P.A. to Producer

This week has been a very busy week for me. I was lucky enough to get a call back to work on the filming for the 11th season of American Idol. It has been a great experience thus far. It also ties directly in to what we are covering in product management. Many of the producers on the show are not the main guys that you would think; there are tons of producers behind the scenes that are actually project managers. These people come from all walks of life and many started their careers in entertainment not as producers, or even being trained in the particular job that they have now. The one thing that they all have in common is a passion for what it is they are doing. This makes it a little easier to work insane amount of hours until the job is done right and to work with people such as myself who are trying to come into their own in the business hungry to know what they know and the path by which they ended up here doing what they love. The one thing that I can tell you just from my brief experience, as a production assistant is that attitude is by far one of the most important factors. With the right attitude you can work through any and all obstacles as part of the team. Without it, you will seem alone and question why is it that you have to label laundry or tape down wires. The fact of the matter is all of these things need to be done and as project managers it is often not their job to scrutinize every little detail, but just to make sure that the gears of the machine turn efficiently to keep all involved moving in the right direction.

A Picture's Worth...More than you think.

Every performer focuses their attention to the climb of what seems to be an insurmountable amount of obstacles to raise themselves to the level where they are a household name. Be it dreams of starring in their own show or performing to that sold out crowd artist just want the love and admiration of their fans. However many artist fail to attain the proper amount of business knowledge that will help to protect the very thing that they have worked and clawed so hard to forge, their image and likeness. This is something that may not be as important to some performers in the early stages of their careers, however it can comeback to be the difference between the freedom to pick and choose a role or having to jump at anything offered to you. Sometimes having the knowledge of the business is still not enough to secure that you will be paid fairly and timely for the use of your image and likeness.
This is the case for David Cassidy. Many remember David from his four-year stretch on The Partridge Family. David was not naive of the importance of his image even as a young twenty-something actor. His contract spelled out specific percentages for his compensation before and after the show aired, as well as how he was to be compensated if he appeared with other cast members. Unfortunately Mr. Cassidy is now having to as Sony Pictures, to honor the contract they originally agreed to. ">

This is not the first case of actors or artist not being compensated for the use of their likeness to make a profit. The actors from the popular television series Happy Days are filling a lawsuit against CBS studios for the same reasons."> These actors openly state that they were not business people when they signed their contracts. However the clause for their likeness is in their contract, but for 37 years they had not pursued the monies owed them because of their own naivety. The bottom line is in the entertainment industry you have to be as vigilant to protect your image and collect money that is owed to you, as you have to be in seeking out the roles to help grow your career. Having the proper management is key. You must either be well versed in business enough to be able to protect your own self interest, most artist when they start off are not, or you have to be smart enough to higher someone that has your interest tied in with their own.

Industry Lesson #1 be vigilant in knowing your business, and craft.
Source:"http:////money.cnn.com/2011/08/04/news/companies/david_cassidy_partridge_family_lawsuit/index.htm">