Is interning enough?

Lindsay writes: I've had a few friends that got jaded working for an agency. Would you have honestly worked at an agency to begin with? Couldn't interning 2-3 days a week get you most of the same opportunities?

I wouldn't trade my agency experience for anything. It's turned out to be absolutely invaluable in both connections and knowledge. I don't think you'd get the same experience just by interning. Interning is great, but it's akin to dipping your toe in the giant ocean of Hollywood. Whenever I meet interns now, I always kind of laugh to myself because they don't even know how much they don't know. (I was plenty naive as an intern, too.) If you intern at an agency, you might get to do a lot of the same tasks as the mailroom staff, and I'm sure you'd learn a lot. But you wouldn't get to listen to an agent's phone calls the same way an assistant would. I didn't fully understand how Hollywood worked until I became an assistant.

If you've already completed some scripts, it's possible that you could get your supervisors to read them - and then maybe the intern connection would be enough. But I'm willing to bet that most interns don't yet have professional-level samples that would be seriously considered. I know I didn't.

New book: Tales From the Script

I just heard about the new book Tales From the Script via John August. Sounds fun!

Articles: Women in TV

Letterman Show Hires Female Writer, Jill Goodwin

Women Can't Create and White Men Can't Jump



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Cover letter/email style for job and internship applications

Sasha writes: There's one a show I absolutely love as both a writer and a viewer, and I'd like to intern (pay is a non-issue) anywhere on set or behind the scenes. But what should my cover letter look like? What kinds of information should I include? Who should I send it to? What position should I ask for?

Whom to send your cover letter/resume (and how to get their contact info) is probably the biggest hurdle. Different productions will designate different people to supervise interns. If you can find a friend of a friend of a friend, you'll be in the best shape. If not, I would do as much research as you can to figure out who is in charge of the show on the production company level, studio level and network level. If you can find the production office number, you might be able to simply call and ask who handles interns and if you can submit a resume for an internship, and if you sound like you're smart and not psycho, it just might work. (Internships are much easier than jobs in this way.) You might also be able to find some info from The Hollywood Creative directory, IMDBPro, or (if you have a friend with access) the expensive StudioSystem. Also, one of the upsides of attending a college's LA program is that the school will already have some contacts. Keep in mind that many internships will require you to receive college credit -but if money is no option, you might be able to skirt that as a graduate by enrolling in a local college class. (Yes, you'll literally be paying to intern - but that's how it works for undergrads too.)

I find that for Hollywood jobs, the shorter your cover letter, the better. I usually don't even write a separate cover letter document unless the posting specifically requests otherwise, because then you have to write an awkward email in addition to your cover letter. I combine them into a cover email, and I usually just write a quick note about how I found the job posting (if that's relevant - for example, if the person you're emailing knows the friend who told you about the job, that's important), why I want to work there, and why I'd be a good fit (experience, etc.). If you're applying from a posting, tailor what you say to that posting. Don't be too stuffy or effusive - but poor grammar and emoticons are also a bad idea. Generally, the stronger your connection, the less you need to write to explain your application. (Sometimes I literally just forward my resume.) But in your case, I think just a few sentences is fine. Remember that these people are busy and may have to sort through hundreds of emails and resumes. Here is one email I wrote that resulted in me getting an interview:

Hi there,
I saw the posting for an assistant position and I'd like to apply. Working for a lit agent for over a year has provided me with a breadth of knowledge about Hollywood, and also helped me hone my skills as an assistant. I feel I'm ready to make the move to working for a writer as that is my ultimate goal. I am ambitious, organized and computer-savvy, and I thrive on juggling many tasks at once. I also have a lot of experience with script coverage and would
be happy to send samples.

I have attached my resume. I can be reached at (phone) and (email). I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,
Amanda P

Here's a much shorter one that I used when I had a really strong personal connection. This also resulted in an interview.

Hi Carrie,
(Specific person) forwarded me the posting for the 1-hour cable legal dramedy showrunner asst position and I'd like to apply. I've attached my resume.

Thanks a lot!
Amanda P

Unless you think you are qualified for something more, I would ask for an internship position. Lower level jobs on a show include on-set PAs and office PAs - but I bet almost all of those people have already been interns somehwere (or have really strong personal connections).

Anyone who has gotten an internship without the support of a college, feel free to chime in!

Thrifty Thursday: Free Disneyland Tickets

Disney is working to inspire one million people to volunteer in their communities. If you volunteer for one day this year, you can get one day free at Disneyland!

Should I Have a Plan B?

Dustin writes: I'm having a dilemma right now between how much I should focus on my vocation (TV writing) and my plan B career. How common it is for there to be writers who are staffed after having a previous full-on career? And I don't just mean day-job, but careers like lawyers and mid-level office managers, marketing, etc.

I moved to Los Angeles right before the writer's strike, and unable to find any job in Hollywood, I ended up moving into the marketing industry. What started out as a day job assisting a publicist turned into something I became very passionate about. I was still able to write, but definitely did not make as much progress in terms of improving quality and producing pages as I have now that I've been laid off, or, I imagine, as I would bagging groceries at Ralph's. Again I'm looking for work, and this time really focusing on getting a job in the industry. But the only calls I'm really getting for interviews are coming from the marketing side.

I know there is no correct answer in regards to how hard important it is to work in the television industry as an assistant (specifically writer's assistant), but if a paycheck and the economy pulls my day-jobbing completely away from the industry and I end up developing a career in marketing, I worry I'll never get to where I really want to go. How common is it for TV writers to had full on previous careers? Am I just stressing out for nothing? I am writing nearly every day after all.

I definitely understand where you're coming from - and I think we all have a lesson to learn here: when your original plan doesn't work out, you need to formulate a new plan to keep moving ahead with your writing career (I definitely had to).

As for whether writers have had other careers first: Yes, absolutely. Sometimes it's actually seen as a positive thing because of the unique perspective you'll bring to a show. Criminal Minds showrunner Ed Bernero has even gone on the record saying that he doesn't like to staff people who have come straight from film school or assistant jobs and haven't had the "life experiences" of another career. I don't think you should worry about this, since every writer has a different background. What you should worry about is whether pursuing another career will sidetrack you.

Here's my take:

1. Try to find an industry job. I think this is essential for the learning experience and the contacts you'll make. If you never have an industry job, how do you plan to get your scripts inside? Some people are lucky enough to have really strong contacts without toiling as a PA, assistant, etc. - but most of us aren't.

2. If you can't find an industry job, find the job that will pay you the most money. Life in LA is expensive, and you want to be able to experience it without going into massive credit card debt. For you, it sounds like marketing is the way to go. But always be on the lookout for that industry job, because of all the reasons I listed in #1. I blogged before about an interview with TV writer Scott Rosenberg, who quit his industry job to be a truck driver. But he did work in the industry first. If he didn't, I bet he wouldn't have had the connections (or knowledge) to transition from truck driver to TV writer. You need to position yourself in the best way possible, and do everything you can (whether it's applying for fellowships, attending events or studying your craft) to succeed.

3. Always be writing. The downside to some industry jobs (like working on a show) is that 12-hour days will get in the way of your writing. You have to figure out the right balance. You say you're writing nearly every day - so it sounds like your marketing gig is a good day job to pair with writing on the side. I would probably only opt for the Ralph's idea if it wasn't.

4. Don't get stuck on autopilot; keep re-assessing how your plan is working out. If you spend three years in marketing and you don't feel any closer to being a paid TV writer, it might be time to make a change. Same thing if you work 12 hours a day on a show and haven't been able to finish a script.

Lastly, Dustin - whether you want to give up on TV writing and pursue a career in marketing is completely up to you. Do what makes you happy. This business is too hard, too frustrating and too time-consuming for people who don't really love it.

Pilotsssss

Have you guys been following all the pilot pick-ups? What are you excited about? Josh Schwart'z multicamera pilot HITCHED is definitely something I'd watch.