OC Screenwriters Association

Here’s an update on my journey as I chase “this TV thing,” and how I think my first career, engineering, can help me with “this TV thing.”

I’ve started thinking about what’s happened to me over the past two and a half years, and it's been amazing.  Almost how I imagined it...almost.  Two and half years ago, I decided to go for this “TV thing,” but I’d be smart about it.  I’d be slow and steady with it.  I did my research, saved up some cash, and went for it...somewhat cautiously.  There isn’t a lot of regret, but that will be for a different post.

So a few nights ago, I started thinking, what if I had done “this TV thing” sooner instead of engineering?  Would I have done better because I had more time?  Would I have developed my skills more?  Would I have “made it” already?

The only thing that I really know for sure is back when I was 17 and wanted to do “this TV thing” out of high school...I don’t know if I would have been as willing to work as hard for it  as I am now.  The other thing I know...I’m not sure if I would have thought about it enough to go about it “correctly.”

Now, there’s no “correct way” to go about “this TV thing,” but you can make yourself aware about situations that you might go through, and what other people have gone through, and maybe prepare yourself better for the journey. 

I’m not saying engineering is completely terrible.  It taught me some valuable lessons.  With the two engineering firms I’ve worked for, the training wasn’t the great.  I came to work for the engineering firms when the housing market was booming so training wasn’t always a top priority.  Sometimes, I was told to “figure it out yourself” or “call someone in another office.”  And as pissed as that made me because the managers were suppose to know that stuff or at the very least hook it up with people who knew how to get those projects done...I did it any way.

Then after spending extra time to “figure it out” sometimes for projects that involved public safety, I would be told that “I’m in-efficient.”  I thought that was complete BS since I had to spend extra time to figure out what I had to do before I could start doing it. 

So what would happen after one these “figure it out yourself”?

I’d finish the project...sometimes without being paid for all the time I worked on it.  Sometimes staying there until 3 a.m. only to show up at 7 a.m.  Then the project would come back from a city, Caltrans, whomever with just minor corrections.  By minor...I mean a font size or naming convention or changing a color so that it would be cleaner looking on the plan. 

The best comment came from a city engineer with my boss and clients present.  We were at the public counter having plans reviewed for a final time. 

When I handed the city engineer my 32 page plan set, he said, “I’ve seen you’re work.  They’re quality plans and very easy to review.  So I’m going to assume that my latest comments are incorporated into the plan, and I’m going to stamp them approved...Good work, Rudy.”

He said that in front of my boss and clients.  Yeah that’s pretty badass for a guy who’d rather be doing “this TV thing.” 

So the first lesson wasn’t really a lesson, it simply reinforced my hard worker mentality.  I’ve always had it in me, engineering just made sure it was there.  Next was figuring out stuff on your own.  And figuring it out fast.  Now, I always knew I had to figure out things on my own, but never thought it’d be as much as I’ve experienced...especially in engineering.  Really it’s only going to make me stronger with “this TV thing” when I'm under deadline and there's just seconds until my show is live.

The next lesson engineering taught me was how to deal with difficult people.  People on a power trip, people who are in-charge of you...but have no idea what’s going on, people who are suppose to help you...but don’t, people who tell you one thing...and do another, managers who will sit you down and tell you how you messed up and that you need to check your work, but when one of your coworkers does it...they suddenly “don’t know how to talk to that person because your manager suddenly has no balls,” and people who just don’t get their work done.  I can only imagine what this will do for me as I continue with “this TV thing.”

The main lesson I learned from working with difficult people is that if people intentionally BS you...they will eventually get theirs.  I use to be all about revenge, and screw this I’m going to get you...but now I realized things will eventually handle themselves...just as long as you keep working at it.  I got too many stories on this one...some just happening a few weeks ago.

Enough about engineering for now.  Since I started going for this “TV thing,” I’ve met some amazing people.  Some inspirational, some difficult, some people who have made it, who are making it, and most important people who are there to help and encourage you.

When I first started, I really had no expectations.  Well, I take that back...I expected to work really hard, to just shut up and do my job, and to take a lot of crap.  And since I was working as an engineer, with some of the conditions mentioned above...I also expected my time to be really strained.  I really expected it to be nothing but hard work.

And that hard work paid off.  Sometimes, I can’t believe the e-mails, texts, and phone calls I get asking me to help on productions.  Yeah most of them are un-paid, but I don’t really care it’s experience, and people want me on their productions.  That’s huge!  People want me!  Then just a few weeks ago...I found out that someone wants to pay me for some video work.  That really just made my day.  To be told by some people that “this TV thing” isn’t real or that I’m never going to make any money doing this...well I present Exhibit A, that e-mail.

So, as I sit back, and analyze what’s been happening to me.  It’s been one heck of a ride, and I’m just getting started.  For now, I’ve decided to take a step back, and go back full-time as an engineer for some personal reasons.  I’m not going to stop working towards “this TV thing,” but just need to re-think it.  For now, all I can say to anyone who wants “in,” just keep working at it and good luck.  Remember the harder you work, the luckier you get.