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Words of Wisdom Promote, advertise, and market yourself! You are the ultimate product. Nobody will hire you if they don’t know you exist i Meet producers. Producers hire and fire everybody. Whenever possible, deal directly with those who have the most power.
i Read the professional trade papers: The Hollywood Reporter and/or Daily Variety. Stay on the cutting edge of what’s happening in your industry. i Remember the gift we gave you today. Don’t expect agents, managers, or anyone else to do it for you. Here it is again:
i Do not let the ‘dream-stealers’ steal your dreams. The only way they can is if you give your dreams away. i Surround yourself with positive people who truly want you to succeed! i Get away from negative people. Fire all the negative people in your life! i Send thank-you cards to every producer whom you personally feel should be thanked. Include your photo business card. i Get a Website if you don’t already have one. Get a domain name: www.YourNameHere.com i Make sure your photo business card contains contact information and your Website name. i Send a congratulatory card to every producer, director, etc. when you read in the trades that he or she has signed or agreed to do another project. Include your photo business card. i Send birthday and holiday cards to producers and directors you admire. Include your photo business card. i Keep a ‘tickle file’. Keep notes on the people who can hire you. Make sure they hear from you at least once a month. Make sure the cards are appropriate. i Build a file (on 5x7 cards) with photos and information on every producer and director. Search the Internet, and especially read the trade papers for the most dependable information. i Your theatrical (film & television) agent’s true job is to negotiate money and billing for you after you find film or television work for yourself. Make sure you do your job! i Over 95% of the working actors get over 95% of their film/TV interviews and work through sources other than their theatrical agents. i Act as though you are a business owner with $500,000.00 invested. Don’t put the investment at risk. Make sure it multiplies and produces major success. i Your business is the marketing of you as a product. Market your product well. i After you have attained success, give back to the industry. Show others the path. i Very, very few actors know the ‘rules of the game’. Make sure you are one of the very few. i This is not a business of personal rejection. It is not personal. It is business. i If it appears that someone does not like you, it is that person’s problem only. Don’t make it yours. i For business purposes, some casting people will attempt to intimidate you. If they cannot intimidate you in the office, they sometimes feel you are ‘safe’ to put in front of the camera. Do not take it personally. It is not personal. i See and understand the industry from the producers’ point of view. i Go to give, not to take. Your job is to make the producer’s vision and dream come to life on the screen. i You are being hired to bring the character to life the way the producer/director sees the character, not the way you might guess the character is. Make sure you understand the producer/director’s vision. i The last thing producers want to talk about is you and your acting background. Talk about them and their projects. Talk about what is important to them. THEN, they will find you interesting and they will want to know more about you. i Be a team player. i It’s about the project, not about the individual actor. i Network, network, network. The producers MUST meet you and feel comfortable with you before they will hire you. i The most dangerous thing a producer does is putting an actor in front of the camera. The project and the producer’s future career are on the line. One wrong actor could cost the producer his career. Make sure the producer perceives you to be totally professional (‘safe’). i Never, never, never give up. The world is full of people who had no idea how close they were to success when they gave up. Don’t be another one of those people. i Remember the title of Terry Cole-Whitaker’s book: “What You Think Of Me Is None of My Business”. Again, don’t take this business personally. i Make sure you are having fun. If it’s not fun, do something else. i You do NOT have to ‘Pay Your Dues’. You do NOT have to spend years and years training and doing little theatre and then do extra work and tiny bit roles in no-budget independent films. There is nothing wrong with starting at the top! i While the other people are ‘paying their dues’, you can achieve major success! i Those ‘friends’ who will hate you for achieving success – Dump them now. i Your success does not take away from anyone. It only adds! i It’s okay to be visible. It’s okay to take the spotlight. If there is fear involved, turn it into excitement! i Your success is about more than you. It is a position of responsibility and leadership. i Do not hang around with other actors. Most actors are threatened by your success. Rather, surround yourself with successful producers and directors. i Believe in yourself and your value. The producer is not ‘doing you a favor’ by hiring you for the project. Rather, you are doing the producer a great service by your contribution. You help bring the project to life! i Be sure to stay in touch with me and keep me up-dated on your progress. And, thank you for allowing me (and us) to be a part of your success! Rock@hollywoodsuccess.com
  Many of the following ‘words of wisdom’ were shared with me by
friends over the years. I would now like to share some of them with
you.
i Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. - Will Rogers i If you really do put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise the price. i When you create your own destiny you prevent others from doing it for you. i Opportunities multiply as they are seized; they die when neglected. i All sunshine makes a desert. i To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. - Elbert Hubbard i Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. - Helen Keller i You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do. - Henry Ford i Failure is the path of least persistence. i Go as far as you can see, and when you get there, you will see farther. i There is only one you. Don't you dare change simply because you are outnumbered. i One of these days is none of these days. i Purpose is what gives life a meaning. i The secret of life is to know who you are and where you are going. i A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. i One of life's greatest pleasures is accomplishing what others say you cannot. i Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except the best. i Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. - James Barrif i The smallest good deed is greater than the grandest intention. i Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent. - Eleanor Roosevelt i You can either take action, or you can hang back and hope for a miracle. - Peter Drucker i The critic is convinced that the chief purpose of sunshine is to cast shadows. - John Mason i Do not worry about whether or not the sun will rise. Be prepared to enjoy it. i History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. - B.C. Forbes i There are thousands of reasons why you cannot do what you want to. All you need is one reason you can. - Willis R. Whitney i Let each day be your masterpiece.
I salute you for having the courage to reach for the stars – and to achieve your dreams! Thank you! – Rock Riddle |
