Always pitch/perform to a friendly room
If you audition for a role as an actor, test your comedy routine, pitch an idea to a network or studio, sing or play your song, or show...
NEVER REGRET DOING WHAT YOU’LL LATER REGRET NOT HAVING DONE
Édith Piaf’s iconic song: “Je ne regrette rien”—I regret nothing - is a good rule to live by. Because, in show biz, even though...
Rule 32: You need more than a girl and a gun
The esteemed French critic and film director, Jean-Luc Godard said, “All you need to make a movie is a girl and a gun.” Here’s a little...
Rule 31: Learn from your forbears
During my childhood, our little movie theater only showed cowboy movies. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ‘em all. And who knew who the...
Rule 30: You're either funny or you're not
Comedies rarely win academy awards and few receive critical acclaim. But I hold in the highest regard those performers, writers and...
Rule # 21: Casting can be euphoric but oh so painful
Since Spy Hard was a James Bond spoof, we needed to cast a female Bondian spy. I wanted a slightly-over-the-hill ex-sexpot who was...
Rule 20: Studio Movie? Be careful what you wish for
What no one could be prepared for are the politics of getting a film “green lit.” The process is heart ripping—it has the potential to...
Rule # 19: Hollywood fat cats never use their own money
My agent, Jane Sindell, later producer of Seabiscuit, was in the process of seeking out opportunities for me to direct another film. She...
Rule # 18: Working with kids or animals? Realize they're in charge…you're not.
The CityKids Foundation joined the Jim Henson Company to produce a television series for ABC TV. With great stories and music videos,...
Rule # 13: No six people laugh at the same joke
I directed six pilot episodes of a VH1 TV series called Shoot the Band, which was patterned on the popular cable show Mystery Science...