How Do Women Break Through The Glass Ceiling In Hollywood Today?
How Do You Achieve Your Goals and Dreams?"
What if no one out there told you that "you can't"?
What if you started out having never heard that there is a difference between men and women in the work place?
What if you truly believed that your brainpower and determination was the only necessary factor as a consideration for whether or not you had what it takes to make it?
What if each and every morning when you arose from a night time of dreaming about how you were going to score, you devoted every ounce of focus and desire towards one singular goal?
If all of the above is possible, and it really is, then women...you are heads and shoulders ahead of most everyone out there. I mean men and women. People are not willing to sacrifice. Those of us who are willing to zone in, never really consider what we do as making a sacrifice. We're moving towards our goal. Focus, focus, focus. There aren't any womanly restrictions. If you can do it in your mind's eye, then you're ready for success.
How badly DO you want it?
Can you taste it? If you can, then never forget what it tastes like. Nothing breeds success like success.
"What It Takes to Succeed: How Do Women Break Through The Glass Ceiling In Hollywood Today? How Do You Achieve Your Goals & Dreams?"
MY BOTTOM LINE (If you are an actor):
1. Be comfortable with yourself/your natural essence.
Awareness of your gifts/strengths.
(If you are an actress, then this is discovered via study workout
scene study/improv.)
2. Create a branding or "Signature" based on the truth about
yourself you've discovered. Then market yourself:
tell the world all about it!
3. Ability to translate your "truth" to commercial & theatrical copy.
(Modify attitudes within the confines of who you are - modify, don't
change).
4. Choose a distinctive "attitude" shading or interp per take.
5. Have a sense of humor.
6. Allow yourself personal permission to adlib and improvise.
7. Be flexible.
8. Luck/Timing.
9. Commitment.
10. Walk the walk: whatever it takes attitude and follow through.
What it all boils down to is: HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT IT? - are you willing to do what it takes (the study, practicing your craft, marketing, internal fortitude and overall life balance) with a "whatever it takes" attitude - putting your career goals before all others?
I don't know from "glass ceiling" or real "discrimination towards women" from my own career perspective.
My best mentor was a female: my mother. She was my example and inspiration for hard work, diligence and commitment.
Many of my other mentors were male: from professors, to employers. The image of myself I saw through their eyes inspired my own self-confidence. Sometimes men give women more of a break then women do!
The main "penalty" I see for young women in Hollywood, especially for actresses, is the penalty of youth, not the penalty of gender --- undeveloped sense of self, lack of courage of convictions, and under-exercised acting skills. All of these lead to low self esteem, the main ingredient in the recipe for failure.
The penalty I see for older women (actresses) is fewer roles for over 50 sounding women - but they now have the experience, wisdom, confidence, clarity in who they are, the courage to be it proudly - - and the common sense to know that being who they really are...is the best they have to offer.
GENERALLY speaking - there are more roles for women in voice over than ever before -- even in "non-traditional" roles ie. Endorsement of cars, business, finance, etc. Women "rule" with department store retail ie. Sears, JC Penney, Robinson's May, Kmart, etc.) And of course, following tradition, any "mom" or "kid" or "household" products require that "expert" female point of view.
I personally think if you go looking for a glass ceiling you will encounter a self-fulfilling prophecy. I actually have NO PATIENCE for people who show up with a reason to fail. I don't want to know you!
My personal pet peeve with women:
Thinking they have to "conform to something that's expected of them" by default "assuming the position" of:
Sexy
Sweet
Helpful
Phooooooooeeeyy!!
Women need to understand they are entitled to a point of view and THAT's what their audience craves from ANY gender in life -- a genuine, authentic, personal point of view!!
Have courage.