From getting the necessary training and understanding the intricate responsibilities of everyone behind or in front of the camera to getting your first break and avoiding career-specific pitfalls, All You Need to Know About the Movie and TV Business leads you topic by topic through * A breakdown of job descriptions, from casting directors and key grips to stunt coordinators and film editors * What kinds of deals actors, directors, writers, and producers make when they start out and when they hit the top * How to protect and sell your creative work * How movie deals are put together at studios and by independents * The nuts and bolts of a boilerplate contract * The notorious and mysterious world of profit participations, with a detailed explanation of why there's never any profit "net profit" deals The entertainment industry can be an exciting, challenging landscape to negotiate. Having some valuable insight into how to make the most of your career in the movie or TV business can put you on the surest path to success. " Lights, cameras... " and if you get this book, very likely " Action! " This is a great resource book for anyone who wants to get into any aspect of the movie and TV business--especially in Los Angeles. Written by two prominent entertainment attorneys, it spells out the nature of jobs in the business, legal matters (such as protecting your creative work), and the Byzantine machinations behind movie and TV deals. Debbie Pearl Writer-Producer, Designing Women The Grey's Anatomy of the TV and film business. Dirk W. van de Bunt Sr. Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs, The Carsey-Werner Company A...breezy and intelligent guide to the ins-and-outs of the dealmaking process. I wish I had had this book when I started my career. Shelley, Levinson Academy Award-winning Writer-Director When two prominent entertainment attorneys spell out clearly much of the "business" of show business, "Who could ask for anything more?" Gail Resnik specialized in copyright and film and television production in her ten years of Paramount Pictures, where she handled business and legal affairs on Entertainment Tonight and served as senior production attorney on major motion pictures. She currently resides in Seattle, where she acts as a consultant on entertainment and multimedia law. Chapter One Be Prepared You might be tempted to skip over this chapter. Much of what we say here is self-evident and simple. However, we are willing to lay odds that most success stories in this business involve heeding the simple truths we describe below. It may sound lofty, but this section is about character -- the personal traits that you bring to the table. Looks, personality, or family connections may get you a job, but only character can build a career. All the sophisticated advice and technical information we give you in the later sections will be wasted if you don't have what it takes to take advantage of it. Read this section carefully. Maybe even reread it if you find yourself at sea in your career. The solution to your problems is likely to be found at the source, which, of course, is yourself. Training and Experience There is a reason why Hollywood has developed into the film and television capital of the world. The town has attracted, for several generations, the most qualified professionals in every branch of the industry. If you intend to compete with these people for the few jobs that are available, you stand a much better chance if you have learned your craft before you arrive. Despite the hype, most creative talent must be skilled craftspeople to sustain a career in the business. Even if you are great in front of the mirror or at handling the family video camera, you need to be ready if you get a chance to show your stuff. Some people get noticed just about as soon as they hit town, and if they're not ready, they may find in retrospect that they've blown their one shot. Before you relocate, you should take every opportunity to gain the skills and experience you will need. Yes, you can find training and gain experience once you have arrived, but as we explain below, Los Angeles can be an expensive city, both financially and emotionally. Better to take advantage of training opportunities in your less competitive and less expensive local community before setting out for Hollywood. Talent The entertainment industry is a high-octane blend of the creative and the practical. Thousands and even millions of dollars ride on the ability of an actor to work himself up, in a moment's notice, to the appropriate emotional state for each take, each shot in a day's schedule. Even the lowly production assistant must be able to respond to a thousand competing demands each day on the set, demands that would set the busiest air-traffic controller spinning in a tizzy. Beyond the skill that is necessary for these jobs, a certain inborn talent is required. Do you have that talent? Unfortunately, you cannot ans