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...
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 28: Make sure your preview is for the intended audience
With most movies, especially comedies, there are methods of pre-testing audience reaction. Previews are arranged by a market research...
Rule 23: Treat your crew like family
I directed an ad campaign for AAMI Insurance in Australia. The company loved Chevy Chase and in the tradition of his Vacation movies,...
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 # 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,...
Rul # 16: No matter what the media says about you, be satisfied they spell you name correctly.
I have the dubious distinction of having directed music videos that Al Gore’s ex-wife,Tipper Gore, used to demonstrate to Congress the...