Here's what's been going on in my "mindgrapes"(Watch 30 Rock). I've been trying to find an internship in TV or Film Production to start realizing and pursuing my dreams of writing comedy for a living. A wise friend (Ben Parkes) told me something a wise friend of his (Some Dude) once told him. He said, "Think about giving up something right now and if you know in 20 or 40 years that you'll still be wishing you were doing that, then that's your thing." Honestly, as much as I love poetry there is nothing (besides Valerie who is number one always!) that spins in my mind as much as good written comedy.
So I've decided that I'm in one of the two capitals of television in America. So I've decided at the bottom. Unfortunately, no one will give me a chance. I'm overqualified academically and underqualified professionally. I'm in the nether-world of qualifications. I've sent out to tons of places and no one will even respond back. I mean it's a frickin' internship. I'm volunteering to bring someone coffee without pay and I'm being turned down. It's very demoralizing honestly. It sows doubts.
The last straw was The Maury Povich show. They were the only one who responded to me. And in the middle of the phone interview, when she asked if I had any TV experience and I said no, she hung up. I couldn't believe it. The dregs of humanity deemed me below them. I was entertaining the idea because I was desperate. I wrote them some bullcrap cover letter about how interested I was in their show's ability to draw and please audiences.
But I waited. In case it was a lost call. And then I wrote them an email, telling how I was the right for the job and I'd like to continue the conversation. I almost threw in a line about how I felt that the "paternity test after the break" almost reinvented the TV cliffhanger and they should be proud. I almost told them about how discrimination against lesbian flight attendants, parent condoned incest, sex changes reversals , and other such hot topics really needed a voice and I'm glad they have Maury.
Vampires.
They called me back today and wanted to know if I still want an interview.
Although I wouldn't deny any plausible opportunity, I guarantee that there is something more amenable out there than Maury if you keep turning over stones..what about your experience with the Comedy Central pilot? Did that ever flesh out? Doesn't that speak volumes in your behalf? I remember hearing from a friend of a friend that it was in the bag...
ReplyDeleteYour carefully honed ability can't be hidden, and soon the bastards will cave. Soon. This is true.
James, as low as Maury may seem, it's a scratch on the stone. You're carving a future and so starting somewhere, anywhere is a start. I wouldn't give up on it, but I would definitely follow Joe's advice and continue looking. Because those of us who know you know Maury will someday be screaming how he gave you your first opportunity if you go through with it. I'm glad you're following your heart. That's me and dance. But I hope you continue poetry on the side. It would be sad to lose such a distinctive, melodic voice.
ReplyDeleteJoe and Bonnie,
ReplyDeleteThank you. Yeah, I'm looking into other opportunities at the moment. I've started calling in favors because I've decided it's almost impossible to be picked out of the pile of applicants. Happily, I now have an interview at MTV next week. There might be some other opportunities as well.
I'm not going to give up poetry, New York and the whole literary poetry scene has given me a lot to think about. I'll post on that sometime. It's a very strange world I find myself in, this invisible competition of literary elitists.
James,
ReplyDeleteBefore you interview with MTV, contact my friend Jeff Tomsic, jefftomsic.com, who is currently producing a show for them. I've talked to Jeff about you in the past and told him you are a talented chap. He may or may not be able to help you out, but I think it's worth a shot. If nothing pans out with MTV, he may be able to turn you on to some writing gigs. He knows a lot of people in TV and film in NY and has said that people are practically begging for good writers. You just need a name to get you in and that elusive first writing credit.
JFYI, we have a friend, and his sister works for Cartoon Network in the ATL. Maybe I can talk to my hubby's friend and see if his sister knows of anything, as far as internship via CN. Interested? If so, I'll see what I might possibly be able to do. I don't know how much...but I can do something, like ask, at the very least.
ReplyDeleteOH, and have you thought about writing a script for stage? I don't know if you remember my best friend, Jen Berg (now Speerstra), but she is a profesional actress in the DC area, and belongs to a couple professional theatres. I could also talk to her to see if she knows anything. I'll see what I can do, if you're interested. :-)
ReplyDeleteJaren,
ReplyDeleteThat would be great. I looked through his website and there's some really funny stuff on there. If you could send an email just introducing me, I'll send him an email seeing if he'd want to meet for coffee or something. I'd really appreciate it.
Erin,
I'd love to work for Cartoon Network. That would be great if you could ask, tell him my plight, make me sound super-duper. I'd be willing to email your friend and introduce myself also so they know I'm not creepy.
If you guys want to email them, you can just tell them I'm looking for an internship. If something better than that was available, then great but I'm just looking to start and I'm okay with doing the grunt work. Thanks for your concern. It's good to have friends.
I emailed Dan's friend, about Cartoon Network. I'll let you know when I hear back from him. You can email me to my junk email which is earthsong29(at)yahoo(DOT)com. I'll give you my real email address and go from there.
ReplyDelete:-) OR you can just pm me via myspace. That would work as well.
hey you!! how's it going? i found you on myspace and ...here i am.
ReplyDeleteby the way, i might know some people who might be able to hook you up. my sis used to work for Bloomberg up there. and also i have a friend who is a CEO at a tv station here. he might have some friends in new york? want me to check into it? the guy who was her boss at bloomberg was a bit of a jerk, but he seems a bit nicer than your maury buddy.
so anyway, how is life treating ya?
I should listen to my own advice I gave you. What the hell am I doing working in Human Resources?!?
ReplyDelete