Hiring in Hollywood: The Flipside

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Want to work in Hollywood? Want to make something in Hollywood? Then one way or the other, you’ll be dealing with the process of hiring in Hollywood. Today we share our hiring philosophy, helpful anecdotes, and straight talk on the challenges of interviewing and hiring. We even share what we ourselves need to do better. Applying for jobs in the entertainment industry? Interviewing potential candidates for your next TV or film project? Here’s everything you need to know about hiring, firing, recruiting, interviewing, and more. Listen now and find your perfect job match – no matter which side of the table you’re on!

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2020 Perspective for Filmmakers, Producers, and Creatives

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Holy cow, it’s 2020! As we enter our seventh year (!) of the Producing Unscripted podcast, we’re so grateful to all of you who’ve supported us on this journey. With a New Year comes new podcast episodes, beginning with today’s. We’re discussing the big picture of working in the entertainment industry in 2020. Our goal is to help you get to a place where you can balance your life with your work…and figure out how to stay happy all the while. (No, not easy!) We also share our own struggles, explain why we’re taking a new look at what it means to work in this business, offer what we think is your most important key to happiness in this industry, and share the theme that will shape the podcasts we bring you this year. 

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Our Top 3 Scariest Moments on Set

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It’s Halloween, so pull out your sage, salt, and white candles! Today we’re talking about something truly spooky…our top 3 scariest moments on set! If you’ve been around production of any kind, you know things pretty much never go as planned. And sometimes, those “fun developments” can scare the pants off of you. Here are three very different kinds of “scary” that struck our sets like a witch’s evil spell. How did we survive? Listen now…if you dare!

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Getting Engaged to Netflix

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Get out the Tim Tams and the Vegemite…cause we’re going down under! Well, actually, the “down under” came to visit us, so we could give you an episode all about working with Netflix. We’re talking with PJ Madam and Tim Noonan (who speak with amazing Australian accents!) They deep dive into the making of their current Netflix series Extreme Engagement, which they created, produce, and star in. How did they sell it? What was it like working with Netflix? What advice do they have for both new and experienced producers? What’s it like to put your relationship up for the world to see…while living in remote villages with indigenous tribes? (Whaaaat????!!!) Plus, we swap some stories about being a couple working together in the industry. Get ready for a jam-packed episode filled with fun, advice, Netflix insights… and an unusual amount of active yeast!

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Making Truly Independent TV with Filmmaker Brian Speciale

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It sounds like a myth, or some kind of Hollywood urban legend, but some people actually put their own shows on television by buying airtime and selling ads themselves. They make truly independent TV. How does it work? How much do you have to pay for he airtime? Is it easy to get sponsors for your indie TV show? And of course, is it worth it? Producer Brian Speciale shares his insider information on the process…plus, some great tips for producers.

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Make 70 Million Dollars on Shark Tank: Producer Brian Speciale Tells All

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Brian Speciale isn’t just special because of his name. Not only is he a great producer, but he used his producing skills to flip the script, get himself cast on a little show called Shark Tank, and score a huge deal. In fact, he’s on track to do $70,000,000 (yes, seventy-million dollars!) in sales this year. But today’s episode is much more than one man’s incredible story. It’s an inspirational look at using the producing or filmmaking skills you already have to think outside the box, find opportunities, and create success. Plus, you’ll go behind the scenes on the set of Shark Tank and learn what it’s like pitching under such pressure. Who knows? You might just go on to find your own fortune after listening to Brian…

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Create Great Titles for Your Projects: Tons of Tips…

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Great titles…Survivor. Big Brother. The Curse of Oak Island. Say Yes to the Dress. Unmasking a Killer. These shows have catchy titles to help viewers… and network execs…understand what the show is all about. Today’s episode of Producing Unscripted is a deep-dive into choosing titles that help you, rather than hurt you, when developing your films, shows, or videos. We’ve got lots of practical advice and tips on thinking about, creating, and presenting titles that get attention. You’ll learn how to create titles for different kinds of buyers. We reveal the process we use to research and learn about appropriate titles for our own projects, so you can do the same. We give you four goals for every title you ever create. And finally, we share ten…count them ten…common title templates you can use to jumpstart your brainstorming process. While most of the examples we use are from unscripted television (no surprise if you’ve been around this site) these same concepts apply to creating titles for your film, novel, YouTube video…you name it. Listen now, and give yourself a giant head start when creating titles for your projects.

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Showbiz and Your Mental Well-Being: It’s Just TV…

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so on this Producing Unscripted podcast episode we‘re discussing some of the more difficult aspects of working in the entertainment industry…especially on big productions. Anybody who‘s been around it for more than five minutes knows showbiz is an incredibly tough trade to compete in. Pressure is high, and the stakes are, too. Through pop culture we do occasionally hear about the stresses of life in front of the camera. But it’s rare we hear about how those behind the camera stay mentally healthy. In a departure from our usual episodes, we wanted to bring some of these topics to light and share how we do our best to remain happy and healthy during the most stressful of times. We hope these tips help you, or that you‘re inspired to find your own techniques for achieving stability. All that matters is that you find your way to handle the pressures of this industry. 

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3 Worst Kinds of Shows for New Producers to Pitch…Unless

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We remember when we were just starting out in the industry. Didn’t know anyone. Couldn’t get a meeting. But…we thought we knew everything! Turns out, like a lot of new producers, we were pitching the worst kinds of projects to launch our careers. Now, years later, receiving hundreds of unscripted television pitches ourselves, we see the same mistakes we made way back when. So today our goal is to save you a ton of time, headaches, and heartaches. We’re telling you the three worst kinds of shows for new producers to pitch. But…we also tell you when you might want to ignore this advice, and offer tips for what you should spend your time on, so you don‘t waste it.

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Pat Postiglione: Becoming a TV Personality

Detective Pat Postiglione is the star of the new Joke Productions true crime series Deadly Recall. Coming to Investigation Discovery March 5, 2019.

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Are you a producer? Or do you see yourself as on-camera talent? Either way, it’s important to realize the challenges and realities of becoming a TV personality. Pat Postiglione is in the throws of that journey right now. He’s the star and host of the new Investigation Discovery series Deadly Recall – something he still can’t believe. Pat never even considered working in television during his 25+ years as a homicide detective in Nashville. Now, he’s appearing on shows like Dr. Oz, popping up in media everywhere, and carrying a highly rated new TV series for a top cable network. What’s it like? How has life changed? What should producers know when working with first-time talent? And what should potential on-camera talent know about what it’s really like to step into the spotlight? Today, we explore it all in an in-depth conversation, and give behind-the-scenes info to help you in your career…whether you’re a producer or on-camera talent.

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