In the next few days, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan are scheduled to be released from their respective locations (jail and rehab). So what happens now?
As a life coach who works with both celebrities and non-celebrities alike, my recommendation to each of these girls would be this:
1) Go home and get settled
2) Start changing your routine
3) Find a trusted advisor and decide what your next step is
4) Lay low - only making one or two public appearances a week
5) Decide and then commit to start making better decisions
6) Take it one day at a time
If you ever wanted the chance to "start your life over," you have the opportunity to do so right now. It's not often that people get the chance to start fresh, but you have been given this gift. What you now choose to do with it is up to you.
Good luck and Godspeed,
Sharon
Friday, June 22, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Kudos to Barbara Walters and Paris Hilton
Well, it's about time!
After thousands upon thousands of interviews, Barbara Walters has finally earned her place in Hollywood. Yesterday, she was awarded the 2,340 star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (which also happened to be my parents 38th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad ... I love you!).
I also want to congratulate Paris Hilton on surviving 13 days in jail. I know it hasn't been easy on you, or your family, and I know that your jail sentence has caused a huge uproar throughout the entertainment industry. That said, however, you are now accepting responsibility for your choices and facing your jail sentence with more courage than any of those who ridicule you may ever possess in their lifetime. You should be proud of yourself, because you are stronger than you probably ever thought you were and no one can take that away from you. You go, girl!
Congratulations to all of you on a job well done!
Honoring Your Success,
Sharon
After thousands upon thousands of interviews, Barbara Walters has finally earned her place in Hollywood. Yesterday, she was awarded the 2,340 star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (which also happened to be my parents 38th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad ... I love you!).
I also want to congratulate Paris Hilton on surviving 13 days in jail. I know it hasn't been easy on you, or your family, and I know that your jail sentence has caused a huge uproar throughout the entertainment industry. That said, however, you are now accepting responsibility for your choices and facing your jail sentence with more courage than any of those who ridicule you may ever possess in their lifetime. You should be proud of yourself, because you are stronger than you probably ever thought you were and no one can take that away from you. You go, girl!
Congratulations to all of you on a job well done!
Honoring Your Success,
Sharon
Friday, June 8, 2007
Your Acting Career
The first time one of my acting clients told me that she doesn't watch TV, I almost fell out of my chair!
We'd been working together for about 4 months, planning strategies for her career, and I (obviously) made the mistake of assuming that she watched television, especially since she told me that she wanted to land a series regular gig on a particular show on ABC. When she told me that even though she wanted to land a job on "show X," she didn't watch that show on a regular basis, I almost dropped her as a client. All I kept thinking was "How can you not watch it?"
After that conversation, I really had to wonder how much she wanted to be an actor and how dedicated she was to her acting career. Or, was she just talking a good game? It was only at that time when I discovered how many of my other clients were in the same boat.
As The Industry Coach and President of the Actors Resource Center, one of the things I do is work with actors to help them move forward in their careers. My clients have included those just starting out in the business, as well as those on Hollywood's A-List, and the truth of the matter is this: no matter where you are in your career, if you really want to be successful you need to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
If you want to be a television actor, you need to watch television. If you want to do movies, you need to watch movies. And, if you want to do theatre (and every actor should do theatre at some point in their career - it will help them with their craft), then you need to go to the theatre and read plays on a regular basis.
Today is a new day ... What are YOU going to do for your career?
Cheers,
Sharon
We'd been working together for about 4 months, planning strategies for her career, and I (obviously) made the mistake of assuming that she watched television, especially since she told me that she wanted to land a series regular gig on a particular show on ABC. When she told me that even though she wanted to land a job on "show X," she didn't watch that show on a regular basis, I almost dropped her as a client. All I kept thinking was "How can you not watch it?"
After that conversation, I really had to wonder how much she wanted to be an actor and how dedicated she was to her acting career. Or, was she just talking a good game? It was only at that time when I discovered how many of my other clients were in the same boat.
As The Industry Coach and President of the Actors Resource Center, one of the things I do is work with actors to help them move forward in their careers. My clients have included those just starting out in the business, as well as those on Hollywood's A-List, and the truth of the matter is this: no matter where you are in your career, if you really want to be successful you need to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
If you want to be a television actor, you need to watch television. If you want to do movies, you need to watch movies. And, if you want to do theatre (and every actor should do theatre at some point in their career - it will help them with their craft), then you need to go to the theatre and read plays on a regular basis.
Today is a new day ... What are YOU going to do for your career?
Cheers,
Sharon
Monday, June 4, 2007
Thank You, Lifetime TV!
Attention Lifetime Executives ...
Last night I watched your new series, Army Wives. What a treat! Thank you so much for giving those of us over 35 something else to watch besides Desperate Housewives!
Don't get me wrong, I have clients on Desperate Housewives, and I watch that show, too. But the time has definitely come for the industry to start catering to its older female audience (i.e. the ones with the discretionary income who can afford the latest Gucci bag, or Manolo Blahnik shoes, WITHOUT going into debt), and Army Wives definitely fits into that category!
Here's wishing you much success with the new show ... I can't wait to see the next episode!
Grazie,
Sharon
P.S. I loved Write and Wrong, as well! It was great to see Kirstie Alley back on television ...
Last night I watched your new series, Army Wives. What a treat! Thank you so much for giving those of us over 35 something else to watch besides Desperate Housewives!
Don't get me wrong, I have clients on Desperate Housewives, and I watch that show, too. But the time has definitely come for the industry to start catering to its older female audience (i.e. the ones with the discretionary income who can afford the latest Gucci bag, or Manolo Blahnik shoes, WITHOUT going into debt), and Army Wives definitely fits into that category!
Here's wishing you much success with the new show ... I can't wait to see the next episode!
Grazie,
Sharon
P.S. I loved Write and Wrong, as well! It was great to see Kirstie Alley back on television ...
Friday, June 1, 2007
The Next Julia Roberts ...
Several years ago, whenever a young actress stood out in a movie role, she was almost always labeled as "The Next Julia Roberts." However, as we all know, there's only one Julia Roberts (although her adorable niece, Emma Roberts, is certainly garnering her fair share of attention these days).
There's also only one Sandra Bullock, one Cate Blanchett, one Renee Zellweger, and one Nicole Kidman. The question that keeps arising for me, however, is this one: "Who's next?"
Let's face it, sometimes it's hard to get older. At least it is for me. And it's even harder when I see my peers getting older, as well. For some reason, that's when it really sinks in: there will always be another generation behind us, waiting for their turn at the top.
And when it comes to the next generation of actresses, the challenge, as I see it, is that there seem to be very few women poised to begin taking the roles that Julia, Sandra, Cate, Renee, and Nicole are stepping out of or moving away from. So while these women (definitely women - not girls), are busy moving on to the next phase of their careers, who exactly is taking their place?
Sure, there's a couple of names that come to mind: Kate Winslet & Reese Witherspoon among them. But who else is out there? Who are those young women making up the next generation? And what are they doing to make a name for themselves?
When Meryl Streep, Kathy Bates and Glenn Close moved forward in their careers, the natural transition seemed to happen automatically with Julia, Sandra, Cate, et al. stepping into those roles. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be happening between them and the generation after them.
And when you read about the next, next generation (think Lindsay Lohan), it would appear that the door is really wide open. Sure, there's a few standouts (think Scarlett Johannson and Keira Knightly), and there's a long list of those with potential (including Lindsay), but I'm scared for this generation because no one appears to really be stepping up and standing out.
I'm not sure what has happened that has caused this new generation of young people to appear so lost. Has the business changed that much? Or, do these young actors just have too much time and money on their hands, and too little support from those people on their "business" teams? Either way, something needs to change.
What exactly that change looks like can be open to interpretation. For me, however, it involves two things: (1) This generation of actors accepting full responsibility for their lives and their careers, and (2) All of the agents, managers, lawyers et al., who represent these young actors, having the best interest of their clients at heart, instead of the best interest of their wallets.
Working together, I truly believe that we can help these young people step into their greatness and fulfill their potential, while succeeding in their lives and their careers at the same time.
Ciao,
Sharon
There's also only one Sandra Bullock, one Cate Blanchett, one Renee Zellweger, and one Nicole Kidman. The question that keeps arising for me, however, is this one: "Who's next?"
Let's face it, sometimes it's hard to get older. At least it is for me. And it's even harder when I see my peers getting older, as well. For some reason, that's when it really sinks in: there will always be another generation behind us, waiting for their turn at the top.
And when it comes to the next generation of actresses, the challenge, as I see it, is that there seem to be very few women poised to begin taking the roles that Julia, Sandra, Cate, Renee, and Nicole are stepping out of or moving away from. So while these women (definitely women - not girls), are busy moving on to the next phase of their careers, who exactly is taking their place?
Sure, there's a couple of names that come to mind: Kate Winslet & Reese Witherspoon among them. But who else is out there? Who are those young women making up the next generation? And what are they doing to make a name for themselves?
When Meryl Streep, Kathy Bates and Glenn Close moved forward in their careers, the natural transition seemed to happen automatically with Julia, Sandra, Cate, et al. stepping into those roles. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be happening between them and the generation after them.
And when you read about the next, next generation (think Lindsay Lohan), it would appear that the door is really wide open. Sure, there's a few standouts (think Scarlett Johannson and Keira Knightly), and there's a long list of those with potential (including Lindsay), but I'm scared for this generation because no one appears to really be stepping up and standing out.
I'm not sure what has happened that has caused this new generation of young people to appear so lost. Has the business changed that much? Or, do these young actors just have too much time and money on their hands, and too little support from those people on their "business" teams? Either way, something needs to change.
What exactly that change looks like can be open to interpretation. For me, however, it involves two things: (1) This generation of actors accepting full responsibility for their lives and their careers, and (2) All of the agents, managers, lawyers et al., who represent these young actors, having the best interest of their clients at heart, instead of the best interest of their wallets.
Working together, I truly believe that we can help these young people step into their greatness and fulfill their potential, while succeeding in their lives and their careers at the same time.
Ciao,
Sharon
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Letter to Lindsay Lohan ...
Dear Lindsay,
I just read about your suspected DUI arrest yesterday and I hope that you're out of the hospital and feeling better soon.
Being famous is not easy, especially at your age when every single move you make is chronicled by the press and the rest of the world, because it seemingly leaves you no room to grow up and make the kind of mistakes everyone else your age is making without paparazzi coverage. That's a hard place to be and a hard thing to deal with - especially on a daily basis.
I know that things with your father are strained and that your mother is your best friend, but right now, at this difficult time in your life, you need two things: (1) a mother who is a parent first and best friend second, and (2) a safe place (whether it's rehab or somewhere else) to get away from the craziness of Hollywood and the entertainment industry, and spend some time finding your footing and getting grounded. And while I realize that the idea of taking time off from the business for a few months (I would recommend at least 4 months, preferably 6), is probably extremely scary to you, I also know that no one is going to forget about you in that short period of time. In fact, they will probably respect you more because of it.
Life is too short to be messing around with drugs and alcohol, especially in this business. And while it may be getting you great press coverage, it's certainly not doing anything for your career. The worse your behavior gets, the less people are going to want to work with you because the truth of the matter is this: the entertainment industry is a business first and foremost; a business about making money. If you're not able to work, or if you start causing production delays because of your behavior, you're costing people money and the more money you cost them, the less they are going to want to hire you. Is that what you really want? Or, do you really want to win an Oscar, which is what you keep saying? You can't have it both ways.
I understand how hard this business is and how scary it can be when you don't know where to turn or whom to trust, but let me tell you, there really are people out there who are willing and who want to help you through this difficult time in your life. I say this because I'm one of them and I would absolutely love to see you live up to your full potential as an actor and a human being. What a great example you could set for the hundreds of thousands of preteen and teenage girls who look up to you and who want to be just like you, especially your little sister, because I'm willing to bet that you don't want her to travel down the same road you're traveling down right now.
I'm 100% certain that if you can find a safe place to go and safe people to work with and to trust while you try to get your feet back on the ground, you can completely turn your life around and start walking down that "Oscar" road.
I believe in you,
Sharon
www.TheIndustryCoach.com
www.ActorsResourceCenter.com
I just read about your suspected DUI arrest yesterday and I hope that you're out of the hospital and feeling better soon.
Being famous is not easy, especially at your age when every single move you make is chronicled by the press and the rest of the world, because it seemingly leaves you no room to grow up and make the kind of mistakes everyone else your age is making without paparazzi coverage. That's a hard place to be and a hard thing to deal with - especially on a daily basis.
I know that things with your father are strained and that your mother is your best friend, but right now, at this difficult time in your life, you need two things: (1) a mother who is a parent first and best friend second, and (2) a safe place (whether it's rehab or somewhere else) to get away from the craziness of Hollywood and the entertainment industry, and spend some time finding your footing and getting grounded. And while I realize that the idea of taking time off from the business for a few months (I would recommend at least 4 months, preferably 6), is probably extremely scary to you, I also know that no one is going to forget about you in that short period of time. In fact, they will probably respect you more because of it.
Life is too short to be messing around with drugs and alcohol, especially in this business. And while it may be getting you great press coverage, it's certainly not doing anything for your career. The worse your behavior gets, the less people are going to want to work with you because the truth of the matter is this: the entertainment industry is a business first and foremost; a business about making money. If you're not able to work, or if you start causing production delays because of your behavior, you're costing people money and the more money you cost them, the less they are going to want to hire you. Is that what you really want? Or, do you really want to win an Oscar, which is what you keep saying? You can't have it both ways.
I understand how hard this business is and how scary it can be when you don't know where to turn or whom to trust, but let me tell you, there really are people out there who are willing and who want to help you through this difficult time in your life. I say this because I'm one of them and I would absolutely love to see you live up to your full potential as an actor and a human being. What a great example you could set for the hundreds of thousands of preteen and teenage girls who look up to you and who want to be just like you, especially your little sister, because I'm willing to bet that you don't want her to travel down the same road you're traveling down right now.
I'm 100% certain that if you can find a safe place to go and safe people to work with and to trust while you try to get your feet back on the ground, you can completely turn your life around and start walking down that "Oscar" road.
I believe in you,
Sharon
www.TheIndustryCoach.com
www.ActorsResourceCenter.com
Friday, May 25, 2007
Surprise, Surprise ... Rosie Leaves "The View!"
Well, it's official ...
Not only is Rosie O'Donnell leaving "The View," she's decided to leave the show as of TODAY! Gee, what a surprise! Whether you love her or you hate her, it seems that no matter where Rosie goes, controversy seems to follow ... Of course, Donald Trump must be having a field day with this one!
Then we have Jessica Biel, who mentions in a magazine interview that she's not being offered the roles she'd like, such as "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (that went to Scarlett Johansson). As The Industry Coach®, I can certainly empathize with her plight. Many of my clients feel the exact same way that she does, and I would offer her the same advice I offer them: Instead of taking roles in movies like "Summer Catch" and "Stealth," tell your agent to start going after those small roles that will enable Hollywood to start viewing you in a different light.
The same holds true for Lindsay Lohan, who says she wants to win an Oscar. Although I haven't seen "Georgia" yet, I would offer you this one piece of advice: Yes, you may only be 20 (going on 21), and still need to have fun and enjoy your youth. However, until you start taking yourself seriously, the rest of Hollywood isn't going to, either. You can still be young and have fun, but if you really want to be taken seriously as an actress, then it's time for you to start making different choices.
And, one last word of advice to Paris Hilton regarding your jail sentence. I have no doubt that you're scared about going to jail. That's completely understandable. However, I would also bet that you are probably a lot stronger and tougher than you (or anyone else for that matter) give yourself credit for. Now it's time for you to show the world what you're really made of! You can do it ... I know you can!
Ciao,
Sharon
www.TheIndustryCoach.com
Not only is Rosie O'Donnell leaving "The View," she's decided to leave the show as of TODAY! Gee, what a surprise! Whether you love her or you hate her, it seems that no matter where Rosie goes, controversy seems to follow ... Of course, Donald Trump must be having a field day with this one!
Then we have Jessica Biel, who mentions in a magazine interview that she's not being offered the roles she'd like, such as "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (that went to Scarlett Johansson). As The Industry Coach®, I can certainly empathize with her plight. Many of my clients feel the exact same way that she does, and I would offer her the same advice I offer them: Instead of taking roles in movies like "Summer Catch" and "Stealth," tell your agent to start going after those small roles that will enable Hollywood to start viewing you in a different light.
The same holds true for Lindsay Lohan, who says she wants to win an Oscar. Although I haven't seen "Georgia" yet, I would offer you this one piece of advice: Yes, you may only be 20 (going on 21), and still need to have fun and enjoy your youth. However, until you start taking yourself seriously, the rest of Hollywood isn't going to, either. You can still be young and have fun, but if you really want to be taken seriously as an actress, then it's time for you to start making different choices.
And, one last word of advice to Paris Hilton regarding your jail sentence. I have no doubt that you're scared about going to jail. That's completely understandable. However, I would also bet that you are probably a lot stronger and tougher than you (or anyone else for that matter) give yourself credit for. Now it's time for you to show the world what you're really made of! You can do it ... I know you can!
Ciao,
Sharon
www.TheIndustryCoach.com
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