Archive for July, 2011

Jul 28

25 Best Film Schools

The Hollywood Reporter (THR) came out with their ranking of the top 25 film schools to attend, and I have to say I’m shocked that my alma mater, University of Miami, was not on the list.  I am even more shocked  that Florida State made the list instead of us.  When did FSU get a film program?

Side note: If you know anything about me personally then you know I hate Florida State.

As much as I loved college and the program I was in at University of Miami I have to say that I have learned more about the industry while actually working in it than I ever did while taking classes.  Film schools don’t offer a Production Assistant 101 or an Executive Assistant 101, and those positions are usually the first ones that aspiring filmmakers get right out of college.

That being said, don’t completely write off college if you want to work in Hollywood.  Despite their insane expenses and lack of classes focused on how to actually work in the industry,  college does help you learn and grow as a person.  And I think that is the most important part of it, no matter if your school is in the top 25 or not.

What schools do you think should be on the list?

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Posted in Being a Production Assistant, Career Path, Film Community

Jul 27

Girl Power!

 

It is not a misconception that the film and tv industry is a mostly male dominated work place.  Each department has their exceptions however the camera department is usually the most male dominated area of them all.

That being said when I see a female DP, camera operator or a female AC I get super excited and happy.  I have so much respect for them because I know how hard it must have been for them to get where they are and to be taken seriously.

I am proud to say that on the show I am currently working on we have not one, but two amazing female camera operators and one amazing female AC.  To me this is a huge achievement because the cameras that we are using weigh about as much as a small child.

I can tell you from exprience that  carrying those things on your shoulder is not an easy task and it can get extremely tiring.  These three amazing women are working 10 hour shifts running up and down stairs in this oddly designed house we are shooting in and they are all holding their own compared to the other male operators and ac’s.

So to all of the women out there, do not let this male dominated industry scare you.  These three women are proof that you can hold your own with the boys club.  Do not get discouraged and give up.   They worked hard and are now out there shooting, so why can’t you?

 

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Posted in Career Path, My inspirations

Jul 26

Comic Con 2011 is not just for nerds anymore

 

This past week was the annual Comic Con in San Diego.  For years comic con has been solely for comic books and the nerds that love them, however, in the last few years video games, tv and movies have slowly been taking over the convention.

Comic con is now becoming an amazing networking opportunity for anyone in our industry.   Since pretty much every huge tv show and new blockbuster has either a panel or a booth for you to attend there are several opportunities for you to speak with some very important people.  Also you never know who you will meet while standing in the 5 hour line to see a sneak peek of Breaking Dawn.

So while you are getting your fill of geekiness while playing Uncharted 3 or looking at extremely expensive and rare comic books remember that anyone that you meet or run into could potentially help you with your career.  Make sure you have a ton of business cards to pass out in case the opportunity arises.

But Rachel, comic con is expensive to attend and the badges sell out in a matter of minutes on their website.  How do I even attend? Well if you have a respectable credit on your resume you can apply for an industry badge which from what I hear is free but don’t quote me on that.  Also if you want to bypass the craziness inside there are several things happening right outside the convention center.

Just remember to make friends, because as I’ve said before friends are going to get you your next gig, not someone you just hand your card to. I will see you all at comic con 2012!

 

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Posted in Networking

Jul 14

2011 Emmy Nominations

 

At a ceremony held this morning by Joshua Jackson and Melissa Mcarthy the 2011 Emmy nominations were announced.

Here is a list of the nominees:

 

 

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
The Office
Parks and Recreation
30 Rock

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
Friday Night Lights
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
Mad Men

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Louis C.K., Louie
Steve Carell, The Office
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Timothy Olyphant, Justified

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law
Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights
Mireille Enos, The Killing
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Greg Kinnear, The Kennedys
Barry Pepper, The Kennedys
Edgar Ramirez, Carlos
William Hurt, Too Big to Fail
Idris Elba, Luther

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Laura Linney, The Big C
Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly
Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce
Elizabeth McGovern, Grantham
Diane Lane, Cinema Verite
Taraji P. Henson, Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story
Jean Marsh, Upstairs Downstairs (Masterpiece)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Chris Colfer, Glee
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
Ed O’Neill, Modern Family
Ty Burrell, Modern Family

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
John Slattery, Mad Men
Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age
Walton Goggins, Justified
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Josh Charles, The Good Wife
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce
Brian F. O’Byrne, Mildred Pierce
Tom Wilkinson, The Kennedys
Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail
James Woods, Too Big to Fail

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jane Lynch, Glee
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Michelle Forbes, The Killing
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Margo Martindale, Justified
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Evan Rachel Wood, Mildred Pierce
Melissa Leo, Mildred Pierce
Mare Winningham Mildred Pierce
Maggie Smith, Violet
Eileen Atkins, Upside Down (Masterpiece)

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Idris Elba, The Big C
Zach Galifianakis, Saturday Night Live
Justin Timberlake, Saturday Night Live
Matt Damon, 30 Rock
Will Arnett, 30 Rock

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Robert Morse, Mad Men
Bruce Dern, Big Love
Jeremy Davies, Justified
Beau Bridges, Brothers & Sisters
Paul McCrane, Harry’s Law
Michael J. Fox, The Good Wife

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kristin Chenoweth, Glee
Dot-Marie Jones, Glee
Gwyneth Paltrow, Glee
Cloris Leachman, Raising Hope
Elizabeth Banks, 30 Rock
Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Alfre Woodard, True Blood
Randee Heller, Mad Men
Cara Buono, Mad Men
Joan Cusack, Shameless
Julia Stiles, Dexter
Mary McDonnell, The Closer
Loretta Devine, Grey’s Anatomy

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY
So You Think You Can Dance (“Alice in Mia-Land Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” / “When We Dance” / “This Bitter Earth — On the Nature of Daylight”)
So You Think You Can Dance (“Mad World” / “Sundrenched World” / “Heaven Is a Place on Earth”)
So You Think You Can Dance (“Collide” / “How It Ends” / “Fix You”)
So You Think You Can Dance (“Scars” / “Fallin” / “Outta Your Mind”)
Dancing With the Stars (Jive, “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” / Viennese Waltz, “Hedwig’s Theme (Theme From Harry Potter)” / Slow Waltz, “My Love”)
So You Think You Can Dance (“Oh Yeah” / “Boogie Shoes” / “I Surrender”)

OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
Jeff Probst, Survivor
Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance
Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol

OUTSTANDING MINISERIES OR MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE
Mildred Pierce
Too Big to Fail
The Kennedys
Downtown Abbey (Masterpiece)
Cinema Verite
The Pillars of the Earth

OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SERIES
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
The Colbert Report
Conan
Saturday Night Live
Real Time With Bill Maher
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SPECIAL
Carrie Fisher in Wishful Drinking
Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On
Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden
The Kennedy Center Honors
The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway

OUTSTANDING REALITY — COMPETITION PROGRAM
So You Think You Can Dance
The Amazing Race
Project Runway
American Idol
Dancing With the Stars
Top Chef

OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM
Hoarders
Antiques Roadshow
Deadliest Catch
MythBusters
Undercover Boss
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Modern Family
The Big C
Glee
Nurse Jackie
30 Rock

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Boardwalk Empire
Mad Men
The Killing
The Good Wife
Game of Thrones

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE, OR SPECIAL
Mildred Pierce
Downtown Abbey (Masterpiece)
Cinema Verite
Too Big to Fail
Upstairs Downstairs (Masterpiece)

OUTSTANDING COMMERCIAL
Conan (American Express)
Baby Driver (Subaru)
Questions (Old Spice Body Wash)
Polar Bear (Nissan LEAF)
Baby (McDonald’s)
Born of Fire (Chrysler 200)

OUTSTANDING COSTUMES FOR A SERIES
Boardwalk Empire
Mad Men
The Borgias
Game of Thrones
Glee

OUTSTANDING COSTUMES FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE, OR SPECIAL
Mildred Pierce
Downtown Abbey (Masterpiece)
Cinema Verite
Upstairs Downstairs (Masterpiece)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Boardwalk Empire (Martin Scorsese)
Boardwalk Empire (Jeremy Podeswa)
The Borgias (Neil Jordan)
The Killing (Patty Jenkins)
Game of Thrones (Tim Van Patten)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Modern Family (Michael Alan Spiller)
Modern Family (Gail Mancuso)
Modern Family (Steve Levitan)
30 Rock (Beth McCarthy-Miller)
How I Met Your Mother (Pamela Fryman)

OUTSTANDING NONFICTION SERIES
Moguls and Movie Stars
Biography
American Masters
30 For 30
Pioneers of Television
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL MUSIC AND LYRICS
Family Guy, “Christmastime Is Killing Us”
Saturday Night Live, “I Just Had Sex”
Robert Klein: Unfair & Unbalanced, “An American Prayer – Hymn II?”
Saturday Night Live, “Justin Timberlake Monologue”
Saturday Night Live, “Jack Sparrow”
Saturday Night Live, “The Golden Rule”

OUTSTANDING MAIN TITLE DESIGN
Boardwalk Empire
Rubicon
Too Big Too Fail
Game of Thrones
Any Human Heart (Masterpiece)

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL MAIN TITLE THEME MUSIC
The Borgias
Mildred Pierce
Episodes
Any Human Heart (Masterpiece)
The Kennedys
Camelot

OUTSTANDING SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS FOR A SERIES
Boardwalk Empire
The Borgias
Stargate Universe
The Walking Dead
Game of Thrones

OUTSTANDING SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE, OR A SPECIAL
Mildred Pierce
Sherlock: A Study in Pink (Masterpiece)
The Pillars of the Earth
Gettysburg

OUTSTANDING STUNT COORDINATION
Southland
Game of Thrones
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
Hawaii Five-0

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Episodes (“Episode 107,” David Crane, Jeffrey Klarik)
The Office (“Good-Bye Michael,” Greg Daniels)
Modern Family (“Caught in the Act,” Steve Levitan, Jeffrey Richman)
Louie (“Poker/Divorce,” Louis C.K.)
30 Rock (“Reaganing,” Matt Hubbard)

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Mad Men (“The Suitcase,” Matthew Weiner)
Mad Men (“Blowing Smoke,” André Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton)
The Killing (“Pilot,” Veena Sud)
Friday Night Lights (“Always,” Jason Katims)
Game of Thrones (“Baelor,” David Benioff, D.B. Weiss)

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SERIES
The Colbert Report
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Saturday Night Live
Conan
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE, OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Mildred Pierce (Jon Raymond, Todd Haynes)
Downtown Abbey (Masterpiece) (Julian Fellowes)
Sherlock: A Study in Pink (Masterpiece (Steven Moffat)
Too Big to Fail (Peter Gould)
Upstairs Downstairs (Masterpiece) (Heidi Thomas)

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SPECIAL
The Real Women of SNL
Colin Quinn: Long Story Short
64th Annual Tony Awards
Louis C.K.: Hilarious
Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Benefit For Autism Education

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED PROGRAM
The Cleveland Show
Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III
Futurama
The Simpsons
South Park

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Posted in Entertainment News

Jul 12

Why Amanda Hocking Should Inspire You

 

Amanda Hocking is YA author who has self published her novels through Kindle and The Nook.  Because of the amazing success of her e-book sales St. Martin’s Press has recently offered her a $2 million deal for her next four books.  To learn more about her check out her blog and the article about her in the NY Times.

Now why should this inspire anyone working in production, specifically screenwriters?  This should inspire you to finally take your chance at whatever you are aiming for.  Amanda notes her success to video online she saw from her hero Mark Hoppus from Blink-182 in 2009.

“I was like, ‘That’s it!’” Hocking said. “This whole time I’ve had a passion and I’ve waited for it to happen. I need to do it.”  She started to treat her passion for writing as an actual job and went on to write 6 novels that year.

If you want to be a writer then quit talking about it and actually do it.  The same goes for directing, editing and producing.  Get out there and make your dreams a reality rather than just waiting around for something to happen.

Amanda, you are my inspiration and I also really like your books : )

 

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Posted in Career Path, Entertainment News, My inspirations

Jul 12

Disgruntled Neighbors

 

I am currently working on reality show (or as production likes to put it, “a documentary style television show”) that is filming at a house in a very ritzy and secluded  neighborhood. Now when I say secluded I mean so damn secluded and conservative that having crew members walking around with tattoos freaks the neighbors out.

This morning I was walking from the production office around the house to the tech room.  As I am walking on the sidewalk I see an older woman riding her bicycle and like any other good samaritan I side-step out of her way so she can pass.  I smile at her and instead of a smile back she bitterly says “go back to hollywood!” as she lifts her arm and shakes her fist at me.

Now first of all I don’t live in Hollywood.  I am a local hire for the city that we are working in.  So going back to hollywood would not really make any sense for me to do.  Second what exactly does she think this is going to accomplish by this?  Does she think that since she said that we are all going to magically pack up and leave?  What ever happened to people being nice or maybe even just polite?

Now personally I do not see the big deal of a production filming in a neighborhood, but I am probably jaded since I work in the industry.  I mean it’s not as if all of us crew members are here specifically to make this woman’s life miserable.  We are here because we were hired and this is steady work for four months.

We honestly have no say of where or when we shoot and if they really have a huge problem with us being there then they should talk to the film commission that allowed us to be here in the first place.

Or they can just continue to yell angry remarks at random crew members since that will obviously get things accomplished.

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Posted in Being a Production Assistant

Jul 10

Making it outside of LA

It has usually been common knowledge that the way to make it in the entertainment industry is to move to one of the two big hubs, New York or Los Angeles.  Believe it or not though many people do live outside of these cities and are still able to work and thrive in this industry.  Take for example, yours truly.

I started out in this industry in Miami, FL.  After graduating from University of Miami I was too nervous to leave my comfort zone for the last 4 years and make the big move to LA like most of my fellow classmates did.  I started out at a talent agency and eventually moved on to freelance production.  Thanks to tax incentives created in Florida more productions started to move down there and I was able to step away from the talent and casting side to production.

After a few years I finally decided to make the move to the west coast but I was hesitant about moving to LA.  I visited LA a few times over the years and even considered going to college out there but to tell you the truth I actually despise LA.  It really is just not my scene.  So I decided to move to San Diego instead.

In San Diego I have been fortunate enough to find work in both places, especially with reality television shows because most of them are travel shows anyway.  Does this mean I will never move to LA?  Who knows.. but for now I am able to work in both places and I am extremely happy.

As for others that have made it outside of LA take for example Gabriel de Jesus who is a screenwriter living in Puerto Rico.  Gabriel made it to the finals of the Nicholl Fellowship competition.  Read an article about his exprience on John August’s blog here.

Is it easier to make in LA?  Yes, since the number of jobs available is higher.  However, that does not mean that you do not have a shot outside of the big city.  Look into your local film commissions, and check out various websites like craigslist, media-match and entertainmentcareers.net.

Keep at it and eventually you will be able to make it no matter where you live.

 

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Posted in Being a Production Assistant, Los Angeles

Jul 06

Bridesmaids Tops as Highest Grossing R-rated Female Comedy

I just read online that Bridesmaids has surpassed Sex and The City as the highest grossing r-rated female comedy with $152.9 million domestic box office gross!  If you remember my earlier post urging people (especially women) to go see the film this means that hopefully we will start to see more female r-rated comedies like this one.

Congrats to Judd Apatow and all of the crew involved in making the film!

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Posted in Movie News