I believe this article serves not only for people pursuing success in Hollywood, but in Life! Therefore, I would like to share it here:
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10 Rules for Succeeding In Hollywood
1. When you come to
Hollywood you have to think, "what am I going to give," not "what am I
going to get." Most people come to LA to "get" things. They want
something. Hollywood will not respond to you unless you are ready to
give something. That needy energy of wanting to get, can be seen in an
instant by the people in this industry. The more you are willing to
give, the more excited and interested people will be in you.
2.
Hollywood runs on energy. If you don't have a great positive energy that
is radiating out of your body, you will likely be unemployed because
positive energy is the Hollywood currency.
3. Authenticity: Be courageous enough to be yourself. Which is not an
easy thing because many people will tell you that who you are, is not
enough. All the great stars are authentic. Leonardo Di Caprio told me,
that he didn't become successful "until he was willing to be his true
self."
4. You don't attract the people you want, you attract who
you are. So, if you're a superficial person then you're going to meet a
lot of superficial people. If you have negative friends, well that's
because you're negative. Like attracts like. I am aware that there is a
different side of Hollywood as well -- a dark side. If you encounter
these kinds of people then ask yourself, why you are meeting people like
that? See what changes you need to make in yourself to attract the
people you want.
5. Be
proactive, not
reactive.
Hollywood admires people who don't sit around and complain or blame
anyone. Make your own opportunities, create your own projects. The
business has changed, now you can make your own film easily with current
technology and you have so many outlets to have your work seen. Being
an actor now is better then ever!
6. Gratitude. One of the things
that Hollywood likes very much is gratitude. I find that most of the
people on top are kind and humble. They tell me that they feel fortunate
and grateful to be in this business. Some realize that it is not just
about being a "movie star," but how they can use their fame to help
benefit the world.
7. Inspire people with your humanity and your
ideas so that they will want to work with you. Learn to build bridges.
Remember everyone wants to be involved in a project that has meaning.
8.
Become the person you have never been. To achieve something you have
never achieved, you will have to learn to become the person you have
never been. You will have to give up any negative ideas, behavior or
friends that are holding you back. When you act differently the result
will be different.
9. Ask for help. You can't do anything alone.
All stars ask for help. You will need help from a strong artistic
community or a mentor. Everything I have learned I learnt from someone
kind enough to share their information with me. Nothing can be done
alone. To achieve anything great here, you have to have a lot of
collaborators. You couldn't make a film on your own. In fact, the only
thing you can do alone is fail.
10. Why do you want this? Your
dreams must be more meaningful then your fears. Only then will you be
unstoppable. Don't have a plan B and then your plan A will have to
succeed.
The way you make it in Hollywood is that you to have a strong why,
enormous energy, openness, gratitude, a meaningful dream -- full of
passion and a feeling of wanting to give. Ask for help and know that a
lot of work and training will need to be done. Because... "The express
elevator to success is broken, so you will have to take the stairs."
Follow Bernard Hiller on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/berniehiller