How to Make it in Hollywood as an Actor or Writer

Perhaps the best way to make it in Hollywood is to move there. Once you move there, in a sense, you have already made it (but that's just one man's opinion). The ability to enjoy year-round beach weather is definitely a positive thing, although the fact that there is no distinct change in seasons can bewilder and confuse people accustomed to highly distinguishable parts of the year. But hey, you're in Los Angeles, one of the media capitals of the world and definitely the entertainment capital of the world. The left coast state is recognized as the grand purveyor of culture, beaming its messages through film, music, and virtually every other medium of communication known to man, to the rest of the world. Hollywood seems to have the final word in what is cool, what is funny, what is hip. The fact that it is a major epicenter of media for the entire world does not make it any easier to "make it," a fact to which many Starbuck's-employed actors, musicians, costume designers, and writers can attest. However, it is possible.

The old adage that nothing worthwhile is achieved easily rings true in Hollywood and the new-agey dictum that "luck is where preparation and opportunity meet" perhaps rings louder. Nowhere is there more persuasive proof that it really is important "who you know" than in the city of Angels, where reputation and proven success (or at least proximity to successful people) determine your ability to get work. What you need to keep in mind is that every person with any decision-making ability in Hollywood operates on a strict CYA ("cover your a#$") policy." One bad decision, one ill-advised script purchase, an errant casting, production budget problems, and its back to the pavement for the young, brash movie executive. He was hot yesterday, but he got burned, like an Armani-clad Icarus flying too close to the sun. And the reason this is the case is because we are not talking about entertainment and movies and great acting and beautiful film-scores at this point, we are talking about the bottom line - money. Most people do not want to risk their job to give an unproven talent a shot. But, in order to be successful, you need that first opportunity. You need to build up your "reel," which consists of clips of shows or movies you have appeared in or have written. So that first opportunity is where your connections, luck, and ingenuity will come into play. Connections are the most effective way of getting your foot in the door. Luck, serendipity, or happenstance may present an opportunity in Hollywood. Good looks and talent don't hurt either, but you need to be incredibly proactive and aggressive in creating opportunity. You also need to have the "chops" - the talent, the mastery of your craft - so that when you get your foot in the door, you can follow with your whole body and shut and lock the door behind you.

No one is going to hand you success just because you are talented. To thrive, you need to understand that Hollywood studios are businesses. You need to know that movie studios and TV stations are owned in part, or entirely, by massive multinational and multimedia conglomerates that are unabashedly for-profit entities. There are countless corporate, political, and budgetary concerns that take place every step of the way. To quote Jay More's fictional super-agent and super-A-hole Bob Sugar from the movie Jerry Maguire, "It's not Show Friends, its Show Business."

But then again, new actors and writers gain access to the exclusive Hollywood club everyday. So it is possible. If you are talented, you may have a shot. If you are talented, intelligent, and informed about the industry, you have a better shot. If you are all of the above, and in addition, hard working, aggressive, self-promoting, and unflappable in your determination and drive, then no one can stop you. And attaining these attributes is, in itself, true success, whether or not your face or your words appear on the silver screen. But that's just one man's opinion.

So it's ten or fifteen years in and you have had only marginal success, you've appeared in a few commercials, you co-wrote and starred in a little-seen play, and you are a barista (with health insurance) in a corner Starbucks. Then one day you walk out of your apartment in the middle of December wearing a t-shirt and shorts and you seriously ponder going to the beach or to the pool.

Things could be worse. You could be a barista in North Dakota.