Category: Opinion

With Great Exposure Comes Great Responsibility

Wil Wheaton has given the world the following post “regarding blocklists, trolls, twitter’s systemic inaction against abuse, and the responsibility of wielding great power,” and we’re bringing it to your attention not because it’s by Wil Wheaton (!!!) but because Mr. W. is as correct as he can possibly be (and so very often is) about something that affects all of us who read, write, or otherwise deport ourselves on these interwebs:

by Wil Wheaton

Jesus what a day.

Apparently, a couple of exceptionally popular YouTube creators were talking on Twitter about being blocked by me. Their fans grabbed their jump to conclusions mats, torches and pitchforks in hand, and went on a rampage through my mentions. read article

Are Horrible Bosses a Hollywood Way of Life?

Sometimes it seems as though the phrase “being employed” automatically means, “Help! I’m being harassed.” Or are we all just snowflakes, melting when we should be standing firm?

Look Out For Horrible Hollywood Bosses
by David Silverman, MA, LMFT

With the whole writing staff watching, waiting to work, our boss would be trying on pants. A tailor was taking his measurements. When he was satisfied, he told the tailor he’d like thirty pair of these pants sent to his home in LA, and thirty pair sent to his summer home.

Thirty pair?  Sixty total? That’s a lot of pants. What was going on? read article

New TV & Film Writers: Don’t Let Yourself Get Scammed!

A few words of warning from The Hollywood Reporter.

Once considered the tail-ender showbiz trade mag in terms of both reporting and readership, THR’s sophisticated and knowledgeable web presence has made it the leader these days, so we’re always glad to see them helping writers this way:

by Stephen Galloway

A few weeks after Manny Fonseca arrived in Los Angeles in the early part of this decade, having left his native Michigan with the hope of becoming a Hollywood writer or executive, the then 30-year-old was at a party when a producer asked if he’d “like to make a hundred bucks.” Sure, he replied. What would he have to do? read article

Bri Castellini: How To Make Your Film With Friends & Keep Them – @brisownworld

by Bri Castellini

Calling in favors is the true currency of indie filmmaking, and often the form of these favors is enlisting friends to be a part of your cast or crew. Perhaps you’re all equals, having gone into the project together to make something you’re all proud of. Perhaps one person created something cool and everyone else swarmed to support. In any case, though, mixing business with friendship and not having any money is bound to get complicated. Here are 6 tips I’ve learned or gleaned from fellow filmmakers on how to work with friends and actually stay friends with them.

1. Decide on a leader

From my How To Not Fight On Set article: read article

Bri Castellini: How To Be A Public Figure Part 2 – @brisownworld

by Bri Castellini

Last week, we covered how to set boundaries between your public and private identity and the politics of replying to positivity. This week, we’ll add three more major tips in navigating the craziness that is being accessible on the internet for your creative works.

Block/mute generously

Sometimes people don’t like having boundaries set, and demand your attention in spite of them. Sometimes people track you down to platforms you’ve previously determined as private. Sometimes the internet is a dark and scary place, especially for women, people of color, and the LGBT+ community. Do not feel bad about blocking hateful or demanding people, or about muting their words. It doesn’t make you weak or thin-skinned, and it doesn’t make you ungrateful. It makes you a person. read article