Archive for the ‘Full Disclosure’ tag
SHELL BREAKING
On route to the Sting concert I began scanning the news feed on Facebook, the following headline caught my attention:
The Contest — NOT a promotion on my video this time.
I clicked on it to read further and it led me to this blog
http://kearyespeer.wordpress.com/
FULL DISCLOSURE: I DON’T PERSONALLY KNOW THE BLOGGER. I HAVE NOT WATCHED ANY CONTEST PITCH VIDEOS AND WILL NOT UNTIL THE DESIGNATED TIME AND UNDER THE SPECIFIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE BOSI CONTEST.
For clarity, there are a numerous reasons as to why we specifically chose to to utilize social media as an important and necessary tool for this contest. To inspire you to step outside your comfort zone was definitively one of them.
Chet Holmes, considered America’s #1 Sales and Marketing Executive, believes that the best version of ourselves lies just outside our comfort zone.
Now whether Keary wins the BOSI contest or not in not relevant because she’s already won something much more valuable and, in my humble opinion, profound. For as Bertrand Russell so eloquently said, “To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.”
I enjoyed the post so much that I was compelled to share it here with you. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen meet Keary Speer.
This blog may come off as rather negative, but if I can’t vent on my own blog then what good is it?
Since I finished this screenplay, I decided to hit it hard. I have been taking every opportunity thrown at me because I don’t want to wonder down the road, “If I would have just done one more thing, would that have been the difference?” So, when the people at PAGE offer me a free webinar, I take it! When then webinar offers me a free contest with an amazing opportunity, it’s on!
I almost got stopped dead in my tracks when I find out down the line about the youtube part of it all. I figured making a video wouldn’t be hard no matter how terrifying it seems to me. After all, the people seeing it I would never run into in my life, and if I did then it is because the liked it. So finding out that I had to let everyone I know see it and vote on it almost made me say, “nevermind!” I thought about it only for a short time before coming to the realization that I have always told myself I would do anything I needed to for this screenplay and effing jitters are not going to get the best of me.
Making the video was really hard. I cannot tell you how many times I recorded it, watched it, went to the bathroom to fix my hair, came back, recorded it, tried not to look out the window, re-recorded it, ran out of space in my memory card, re-recorded it, and SO ON!
I don’t think I have ever felt worse about myself. The first chance I had to get a hair cut, I took. The first chance I get to go get my hair dyed, I’m taking! I even thought, ”Man, I need to work on my voice!”
Every single thing I did wrong, I realize I did! I know I am saying “Uuum” and rolling my eyes and looking out my window. Nobody knows this better than me. I know people are telling me these things as “constructive criticism” so I don’t blame them, but it makes it so much harder! I keep thinking that it will be fine because if I were to get picked, I have been working on it a lot.
Here is the real thing. I have 219 Facebook friends and 55 likes. I can count on one hand how many people have reposted my link, and three of those fingers have done it more than once. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to those 5 (maybe 6) people who have supported me. If I get this, those people are getting flowers!
It doesn’t really stop there with the “woe is me” bit. The dislikes are starting to add up. I kept thinking it was the other people in the contest that were disliking everyone elses videos! Which, you know, I understand but could never do myself. Now, I have way more dislikes than there are people in the contest. I am starting to question all sorts of things. Am I annoying people with how much I post? Do I have that many friends on Facebook who are vicious like that, or think its funny, or really just don’t want me to win? I know I should NOT being thinking these things, and most definitely shouldn’t be writing them but its hard not to. I don’t want people to think I forgot about the people who have liked it because I haven’t and I really do appreciate it. It seems like everyone is the same when it comes to this stuff. It is easy to dwell on the negative! I am hoping getting it off my chest will help!
The thing is, I know I am coming off as a narcissist and people are thinking its enough already! But the truth is, every single time I post, I am embarrassed. I don’t want people seeing me really, or hearing that voice, or thinking of me as one of those self-righteous so-called writers who would sit in Starbucks with their laptop so people can see them writing something in hopes that people will think “ohh a writer!”
As long as I am doing it though, I will keep promoting it, facing my fears and learning about what is to come. I am sure this is not even close to the end of shell breaking and you know, I really hope that’s true.
A Necessary Skill for Screenwriters
“According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” –Jerry Seinfeld
In my experience the most successful screenwriters are also the most effective communicators. They have the uncanny ability to connect with people and powerfully present their ideas. They are eloquent and masterful at diluting a two hour screenplay into a compelling short pitch. They command the attention of a room full of executives and producers with ease and, more importantly, evoke confidence.
LISTEN: Some screenwriters are born with the “gift of gab.” They are natural storytellers, but the truth is… most are simply not. Believe me, I’ve attended enough screenwriter seminars, pitch fests, and conferences to make that claim with utter certainty. Most aspiring screenwriters are nervous, ineffective communicators who often get lost in their own story as they present it.
Fortunately for YOU, public speaking is a learnable skill.
There are numerous programs, classes, and organizations that afford you the privilege to hone this necessary skill. I will focus your attention to a specific organization here.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I am a distinguished member of the organization that is referenced below. Therefore, I STRONGLY encourage you to examine, explore, and investigate all opportunities available for yourself.
From a humble beginning in 1924 at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, Toastmasters International (www.toastmasters.org) has grown to become a world leader in helping people become more competent and comfortable in front of an audience. The nonprofit organization now has nearly 250,000 members in more than 12,500 clubs in 106 countries, offering a proven — and enjoyable — way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills.
Most Toastmasters meetings are comprised of approximately 20 people who meet weekly for an hour or two. Participants practice and learn skills by filling a meeting role, ranging from giving a prepared speech or an impromptu one to serving as timer, evaluator or grammarian.
There is no instructor; instead, each speech and meeting is critiqued by a member in a positive manner, focusing on what was done right and what could be improved.
Here’s the site once more: (www.toastmasters.org)
As further evidence that this is an invaluable skill to nurture and a powerful organization to consider, the WGA and SAG offices in Los Angeles have their own chapters.
Regardless of whether you choose to become a Toastmaster or not, identify an entity that will shape this potent skill. It’s an aspect of your screenwriting business that you simply cannot disregard.
You need every advantage in the extremely competitive business of screenwriting.
I leave you to consider the following:
Warren Buffet, ranked by Forbes as the second richest man in the United States in 2009, addressing Columbia MBA students said the following on the subject of public speaking, “If you can communicate well, you have an enormous advantage. Force yourself into situations where you have to develop those abilities.”
