Am I green?

This is my first blog so forgive me for not considering any blog protocol.

I'm in an interesting field. Television and film production has always been a dream of mine since I would park myself 2 feet from our old tube tv up in my parents bedroom, enamored, not so much with the show but everything that went into it. (Plus, I glowed in the dark)

I struggled though growing up, trying to figure out what to do with myself. I love geology and sciences, so why not follow that path? I could hunt for diamonds in the far north or find Oil in remote locations. I could teach, I could do numerous things with myself. Even though I had these opportunities, I always thought back to being that little kid staring at the television, wondering, how does the magic happen?

I guess I could say Jurassic Park was the tipping point for me. I wanted to make dinosaurs come alive and eat lawyers. I mean, who wouldn't?
After some thought, and almost clairvoyant realization, doing it digitally was probably easier than spending 40 years trying to clone a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

In my last year of high school a rather pretty girl said I had what it took to be a creative in TV. In reality she was using me to make her portfolio and help her write her entrance to film school. I thought she liked me... poor Naive Jeff. She went off with a French dude and I never heard from her again. Oh well, could be worse.

I loved film school. I did. It was fun, and I learned absolutely nothing.
Maybe some tips on script writing, but nothing really I would call "learned". But, you see, that's kind of how it's supposed to be. This is the "foot in the door". If you could take the long hours, the constant criticism and that everyone is your competition, you survive to the next round.
My ace up my sleeve was that I knew Post Production while everyone wanted to be producers and directors.

And for 9 years I've been producing more content than a dozen "Jeff's".
From Wal-Mart in-store to various banks and food chains, I'm that guy who got the idea of buying more crap stuck in your head.
That's me. I made the ads. I wrote some (a few), designed many and animated a good chunk of them. I had an amazing team and we all worked well off each other.
It never satisfied me in the end though.

The work became ponderous and the levels of process and bureaucracy I had to go through was numbing to the point I would actually start to make ridiculous mistakes my junior never would.

So for the past year I've been developing TV shows, a couple films and just trying to get my name out there.

Ever want to climb a mountain without any gear, no arms or legs, functionally blind and really only have your tongue to pull you up?

Try making a TV show.

I had an amazing idea.
I pitched it to the big boys and they loved it. All happiness and joy around. Champagne and beer for all.
Something changed, and it changed fast.
Everyone wanted a piece of it, for nothing or next to nothing. Everyone wanted to sink their fingers into the pot and be involved. Everyone wanted a say, all without contracts or paperwork. It became a greedy, insane scramble.
And through all this, I'm being told I'm too green to make this production.

I have numerous years in post production and production, with a good crew of people willing to work hard and put themselves out there.

But I'm too green.
I think back to high school. If I ever took the initiative to read three pages ahead of the rest of the class, and subsequently the teacher, I could in essence replace the information regurgitation of most teachers.

Frankly, after my experience with a production company we approached, I could do their job.
Am I too green to make phone calls? Am I too green to get the right people together? Am I too green to tell a story?

Is this industry that tough really?? The secret is no.

The real skills you need, is a thick skin, patience and a willingness to get kicked in the face.

Thomas Edison said "one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration".
With this kind of work, you need to keep at it. Regardless of your experience, or even knowledge, persistence pays in the end. Sometimes luck, mostly hard work.

There are many reasons why one fails in this industry. Is it a lack of trying? No, people have that persistence. What it is, in the end is a willingness to get kicked.

The persistent and constant factor that prevents success in the entertainment industry, is ego (arrogance)
.
We see this daily. Old Boys Club.
People unwilling to either take a chance, step aside, or NOT steal others ideas.

Can you suffer through this? This is the face kicking part.

If you can, you might make it in TV or Film.
Am I cynical? How come there are a lot of Accountants and not many producers?
Not many can survive the stress, harassment and overall bullshit found in this industry.
So, when someone says you don't have enough experience, just think, someone said the same thing to them. What's the difference? They just had a thick skin.
That's it. I mean it helps to be creative and talented, but, it starts with a thick skin, and a willingness to accept bruised knees... if you know what I mean.
But hey, eventually, you'll be in that position one day, so look forward to it.

Cheers

Jeff the Producer.