When You're Short On Time, Flip Through Your News

I'm a geek, but even if if you aren't, you will probably be excited by the newest experiment from Google Labs called Fast Flip that allows you browse sequentially through recent news, headlines and popular topics. The interface is really seamless and the site allows you to review articles at a quick pace until you find something that interests you. It's worth taking a minute out of your day to check it out.

Trades Schmades

These days with all the ways you can get entertainment news -- holding the physical trades in your hands to get up on all that's current is becoming passe. The content within the trades might be valuable, but waiting until you get to work to sit there and flip the pages is often a waste of time (especially if you're an assistant, but even if you're an executive) that you just don't have. The best solution to this dilemma is to get the Film News Briefs daily e-mail that consolidates all the info from the trades. I wrote about the site back in March, but they just relaunched with a great new look and new features and I hear even more will be coming in the future. It's invaluable to be able to read all important entertainment news in a quick digest e-mail and be completely informed before you even get to work or within a few minute of arriving. The site's creator, Jess Kantor and her Editor, Neil Turitz are a part of a growing community of people that are creating sites that want to inform, but also help up and coming creative types who haven't totally gotten their big break yet. If you're on Twitter, you might also want to follow Film News Briefs.

If you don't get the e-mail yet, take a minute to subscribe and check out the site, it will be well worth your while and you'll wonder after how you ever lived without it.

An Alcohol Free Martini Shot That Will Make You Laugh

Anyone still hoping for an boozy filled post will be sadly disappointed. A Martini Shot is the name for the last shot of the day on a film set and not some cool new drink at a hotel in Hollywood. That's not the Martini Shot I'm going to talk about today though. The Martini Shot I'm talking about is the show/podcast that writer Rob Long does for KCRW. He has his own very distinct style and manages to instruct without lecturing. I probably should have included him in this piece I did back in April about letting those around you inspire you. He shares bits of wisdom and anecdotes from his years in the business. I often laugh and learn something at the same time. Listening to the pieces doesn't require much of a time commitment, so you certainly have time to check him out on the radio, via Itunes podcast or on his website. Listening to him often inspires me to stop procrastinating and actually do some writing. He's also on Twitter here, if you want to follow him.

Finding The Impossible To Locate Book

I'm always saying that being a personal assistant in Hollywood is like being a magician. Whether the employer tells you or not, the job can often be about making the impossible - possible. This is one of my specialties and it isn't that I have superhero like powers (if I did I would have controlled the mind of an agent and exec and sold a script by now), but mostly it's because I'm extremely persistent. If I can't find one way to make something happen, I try to see how I can turn the task on it's head and find another way to get it done. I'm always happy to have resources at my disposal to help me with challenges. This morning I read about a site called Biblio where you can search for used, rare and out-of-print books from over 5500 independent bookstores around the globe. I will definitely put that into my files for future use. I've had bosses come to me a bunch of times asking for a book that they think should take no effort to get and then I find out it went out of print years ago. The more you can stockpile resources like this, the better shape you will be in when obstacles arise. Try to look at it as a puzzle to solve and it will make your work seem fun instead of boring.

The Making Of A Great Site

A new resource that I'm really loving is the site that Natalie Portman co-founded called Making Of. It features interviews with writers, directors and actors and gives you an unusually candid view of the entertainment business. It's invaluable to listen to people who are doing what you do or want to do and find out how they approach it. If you're lucky, maybe you can pick up a tip or two. Here are a few videos on the site that I really enjoyed:

Natalie & director Jim Sheridan discussing movies in general and their upcoming film Brothers.

Aaron Sorkin discussing writing.

Mark Fergus talking about writing Iron Man.

Jeff Daniels talks about acting.

Share Your Knowledge

I know it seems like if you know how to do certain things well that you should keep that info to yourself, but truthfully that attitude doesn't really help anyone. If you keep the info to yourself - yes maybe in the short term it helps you, but by sharing and interacting with others you are more likely to have success and feel supported. In order to survive in the entertainment business especially you need to have a network or a community who is on your side. That's why being on tracking boards is great and networking with everyone you meet is so important. I spend lots of time writing this blog, so that it's helpful for all of you and answering lots of questions on various boards and I'm not being paid for it. I do it because I like sharing my knowledge and it's helping me to develop new connections that might lead to a new personal assistant gig or a writing gig. Here's a few people who share their expertise and insight for free that you should check out:

John August is a terrific screenwriter (Big Fish, The Nines - which he also directed, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, etc.), but he also has a great website where he shares info, answers questions, does contests and even does fantastic tutorials on things like Better Scene Openings and Writing Better Action. He's a person that could have chosen to just sit back and revel in his success, but instead spends some of his valuable time sharing and helping others who want to do what he does. He actively decided to do the opposite of what most would do and for that he should be applauded. He's also on Twitter if you want to follow him.

Lilit Marcus was once an assistant (now she's mostly a writer - Newsweek, New York Post, Brazen Careerist, etc.) that has a terrific blog called Save The Assistants. She shares all kinds of information about being an assistant, horror stories from her and others that will help you to laugh and release some of your stress, tips on what to do if you get laid off and more. She's another person who could just focus all her energy on her own job situation/writing career and keep all the info to herself, but instead she spends her time helping others be informed and enabling them to laugh at some of their crazy work situations, so that they don't have a breakdown. By the way if you want to follow her, she's also on Twitter.

Ted - I wrote about the Ted Conference here, so if you want more detailed info check that out. In simple terms, Ted is a very expensive conference that happens every year where some of the greatest minds in all fields get together and talk about the problems of the world, technology and just have a great time connecting with each other and sharing information. Chris Anderson (who isn't the original creator of Ted, but now owns it) decided a few years back to feature many of the talks that people give there online. I seriously could not contain my excitement when I found this out. In the older post, I talk about some of my favorites, so check it out or just go to the site to see what appeals to you. Sharing the talks from this ultra exclusive conference is the ultimate act of altruism. It doesn't really benefit Chris to have them free to view online. The conference certainly doesn't need publicity, as it is people fight tooth and nail to pay $4000 or so (I think) to go. I think he just decided it was better for the greater good and decided to share. I'm extremely grateful that's the kind of guy he is and I watch the talks all the time. No matter what field you're in, it's important to be informed and this is an easy way to do it.

So the next time that you don't want to share something you know or that you've just learned, think again about why. All of these people are successful and decided not to cling insecurely to their knowledge, but to share it with everyone.

Bon Voyage

I often get asked for recommendations of all sorts in my work life and outside of it. I think when you are a personal assistant (and until my writing pays the bills that's what I am) you end up being the de facto personal assistant for everyone you know. I don't mind it most of the time because I enjoy sharing info and being helpful. One of the things I get asked for often is travel suggestions. Here's a few things I do to keep myself up-to-date and where I go if I have no info on the place already.

New York Times Travel Section - I always start here because the paper in general does great reporting and if there are any current articles about your destination they are bound to be helpful. It's all totally free and they have a huge backlog of destinations.

I save any best of list about hotels and restaurants into Evernote and constantly look for them online. This 2009 Hotel Gold List from Conde Nast Traveler that is picked by readers is a good one and this 2009 Hotel Hot List from the same mag via a sister site called Concierge is also worth reading. Speaking of that, the Concierge site is another good place that I always check out. I try to keep less paper files these days, but I do buy speciality issues of magazines like CNT that do best of lists.

I will often go to the Fodors and Frommers websites because they have tons of the info from their guides on their sites for free. That being said, if I am doing in depth research for a boss or going on a trip I will always buy at least one book, so that I can go nuts with a highlighter and post-its (speaking of that, this highlighter post-it combo is the best thing ever).

Hipguide - I also like this site that has updates on hotels, restaurants, etc. in variety of cities.

Even though this isn't original I will always check out Daily Candy and save various ones I get via email that pertain to travel and restaurants.

Tasting Table - I'm really liking this site that I got into recently. It has info on bars and restaurants in a few different cities.

This site is good for restaurants in Los Angeles.

Chowhound is always a good resource for restaurants.

I also love the books and online database from Not For Tourists that covers a variety of cities.

Truth be told, this probably isn't all of what I use, but it's a nice little bit to get you started.

Your News in Brief

Film News Briefs rules and I'm not just saying that because they featured my blog today. Obviously, it's a good idea to read the trades, EW , Cinematical and various other entertainment new sources each day to make sure you are aware of what's going on in the town, but often you are too busy to digest it all. The solution is to get the film news briefs email. It's fantastic and it's free. I'm guessing many of you get it already, but if not, go sign up right now. It consolidates all the news from the trades, etc. into one quick and easy to read e-mail and also features a useful site to check out at the end. What could be be better.

Quick Tip & More Later

Hi all. I'm really focusing hard on job search and writing today, but I didn't completely want to ignore the blog, so I have one little tip for you now and I might post again later today. One site worth check out so that you can find trendy new restaurants, hip hotels and good shopping is Hipguide. It's been around for a bit, but I like it. It covers a bunch of big metropolitan cities, so it can be helpful if you're local or even if you aren't. It can also come in handy if your boss is traveling somewhere new for business or pleasure or if you are actually taking a vacation. Check it out to see some of the places it covers.

3 New Bars You Might Not Have Heard About

Do you subscribe to the Tasting Table e-mail? If not, you should. It's like Daily Candy, but for restaurants and bars. Not convinced? Want a taste to whet your appetite? Read the one from today about 3 under the radar bars in LA you might not have heard about yet.

Quick Tip Tuesday

I'm trying to really focus extra hard on the job search and writing today, so this will be short. If you are an assistant in New York or if your boss goes there often this list New York Magazine puts out is a helpful resource about what is good in NYC . One other useful New York resource I like is Not For Tourists. If you like the info on Not For Tourists, check out the other cities they have and also the books they do for various cities. It's a unique guidebook to get because it isn't as much of the typical tourist stuff, but a bit more of what actual New Yorkers like.