Keegan: Hi, just a reminder for anyone new to the blog, I’m Keegan. I’m a character in Lindy’s head. I expect to be in her novel some day. But she’s taking forever to flesh me out. I wish she’d hurry up. I wanna be out of her head and on paper, (or in an e-book, I really don’t care) so I can be rich and famous. In the meantime, I’m curious about how things work in Hollywood so I’ve been interviewing Lindy. Today I wanna discuss acting. Meryl Streep is probably the best role model for actresses today. But it’s a rough road. How can we make a living when the roles are so few and far between?
Lindy: I wouldn’t lose hope. You’ll need to start developing your Peer Network and your Mentor Network.
If you’re lucky enough to have a Hollywood job then you’re meeting lots of folks and making friends. You’re in fact, developing a Peer Network. You’re all navigating the road to stardom. Whether it’s behind or in front of the camera, you’ll run into each other on the way up.
As you ascend the ladder your pals will be your sources. They’ll offer info about jobs and auditions. That’s critical.They can provide the contacts you need and in some cases a personal introduction. Your peer network can be a great source.
Keegan: Okay, but unless your novel is the next “Hunger Games,” I may need some real dough to survive. I can’t live rent- free in your head forever.
Lindy: That’s true. I’ll want you out soon. You’ll need to find your own place.
Keegan: Ah, does that mean you’ll be writing about me soon?
Lindy: You’re still percolating. But in the meantime you ought to start building your Mentor Network. When you audition, it may be helpful to have a mentor call the producer to put in a good word. It’s important to cultivate people who can help you. You need to know which folks might help seal the deal.
Keegan: Great. How do I get one of those mentors? Like Meryl Streep. It’d be cool to have her as my mentor.
Lindy: Gee ya think? Not easy to find a mentor. You have to work at it. But the good news is most folks are eager to offer advice. Think about targeting someone you admire, maybe someone other than Streep, and ask if they’d have a moment to meet. You may not need that person now, but you will later.