Reciprocity - It works

The best negotiable in the world is one that also works in real life: You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. I'm bringing this up because it can sometimes be hard to get behind someone else' project when one (or more) of yours is languishing on a back burner. No pay. Long days. I understand. Suck it up.

Reciprocity can only help your film career! Worried about this possible project not fitting your high standards, or not being what you want to be 'known for'? No one knows you anyway! When two alpha artists meet, why not take turns being second banana for each other? Be script supervisor on my film, and I'll grip on yours. Everybody gets to go to the set. Twice! Twice the experience, twice the networking with other new cast and crew. Besides...

...No one can predict the success, or lack of success, that will come from a film project. Famous examples:

Francis Ford Coppola (then relatively unknown) was DYING to make a film called 'The Conversation'. The only deal he could cut was to make one for the studio from a best selling novel, and only then would the studio fund 'The Conversation'. Coppola said okay. The film he 'had' to make? 'The Godfather'. He did make 'The Conversation'. Both are great movies. Which do you consider more 'successful'?

Steven Spielberg, after initially being excited about the project, was also reluctant to work on turning a certain best seller into a 'movie'. He told the studio that he wanted to makes 'films', not 'movies'. David Brown, The Universal Pictures executive famously told him, 'If you make this 'movie', you'll be able to make any 'film' that you want. David Brown was right. 'Jaws' became the highest grossing picture ever (at that time) Fun fact: Spielberg wanted to drop 'Jaws' for the project 'Lucky Lady'. Wow. Fun fact number two: The term 'Blockbuster' was first used to describe the runaway success of 'Jaws'.

Summary: At this point in your career, lend you shoulder to any project which you possibly can, and encourage your 'circle' to do the same. You never know...

Tom Kennerly is the author of 'On The Lot: An Addiction' an Amazon ebook.