By Forris Day Jr.
Hollywood, California produces thousands of broken hearts and crushed dreams every year. People flock to Hollywood to pursue their dream of acting, writing, working in television and hundreds of other goals. Most come home after only a few months or even weeks, dazed and confused. They ask “What happened?” as their head spins, and their body reels from being chewed up and spit back out to where they came by this city known as Tinseltown. No one said it would be easy to work in Hollywood but many are surprised at how hard it really is.
What could have been done differently to change the results that these misguided misfits of the entertainment world experienced? The answers are in the book “Hollywood Game Plan” by Carole M. Kirschner. “Hollywood Game Plan” is a highly detailed roadmap of what you need to do and how to do it if you want to be successful in Hollywood. Kirschner knows what needs to be done because she has worked in this city of dreams for nearly two decades. She has been on both sides of the fence starting out at the bottom and working her way to the top.
The book is broken into six sections that guide you step by step through the process of preparing to move to Hollywood, to what to do once you are there and beyond. You will learn how to write a resume that is specific to your industry and how to get it to the top of the pile. She discuses networking and how to promote yourself without sounding like an ass. Ways to get representation are also discussed.
The book is first and foremost a tool to help you get a job in Hollywood. But it is also inspirational for anyone looking to get a job anywhere. It is loaded with good, solid advice that can be used by any job-seeker. Much of the advice seems like common sense but you know how rare a commodity common sense is nowadays. The glossary at the end of the book helps you learn the terminology used in the business and there is a comical “Hollywood English-Writers Dictionary” that translates many of the terms you will hear when job-seeking and networking. There is a large resource section too, to help you find jobs and internships, with names and addresses.
Each chapter has a couple exercises to do. If you are planning the move to Hollywood and you do the exercises you will be ahead of the pack when you arrive. Being prepared is the key to succeeding in the highly competitive entertainment industry and Carole Kirschner can guide you in your travels. It is nice to know that there are people out there like Kirschener who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise to help folks avoid unnecessary pain in the pursuit of their dreams. Make no mistake about it. Getting into the entertainment business is hard and sometimes seemingly impossible but with the tools presented in “Hollywood Game Plan” you are entering the city armed with knowledge that may take years to acquire on your own. Get the book then get chasing your dreams.
Rating: 8/10 – Stop your whining and get a job. In Hollywood!
