Comments on: You’ve Got to Be Shitting Me http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/ Hollywood Ending or Bust Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:48:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Katharine http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-46 Katharine Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:58:43 +0000 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-46 Maybe he's really busy and not a good writer. You know better than anyone what your strengths are and should illuminate those. What some could interpret as shady could really be interpreted as "I'd love to help you but I'm too busy to do too much...Here's what I can do..." Maye in your mind you wished that he would write you a letter and it would say exactly what you wanted it to say. So in an indirect but much more efficient way, your wish was granted. Maybe he’s really busy and not a good writer. You know better than anyone what your strengths are and should illuminate those. What some could interpret as shady could really be interpreted as “I’d love to help you but I’m too busy to do too much…Here’s what I can do…”
Maye in your mind you wished that he would write you a letter and it would say exactly what you wanted it to say. So in an indirect but much more efficient way, your wish was granted.

]]> By: Shukmeister http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-41 Shukmeister Wed, 12 Sep 2007 03:11:11 +0000 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-41 Thunderous applause to fantasyscribbler for his precise points. As to sacrificing moral fiber? I don't see it. You earned this person's regard, a rare thing in this business, and he/she/it believes in you enough to put his/her/its signature on that recommendation. Take it as the compliment it is! And of course, when you are rich and famous and livin' in the Hills, don't forget your underling friends and general hangers-on... Thunderous applause to fantasyscribbler for his precise points.

As to sacrificing moral fiber? I don’t see it. You earned this person’s regard, a rare thing in this business, and he/she/it believes in you enough to put his/her/its signature on that recommendation. Take it as the compliment it is!

And of course, when you are rich and famous and livin’ in the Hills, don’t forget your underling friends and general hangers-on…

]]> By: Jeannette http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-35 Jeannette Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:20:06 +0000 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-35 Dearness, you are a person of great perfection and integrity. Don't let this less than perfect circumstance get in the way of getting you where you want to be. Consider this a very small sacrifice to your moral fiber. Doing this will put you in a position to influence and change the world -- its perspectives, opinions and behaviors -- for the better... maybe even this guy. : ) Dearness, you are a person of great perfection and integrity. Don’t let this less than perfect circumstance get in the way of getting you where you want to be. Consider this a very small sacrifice to your moral fiber. Doing this will put you in a position to influence and change the world — its perspectives, opinions and behaviors — for the better… maybe even this guy. : )

]]> By: David Bishop http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-34 David Bishop Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:12:19 +0000 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-34 Don't be daft. Write the kick-ass letter, Mr Naive! Hell, a great comics artist I know was going to work for an American computer games company and needed a letter of recommendation to help secure his green card. I wrote a draft and the lawyers handling his immigration application had me write three new drafts to meet their requirements. Not sure that was relevant, but it does demonstrate how cutthroat you need to be to get what you want sometimes... Don’t be daft. Write the kick-ass letter, Mr Naive! Hell, a great comics artist I know was going to work for an American computer games company and needed a letter of recommendation to help secure his green card. I wrote a draft and the lawyers handling his immigration application had me write three new drafts to meet their requirements. Not sure that was relevant, but it does demonstrate how cutthroat you need to be to get what you want sometimes…

]]> By: Traveling Matt http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-33 Traveling Matt Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:04:31 +0000 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-33 Hmmm... I guess the point is that it seemed so impersonal for a personal recommendation--plus that <em>I</em> would have to write this thing talking about how great I am, which is just <em>weird</em>. Obviously I'm self-absorbed enough to have designed this elaborate blog and started writing in it, but I don't go around in public places wearing a disguise, starting rumors about how <em>great</em> that Matt guy is... Hmmm… I guess the point is that it seemed so impersonal for a personal recommendation–plus that I would have to write this thing talking about how great I am, which is just weird. Obviously I’m self-absorbed enough to have designed this elaborate blog and started writing in it, but I don’t go around in public places wearing a disguise, starting rumors about how great that Matt guy is…

]]> By: fantasyscribbler http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-32 fantasyscribbler Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:29:21 +0000 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-32 I posted 'none of the above' because I wanted to qualify my answer. 1. This guy is probably very busy so it'd take him time he can't spare to write the cover letter to help you. 2. He trusts you enough to write a good one that will represent him well. 3. You are already 'one of them.' Otherwise he wouldn't have offered. In your place, here is my recommendation. I would write the letter. I would give it to him and trust him to look over it and change things if they're a bit too over the top. I'd tell him just that -- "hey feel free to change it..." or somesuch. I would get your damn money and write your damn screenplay and make it the absolute best thing you've put together. I would not feel guilty for receiving help. If the opportunity comes to help others whom you feel are talented rack up reciprocal Karma by helping them as well. It feels fucked up because you're receiving privileged assistance. A golden carpet. But don't you think you've earned it? If you don't, why not? I posted ‘none of the above’ because I wanted to qualify my answer.

1. This guy is probably very busy so it’d take him time he can’t spare to write the cover letter to help you.

2. He trusts you enough to write a good one that will represent him well.

3. You are already ‘one of them.’ Otherwise he wouldn’t have offered.

In your place, here is my recommendation.

I would write the letter. I would give it to him and trust him to look over it and change things if they’re a bit too over the top. I’d tell him just that — “hey feel free to change it…” or somesuch. I would get your damn money and write your damn screenplay and make it the absolute best thing you’ve put together. I would not feel guilty for receiving help.

If the opportunity comes to help others whom you feel are talented rack up reciprocal Karma by helping them as well.

It feels fucked up because you’re receiving privileged assistance. A golden carpet. But don’t you think you’ve earned it? If you don’t, why not?

]]> By: Angela http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-31 Angela Thu, 06 Sep 2007 02:28:25 +0000 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-31 You know you're good. Everyone else knows you're good. Write the effin letter and do your thing, silly. You know you’re good. Everyone else knows you’re good. Write the effin letter and do your thing, silly.

]]> By: Traveling Matt http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-30 Traveling Matt Thu, 06 Sep 2007 02:12:15 +0000 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-30 I swear to Science I was <strong>not</strong> fishing for compliments, Sandra. :* I swear to Science I was not fishing for compliments, Sandra. :*

]]> By: Sandra http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-29 Sandra Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:54:18 +0000 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-29 By "what you are meant to do", I meant filmmaking, by the way, not writing the letter... By “what you are meant to do”, I meant filmmaking, by the way, not writing the letter…

]]> By: Sandra http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-28 Sandra Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:52:33 +0000 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/09/05/youve-got-to-be-shitting-me/#comment-28 I know it would probably be better of me to say "get out of the business" or "send an outline", but here's the deal- I've seen Moving and Scattering Ashes. You are brilliant. This is what you are meant to do. I know it would probably be better of me to say “get out of the business” or “send an outline”, but here’s the deal- I’ve seen Moving and Scattering Ashes. You are brilliant. This is what you are meant to do.

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