The week of SXSW is pretty much a blur, as I think back upon it. But isn't that how most bad ass times in your life end up? Days pour into each other and the experience is remembered mainly as a whole, but an awesome whole none-the-less!
Lucky for me, there are a few specific things that I remember from that week and a half. Here are a few tidbits that I am taking away as lessons from the grand experience...
One of the cool things I got to do during the week was sit down for a "Mentor Session" with an established producer. I sat down for 10 min with Michael Peyser, the man behind movies such as SLC Punk and Speed 2 (I know, not the biggest movies in the world... but at least hes doing something...), and hear what advise he had for me. He told me that I need to get into the money side of the business, because that is everything. Once you know where the money comes from and where it goes and who controls it, then you can start working your way up into an important position. If you are in charge of the money, you can really have influence on the way things go. Kinda like the Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules. So that is a place to start at.
I also had the chance to talk to another producer (who wasn't nearly as cool or important as Michael Peyser), John Something-or-Another, who told me to read the book "Save the Cat" and its sequels, which are about screenwriting. He said it is important to be able to recognize a good script when you see it. Makes enough sense. He basically said reading the books is as good as going to graduate school for writing. I'm not sure about all that, but its enough motivation to check it out, especially if it comes so highly recommended. I'll at least give the back cover a good once over.
Another thing that I came to learn is that you can't always take what people say at face value and even a sure thing is not a sure thing (a least in the entertainment industry). Allow me to explain. I met several people over the course of the festival whom I good conversations with and exchanged business cards. Many of them work in the industry and were people I considered to be "contacts" I had made that could help me find a job out here in LA. They were all very nice and open to the idea of getting together outside of SXSW. So when I got back to the real world after that crazy week and a half, I called/e-mailed all of them but have yet to hear back from anyone. I'm not bitter about it or anything (Grrr...) and I guess I really wasn't expecting too much to come from it all, but it does kinda suck that none of it worked out. Some had me believing we could be best friends. Like a beautiful flower. But now that flower will never come to be... (huh?)
One last thing that I took away from being at a festival like SXSW is to try not to do too much all at once. Every night there were probably 2 movies and 5 bands that I wanted to see. I would try to get to as many things as I could, but in actuality I ended up walking all over the city, only making it to a few of the things and going to bed exhausted at 3 am. It was still an awesome overall experience and I got to see a lot of the stuff I wanted to, but yea, don't try to do to much all at once. I'm sure that applies to real life some how...
Oh and a side note: I had an interview with a company called Flight 33 for a PA job. They make shows for the History/Discovery Channel. I want to make shows for the History/Discovery Channel, so this would be perfect for me. I really hope I get it! I think I'll find out tomorrow. I just applied for the gig off an internet posting on the website http://www.realitystaff.com and they called me in for an interview. Fingers are crossed!
-Things I've learned: See above.
-Plans for the Future: Pray I get the PA job, hope for a reply from my SXSW "contacts", look for other opportunities in the mean time.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
SXSWhirlwind
South By Southwest has ended and now I, and many other people, am thrown back into reality.
But what a time it was! Walking down the streets of Austin you couldn't help to notice the chaos that decended upon the city; it basically transforms for a week and a half. People come in from around the world and the Austin Convention Center becomes a hot-spot for new ideas and collaboration, as the best and brightest share their passions and visions for the future.
Everyone comes to the festival for different reasons: Some come for the music, some for the film and some for the technology innovations. And many times there is not a singular reason to attend, but to come and experience all that SXSW has to offer. It's pretty safe to say that no two people have the same SXSW experience.
My experience is the same: Uniquely different.
This year I was a part of the staff and worked for a department called Studio SX. It was our job to bring in the interesting people for an interview which was filmed infront of a small audience for 10-12 minutes. We brought in everyone from film directors, producers and actors, to musicians, to the interactive keynote speakers. My specific job was Assistant Manager and I filled in where ever needed and made sure things were running smooth. I would help with the talent, ran the camera or edited (if needed) and at one point I even gave one of the interviews. We had a great crew and it was a fun job. In the grand scheme of the festival, Studio SX is pretty small potatoes, but the potential is really big and hopefully next year I can come back and make it better.
On a day-to-day during the festival, I would get off at about 5:30, and go explore. It was usually a mission to try and find the free food and drinks, and most of the time I usually came across something. When the night time rolled in, duing the first half of the week, I would go to a movie or try and find a film party to hit up. It was during these partys that I went to work trying to meet people and network. I did a pretty good job and met a lot of people who are producers and filmmakers that are out in LA, and may be able to help me in my career...
And During the second half of the week when the music got started I got off at 5:30 and would try to find free stuff, then figure out which bands I wanted to see. Every night I saw at least five different bands play and most of them I had never heard of, but were amazing I am now a big fan of. It's really a great thing to be apart of.
So, the crazyness of SXSW ended, but that doesn't mean that it is something that I am going to just forget it and move on. I will take everthing I learned and experienced and apply it to life beyond the festival. I think its OK to have a little SXSW crazyness throughout the entire year.
-Things I've learned: Too many things to list here. In future posts I will go more into detail of specific things I learned/experienced that will benefit my career. Just know that a lot was taken in and must be processed.
-Plans for the future: Contact all the people I met through networking and see what that leads to.
But what a time it was! Walking down the streets of Austin you couldn't help to notice the chaos that decended upon the city; it basically transforms for a week and a half. People come in from around the world and the Austin Convention Center becomes a hot-spot for new ideas and collaboration, as the best and brightest share their passions and visions for the future.
Everyone comes to the festival for different reasons: Some come for the music, some for the film and some for the technology innovations. And many times there is not a singular reason to attend, but to come and experience all that SXSW has to offer. It's pretty safe to say that no two people have the same SXSW experience.
My experience is the same: Uniquely different.
This year I was a part of the staff and worked for a department called Studio SX. It was our job to bring in the interesting people for an interview which was filmed infront of a small audience for 10-12 minutes. We brought in everyone from film directors, producers and actors, to musicians, to the interactive keynote speakers. My specific job was Assistant Manager and I filled in where ever needed and made sure things were running smooth. I would help with the talent, ran the camera or edited (if needed) and at one point I even gave one of the interviews. We had a great crew and it was a fun job. In the grand scheme of the festival, Studio SX is pretty small potatoes, but the potential is really big and hopefully next year I can come back and make it better.
On a day-to-day during the festival, I would get off at about 5:30, and go explore. It was usually a mission to try and find the free food and drinks, and most of the time I usually came across something. When the night time rolled in, duing the first half of the week, I would go to a movie or try and find a film party to hit up. It was during these partys that I went to work trying to meet people and network. I did a pretty good job and met a lot of people who are producers and filmmakers that are out in LA, and may be able to help me in my career...
And During the second half of the week when the music got started I got off at 5:30 and would try to find free stuff, then figure out which bands I wanted to see. Every night I saw at least five different bands play and most of them I had never heard of, but were amazing I am now a big fan of. It's really a great thing to be apart of.
So, the crazyness of SXSW ended, but that doesn't mean that it is something that I am going to just forget it and move on. I will take everthing I learned and experienced and apply it to life beyond the festival. I think its OK to have a little SXSW crazyness throughout the entire year.
-Things I've learned: Too many things to list here. In future posts I will go more into detail of specific things I learned/experienced that will benefit my career. Just know that a lot was taken in and must be processed.
-Plans for the future: Contact all the people I met through networking and see what that leads to.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
On to Bigger and Better things
You have to know when to recognize opportunity and when to draw the line.
So I decided to quit The Asylum. I had to. There really wasn't much else I could learn and I was tired of being used by them for free labor. So I left. Moving on. I am glad that I worked for them while I did, but I am glad I left when I did. I took away what I could from the experience, and now I am off to other enterprises. I was pretty expendable to them anyway; they didn't seem too sad for me to go.
So next is SXSW! I am super excited for this. Last year it was so awesome, and this year it will only be better because I have an idea of what to expect. I am going to fully take advantage of what I can.
Last year I enjoyed myself: I got to do some cool things, see some cool things and be apart of a really cool thing. The only thing is, I didn't really take advantage of all the people that are around for this epic festival. But this year I am changing my game plan a little. Instead of just partaking in the festivities, I am going to try and meet as many people as possible AND enjoy the crazyness. Hopefully one of the people I meet will be able to help me find a job.
I may have to come out of my shell a little and be more aggressive (but not overly-aggressive) but I can't let this chance slip by. Maybe when I come out on the other side of this adventure that is SXSW, I will have a job and actually move up a little in the industry.
-Things I've learned: You have to draw the line somewhere. I'm not sure I was benefiting from working at The Asylum. They were getting more from me than I was from them and I had to realize that. That's ok though, I will be better for it in the end. If not.... at least its a good story.
-Plans for the future: Go to SXSW and rock it like no one has ever rocked it before.
So I decided to quit The Asylum. I had to. There really wasn't much else I could learn and I was tired of being used by them for free labor. So I left. Moving on. I am glad that I worked for them while I did, but I am glad I left when I did. I took away what I could from the experience, and now I am off to other enterprises. I was pretty expendable to them anyway; they didn't seem too sad for me to go.
So next is SXSW! I am super excited for this. Last year it was so awesome, and this year it will only be better because I have an idea of what to expect. I am going to fully take advantage of what I can.
Last year I enjoyed myself: I got to do some cool things, see some cool things and be apart of a really cool thing. The only thing is, I didn't really take advantage of all the people that are around for this epic festival. But this year I am changing my game plan a little. Instead of just partaking in the festivities, I am going to try and meet as many people as possible AND enjoy the crazyness. Hopefully one of the people I meet will be able to help me find a job.
I may have to come out of my shell a little and be more aggressive (but not overly-aggressive) but I can't let this chance slip by. Maybe when I come out on the other side of this adventure that is SXSW, I will have a job and actually move up a little in the industry.
-Things I've learned: You have to draw the line somewhere. I'm not sure I was benefiting from working at The Asylum. They were getting more from me than I was from them and I had to realize that. That's ok though, I will be better for it in the end. If not.... at least its a good story.
-Plans for the future: Go to SXSW and rock it like no one has ever rocked it before.
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