I started out my professional life in business. I didn't know there was any other way coming from a business family, and I had forgotten how much I loved writing. Early on in my career I became very involved in our Firm's visits to my University to meet students. I was asked to interview prospective candidates over lunch, something I particularly liked doing as well as speak to groups visiting our office; didn't like speaking as much! I almost always wonder how I *got* my dream job! The career counselor at school reviewed our resumes (required for on campus recruiting) and told me what to expect in terms of job offers; mid level firms. Oh, OK? The day came for bringing in stacks of our resumes and putting them into the envelopes of the firms we were interested in and I found a few that offered a direct entry into Tax! My friends thought I was crazy but it was the better of the two options, despite the fact that I'd spent about 4 years learning how to be an Accountant/Auditor. Our program had only two Tax classes that essentially amounted to figuring out just who could be classified as a dependent and also what to do if one person exchanged their truck for someone else's. Helpful!
At the time, there were elite firms known as the "Big 6"(now "Big 4, mine is one of them and I am a proud Alum 'for life' as they say) and two of them were open to hiring undergrads into Tax. Of course I submitted resumes to them. When the list was posted with names of Firms/Companies that wanted to interview us, 4 of the "Big 6" wanted to interview me, as well as some others. The elite firms wanted me, not as many of the mid-levels as I'd been told to expect! I was stunned. By Thanksgiving of my senior year, I'd been offered an amazing job at one of those "Big 6" in Tax and I accepted it. Fast forward to I'm in the office and ready to work, knowing practically nothing about Tax. Here's what happened: they taught me. Some of it I could pick up by looking at what was done the previous year when I was given an assignment but a lot depended upon who I was working with. Almost everyone took time to help me get me started, be available for questions and give me helpful feedback. We were not spoon fed; just given enough to get us going. I attribute learning how to expertly read the Internal Revenue Code to one particular person who was an attorney (we were a mixed bunch) that just sat down one day and showed me step by step how to read it. These are no ordinary books! Researching was a combo of the librarian, colleagues and me....and I just love researching! The point is, I was very much a minority in Tax as an undergrad hire but I caught up quickly because so many great people took time to share their knowledge with me. Graduate school helped later on but I was already out of the gates by the time that started. Luckily in Tax one gets to do a lot of writing; so all was not lost! (Fast forward to future) The writing had to be excellent and though technical, accurate, well researched and effective!
Cut to: I eventually leave the "you don't ever get to go home Tax world" and while doing some Tax returns on my own, realized I don't want to do this forever. Over the years I'd repeatedly heard "you're such a great writer" (not convinced!) and "you should be a writer" I thought OK, but write what? I'm not in school anymore. I'm not going back, I've had quite enough thank you. I didn't think I wanted to write books. Someone said write about your life. Ugh no! Along the way I'd become obsessed with Classic Films. Bonkers. I rented current films as well, foreign films, documentaries. Lots and lots of movies. It didn't occur to me that my love of films and writing might possibly become connected. Sometime early in the Millennium, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and the then owned Weinstein's Miramax created "Project Greenlight" in order to give new writers and directors a chance to make a movie. It was chronicled on HBO and I was captivated. "I should do this!" Just one problem....I had no idea what a script looked like or any idea what a director really did. One thing I *did* know was how to learn so I just started to teach myself. Thus began a LONG slow process of discovery and learning. Then people started to help me out, give me advise, pointing me in the right direction. In order to do anything right, you really DO need people to guide you! Just like in Tax, and in another life, when I was a hairstylist. Oh yes.
In High School, a great teacher suggested I get the book "What Color is Your Parachute" by Richard Nelson Bolles. I eventually did, but not until much later. He was one of those teachers that was just different and could probably tell I didn't have a clue about myself!! It meant something that he had taken the time to talk to me. A graduate professor eventually did too. Story for another post! So back to young film student follower. Wow did she know film, theater, actors, television! I've talked to many students (I also recruit for my University so I meet many students) and other creatives who are truly talented but may not have knowledge this young lady did at 19; I think very few do. I thought I might be "Rain Manned" out of the conversation; I just about made it! She's just a sophomore and not quite sure what direction she wants to take. These days for young people, perhaps because of my route although I don't regret a thing, I'm all for students taking time to figure it out!!
She was not aware of the wonderful creative community that exists on Twitter, and now especially since she's on summer break she has some spare time, I thought getting connected to some creative resources might boost her knowledge and experience with some "boots on the ground" information and dialogue. There are some great Tweeters with brilliant information, encouragement and enthusiasm who are essential to follow. Other sources feature interviews with film makers, film analysis, writing challenges and a plethora of other creative diversions. I gave her the "essentials" to follow and while I was doing that, she was instantly looking them up and following. Don't you know it wouldn't take but about half an hour before she was into a great conversation on films with one of those "phenomenal resources!"
She was super excited, I was and so was the phenomenal resource! Following this tweet chat, there are two films *I* need to look up and watch! One of the last tweets late that night was from "phenomenal resource" was "I wish I had a Colleen helping me when I was getting started!" and while I was so very grateful for the acknowledgement I thought.....shouldn't everyone have someone, or many someones helping them? Yes, yes! I'm very lucky that I do have great support and encouragement, as well as places to stretch myself as a writer as I try to navigate through this Screenwriting Galaxy; yes it's an alien world and as one of our favorites to follow has put it...:it takes a bunch of lunatics to try and do this." I'm already quite comfortable with being a little different, sometimes bold or perhaps crazy, just not clinically. I had to be. I went into Tax.
So, my message is this: if your not already doing so....take some time and dedicate it to helping someone. Carve out a manageable bit of time and you will see just how much it means to someone who is eager to learn. Guess what? You'll also feel pretty happy. None of us can give away the keys to the Kingdom, nor should we, I suppose. No one is quite sure exactly who has them, truth be told! We must each do our own work yet that does not mean we ought not help one another along while on various stages of our own journey. I do believe in karma and I think that if one takes without giving back, at some point, the well will run dry and there won't be help when one needs it. It's also just a NICE thing to do. Try to be giving, no matter what one is trying to do in life. Give it a try.
Post Script: Project Greenlight is BACK! Now, I know what it's all about and it feels nice.
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