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Category: Management

May32013

It’s May! The Start of TV Season! Gotta Car?

flwr-carI know, I know… TV shows debut on air in September, not in May. But coming from a production background, I always think of May as the real start of the TV season. Many television shows start production about now.

It also reminds me of my first TV job as a P.A.. After I was hired I found out that a deciding factor had been that I had mentioned “own a car” on my resume. Figure that! It wasn’t the only factor, but it was one of them.

I had included the mention of my car on my resume very reluctantly, and bowed to the insistence of another. I didn’t see how owning a car had anything to do with my skills and abilities, and isn’t that what a resume is all about? Of course that was a time before I started hiring P.A.s and when I found out that for an entry-level position my skills and abilities at the time were pretty inconsequential. It was more about my attitude first and foremost, and then later, on the job, I could prove my skills and abilities in action. For production at the time, my car would provide production with an easy extra vehicle to get the work done… my including it was (apparently) demonstrating my forethought about what production might need.

So, if you’re considering applying for that P.A. job on your first production, open your mind to what it means to anticipate the needs of production and then go ahead and tell them what you can offer. It just might make the difference for you to secure that first job.

All the best & a good shoot you,
Deb

Apr192013

Ciné Surfer: CareerRealism

news-emplyThis site has a great tag line:

“Because every job is temporary.”

Good perspective… although, admittedly, freelancers have understood this “realism” for a long time now.

It’s good to cross-train and cross-learn, so although this site may be more directed to “regular jobs” (whatever they are!), the info is very interesting and useful, covering topics like: being laid off and resume help, but also cool concepts like having an elevator pitch for yourself.

Surf by and have a look: http://www.careerealism.com/

Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

Jan252013

Ciné Surfer: About Delegation

handlesDelegation IS NOT about palming off the tasks you don’t want to do so that you are free to take on the only parts of projects you do want to do (like handing over the filing on a project you’re working on – because you don’t like filing – so you are free to do all the design, all the research, or even to visit set more often – which you enjoy)… in this scenario, there is little trust and lots of stagnancy; how could anyone working for you ever prove to you sufficient skills to fully take on a smaller project so you are free to take on larger ones (where you both can grow)?

Delegation IS about handing over not only the project and all its tasks, but also its responsibility… although as manager or supervisor you retain ultimate responsibility… and in this scenario you oversee the work, can properly mentor, and can help someone to grow their abilities and career to benefit not only themselves but also the work team and company.

About.com has a great management blog with 2 great articles about delegation. Not written specifically for the film industry, but totally valid all the same:

Delegate, Don’t Dump

http://management.about.com/od/people/a/DelegatDontDump.htm

and

All Management is People Management

http://management.about.com/od/people/a/All-Management-Is-People-Management.htm

Have a look and learn to delegate and work with people effectively.. and to grow.

Cheers & good delegation to you,
Deb

Nov162012

Gifting Film Books… The FB Preparation

Books for Christmas…they’re great to give and to receive, don’t you think? Film books especially! Well, in that case… have you “liked” MWP books on Facebook yet? I just found out that this season my publisher is going to be having special holiday discounts and daily specials – but only for those who have already “liked” the page:

http://www.facebook.com/mwpfilmbooks

… and in the meantime, surf by the MWP online catelogue to preview ideas and start a wish list: http://www.mwp.com

All the best & a good shoot to you,
Deb

Oct52012

Big Budget Spokes

Low budget equals fewer cast & crew, each with the responsibility of several jobs. It’s easy to feel essential to the entire production. Then there is big budget… Big budget equals larger – and sometimes MUCH larger – cast & crew, the work spread over so many more people. When you examine your individual role, it may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things. But that point of view is all in your perspective.

Perspective #1 – A crew member stands alone and removed from set and, guarding a distant doorway to ensure that no stray person walks onto the set when cameras are rolling. He/she is far removed from teamwork of set, and heck, the chances of anyone entering this distant door is remote that his/her presence here is probably pointless.

Perspective #2 – A crew member is one of a network of film professionals guarding the perimeter of the working set – a vast one today – ensuring that no person or activity disturbs the set when cameras are rolling – an an essential element to capturing the magic on screen. He/she is the only one at this distant outpost who knows what’s happening (when cameras are rolling and when they stop) on set, a relatively short distance away. When the rushes screen and when the final film screens, he/she will remember how large a network of crew and space was required for this magic of scene to be captured.

Every spoke is essential. You just have to see how.

Cheers & a great shoot to you,
Deb

Jul272012

Teaching “The Biz”

We say “the biz” or “the business” when we mean to say “the film industry” or “show business”. Funny how we shorten it to refer only the “business” portion instead of the “film” or “show” portion when we are so proud that it’s a creative industry! Just goes to show you how important business activities are in this creative industry.

Look at the credits and you’ll see Producers, Executive Producers, Line Producers, Production Managers, Production Supervisors, Associate Producers, Production Coordinators, and more. All business folk covering different business aspects of the production. My book Film Production Management 101 was written to cover the business logistics side of the industry primarily for the PM and PC.

Because it’s hard to emulate real-life business situations in a school setting, I’ve just written a course outline based on my book including recommended activities and assignments to dynamically learn how to manage the logistics of production. I mean, how do you simulate the issues that arise when cost reporting a real production with real money being spent while in a school setting with equipment and labour already donated? Having designed and taught numerous seminars, courses and workshops over the years, I’m sure this course outline will help those in “the biz” of film education design and teach essential business skills for the next generation of filmmakers.

If you’re in the business of teaching film skills, download the course outline for free at MWP Books:

Film Production Management 101 – Course Outline
http://www.mwp.com/filmschool/database/resources/PM101/PM101-Course-Outline-2012.doc

Cheers & a good shoot (or cost report!) to you,
Deb