Yesterday, I got a text from a first time director who believes that the “Secret” played important part in his getting ready to make his first movie. Because I’m a mom, wife, and entrepreneur (not always in that order), I pretty good at forgetting various remarks, emails and texts I get throughout the day because I am constantly trying to check something off my never-ending list of things to do. Except this time, the writer’s text stayed with me. This morning, I woke up thinking about the Secret. Since I hadn’t heard the Secret’s ideology early in my career, I wondered what drove me? What would I attribute to my success? And it came to me: I was fearless.
FEARLESS: without fear; bold or brave
Sure there were moments when I was terrified but every time I gave into my fear, I failed. Whenever I faced it, I could overcome it. When I moved to L.A. to be in the movie business, I was complaining about not having a job to my good friend, Gary Harris. Gary is an accomplished music executive and overall superb tastemaker. He is always in touch with the zeitgeist. In fact, it was him who said, “You like to read and you’re visual – you should be in film”. How’s that for great movie advice? So I move to LA after recently being separated from my first husband (on second one, wish me luck), living with my brother and feeling lost. As always, Gary gives it to me straight, “Go get a job”.
That’s what I did; I made getting a job in the film business my job. Now, I may have had to do other menial work to feed myself but I saw getting a film job as my job. I was fearless in my pursuit. I didn’t care that people told me that you needed to have a film degree (which I didn’t), production experience (which I didn’t) or know someone (which I didn’t). As they say in the “Secret”, I believed I could work in the film business. I “felt it” with every pore of my being. I imagined working with writers and giving them film production notes. I could see myself setting up projects and making movies. Mind you, there was no evidence to indicate that this was my destiny.
I was just fearless.
And I did it. I started as a lowly assistant and worked my way into heading several production companies at Fox. I have worked with countless number of writers and directors, set up television and film projects and made a movie. I did it because I believed I could do it. Of course along the way I have had amazing filmmaking mentors such as Lauren Lloyd who were instrumental in my success.
Now as I develop my First Film Job Workshop Series and publish books on amazon.com (hey have you bought one yet?) I find myself in a way starting over. And it requires the same feeling: I have to be fearless. Of course, I try to excuse my fear with “reality”. The “reality” is that I am a busy wife and mother. The “reality” is that starting a business is challenging. So now I have to say “whatever about reality”, if I can make one dream come true, I can do it again. So if you’re hiding in your “reality” or openly afraid, remember it’s your choice. You can be fearless.
