
If you’re not in or aspiring to the entertainment industry the title of this blog might immediately elicit visions of air shows or the testing of new airplanes but for many hopefuls it is “green light” season. The time when the television networks and independent production companies fund new shows in hopes that they will have a “winner” for the coming season.
The very interesting thing about pilot shows is that they rarely make it to air. Often the pilot cast doesn’t make it to the series as series’ regulars or even recurring roles. It is a general misconception that the pilot is the first show of the season. Generally the pilot is used to help the studios have a more visual and concrete sense of the pitch and that can make everyone pretty expendable. By the time a show is finally green lighted for the season the creative team may have done a complete overhaul. However, that doesn’t diminish the excitement of pilot season for new faces. In fact, often it’s the “new face” that has the eventual success.
This is the time of the year that managers, agents and casting directors are looking for any young actors that fit the breakdowns. I get calls constantly for referrals. We tend to be pretty protective of our young artists knowing how easy it is for them to be used by unscrupulous individuals out to achieve their own agendas.
Every year during pilot season we receive calls from students who have been in our workshops telling us that they are in Hollywood and need advice on where to go for coaching, how to get signed with an agent, how to wait out the waiting, etc., etc. Quite a few go on their own for several months with their parents to see if they can “make it.” Others have been enticed out to Los Angeles because they participated in a weekend workshop that talked about the fame that can come or they have a local agent that suggests they might get cast. Families are separated for a couple of months while the kids go the through the process. They are often home schooled or sign up with a studio teacher. It’s all a big gamble and there is a better approach.
Earlier this season we decided to find out how many of our students were thinking about throwing their hat in the pilot season ring. We thought there would be about 10 or 12 and that we could get them connected with the right people so that no one took advantage of them. We offered them an opportunity to receive coaching from a well-established acting coach who could get them prepared for any auditions. Did we ever underestimate the response. An e-mail was sent announcing what we were offering and within five minutes the response overwhelmed us!
I personally took calls as our phones lit up all over the office and e-mails poured in. It was a quick and decisive learning curve. We confirmed that we have an important role to play in facilitating the next generation – this generation- of artists. We also confirmed the fact that it isn’t enough to teach the craft, it is imperative to teach the business of the craft in order to protect and benefit our artists. We’re in the process now of planning some very exciting things that we think will be very helpful to promoting the growth of today’s artists.

Film festivals abound these days. It wasn’t too long ago that
I’m usually a first weekend movie-goer. That comes from spending my life around the “business” and knowing the importance of the first weekend box office receipts. To be truthful, it probably really comes from hearing dinner table talk as a child. My father was a television executive in the early days of television and his company
Students across the country took SATs last Saturday and there are
I believe to the bottom of my toes that the arts are the soul of man’s humanity. I believe that art, whether it’s the performing arts, digital media, or visual arts, has the ability to change the world. I’ve written blogs about this before but every time I see or hear something that reinforces that belief I want to celebrate it!