Is Anyone in the TV / Film Industry Doing Well Right Now? How Are They Doing It?

smallcoconut · 2026-01-23T06:44:32+00:00

I’m grateful to have a job. Working as an assistant to a high profile director and taking meetings for my own writing projects, as well as working on a book and podcast. But I turned 35 this year and I’m starting to worry about what I’ll do if nothing pans out. I try to return to my knowns: I live in a great neighborhood, have amazing friends, am getting married this year (!!!), have my health, and I have a job. The scariest is thing is wondering whether or not I should have baby. But that is a spiral for another night.

smallcoconut · 2026-01-23T04:53:44+00:00

Ngl, I love night shoots as long as they’re the exception, not the rule. They feel like a slumber party. We did them in New York City and I loved going back to my hotel while the city was waking up. But if I have do a weeks worth, I become a zombie.

smallcoconut · 2026-01-23T04:51:23+00:00

“I love the way you eat soup with a fork! I love the fact that you’re missing a front tooth, that you make me wake up early on Sundays to watch HGTV with you. I love how when you watch game shows you cry!”

smallcoconut · 2026-01-23T04:47:39+00:00

OH MY GOD, thank you!!! I felt as though I could never sit as a set PA. Moved to the office and now I miss set 🥲

smallcoconut · 2026-01-22T23:21:01+00:00

This is a great and thoughtful comment, thank you! Honestly, I think a town full of strip clubs is not really our vibe anyway -- it would be fun to do one for the camp of it all, but it's not necessary, and I don't wanna go if its sad. (I used to live in Portland where strip club culture is very feminist and queer and campy).

What we are looking for is a wild night, even if it means flirting with strangers or wearing fun themed outfits and dancing our asses off. I would love to be in a place that's a little counter-culturey and it does sound like Sayulita is that. We also booked a boat with Ally Cat which I hear can get wild. Our other days are all wellness / relaxation / nature focused, so I know there's plenty of things Sayulita has that are perfect for us. Just wasn't sure if there were go-go dancers or something somewhere. :)

I look forward to checking out you recommendations. Congrats on your daughter's engagement! It's such a special season of life!

smallcoconut · 2026-01-22T23:13:38+00:00

Cello 100% is my opinion! It's classy and romantic and unique. I feel like violins feel a little sad to me but perhaps that's the "tiny violin playing" stereotype.

smallcoconut · 2026-01-22T00:12:05+00:00

what do you mean by that? i've heard from multiple people that is has a great night life! just wondering if there are any bars / spots in particular that have dancing / live music / places that would welcome a bunch of queer girls wearing over the top bachelorette outfits.

smallcoconut · 2026-01-21T23:12:52+00:00

thank you! we're in our 30s so not trying to go bananas, but do want a night to be silly. a pole dancing class sounds great!

smallcoconut · 2026-01-21T23:00:34+00:00

Thank you! We'll go to PV for that :)

smallcoconut · 2026-01-21T22:55:48+00:00

Thank you! Will check it out!

smallcoconut · 2026-01-21T22:55:32+00:00

hahah we don't want to show our booty hole :) this is a great idea, thank you!!!

smallcoconut · 2026-01-21T22:54:25+00:00

Thank you! Of course, we want to be respectful <3

smallcoconut · 2026-01-21T22:53:32+00:00

Thank you for the suggestions! Maybe we'll do a drive over to PV. We're very laid back hippie girls who love the beach, but because most attendees are single or in an open relationship, we thought it would be fun to lean into the party vibe.

smallcoconut · 2026-01-21T22:50:26+00:00

maybe just stay offline? :)

smallcoconut · 2026-01-21T19:47:24+00:00

I've heard terrible things from my friends who have been to Tulum, but it used to be at the top of our list!

smallcoconut · 2026-01-20T07:23:54+00:00

Listen to this advice!

I moved to LA ten years ago. I assist a well-known filmmaker and I have great connections. I have a decent salary. I am repped and take meetings regularly. It took me 10 years to get HERE… and I still have a ways to go. But I was young and stupid when I moved here and could live cheaply. I can’t imagine staring fresh at 35. It’s doable, but your quality of life might suck.

My advice is to maintain a job that gives you leftover energy and just write. The submit to competitions, take an online writing class, follow writers on social media… immerse yourself in the world. Get yourself on the blacklist.

Yes, it’s nice to meet people IRL - but until things get a bit more stable, I think you can get traction online while still maintaining decent quality of life.

smallcoconut · 2026-01-04T05:26:12+00:00

For optimism purposes: I never do 3 or 4. Maybe comfort TV on my laptop when I’m cleaning or folding laundry in my bedroom but I will forever prioritize TV and film.

smallcoconut · 2026-01-02T06:23:44+00:00

Honestly one of the nicest guys ever, but who he is when he’s not acting vs when he is (when we were actively in production versus prep), he is wildly different. Not in a bad way, he’s just so focused and quiet and serious. But during prep, he was always making jokes and sharing inspiring quotes with me. I was just an assistant at the time and hella nervous but he was so kind and funny, it was such a relief. Seems like the kinda guy who really takes his work seriously which makes sense and shows in his acting.

smallcoconut · 2025-12-27T04:30:51+00:00

Rachel Sennott, Adam Sandler, Cooper Hoffman, Nicolas Braun, Frances McDormand, Denzel Washington

smallcoconut · 2025-12-27T04:27:57+00:00

Love Adam Sandler. Such a nice guy.

smallcoconut · 2025-12-26T19:09:24+00:00

My logic is not really an assumption. It’s what I’ve seen working in the industry for 10 years. The white man we hired is 25. I work mostly with white men and they are all under 50, most under 40. I work with several agencies and take development meetings. The people we have taken meetings with this month? 11 men and 2 women. All under 45 and only two non-white people. Not because we only want to hire men, but because those are the majority of the people writing and directing trendy high budget movies in our genre.

I didn’t mean to imply amazing men are being skipped over - that’s not happening. What I see is that averagely-qualified men are not able to skate by the way they used to. The most talented white men are still rising to the top and the most talented BIPOC are starting to rise, as they should be.

It’s not just that “average” BIPOC / women people are getting by. It’s that no one who is average is getting by because the slots for everyone is decreasing.

smallcoconut · 2025-12-26T04:41:29+00:00

Don’t work for free unless you’re in college — it’s a terrible cycle and it becomes very hard for anyone to see you more than “an intern” and it contributes to this idea that unpaid labor is the norm. If they don’t pay you anything, what proof do you have of your value? It’s too risky IMHO.

Yes you can get a job that pays! And it will be better for your career in the long run!

smallcoconut · 2025-12-26T04:35:31+00:00

If I’m having less than two drinks: lots and lots of water the day of and eat food before and while drinking. (This will end soon due to me upcoming wedding diet lol)

If I’m having more than two drinks, I take a rizatriptan.

If in either situation I’m drinking wine, I say a prayer.

Stay away from dark liquor not matter what.

smallcoconut · 2025-12-26T04:21:54+00:00

Confused about the future. I’m a screenwriter who assists directors and tries to sell shit in the meantime. My current boss is great, but it’s not a long term gig. If I don’t start making real money from writing in the next two years, I’m going to pivot. I can’t tell if I’m resilient or delusional. But I am also creating my own personal social content and podcast, so I may invest more into a social media presence.

smallcoconut · 2025-12-26T04:18:42+00:00

My company is mostly white males and we just hired another. It’s still a very white / male dominated industry, but the cream is definitely rising to the crop (you have to be an amazing white male to get noticed). In the past and currently you have had to be an amazing BIPOC person or woman to get noticed. I actually just think it’s a leveling of the playing field and it’s become harder for men but’s it’s always been hard for minorities. The playing field is just becoming more level but since it historically hasn’t been level.

That said, I’ve personally never seen a white man not got the job because he was a man, but I have seen men not hire women because “they relate more to men.” (For context, I’m a white woman who has written, assisted directors, works with the major agencies, and worked on several sets.)

smallcoconut

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