Yes, that’s how they say you get ahead- nepotism, greased palms, divine kismet leading you to a certain hairdresser whose uncle’s parakeet sitter’s BFF is a Spielberg.
This statement, when taken in the traditional sense- that is, the pessimistic sense- might lead you to think that because your inner circle seems impenetrable to persons of notable fame and fortune, you will have a far more difficult time breaking into the film/tv biz.
But today we are going to exercise our optimistic majoris- that complex series of muscles which lies deep under the rib cage, and far too frequently goes underworked.
Let’s begin. “It’s who you know.” Does this statement cause irritation when I press it to your ears? If yes, let me prescribe a remedy. Think of people you know. Refine that mental gathering to people you know and with whom you enjoy interacting. I’m thinking of my UPS man, Glen. Glen is Canadian yet has managed to overcome his condition and has successfully grown humor-producing organs to about the size of that of a 14-year-old American child- impressive indeed. I enjoy emailing Glen whilst assuming various personae, Clint Eastwood, Hamlet, Tracy Morgan, etc.
Let me now interject one of my theorems: Working with people you know and like is enjoyable. One tends to produce works of a high quality under such favorable conditions as these. High quality work is what attracts the eyes of persons of notable fame and fortune.
Glen so enjoyed these little cyber-treats, that he told his friend about them. He said I should meet his friend. His friend told Glen that he did like my work. His friend asked me to hang out at his work because he thinks we might have similar interests- based on my “portfolio.” Glen’s friend runs a local theatre/film biz and I am now creating content for him and he is telling people about my work, and we are just beginning too see how that goes.
I did not have prestigious connections. I had people who inspired me- albeit is surprising ways- but that’s what lead me to produce work that I liked and in which others saw merit. Those were just emails to my dear friend Glennastasia. Who’d a thunk.
It is the work you produce that gets you where you belong. You know the people who inspire you- hang out with them.