Hello!

I’m constantly spammed by individuals claiming to be gatekeepers for individuals and organizations deep in Hollywood. They often don’t want to reveal their connections in part to protect their revenue source.

AND???

They also don’t want their connections spammed.

BUT BUT BUT

How do you define “TOP?????”

Is it based on projects getting made? Revenue of those projects? The ability to secure more than one project? Budget size?

Are they facilitating relationships that you could have gotten yourself if you had been willing to do the work? Did you know that relationship was possible? Are you only following standard operating procedures? How about only following what’s considered best practices?

EXCEPT

Who defines best practices? What are considered standard operating procedures?

An example is how Robert Rodriguez blew open those models when he created his El Mariachi movie. And many a person freaks out when individuals like him come along cuz they challenge what are considered the standards. Yes. He’s living proof that you don’t have to follow the standards to be successful.

His secret?

Hard work.

Something to consider: If you build your relationship based on those gatekeepers? They control your relationship with that “Top” person instead of you.

WAIT!?! THERE’S MORE…

You’re using their definition of “Top” instead of their own. Like I remember when I first moved to Hollywood based in 2010. They had all sorts of pitch fests promising huge companies being represented at their events. Yup. Huge companies showed up. It was mostly their interns and asisstants of assistants.

Yup. Getting to know folks on their ways up the corporate ladder? Could possibly be career changing in several years. Not right away cuz they don’t actually have the power to set things in motion in the way someone higher up could.

So?

Having access and having projects ready are two different things. If you have stuff not ready?? Burn that bridge.

What is one the biggest way for a project to be ready? It clearly demonstrates how it can make money. Nope. It’s not the perfect word choice or even page count. CAVEAT: If you’re script is over 110 pages or even 105??? There’s a really good chance that will eliminate your script from consideration. I’ll talk more about that on other days.

Comes down to this: You’ll eventually find solid contacts if you’re willing to talk to enough people along with having work they can sell. ALSO: Think about what they get out of it. If it’s just about your personal gain???? They have no reason to help you.

In the ,meantime…

Consider how you define “Top.” Can you gain that person’s same access with a two second Google search? In what way does your project show it can be profitable? Yes. Money can be considered crass. It also lets people eat.

As always: Have a glamorous day for fun!!

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