistant or PA and trying to survive there's not a lot of wiggle room for investing in the traditional money sense. But that doesn't mean we should stop investing in ourselves.

Whatever we aspiring dreamers want to do, it is vital to always be learning. That's half the main reason we have these low-paying, sometimes demeaning jobs in the first place. And knowledge is half the battle, according to GI Joe. (Except that it was a really stupid movie. Hm.)

Absorbing all the information you can out of your position is crucial.

One way to do this is to be constantly reading; Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Billboard are all trades to check out weekly if not daily. Some good books include: The Mailroom, The Assistant's Guide to Hollywood, Save The Cat!, Confessions of a D-Girl, and tons more.

Script reading is vital, as is movie and TV watching - this is the ONLY industry we can actually view films and TV shows at work and say it is "research"!

Perhaps the biggest benefit is that with the more knowledge you gain, the less confusing things become and the less scary. Fear is almost always about the unknown, and educating yourself eliminates a lot of that fear. That leads to improved self-confidence and generally better performance, success and more friends.. Unless you're an arrogant douche, then it will just lead to no party invites and mass Facebook unfriending. Or you can be a nerd and blog away your knowledge.

Once you've learned all you can at any position, and you will know once you've reached it, at that point we have to decide whether it is time to move on or try to move up. The important thing to remember is that education is a lifelong process, whether or not we went to film school. If you want to get ahead in the communication/entertainment/information/whatever industry this is considered, you have to gain access to all the info you can. THEN you can take educated risks and invest in whatever path you want to take, and you will have a significant advantage over those who don't.

No Free Lunch?! What the hell!

2009-08-30T22:56:00.000-07:00

A professor of mine once said "If you can't produce food for yourself while working on a movie, you won't be a good producer". True dat.

There is such a thing as a free lunch (and dinner) while working on set... for you anyways. One of the few perks of working for free on TV or movies are the hot, delicious meals provided. However, since they can't reuse this for various reasons, ask them for whatever is left at the end of the shoot day to take it home. This can be your dinner for the next few days and save you plenty.

If you're in an office, I've found it's harder to come by free food unless it's during the holidays, except when there are free bagels, donuts, etc. While you can still go for your lunch you brought, it's much easier to load up on these instead of lunch - just don't be a pig and leave nothing for anyone else - and eat lunch for dinner.

Until the day you have an expense account for lunches, this will work as someone else is still covering your food bill. It's all about OPM... Other People's Meals.

New Lease on Life

2009-08-27T21:15:00.000-07:00

With the soft housing market and landlords desperate for new tenants, now is the time to look for some great deals. Ideally of course I should be buying a house but have no down payment at this time. But getting a cheaper rent can bring me closer to that dream with the amount I save each month.

Now I'm not unhappy with my place. In fact, it's in a decent area in Koreatown. The unit is clean and the area is safe. The rent is good at $695 with hardwood floors and all utilities included plus $95 for garaged parking. And I know my neighbors are friendly. But frankly, my landlords suck and are completely negligent. Plus, I know that I can get a better deal for the same price or for less with the way things are.

There's some great deals right now and I wish I were not already renting because moving is such a pain in the ass. But I've got what I've got, so let's work with it. I'm hoping that my experiences will help others considering moving to save money.

So I have been looking at apartments on craigslist for the past few days to see what is out there and what prices I can expect. (Some people use westsiderentals.com but that's $60 for 2 months I don't really feel like spending - in my experiences I always get something in the first week and waste the rest of it... though I could buy a used password off someone, but that's extra work and cash.)

Anyway since my place is $695 + 95 parking + $0 utilities = $790 is the max I will spend on everything per month since that's my current deal and I'm looking to save money here. I'm willing to go without a parking spot, assuming I can find decent street parking. I've tried to save money by not paying parking before and had $400 worth of towing and tickets, so that's a lesson learned...parking in LA is necessary, so if need be I'll pay for it, but I don't really want to. I don't mind paying utilities, but bundling is better since it keeps my monthly expenses for housing flat.

So far I've found 7 choices based just on rent using these parameters:

#1) 665 [save $30 a month]
#2) 600 [save $95 a month]
#3) 585 (all utils) [save $110 a month]
#4) 650 (all utils except electricity + 1 mo. free!) [save $45 a month]
#5) 695 [no savings]
#6) 650 (1 mo. free!) [save $45 a month]
#7) 675 (1 mo. free!) [save $20 a month]

At first glance, it looks like #3 is the clear winner as it is the cheapest per month. But what happens after adding in deposit, credit check and parking? (Note, not all info was found for these, but I did my best.)

R = Rent, D = Deposit, P = Parking, C = Credit Check

#1) 665 R + ? D + street or 100 P (monthly) + ? C = $~765 upfront

#2) 600 R + 600 D + 3.25 P (39 year/12 months) + 30 C = $1,269 upfront

#3) 585 R + 1000 D + 25 C + No P = $1,585 upfront (credit waived with lease)

#4) 650 R + ? D + ? C + No P = $~650 upfront

#5) 695 R + 695 D + 25 C + No P = $1,415 upfront

#6) 650 R + 500 D + incl. P + 25 C = $525 upfront (1 month free rent)

#7) 675 R + 500 D + ? P + ? C = $500 upfront (1 month free rent)

Now #3 is definitely the most expensive upfront.

Since I only have the full information for some of these and since the landlords wouldn't tell me (not a good sign) or I couldn't find them for #1, #4 and #7, they are all out of the mix since it's not worth trying to guess here.

The name of the game is saving money. So since I have to pay rent anyway I'm not going to factor that into my initial investment.

#2) $1,269 upfront - $600 = $669
#3) $1,585 - $585 = $1,000
#5) $1,415 - $695 = $720
#6) $525 (since 1st month free)

Now I have to figure how long it would take to break even on the upfront amount using the amount saved each month with the new rent parking vs. the $790 I'm spending now:

#2) $790 - $603.25 = $186.75 saved, $669/$186.75 = 3.6 months to break even
#3) $790 - $585 = $205 saved, $1000/$205 = 4.9 months to break even
#5) $790 - $695 = $95 saved, $720/$95 = 7.6 months to break even
#6) $790 - $650 = $140 saved, $525/$140 = 3.75 months to break even

IT seems like #2 wins, BUT don't forget I would get a free month with #6, so really for the first month I'd be paying my deposit + credit of $525, meaning that I'm already saving $265 off my $790 a month situation. Then when rent begins at $650 a month, I'm saving $140 a month after that, which is over $1,800 for a year combined!!

So the lesson learned when looking to save on a fixed monthly expense is not to look at the monthly payment on things but overall how much it would cost upfront as well as how long it would take to recoup your investment.

Of course, I've not factored in moving costs, though I can probably use my car for almost everything and I still have to actually SEE and LIKE the apartment, but financially I know where I'd stand before I even set foot inside.

Job hook ups

2009-08-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

Without the many job sites I have listed on the sides I'd not have my current job. Of course, I know many people get jobs through connections and nepotism. But that being said, you can still have connections hook you up with the coveted jobs that they hear of first before they're posted.

If you have a friend in entertainment, odds are they have the UTA job list, or know someone who does. Get that from them.

If you're going into production, get someone to hook you up with production weekly. I still get these even though now I'm done with production. These are very expensive and someone who gets it from a company who pays for it will help you out immensely.

Of course, one option to do for free, although it is time consuming, is to go to your nearest bookstore on Tuesday with a pen, paper, your cell phone, and pick up the Hollywood Reporter. Go into a corner and make your calls from there so that you don't bother anyone and can get some leads.

Variety has something like this as well on Mondays if I'm not mistaken. In any case, you should be reading these trades anyway to know what's going on. You might think it's crazy and odds are against you - and they are, I don't want to lie - but I once got very lucky as I called a company the day an hour after they had fired somebody and got the job that same day. So it is possible if you're persistent enough.

If you have time at that bookstore, pick up the THE HOLLYWOOD CREATIVE DIRECTORY and make some cold calls to a number of companies that you're interested in. Sure it's a long shot, but it's at least a shot vs. a 0% chance of getting in by sitting around and doing nothing. If nothing else you might gain some info.

Of course, you could splurge and buy the book as it is a extremely valuable resource, but since you're looking for work and broke, it's best to live on the cheap. Your cell phone is a necessary expense, and anyway you can deduct all that as expenses for tax purposes later if and when you find something. (I'll write a post soon on how to reduce your cell phone bill as well... I got 3 months free from one call!)

Need This Done Yesterday!

2009-08-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

The title of my post refers to me not writing on a more daily basis, but also because I hear people (ie my boss, friends, coworkers, etc.) say they don't have the time to do something.

Sorry, but that's bull. We all have the same amount of time each and every day. It's just a matter of spending it on what we value. Since there's only 24 hours each day, we have to decide how we're using it wisely.

"But I have a job that makes me work really hard! If I don't spend my time on it, then I will get fired!"

True, but are you afraid of being fired because you can't pay your bills or rent? Then you value job security and a safety net.

Or is it because you fear that you will not be able to further your career in entertainment? Then you value your career and moving up.

I'm not saying these are bad things to value or spend your time on, but if you don't have enough time in the day to do the other things you really want to do, it's because you find enough value in what you get for going to work.

No one's putting a gun to your head each day to go.

One thing that I found MASSIVELY helpful was to make a chart of how I was spending my time each day for a week.

I was amazed and embarrassed after I got the basics out of the way like sleeping and work hours. I had a LOT of free time that I was squandering on things like web surfing or TV/movie watching or going out for fun or sleeping when I didn't really need to. Again, these things are not bad in and of themselves, but without realizing it, we lose track of how long we spend doing it. I can't even begin to think of how many collected days I've wasted surfing the web. But, as depressing as it was initially, it also made me think that it was time to change how much time I will devote towards working on the bigger picture and start changing for the better.

On that note, I'm making a concerted effort to post on here daily. Part of the difficulty has been thinking of stuff to come up with as well as finding clever and funny pictures each post. Just writing something is better than nothing, and if I have no picture, I think people will live. So yes, I am freeing up my time I'd normally spend looking stuff up or procrastinating on writing, but on the other hand, I do make a sacrifice based on a judgment call. I'll see how people respond to the lack of photos - but I certainly hope that the quantity and quality of posting improves.

If you can take a few minutes to track down what you do and how long, you will see how you're spending your limited time on this earth and perhaps change course while you can. Otherwise you will look back at a life with much left unaccomplished and wonder, where the hell did all the time go?

Movers and Shakers, or Losers and Fakers?

2009-08-23T15:32:00.001-07:00

"What I really want to do is direct" said a former buddy of mine, calling on the old Hollywood cliche. Well, now he’s a director ... of international sales for web TV.

Let’s make one thing clear, I'm not knocking him or his job. He’s obviously good at his job and if he likes it, more power to him. But I wonder, does he still dream of directing?

Maybe he truly did want to direct. But then again, I don't recall him directing anything with a camera once he graduated either.

Thing is, it's one thing to say that you want something. It's quite another to write out a plan of how to get there. I've read that there was a Harvard study of graduates who wrote out their life plans and only about 3% of people had one. When they came back 10 years later, that 3% had achieved or surpassed their goals while none of the other 97% did! That's insane! It goes to show that by committing something down to paper adds a level of accountability and reality to the process.

A lot people I know are unhappy in their current jobs because they do not have a plan to do what they want. It's easy to get caught up in your job and eventually become sidetracked because you get comfortable once you can pay your bills and eating... with your basic needs are met, what motivation is there to strive harder?

I had a job that was dead end and not at all relevant to what I wanted to do with my life, other than it was in the industry. I got complacent, stopped making strides towards my goal and became lazy. I also said "I want to write scripts" yet never did any beyond writing a few 5-10 page shorts. Technically I wrote scripts, but not the grand features I wanted. And this is my fault for not being clear about the goals (see previous post on S.M.A.R.T. goals). Obviously I like writing, but not enough to focus and be disciplined to sit and write out a feature...Hell, I hardly write a post a week! And I have no one to blame but myself here.

Thing was, during that time I had a few friends really taking off in their careers as well. They were making things happen and I became intensely bitter and jealous, thinking that they weren't that smart, or that they were lucky because of who they knew, or that they were richer, or were suck-ups, and so on. Very negative thinking. This made me very bitter towards successful peers - when I should have been congratulating them instead for their success and hard work. As a result, I stopped hanging out with them and instead was around other miserable people, which just fed into it further.

People who are going places, ambitious and motivated should encourage you to do well... unless of course you become bitter and jealous like I was. It really takes an attitudinal shift of being for one to see the opportunity these people give you to improve your life - as well as theirs and others. Likewise, being surrounded by others who don't share your goals - or worse, have no goals - and don't make the effort to change their circumstances will drag you down if you hang out with them long enough. You have to ask yourself WHY do I hang around these people? What do I get out of this? What do they get by hanging around with me? You might be shocked at the answers if you're brutally honest. (By the way, just because a person "drags you down" doesn't mean they're bad - it's just that their values are different. And of course everyone's values change over time.)

Being the control freak that I am, I'm only beginning to really and truly understand that you cannot change other people. Period. Sure you can offer advice and support and resources, but they have to be willing to receive the help you're offering. If they are unwilling, after a while your efforts will stop. It is, after all, a very trying, frustrating experience which can leave you drained spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally, and so on. At that point you have to ask, do I really want to be around people who drag me down?

Sounds simple, but it's something I still wrestle with because I feel like I'm abandoning someone who needs help most of all. But by the same token you can become codependent and obsessed with fixing that person's life and you ignore your own.

Now it doesn't have to be all or nothing, black or white. Maybe just take some time off and away from that person (or group of people). See what changes. This won't be easy. But if you see positive results, then that should tell you you're on the right track. (And of course, if you see negative results, then maybe it's not something external with them but there's a deeper issue, but that's altogether different).

You might even help the person you were trying to help. If you're doing well and they see this, ideally you will lead by example and those in need will come to you and ask for help when they are inspired. This happened with me: I have a friend in New York making things happen and wants to be a producer for film and TV. Technically he's not made a feature film... yet. But he's so driven and proactive that I KNOW he will get it done before he's 30.

I was fortunate enough to get an email asking me for some scripts that he could bring into a production company meeting. While I didn't have any on me at the time (since I wasn't writing anything) I was depressed and angry with myself for a while, but it also got me off my ass to begin looking for scripts to option and produce - the real reason I came out to Hollywood in the first place. His leading by example has drastically improved my life as I am FINALLY seeing results in my career by doing my own hustling on the side to make things happen. And the results are all positive ones too.

Similarly, I've stopped hanging around many of the hangers-on and pretenders. Not just in terms of career, but also those who say they want to be doing well in one area of life but don't actually make the effort to improve themselves. (If a friend or colleague has ditched you, it very well might be for this reason. It has happened to me as I mentioned).

It may seem harsh and calculating, but really, life is short and who I spend it with is important. I have goals and dreams like everyone else that I want to accomplish. It's important for me to know why I am hanging out with a certain person - is it because I enjoy their company, or is it because I'm slipping into my old, whiny ways? When they leave, do I come away feeling better about myself or inspired to do my best every day? I think that by taking a few moments every week to ask ourselves these questions, we will all notice our friendships and relationships improving in addition to our careers, finances and, most importantly, our happiness.

That might change your weekend plans, but it is far better than having your life plans weakened.

On the Plus Side

2009-08-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

Looking back over my recent posts, I've noticed a strain of negativity running through them. My original intent for this blog was to be an encouraging yet realistic resource for people trying to break into the entertainment business while saving (and making) more money. Lately I've let the stress and anxiety of my new job and personal life get to me and in turn, my posts. So I apologize and thank those of you who continue to read them despite this tone. I am particularly upset that I've strayed from my goal.

I've been studying successful people recently since I want to succeed in my field and my life-goals. I noticed these people were positive despite their initial situations and the odds stacked against them. But they knew that they could do it and so they did, it really was that simple.

What you think is just as key as what you do, if not more so; your thoughts determine your words and actions, which in turn determine your life's outcome. Think about it: Where you are right now in your life is the culmination of every single decision you made to an extent, which are based on what you perceived to be your reality and options. Your successes and failures are because of you. While problems may arise, it is how you react to them that can make you stronger and better and successful, or they can completely destroy you. Thinking of the possibilities and positives in even the most unpleasant situations can really make you happier and in turn more productive. Sounds cheesy but it really and truly does work. Plus, what's the fun in dwelling on the bad things in life?

Now I don't know about you, but I want to be happy and successful in my career, finances, relationships and life as a whole. But it isn't enough just to want these things. It is just as important to have specific goals and that they be set in the affirmative. For example, I used to say "I want to lose weight." How do you define success this way? Losing 1/10 lb. means my goal is achieved and therefore I should be happy, but I'm not. Is it muscle weight, water weight? Why do I want to lose the weight? What if it takes me 10 years to lose the weight? And so on ... it's too vague. If, however, I clearly state that I want to weigh 170 lbs., have 18% body fat and have a six-pack in 6 months it is much more definite and easier to measure as I can track my progress, plus it is an affirmative goal...far easier and better to work towards something than trying to get rid of and resist something, and more motivational too. This is called having a S.M.A.R.T. goal - one that is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and with Time-frame (S.M.A.R.T.F. just doesn't sound as nice).

For my first few years out in LA that was my problem: I didn't know what I wanted, only that I knew what I didn't want. A few years later I wasn't much better off other than I wasn't doing what I didn't want to do. Actually, that's not true, I was doing the jobs I didn't want to do, I just knew I didn't want to do them and still didn't know where I wanted to be. So I kept getting the same results, yet expected different outcomes. This is a definition of insanity (according to self-help gurus anyway). Had I been more focused with a affirmative goal to achieve that was measurable, realistic and with a certain time I'd probably be a lot closer to my goal - or maybe even there by now. But it's OK - I learned from this experience. Sometimes we have to fail to learn... I just want to spare others the time and the pain.

Without goals, there's no incentive to improve. For example, I aim to fulfill many goals with this blog: improve my writing, reach a large audience, make a little extra money, get noticed, network and socialize, perhaps even turn it into a book, and, most of all, help people. Sure it's a lot of things to ask from a humble little blog and myself, but I by asking a lot from myself I challenge myself to improve and do better. Dreaming big is really the only way to go. After all, this is the city where dreams happen, and the only way to make those dreams happen are to focus intensely on your goals and work to make them happen. Otherwise, they're just dreams.