Navigating Through Tough Times

For reasons that we all know, the professional landscape is tough right now. So what are the keys to hanging in there and getting through to a better place? Showrunner Katie O’Brien (The Z-Suite, Teachers) offers her advice.

Question: Given how much the industry is contracting, how can I best navigate this period to continue finding work?

The last couple of years have been very difficult. The fires, strikes, and COVID. The industry right now feels like…You know those old radio contests where contestants would put their hands on a new car, and whoever could keep their hand on the longest wins? It sort of feels like that. We’ve all got our hands on a forest green Honda, holding on for dear life, wondering when it will go back to the way it was.

The industry is changing, and right now, everyone is talking about how it’s contracting. Contraction is a very hot word right now. It’s basically the Timothée Chalamet of industry terms. How do we navigate this difficult time and continue to find work? As a Virgo (I don’t identify), I like to focus on what I can control (okay, maybe I do identify!) I have control over two things: my network and the material I generate.

Who do I know? During this time, I find it helpful to reach out to my network of professional contacts, friends, and old co-workers and check in. “Hey! How ya doin’?” That email might feel like an attack right now, so perhaps a simple “I would love to reconnect with you” will suffice. After I’ve blasted off emails to everyone in my contacts list, I work to expand my network. Expansion is the opposite of contraction! (I know, I hate that I typed that, too…)

How do I do this? First, I have to leave my home, which is hard, but I must go. I work to join writers’ groups, attend WGA events, or I’ll ask my reps to set me up with general meetings. As writers, we tend to be more introverted, and the thought of going anywhere or putting on a name tag that says “Hello, my name is Katie” is uncomfortable, but alas, I must get over it.

The second thing I have control over is the material I generate. Now, I don’t mean to shame anyone (really, I’m here to shame myself), but sometimes as a writer I…don’t write. I do, but I can always write more. Sometimes I’ll lazily rely on a sample from three years ago, or I have that logline for a feature, but I don’t know, aren’t features really hard? I need to write. Write. Write. And work to generate new material. Constantly.

Finally, when it comes to navigating this industry during difficult times, I always think of the following anecdote from Chris Rock about his car breaking down: “I’d always end up broken down on the highway. When I stood there trying to flag someone down, nobody stopped. But when I pushed my own car, other drivers would get out and push me. If you want help, help yourself. People like to see that.”

Use this time to help yourself by working to build your network and generate new material.