Editor's note: The following bio was written by me, not by Emily, and therefore contains glowing excerpts from a letter of recommendation I wrote for her in 2008.
Emily Anthon is not only a person who sparkles, bringing happiness to those around her, she has tremendous initiative. In her early 20s, she picked up and moved from California to New York City. Despite a limited college education, because of her sheer effort (and a great dream team), she has graduated from being a nanny to a fairly significant support role at Disney and with Governor Romney's presidential campaign. Many people at Emily's age are more credentialed, but given her trajectory, she will have surpassed many, if not most, within another 10 years. This woman is a winner.
After you read Emily's post, please leave a comment, and share your thoughts, ideas and 'atta girls'!
***
Do you remember during the opening credit to Pretty Woman where some guy on the streets is talking to anyone who will listen?
Welcome to Hollywood!
Everybody comes to Hollywood's got a dream!
What's your dream?
My current dream started a few years ago when I wasn't happy at what some would call a dream job, but it just doesn't working for me. Because I love movies so much, my roommate suggested that I move to L.A. and get paid to work in the entertainment industry.
Realizing she was right, this was what I wanted, I few months later I moved from NYC to LA and eventually landed jobs across three major motion picture studios, Warner Bros, Dreamworks and Disney. A few years later I temporarily left LA for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work on a presidential campaign, knowing that I would eventually come back -- and again become involved in the movies.
In January 2009, I moved back to L.A. I felt I had already had my 'break', had a resume that rocked, and I had contact within the industry. I just knew getting a job in my industry wouldn't be hard. They don't just post these jobs on Monster; you have to know where to look. But just to be sure I also made a small list of 10 companies that I would want to work for, a list that included production companies I had worked on the studio side for, or others whose products I was passionate about. I did a specialized cover letter, explaining why I wanted to work for each of the 10 employers detailing why I wanted to work for them, and sent my resume 'old school' -- through the mail.
From some I received the form letter thanking me for my interest. From another, a postcard with a box checked saying they had nothing available. From the rest I heard nothing.
I know the economy is tough, studios are laying off employees, not hiring. I apply wherever I can. If I see something I'm qualified for, even if over-qualified, I send in my resume.
But I have been undeterred -- I love movies, and by being in L.A. I can find ways to be 'involved' in the industry even if I'm not yet getting paid
There are advance screenings that I go to, I participate in focus groups about trailers, upcoming films, unfinished projects -- you name it -- and I've made business cards that promote me and my skills and have given them out when I make contact with someone who might be of help professionally.
I've called old bosses, old co-workers, responded to ads on Craig's list (click here for some of the odder ones) registered with every temp agency that feeds the studio pools. Minus the temp agency informational, I had seven interviews one week. I've interviewed to be the personal assistant to a Japanese rock star, event coordinator for a small amusement park, and executive assistant for a sound design company, but never felt the right fit.
I've made time to seek out music in the Hollywood club scene. Perhaps an odd way to achieve my dream, but here I've been able to make contacts that may help me out down the road. In this town, it's all about who you know. In discovering some of these new artists and bands, I came across lyrics to a song by the late Spencer Bell. They capture how I feel:
Louis thought the world was his to see
But it didn't matter cause California's where he needed to be.
It's been nearly six months, and about a month ago, I found a temp job working for Netflix. It's a job that allows me to be in L.A., includes perks like access to lots of DVDs, affords flexibility to interview when I want, and pay my bills.
Source: istockphoto
And while I still haven't found the right job -- and at times my dream seems out of reach -- but I've suited up, shown up -- to Hollywood.
Cause California is where I need to be.
***
Is it possible that if we will observe what we are 'suiting up' for on a daily basis, we'll have a better idea of what our dream is?
Jane Clayson tells a story similar to Emily's about suiting up. The week she arrived in L.A. to work for ABC, they closed the cable news division down. There was Nothing for her to do. For months she showed up anyway. Eventually her break came in the form of the O.J. Simpson trial.
Any suggestions or ideas for Emily?
For those of you that You may want to re-read Throw down your Pom-Poms and The Hazards of Getting in the Game.
After you leave a comment here and become eligible for the $75 spa gift certificate (congrats to Ilene Ellsworth, Maria Carr and Lisle Hendrickson, the previous winners), click through to Emily's blog.
emily i absolutely love this.
i had a favorite professor in university who taught social pschology. he liked to give us advice on life and use statistics to back himself up. i don't remember everything he said but one of his axioms that sticks out in my mind is:
"show up and good things happen."
he'd tell us, if you want to meet someone, you want a job, you want to run for office....the probablility of any of those things happening skyrockets when you just show up.
keep showing up for yourself and your dreams. something perfectly suited to your skills and interests will materialize (and be confident knowing that you have statistics on your side!).
i'm rooting for you emily.
Posted by: Mercedes | June 23, 2009 at 02:02 PM
Yes Emily I loved your idea of suiting up and showing up. So many just don't ever show up for their life. You are in the gathering skills and building networks part of your dream. Right now it doesn't seem quite right but over the years you will see the scaffolding that you put in place that allowed you to reach up and out. Good luck. One bit of advice: keep writing. You are very real in a place that doesn't always seem real.
Posted by: Bonnie Tonita Whtie | June 23, 2009 at 04:36 PM
I think you've done wonderfully! Being there is the best way to get noticed. It's the only way to get some of those jobs, and a suited-up person gets waaay more attention than any resume.
You go, girl!
Posted by: Lisle | June 23, 2009 at 06:33 PM
We were actually just talking about this principle today in our faculty meeting. One of the community guidelines we are considering for all classrooms for next year is "to participate fully." Now I've known you since '99, and it's a rare day that you suit up, show up but don't participate fully. It just doesn't happen. If you are there, then you are right in the mix. This is by far one of the most important lessons I've learned from you--it took years of reconstructing my disjointed, disengaged upbringing to learn what it was to participate fully.
Keep on going--I know you'll get there. You know I'm rooting for you :) And one day you need to meet Silvia, Dan's sister, who is pursuing her dream of making films. . .
Posted by: jaime | June 23, 2009 at 06:38 PM
I like you! I applaud your stick-to-it-iveness and bravery. I echo Bonnie's thought: so many people can't even suit up for their own lives. You'll get there! Keep going~ and my best to you.
Posted by: Jenny | June 23, 2009 at 11:39 PM
All we can do somedays is to get up and get dressed and KEEP GOING!
I believe there is a great deal to be gained by just "showing up" and being open for opportunity.
Posted by: Dana King | June 24, 2009 at 01:08 AM
Half the battle is the attitude, and yours is definitely the right one. Good luck!
Posted by: amy jo | June 24, 2009 at 08:55 AM
Oh Emily I am so impressed! Maybe with all the support we all feel towards you, this dream job will materialize sooner than later. There's something about bringing others in to your dream. Like the power of the fans who cheer their team to victory. Keep us posted!
Posted by: Maria Carr | June 24, 2009 at 10:35 PM
I love that I am part of a 'dream team' - how cool is that!!!
If I could decribe Emily in three words it would be: Persistent, creative and caring.
Go get 'em girl!
Posted by: Stacey P | June 25, 2009 at 08:11 AM
no one can say what the path should be for another, and i'm certainly not doing that here. but one thought i had was that sometimes the path we hope and dream about, and think is right, that simply MUST be right, doesn't work out. and it seems terrible, horrible, no good and very bad to us. but in these times, other avenues become available that we'd never dreamed about...and ultimately, things just work out after all. not often how we thought they would. how we dreamed they would. how we thought was best for us. but we learn what we need to learn along the way, have experiences and opportunities we never considered before, and we can find joy in whatever journey we are on.
that said, it's far more likely to "happen" with a plucky, stick-to-it attitude like yours. Way to go!
Posted by: Blue | December 06, 2009 at 08:21 PM