| The Hollywood Maze Taken From the book: "How to be a magnet to hollywood success" Acting Career New Law of Attraction and Beyond The Secret Go Beyond the Secret | ||
| I look at it as a gigantic maze, with thousands of square miles, and hundreds and hundreds of entrances. When you come into that maze, you know that somewhere on the other side is success -- the success you want, or the success you say you want. Generally those two things are different, and hopefully today you will see and know the difference. So, you go into that maze, and there are other people in there who have been there for years and years and years who will say, "Hey, you're an actor? Me, too. Wow! I've been in this maze for fourteen years. There's the way you go, right there. There's the passageway. Hey, you want to help me out here, help me out a little bit? Yeah, because I just showed you a passageway, right?" Now, how long has that person been in the maze and not been able to find success, but is showing you the way out, when he is still in the maze? That's why you keep running into dead ends over and over again. They are giving up their dream, their passion, and what their lives could have been. Now, they are going to settle for what their friends settled for twenty years ago, except they've lost twenty years of their lives, and for the rest of their lives they'll know they were a failure. I doubt that they would be able to turn on the television very often and see people who are not particularly talented doing larger roles. I doubt that they would be able to go to motion pictures theatres anymore and see actors who are less talented than they, because they couldn't make it. The fact that you have talent is great. On the list of what we're looking for, talent is not even close to the top of the list. If you've got talent, fantastic! But, your talent's not going to make you. Marketing, promotion and networking is going to make it happen for you. This is show business, it is not show art. Today you are going to learn how the industry really operates as it is the world's greatest business... Next, here's Joan. Ah, now the cell phone is more valuable. "Joan, Give me $300 for it. Take a picture of it, and hand me the cell phone back." And Roger, well Roger looks like he's doing pretty well. "Roger, give me $750 for the cell phone. Take a picture of it, and hand it back to me." You see, the phone continues to become more and more valuable each time I sell it. "Now, John, Joan and Roger: every time you show someone the picture of the cell phone, you have to pay me again, forever." That's the film and television business. And, that, my friend, is called Residual Income! I have made a lot of money in residuals. I don't think I told you about my acting background, did I? I've done over 40 film and television roles. I did most of that in less than 2 1/2 years without ever having a developed talent as an actor. The film will undoubtedly win lots of awards and touch millions of people. It's a story that really needs to be told. . . If I could be of assistance to you in any way on that project, please don't hesitate to ask. To be, in some small way, a part of the success of a Bryan Michael Stoller project, especially this one, would be wonderful. I really want to see the project come to life. Here's my business card. Please let me know if I can help." I am sure that producer would remember you with good feelings. Here the actor complemented the producer, the actor was informed, sincere (yes be sincere, it cannot be lip service, be real because your 'vibration' will be what is felt more than your words) and positive. It was not all about YOU. It was about the producer and his work. One of the most important result-producing tools you have, when interacting with a potential employer (producer), is attitude. It's not about talent or lack thereof. The wrong attitude is what kills the job for most people. Unfortunately, most actors believe that it's all about them. It's not! It's about the project - that dream, that vision that the producer has been living for years. Either the producer perceives you to be someone who can help bring his or her dream to life on the screen - or you're in the way. It's as simple as that. You should give me a break and put me in your film. I studied, man. I paid my dues, so you should hire me. I sat through all those stupid workshops. I could use you, man. This film could launch my career. I'm going to be a big name someday, and you'll be sorry if you don't put me in your film." I know so many directors and producers who say they would much rather hire someone with less talent but a good attitude than some 'brilliantly talented' actor they don't know who may have a bad attitude and potentially cost the producer his or her project! Several of our producer friends have literally said they would hire acting coaches to help less-talented actors (with great attitudes) rather than work with someone whose attitude is bad!! | ||