Always Be Kind in this industry(Show Business)

Advice from someone who's been here a long time.

Hello, dear friends, I've been gone a bit this year because I've been creating multiple scripts with multiple mentors and have had so many meetings with everyone and their dog in this industry. It's been great, but I had to drop some extras, like this blog. SORRY.

I know, I know, blogs need to be consistent. LOL OOOPS I did it again.

Here's something that experiences over the last two years have me thinking I need to blog about. How people treat others, especially when they think that person is no one.

BEING KIND TO EVERYONE.

Sometimes I don't tell people that I've been in the film industry my entire adult life (and theater before that, since I'm a kid) because I like to see how they treat me when they think that I'm a nobody, and it's always really telling. I want to know a couple of things. One, how they treat people they assume are new, and two, how they view my work, not knowing my background.

Here's my Friday TED Talk — be nice to everyone, always. Never talk down to someone or cut them down because you don't think they are important enough for your kindness.

When you get hired/staffed, the same rule. Be nice to everyone. Even the PAs who you think are nobodies. They are people, and that may be how they enter this industry. They deserve your respect and kindness. If you have time in, your mentorship can go a long way, too.

There's this old saying in the industry. "Be careful who you step on on your way up because it's whose arse you'll be kissing on the way down," but I always hated that...just be NICE to everyone.

It doesn't matter how many things they have produced, sold, or how many shows they've written on, or in animation, which, if I am told one more time that it's "not really part of the film industry, or just cartoons," I'll go Daffy Duck on their butts. Yes, my 30+ years in animation has been used against me as a weapon this year. Weird right?

Also, anyone who truly works in this industry understands how options work, how sales work, how productions fall through, how you can work and not get flashy screen credit, and they understand that you can sign deals all day long, and will, that no one knows about.

I'll tell you from experience. Fame isn't real, and it doesn't last. Be decent always to everyone.

The thing about the entertainment industry is that, while it seems huge, it's small —smaller than you even realize. We all know each other. Some people think that it's so big that it doesn't matter. So much of this industry is built on relationships.

I'm not saying to go out and pretend you're besties with someone you hate or don't like, and you know, just like everything else in life, there are going to be those who you just don't enjoy spending time with or their energy, but it's a BUSINESS, so be kind.

The funny thing about SHOW BUSINESS is that people forget that it's a BUSINESS.

I could write a dissertation just on that, but I won't...but remember, this is a business.

How you conduct yourself on Zooms, in chats, on social media, at events, on the phone, etc., matters. It all matters. If you're rude, nasty, or condescending in an email, remember people save those.

The biggest piece of advice I can send your way is to ASSUME everyone is someone who could help your career. For example. Maybe you meet a writer in a writing class today, and then in five years they are asked if they know anyone who writes this or that which they don't write, but they remember you and recommend you for the gig---it happens, a lot.

Or maybe that PA you were kind to is now a producer and they give you your shot over someone else who wasn't so nice.

Again, I'm not saying to kiss butt and be fake, but treat it as a business, always.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk lol

I want everyone to benefit from my years in this business. If I can share anything that helps you side-step hurt, I will.

It's the best job in the world!

XO

STEPH!

Follow me on social @stephobourbon