Sad but important article highlighting the necessity of hustling if you want to stay in the film business.

Based on the article, Kerry and Kevin Conran sound way cooler than your average hotshot director. I’d much rather hang out with them. And I really want them to succeed in the film business so they can continue to make cool movies.

Excerpt:

“Kerry and I were so intimidated we went and sat at a separate table. We didn’t know what to do! They all turned around, almost en masse, and were like, ‘What are you idiots doing over there? Get over here!’ Then I’m sitting next to Robert Zemeckis.”

Conran laughs, but then goes quiet for a few seconds and sighs. “Much to my eternal embarrassment we never stayed in touch with any of those guys.”

This may be part of what kept the Conrans out of the Hollywood playground, their inability and discomfort with hustling or acting as if they belong. The brothers have never been good at self-promotion. In a New York Times interview from the set of Sky Captain, the reporter noted that the first two things Kerry said to him were, “I’m shy” and “I am basically an amorphous blob of nothing”.  

When I first came to LA, I approached networking with extreme apprehension. I hated hearing and saying the words, “I’m an actor.” or “I’m a filmmaker.” or the worst…”I’m a comedienne.” Because after telling someone you do comedy, the response will most likely be, “Tell me a joke.” But here’s the thing, unless you make it known that what you’re doing is not a hobby, but your career choice, no one will know or care.

Of course, when you’re first starting out you feel like a phony because you don’t have any real credits or connections. But here’s the thing, the Conrans were innovative filmmakers who had made a huge influence on the direction of Hollywood, and THEY felt like phonies. And ultimately, I think it was this misguided belief, the idea they didn’t belong at the cool table, which hurt them the most. To play in the long game of staying relevant in this town, you have to make the right friends. Unless you want to be revered posthumously, start hustling as soon as you get off the bus.