Humans are social creatures and yet it can be mighty hard to talk to people. It's a serious challenge - when you Google, how to talk to anyone, 455 million hits come up.

Here to discuss is my dear friend Crystal Jones, who is the associate director of Major Gifts for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and who talks to people all day, every day for a living and talks them into making serious donations.

The alternative title to this episode of Camera Ready & Abel could have been How to talk to anyone...and get them to give you money because what Crystal expertly shares is invaluable advice if you are looking for financing for your project.

You hear a lot of nos on the road to yes. Crystal says the key to talking to anybody and building relationships is shared values, strategy, and integrity. And persistence.

Takeaways

• Good communication begins with active listening 

Connect with Crystal on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-k-jones-she-her-a373114/

Everyone from Socrates to Euripedes to Virgil Abloh has commanded us to Question Everything. My guest for this episode, television host and professional interviewer Danielle Robay, figured out early on that questions are a superpower - and all of us can develop and tap into it. 

At a critical time in Danielle's career, when she was rebounding from the dream job that turned out to be a soul crushing mistake, she turned her superpower inward, asking herself five thoughtful questions per day, and emerged more confident and more clear and committed to her path.

Danielle shares...

• what she learned from her worst interview ever 

and her favorite quote from Shirley Chisholm: Service is the rent you pay for a room on this earth.

Watch and listen to Danielle's video podcast PRETTYSMART, her love letter to bold, inquisitive women who have something to say.

Stay in touch with Danielle on Instagram at @daniellerobay and check out her other offerings:

QUESTION EVERYTHING CARD GAME link for purchase: https://prettysmartshop.com/collections/shop/products/question-everything-card-deck-1

PRETTYSMART podcast link: https://pod.link/prettysmart

Mastery = deep, comprehensive knowledge or skill which is the difference between knowing how to do something and doing that something extremely well.

Marketing = the activity or business of promoting and selling products or services.

Mindset = the established set of attitudes held by someone

Here to discuss the 3 M’s is Wendy Alane Wright - acting career coach, Hollywood talent manager and founder of the Hollywood Winners Circle Academy and the Talent Managers for Actors (TMFA) conference. Wendy knows what she's talking about. She coaches tens of thousands of actors around the world through her immensely popular YouTube channel, secrets of a Hollywood Talent Manager, as well as the over 100,000 members in her Facebook group. Wendy is also a writer for Backstage.com and a frequent guest on industry podcasts.

In our conversation Wendy shares the importance of training the courage muscle by taking contrary action; doing the opposite of what your fear is telling you to do.  Her message is powerful and her tips are tangible.

If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done.

Wendy has created a proven strategy for replicating success and has converted hundreds of coaching clients into network series regulars, guest stars, co-stars, supporting and lead actors in feature films. Learn more at hollywoodwinnerscircle.com.

Interested in joining the Hollywood Winners Circle Academy? Wendy is offering a 50% off sale right now, so don’t miss out!

Follow Wendy on Instagram at @Wendyalane1.

Several guests have said this to me: Working harder IS working smarter. 

My guest for this episode of Camera Ready & Abel - multi Emmy nominated Television Host, Producer and journalist, Buki Elegbede - says his Work Ethic is his Superpower.

Buki believes his work ethic is what has given him a competitive advantage in an industry that is saturated with talent. As he says, quoting Milton Berle, “when opportunity doesn't knock, build your own door.”

More takeaways:

• Work ethic includes working smart and trusting your gut

Buki also jokes that for Christmas he's going to ask Santa for audacity.

Buki is the Creator/Host/Executive Producer of Emmy-nominated Table for All, which takes you into NJ restaurants and home kitchens to try new cuisines, meet the people and hear their fascinating stories behind the recipes, serving up a cinematic docu-series focusing on culture and diversity. 

Buki has also produced content for ABC, ESPN, Create TV, PBS, Disney and Health Magazine + has produced & hosted docu-series, talk shows, panel shows and LIVE events. 

You can check out Table for All episodes at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiZ284L7DnPGhaAOLNpUmup807brb2iGS

Follow Buki on IG @thebukishow

This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase Write Your Dream Role, an action at the heart of creating opportunity. A core principle of being camera ready.

My guest for this episode is Emily Grace - a career coach and Sundance award-winning actress - who lives the mantra:

Why wait? Don't ask for permission. Go do.

Because that's what Emily did. She learned hard lessons as an actor going from making a big splash to fizzle and went on a mission to figure out how the industry actually works, identify what she didn't know and needed to learn and create her own success.

7 Key Takeaways:      

• The hardest part of getting started is getting started

+

Emily explains how she got her first lead in a film without an agent (25:14)

Learn more about Emily’s programs

Write Your Dream Role https://pickfordwest.lpages.co/write-your-dream-role-free-video/  

Short Film Digital Lab https://pickfordwest.lpages.co/short-film-lab-digital/

Reach out and connect with Emily on her Instagram @theonlyemilygrace.

Mark started his storied career after graduating from Connecticut College as an assistant to the head of the commercial department at Abrams Artist Agency in New York, and was quickly promoted to agent and started the Host/Broadcast Division. Over the last two decades, that department has morphed into a one-stop shop for all things under the non-fiction umbrella. Mark has represented top on-air host experts, personalities, producers, and digital influencers in all aspects of unscripted TV and digital, and has placed talent literally everywhere.

Learn more about Mark https://www.a3artistsagency.com/.

I grew up with an imbalanced idea of what life balance is, thinking all the different parts had to be in equal amounts. What a huge relief and step forward when I met my guest for this episode, Erin Palinski-Wade, who helped me understand balance is about having the correct proportions.

Erin is the ultimate multi-hyphenate:  a nationally recognized nutrition, diabetes, and fitness expert, author, TEDx speaker, business owner, frequent television guest, and busy mom of three, who also happens to be a huge content creator sharing real life nutrition advice and recipes on her successful TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram channels. 

• figure out how to make it work for you when the opportunity arises

Keep up with Erin and follow on any of the platforms below:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/erinpalinskiwade

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tiktoknutritionist

YouTube: https://youtube.com/healthymomhappyfamily 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealthyMomHappierFamily 

Being on message means saying things that agree with the official position of a political party, organization, business, or brand…and most importantly, being true to your own message!

My guest for this episode, Johanna Maska, is an expert bar none on the how and why of being On Message.

Johanna shaped the message and image of Barack Obama, beginning with the Iowa caucuses in 2007, all the way through being White House Director of Press advance until 2015, and recently launched her podcast, Press Advance, which debuted in the top ten and is getting rave reviews from both Democrats and Republicans.

Johanna lives the motto of the first Obama campaign: Respect, Empower, Include and says the message of her podcast is listening - listening to really smart people who I disagree with or who I agree with, but it's listening and trying to figure out how in this moment we actually press advance to tackle the big issues that really matter.

More takeaways:

• open your heart and mind to other perspectives and points of view, especially those you disagree with

Johanna is the CEO of Global Situation Room - a highly respected public relations firm - and is a political contributor to NewsNation, appearing frequently on their 5pm (eastern) program, The Hill.

Listen to Press Advance

Connect with Johanna on LinkedIn

Learn more at Global Situation Room and JohannaMaska.com

This feel great episode is brought to you by the word industrious which means diligent and hardworking, and also implies a habitual devotion to the work, which in the Camera, Ready & Abel universe is one of the keys to success.

This episode could also have been called Industrious: How to Get the Gig! because my guest, TV host, narrator, and media personality, Matthew Hoffman, generously - and hilariously - walks me step by step through how he landed the gig that propelled him to the next level, narrating and co-writing Love Island USA for CBS and Netflix. Hint: he focused on what he could control and put his energy not into getting the gig, but winning the hearts of the producers, casting directors and network executives (this part of the conversation starts around the 19 minute mark.)

Key Takeaways:

• working hard is working smart

Matthew's distinctive voice can also be heard as the co-creator, series producer, and host of Previously On...The Official Love Island USA Podcast for ITV America and Peacock, as well as the Co-creator and host of Love Notes, a LIVE weekly radio show for Amazon Amp. His diverse professional portfolio includes serving as a special correspondent for Extra and the host of Sit Down with the Stars for Regal Cinemas, as well as an investor in theatrical productions such as The National Tour of Magic Mike Live and the Broadway Productions of Life of Pi, Merrily We Roll Along in NYC, and Prima Facie…to name a few.

Bonus: If you are looking for an uplifting, heart-centered piece of content then be sure to check-out Tuesdays With Matthew, a volunteer program founded by Matthew for Senior Citizens who recreate famous scenes from iconic movies and read this glowing piece in the New York Times.

Keep up with Matthew at:

IG: @matthewhoffman.tv

Website: www.matthewhoffman.tv/

Matthew's Love Island USA greatest hits season 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QJgPjVbE9Y

Life is a series of choices. To choose means to select freely after consideration, to decide upon, to vote (important reminder!), to have a preference. This implies both freedom and responsibility.

Joining me to discuss on Camera Ready & Abel to discuss the phrase You Choose! is legendary Talent Executive, Producer and Casting Director, Beth Schiff, who believes in the power of choosing so much she named her business You Choose Creative.

Beth has more than twenty years in the entertainment industry, and for over 12 of those years led the casting team on Food Networks' juggernaut, Chopped, developed by our dear podcast friend, Dave Noll, and his partner Cleve Keller, and for the past two years has shaped the talent at Yahoo Creative Studios.

Beth reminded me that in any creative endeavor the rule of Fast-Good-Cheap applies. If you want Fast + Good, it won't be cheap. If you want Good + Cheap it won't be fast. If you want Fast + Cheap it most definitely won't be good. You get two out of three. You choose.

More key takeaways:

• Perspectives are always different

In addition to uncovering and shaping compelling stories for TV, branded content, podcasts, events, and corporate projects, Beth is producing a documentary about climate change and our food system coming out late 2023.

Connect with Beth via Instagram and LinkedIn.