Blog Recommendation: Destination Hollywood

I highly recommend Lauren Gable's blog Destination Hollywood: A Girl's Guide to Navigating the Entertainment Industry After Film School. (And it's not just for girls.)  Lauren is a recent graduate of USC's film program and has worked as a script coordinator, wardrobe assistant, actress, and more.  Her blog includes links to writing fellowships, answers to FAQs such as "What is a producer?" and "What is the difference between a Development Deal, First Look Deal, and Exclusive Deal?" and excerpts of conversations with industry professions.  For example, "This past week in The Business of Representation, we had a Producer come in and talk. I just wanted to touch on two things that he said quickly..."

Lauren takes her readers inside her USC classes: "In week three of The Business of Representation class, we had a manager from a top management company come talk to our class. He has an amazing client list and really had an interesting perspective on things! Here are some of the things we talked about..."

I recently spoke with Lauren to ask a few questions of my own: 

You've worked as a script coordinator, a wardrobe assistant on a SyFy channel movie, an extra on Glee... how do you find all these jobs?

All kind of random ways, really.  I answered a craigslist ad looking for interns for this company that does 12 movies a year... so basically one a month.  I was a general PA in the office and then once I got on set, I switched to wardrobe assistant, which I ended up doing for two films. Then on another film with the same company, I moved over and started doing casting and production coordination (dealing a lot with talent and coordinating dancers and rehearsals and such).  Meanwhile, I became interested in script supervising and started taking some gigs off of craigslist.  So when the production manager from the company that I did some work with originally got onto a bigger project, he brought me on to help with pre-production, and then I got to come on as script supervisor once we started filming.  After that film, I got calls from several other people I'd worked with offering me gigs on other films.  If you are hard-working and fun on set, its amazing how offers start flowing in!

For extra gigs, Sande Alessi Casting & Central Casting are great!  It can be a good experience to get on some film sets and see how things work.

Do you believe film school is necessary to succeed in the industry?

This is an interesting question and one that I go back and forth with a lot.  For me, USC film was the most amazing experience, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I LOVE all the people in my program and over the years, we have become such good friends, and I know these are going to the be the talented filmmakers of tomorrow, and I feel lucky to know them.  And education is super important to me, so I never could have just gone from high school to Hollywood.  A lot of the stuff that you learn in film school can be taught through practical world experience.  Film school hasn't helped me get jobs per say, but I think the label USC film school has gotten me in some doors that I might not have gotten in otherwise.  In my opinion, the best thing about going to USC film school were the people I met (because these people are going to be the filmmakers of tomorrow and the ones who help you get jobs), the location, and the label "USC FILM"-- as there are sooooo many USC alumni working in the business.  I get responses to job emails all the time that are like "Oh fight on!  I'm was a Trojan too!"  But I have a friend who is a real go-getter and just started working right after high school and at the ripe age of 20 ,he makes a healthy salary and is well integrated already into the film world. So I guess it kind of depends on the person.  Its hard to say.

Any advice for readers who are relocating to LA?

Well, you should know that you just kind of have to get here and start looking for work.  I don't know anyone who got a job before arriving in LA.  Check out craigslist and consider doing some unpaid gigs to meet people (you are going to need to create a social network).  Go out; you'll meet people that way as well.  There are industry parties and mixers that are sometimes fun to hit up.  

Check out Lauren's blog: Destination Hollywood: A Girl's Guide to Navigating the Entertainment Industry After Film School.