WOOOOWWWWW!!! Can you believe it?!?! We’ve made it to January 2011! CRAZY!!! I get really excited about New Year’s. I view it as a great time to set goals because it allows a definite time line to monitor results. I feel REALLY good about the prospects for this year. Probably since I spent last week in heavy reflection of 2010′s successes, disappointments and opportunities for growth. I got real with myself about my goals and set plans in motion to help me reach my desired destination. I’m oh so excited about what is to come!!!
Tomorrow is back to work. I had the pleasure of enjoying 7 days (11 if you count weekends-I don’t since I’m off those days anyway) OFF to relax and chill and get myself together. Here are some of the highlights:
I watched a CRAPLOAD of award films. I really enjoyed Woody Allen’s latest, “You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger.” I also liked “127 Hours” starring James Franco and “Inside Job” a doc about the financial collapse of 2008. I did NOT enjoy Sophia Coppola’s new flick which was disappointing because I so want to love her work.
I slept…A LOT!
I cleaned out my closet.
I finished the rest of Reverb 10 prompts (they began to get too deep for the world wide web to see). What a revealing activity.
I moved to the beat of my own drum. For the first time in forever I didn’t do anything I didn’t want to do and thoroughly enjoyed doing EVERYTHING my heart so desired.
I made plans. I had forgotten the value in goal setting/planning. It was a great exercise to get me motivated for 2011.
And one just for you all-I am going to do my very first blog giveaway!!! Details tomorrow!
I hope that you brought in the New Year on a high note! What were the highlights of your holiday?
Before I moved to L.A., I read a book about landing your first job in Hollywood. It said the way to any longevity in the city, one had to go the assistant route. It said once you become an assistant, you must do your job to the fullest – and even more importantly, let your boss be the boss. Master being a great understudy and refine your leadership skills by serving great leaders. I took those words of advice to heart. When my boss(es) would do crazy stuff to get on my nerves, I’d let it ride and clean up his(their) messes because that’s what a great assistant does. Being as humble as possible, I was a damn good assistant. Even the brilliant crazy azz BM said so (and he NEVER gave a compliment that wasn’t well deserved!)! Problem is I never wanted to be an assistant – I went to pursue a career as an executive. I just got caught up in the assistant lane because I’m good at it and it was safe (someone is always looking to hire a great assistant) .
How’s it safe? Well,the thing about Hollywood is it is the one place where no one really wants to be the person who can officially say yes…until they know that yes is going to pay off. I mean imagine being the guy who says yes to a $100,000 budget to a movie that flops! It can be a scary thing. Ironically no one wants to say no either – lol the agent who turned down Julia Roberts has a great career BUT no longer as an agent! Starting a business there is damn near impossible unless you are independently wealthy and that still doesn’t guarantee anything. Being a great assistant is like a safety net – everyone is always looking for one. You get all the perks with fewer risks (you get everything your boss and their clients get and you have an entire network of people just like you!). Yes you do have to protect your boss at all times but that boss is the one who has to make sure the bills get paid and the lights stay on. Talk about pressure-making sure you, your clients, your family and your employees all eat and do well is MEGA pressure.
Staying in that assistant lane is very tempting but after the monotony of it, I felt myself ready to branch off. The average amount of years an assistant is an assistant before making the leap is at least five. The recession made that amount of time become unpredictable. In general, you pay your dues learn the biz for that allotted time and you’ll eventually move up. I was quite frustrated because once I’d master the desk, I’d get so bored. (And after doing it for a while, it didn’t take much time to master a desk.) I vowed when I came to New Orleans, I’d be an executive NOT an assistant. But my pattern was the same.
I find as I pursue my goals, it is easy for me to want to work for others. Instead of saying, “this is what I can do,” I generally ask, “how can I help.” Many folk I’ve attempted to “help” didn’t get it and the situations didn’t work out. I’m extremely fortunate because one of the people I wanted to “help” and work “for,” was instead looking for people to work with to achieve his goals. That situation taught me to switch my question to “how can I work WITH you.” That type of attitude is providing many great opportunities across the board and exciting things are happening!
Today I came to the conclusion that I’m really good at working for others. I also came to the conclusion I’m going to be GREAT when I do the things that move me. I’ll share more soon but just know that things are really REALLY happening for me. And I am ready for all that is coming my way! (Sorry for the vagueness but I HAD to share even though the time is not quite right to put it all out there. Its coming though-stay tuned!)
When I decided to leave my first Hollywood job it was super difficult. I loved my boss and we were really like family. All my friends worked there and I was very close with the clients. It was a great situation except I felt like I had stopped learning. There was no more mystery or excitement in that position (and I had done so great, my boss would pay me whatever I said but he wouldn’t promote me to manager; as long as I stayed there I would be his assistant and I wanted to do more.) So I decided to leave. A couple weeks before I left an interview came out featuring my boss’ biggest client. In the article she said that while she wished more people of color were in the position to greenlight film projects, she didn’t foresee it happening. She said the day a studio has an African American in a position to greenlight films she’d backflip down sunset. I had often dreamed that I would be in a position to yay’ or ‘nay some hopeful’s attempt to create a show or film project. When my boss told her I was leaving, she gave me a call and asked why. I told her because I wanted to get closer to the job that would make her do her flips! On my last day, she brought me a Tiffany bracelet with a note that said she vows to stay flexible for as long as it takes to see me reach my goal…
I want to be a successful, notable figure in the entertainment industry. I’ve been focused on that singular goal for as long as I can remember and seriously began to pursue it in 2002. Over the last eight years I’ve made huge strides, and I feel like I’ve been learning my craft. I feel the time is very near where I’ll be able to start my ascent through this industry I love. Although my goals have changed and studio head is no longer as appealing, I think I’ll make achievements so notable that that actress may have to get those flips together…
I’m learning more and more everyday that most things are a matter of perspective. When it comes to appearance, personal goals and levels of success, these are all things that are measured only by the person having the experience. I had a reality check last week. I got a review from one of my jobs and the points on my appearance were quite low. I wouldn’t have been as affected if the comments were not true but they were. I can be quite lazy with the way I dress or take care of my appearance. This is for many reasons (I don’t want folk to think I think I’m all that, I want to be accepted for my brain not my azz and I really am a hard worker, not just some cute girl trying to get on). The problem is deep down inside I love to “shine”. I want to be cute all the time and I really like to get dolled up. I just feel like it is something that should not consume me. So the realization I came to was that it only matters what I think. I KNOW who I am and Andre 3000 said it best “its not about your clothes its all about yourself”. So I’m looking within to determine my look. I want my inner me to shine forth. So instead of viewing myself through the eyes of others, its time I start seeing myself as myself.
During the time I wasn’t working, it was easy for me to get down about my situation. The reality is that I’ve been very lucky to have worked for people that see something in me that allows them to teach me the skills I need to succeed. This started very early on in my work history. My first job was for the Iberville Parish JTPA Office. I’m not sure that program still exists but back then it was for kids 14-18 whose household income didn’t exceed some point. It taught them job training skills (JTPA=Job Training Participation Act). Luckily I was able to start the day I turned 14 (its a summer program and my birthday is July 21 so I couldn’t work that long the first summer) and I worked in the local JTPA office. I learned to type during that summer because the secretary was awesome and gave me a typing book. Obviously that skill has taken me far – LOL because I type everyday all day! (Don’t trip its a skill I pride myself in – a lot of my friends don’t know how to correctly type. They get it done but their fingers aren’t in the right place!)
I remember when I got my job at Purdue I’d never done any graphic design but with the help of my co-workers and the printers we worked with, in the end I was able to compose entire media guides and do web design! I also learned to do color commentary for volleyball and had the opportunity to do some writing for the local paper. I was brought to tears at the completion of my first Big Ten Tournament (I ran the media portion of the indoor track n’ field tourney on my own – which was HUGE because many records were broken!).
When I transitioned to the entertainment industry was working for my mentor Vincent Cirrincione. He was amazing because he taught how to do the Hollywood thing (it really IS another world). Vincent works very close with a publicist, Pamela. Now Pam is the ish when it comes to publicity. She knows how to work the crowd at events and she always looks impeccably professional. She and Vince took me under their wing and really allowed me to blossom in the industry even beyond the time I worked for them. Those skills are now coming in handy as I’m serving the publicity needs of a new client here in New Orleans. Even working with that artist I find myself in the position where I’m supported – her manager is awesome at really placing me in positions to succeed.
I’m also finding a lot of great support and mentorship at my production job. The supervisor has graciously taken me under her wing. I was supposed to just be helping out around the office but she recognized my eagerness to do more so I’m now the production secretary on a network television show!!! This is a really great time for me career-wise and I had to just acknowledge how grateful I am to work with people who see me for what I am. I’m happy that when I do get jobs, my skills speak for me and people tend to respond positively to me in work environments. I know I am a lucky girl to be given the opportunities I have been and I hope that when it’s all said and done, I live up to my full potential!
When I was in my funk, a friend suggested finding a song that can shake me out of it. At the time, I couldn’t think of that one song that makes me be more positive. There are so many but to think of one I could use as a mantra was difficult. Well today I was reminded of a song that always makes me feel good! I always dance to this one and OMG don’t let me be out w/my girls! OH LAWD!!! LOL! Me and my friend Chante’ tore up several spots in L.A. on this one!!! LOL!!! So w/o further ado, please enjoy Mary J’s “JUST FINE”. No matter what is going on in your life, it is going to be JUST FINE! I wish you all a just fine day!!!
I’ve been so icky lately that I haven’t been celebrating anything. Everything has not been horrible as my blog may have indicated. Here’s a little bit of what’s going right …
Let’s see – I’m always complaining about work. I do have a job (I complain because its not a “real” job but its real indeed). Once a month I teach self development/esteem to teenage girls. The classes run in six month intervals and my first class ended last weekend. This weekend I’m training to be director for the city of New Orleans. I was named a star instructor! I begin training for director this weekend. YAY!!!! I’ve been applying for some gigs too, one that is ideal for my goals. So now we wait for responses.
Speaking of work, I’ve worked A LOT since I’ve been here. I worked all year in 2009. I waited tables at good ole’ Houston’s (and ate my share of spinach dip!), worked on two distinct projects and even worked at the Essence Festival. I got my grind on. Yes I spent time on the sofa but I wasn’t the slug I make it sound like I was.
I’m being creative. I’m writing my play and soliciting support from people I feel can really help me produce it (I have targeted two co-producers and met with one who is on board; I’ll see the other soon). I’ve collected all the material I need to do a new wave of vision boards. I’m set to do one for my career/creative endeavors and a fashion/style one. Exciting.
My apartment is going through changes – the owner is renovating like crazy which sparked me to do the same. I’m turning my blue office into my blue living room, my bedroom into a sunny office and my current living room will become my huge new bedroom. Very exciting stuff!
A big part of my “thing” is helping others. I’ve been able to help my friend get her pilot in the hands of the right people. Who knows how it will work out but its such a good project, its easy to pass it on. My other friend wanted to get some work on sets and I helped her find a nice, long stand-in gig.
Other people don’t think I suck as much as I’ve made it seem either. My hot girls are coming to New Orleans for our reunion this summer! That makes me so happy!!! And somebody thinks I’m pretty cool because I got purty flowers for no reason at all.
Life isn’t so bad after all.
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WOOOOWWWWW!!! Can you believe it?!?! We’ve made it to January 2011! CRAZY!!! I get really excited about New Year’s. I view it as a great time to set goals because it allows a definite time line to monitor results. I feel REALLY good about the prospects for this year. Probably since I spent last week in heavy reflection of 2010′s successes, disappointments and opportunities for growth. I got real with myself about my goals and set plans in motion to help me reach my desired destination. I’m oh so excited about what is to come!!!
