In the tenth of my new Ask-A-Pro series, I’d like to present you with Rita Cook, independent filmmaker, producer, and writer.

In the Ask-A-Pro format, I’ll tell you a little about the author and how-to-find-your-dream-job expert . . . then via the Comments section to this post, please feel free to ask a specific question about the career or job in question.

Anyone (expert or not) is free to post responses to your query, and I or the author/how-to-find-your-dream-job pro may chime in as well.

This is your chance to get unbiased advice from a real, honest-to-goodness-been-there-done-that dream job professional.

So, here goes . . . Rita Cook on the dream job of working in independent film production.

Rita Cook is a writer and producer with over a decade of diversified experience. She was an associate producer on the horror/action feature film Route 666 with Trimark Pictures.

She is also the associate producer on Naomi’s Web and she recently produced the feature-length film, Marty & Virginia, for Cicero Productions.

In 2000, Rita was a production manager on the television pilot, Norm Crosby’s Celebrity Golf Challenge, and in 1999 she was production manager on Two American Idiots.

Rita has worked on several television pilots including All About the Money and produced an award-winning short called The Limited, as well as a short called In Due Time.

When moving to Los Angeles, she worked with action-adventure screenwriter Neill Hicks, worked a short stint in development, and took a month to work with an executive producer/director on a cable special. Before moving to Los Angeles, Rita did an internship in Chicago with the co-head writer of The Young and the Restless.
 
Rita works as a freelance script consultant and is co-writing a book called Screenwriters: From Inspiration to Action. She is vice-president of Cinewomen, an LA-based organization, Vice President of Reviews for the Film Advisory Board, and is President Emeritus of Women in Film and Television/Chicago.

For four years in Chicago, Rita was on the board of directors of the nationally known organization, Women in Film and Television and she served as President for two years. She is also well-known in the city of Chicago for her development of the WIFT mentor program.

Dream Jobs To Go Title
How To Get Started As An Independent Filmmaker

Current Profession
Filmmaker and Writer

Websites or Blogs You’d Like Us To Know About
Rita Cook’s new novel, Angel’s Destiny, can be found at Publish America.

What Would You Be Doing If You Weren’t An Independent Producer?
I am doing it – not only have I had the chance to produce films, but I have been travel writing and I wrote a novel called Angel’s Destiny that was published in November 2005.

Life Philosophy
So Mote it Be!

Favorite Food
Tex Mex (but, when in Italy the Italian food is to die for).

Favorite Read
The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn

Favorite Authors
Florence Scovel Shinn and Raven Grimassi

Favorite Travel Destination
Toss up between Sweden’s Ice Hotel and Cayo Espanto in Belize.

Favorite Music
Depends on my mood, but I love electronic stuff and anything with wolves howling in the background

Favorite Sports Team
I haven’t watched sports in years – does horseracing count?

Favorite Movie
Another hard one, this week it is “The Illusionist,” but last week it was “Little Miss Sunshine.”  Of course, there is always “Apocalypse Now” and “Garden State.”

Favorite City
Don’t make me decide – awe….. how about Morconne, Italy – my getaway.

Favorite Country
Repetitively – Italy!

Favorite Animal
Wolf, cat, raven (not necessarily in that order).

Your Hobbies
Traveling, writing, and gardening.

Favorite Websites (Other Than Your Own)
Independent Movie Database

Favorite Quotation
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.  The Little Prince

Favorite Drink
Any kind of Martini – except dirty.

Why Do You Live Where You Do?
I just got married and my husband won’t leave – but I also live in Los Angeles so I am bi-coastal – whew!

If You Could Live Anywhere You Wanted, Where Would It Be?  Why?
I would live in Scotland – Edinburgh, I feel really connected to that country.

The Greatest Things About Being an Independent Producer
The independence.  I don’t have to do it all the time and I can pursue my other dreams. 

The Worst Thing About Being an Independent Producer
Finding money to make the next film. 

If A Young Person Approached You About Getting Into Independent Producing, What Would You Say?
Go make a movie right now with any camera you can find and have a good time doing it!

If An Older, Career-Changer Approach You About Getting Into Independent Producing, What Would You Say?
Go make a movie right now with any camera you can find and have a good time doing it!

The Most Important Piece Of Advice Anyone Ever Gave You About Life?
When you become President of Women in Film (I was president in Chicago), surround yourself with your friends and likeminded people – you don’t need the extra baggage otherwise.

Any Other Advice You’d Like To Share With People Who’re Thinking About Getting Into Independent Producing?
There aren’t really any rules so make them up as you go and don’t let anyone know you don’t know what you are doing.

How Would You Define Success?
Success to me is defined by a person’s happiness and if they love what they are doing, no matter what that might be.  If I wake up every day with a smile on my face, then I have found success.

Any Other Comments About the World Of Work You’d Like To Share?
It’s not rocket science, so have a good time.

Popularity: 10% [?]

In the ninth of my new Ask-A-Pro series, I’d like to present you with Chris King, storyteller extraordinaire.

In the Ask-A-Pro format, I’ll tell you a little about the author and how-to-find-your-dream-job expert . . . then via the Comments section to this post, please feel free to ask a specific question about the career or job in question.

Anyone (expert or not) is free to post responses to your query, and I or the author/how-to-find-your-dream-job pro may chime in as well.

This is your chance to get unbiased advice from a real, honest-to-goodness-been-there-done-that dream job professional.

So, over to you, Chris King, and your take on storytelling.

Chris King has what she calls a Portfolio Career — many different part-time careers, including writing, website design, storytelling, speaking, desktop publishing, and waiting tables, to name a few — but admits that storytelling is her true passion.

When asked about her storytelling, Chris replies, “I tell traditional stories — with a modern day twist; original stories — both personal and believable, and business stories — with a meaningful message.  My mission is to tell stories that are so compelling that listeners of all ages fall in love with the art of storytelling and want to tell their own.”

Dream Jobs To Go Titles
How to Get Started as a Fitness Instructor
How to Get Started as a Professional Storyteller

Current Profession
Portfolio Career — Storyteller, fitness instructor, writer, speaker, web site designer, trainer, artist, and waitress.

Personal Website
Creative Keys

Favorite Food
All Vegetables

Favorite Read
I read and like everything, even the junk. My latest favorite book, Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher

Life Philosophy
Whatever you believe and conceive, you can achieve.

Favorite Authors
Natalie Goldberg, Julia Cameron, and Anne La Mott.

Favorite Sports
Aerobics, ice skating, and tennis.

Favorite Travel Destination
Cities: New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

Favorite Music
Classical

Favorite Movie
The Long, Hot Summer with Paul Newman

Favorite City
Cleveland, Ohio

Favorite Country
United States

Your Hobbies
Reading, writing, attending workshops, surfing the web, and taking classes.

Favorite Website
Dream Jobs To Go (well, aw shucks, and thanks, Chris!)

Favorite Quotation
The mind once stretched to a new idea, never goes back to its original dimensions.

Favorite Drink
Coffee

Why Do You Live Where You Live?
I live in Cleveland, Ohio because it not only offers culture, great affordable living, and easy access to everywhere, it is a big small town where I have a huge network of friendly people I know and who know me.

If You Could Live Anywhere You Wanted, Where Would It Be?  Why?
I love where I live now. If I had to move, it would probably be to Washington, D.C. for the culture and warmer weather. The museums and Library of Congress are incredible.

The Greatest Things About Being A Professional Storyteller Are:
It is an incredible amount of FUN! And, people of all ages and walks of life love listening to and learning from stories. You experience the thrill of seeing their eyes light up.

The Worst Thing About Being A Professional Storyteller:
As a profession, it can be a “hard sell” because a lot of organizations don’t have any idea of what storytelling entails. Also, so many storytellers are passionate about what they do, they do not charge enough. The good news is that this is changing as the art is spread.

If A Young Person Approached You About Getting Into Storytelling, What Would You Say?
Do it! Start by getting involved with a storytelling group, finding and telling stories and attend any and all storytelling events near - and far - that you can.

If An Older, Career-Changer Approached You About Getting Into Storytelling, What Would You Say?
I would really encourage them, because they have the advantage of years of experiences. I would also echo exactly what I told the young person in the previous question.

The Most Important Piece Of Advice Anyone Ever Gave You About Being A Storyteller?
Start collecting stories you absolutely LOVE! Then make them part of your repertoire and practice, practice, practice.

Any Other Advice You’d Like To Share With People Who’re Thinking About Getting Into Professional Storytelling?
It is a Dream Job but, like everything else, it takes work and dedication. Get going, and I don’t suggest immediately quitting your day job. You can easily be a part-time storyteller for the time being.

How Would You Define Success?
Living the good life where you get up in the morning and can’t wait to start all over again. And, that is how I feel about my life and Portfolio Career.
 

Popularity: 8% [?]

In the third of my new Ask-A-Pro series, I’d like to introduce you to Rosalind Sedacca.

In the Ask-A-Pro format, I’ll tell you a little about the author and how-to-find-your-dream-job expert . . . then via the Comments section to this post, please feel free to ask a specific question about the career or job in question.

Anyone (expert or not) is free to post responses to your query, and I or the author/how-to-find-your-dream-job pro may chime in as well.

This is your chance to get unbiased advice from a real, honest-to-goodness-been-there-done-that dream job professional.

Okay, over to you Roz.

Rosalind Sedacca is a Business Communication Strategist with more than 20 years’ experience as an award-winning advertising copywriter, public relations practitioner, and marketing consultant. Over the past ten years she has expanded into the world of professional speaking and training in two distinct capacities.

As a consultant, Rosalind works with emerging and veteran speakers helping to identify their unique positions in their targeted markets. After formulating a success strategy, she prepares marketing and promotional materials that meet their specific needs.

Rosalind is also an acclaimed national speaker herself, recognized for her presentations on business communication issues. She has addressed organizations from coast to coast on ways to eliminate miscommunication in the workplace – both written and spoken. A specialist in gender communication dynamics, Rosalind’s timely keynotes, seminars, and workshops focus on marketing to women and how to bridge the gender communication gap at work to boost sales, employee morale, and staff productivity.

Rosalind is a frequent guest on radio and TV discussing her marketing and communication strategies. She is currently writing a new book, based on her personal life experience, titled How Do I Tell the Kids . . . About the DIVORCE? It’s based on a fill-in-the-blanks storybook concept that will help prepare children for the changes ahead — with love. She will be offering workshops and teleseminars on the subject to help families as they move through the challenge of divorce.

Dream Jobs To Go Title
Professional Speaker or Trainer

Current Profession
Business Communication Strategist, Marketing/Public Relations Consultant, Professional Speaker, Author

Websites or Blogs You’d Like Us To Know About
My upcoming book website How Do I Tell The Kids About the Divorce? and Child Centered Divorce.

What Would You Be Doing If You Weren’t A Speaker?
A therapist specializing in pet therapy to heal our emotional wounds

Life Philosophy
It’s not what happens, but how you perceive what happens, that affects our success in life.

Favorite Food
Ice cream

Favorite Read
Spiritual, philosophical, personal growth books such as Seat of the Soul.

Favorite Authors
Gary Zukav, Marianne Williamson, Harville Hendrix, Ram Das

Favorite Travel Destination
Europe

Favorite Music
Classic rock and folk

Favorite Movie
Chicago

Favorite City
Venice, Italy

Favorite Country
USA

Favorite Animal
Cats – large and small

Your Hobbies
Traveling, reading, dancing, swimming

Favorite Websites (Other Than Your Own)
The one I need at the time

Favorite Quotation
The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts. Marcus Antonius

Favorite Drink
Good champagne

Why Do You Live Where You Do?
I love the sun, blue water, green grass and year-round flowers that greet me daily in South Florida.

If You Could Live Anywhere You Wanted, Where Would It Be?  Why?
I love South Florida.  I would also love a second home on a mountain lake in summer.

The Greatest Things About Being A Communications Specialist Are
Helping people share their thoughts, goals, and dreams with others to expand their self-esteem and success.

The Worst Thing About Being A Communication Specialist
Frustration and anxiety about not getting it right.

If A Young Person Approached You About Getting Into Professional Speaking, What Would You Say?
It’s a calling – a need you have to share yourself with others in the best possible way.  You know if it’s in you and if it is, don’t hesitate to do everything in your power to get in front of audiences, larger or small, and let it flow.

If An Older, Career-Changer Approach You About Getting Into Professional Speaking, What Would You Say?
Dozens of seasoned “experts” enter the profession every day sharing their wisdom, experience, and values to help younger people master life lessons more easily.  Don’t hesitate to go for it.

The Most Important Piece Of Advice Anyone Ever Gave You About Life?
Be yourself – always! You can never be a better anyone else than you. Let your spirit shine.

Any Other Advice You’d Like To Share With People Who’re Thinking About Getting Into Public Speaking?
Create your own unique message, deliver it in your own style and practice every chance you can in front of any size group. Repetition makes for perfection.

How Would You Define Success?
For me, success is the fulfillment of my sense of self. Achieving that which I feel is the highest expression of what I believe I am makes me successful. That can be translated into successfully writing a book, handling a difficult relationship, or being a loving parent. It can mean reaching a goal I’ve set to complete a project, learn a new software program, or get a standing ovation after I deliver a speech. What’s most important is that only I can define success for me. If it gives me satisfaction and leads to positive results that in no way harms others, then I am a success. And the drive to be successful continues to create challenge and fulfillment in my life.

Any Other Comments About the World Of Work You’d Like To Share?
If you don’t believe in yourself and your talents, no one else is likely to either. Start within yourself, become your best fan, then share that energy with all you meet.

Popularity: 5% [?]

In the second of my new Ask-A-Pro series, I’d like to present you with Scott Cimarusti, radio announcer and voice-over pro.

In the Ask-A-Pro format, I’ll tell you a little about the author and how-to-find-your-dream-job expert . . . then via the Comments section to this post, please feel free to ask a specific question about the career or job in question.

Anyone (expert or not) is free to post responses to your query, and I or the author/how-to-find-your-dream-job pro may chime in as well.

This is your chance to get unbiased advice from a real, honest-to-goodness-been-there-done-that dream job professional.

So, here goes . . . Scott Cimarusti on working in radio and doing voiceovers.

Scott Cimarusti began a career in radio at the student-run radio station at the University of Illinois.  After graduating, he picked up a part-time weekend shift at a local rock station, before getting overnights at an adult contemporary station across town.

Moving from overnights to Creative Director, he used his production skills to get a job at a video production company as an audio engineer.

Scott currently works in multimedia production for the University of Illinois Department of Computer Science, but still does voice-over work whenever he can.

Here’s a tad more about Scott and some of his takes on the radio announcing and voiceover business:

Dream Jobs To Go Title
How to Get Started in Radio/Voice-Over Announcing

Current Profession
Educational Technology

What Would You Be Doing If You Weren’t a Radio/Voice-Over Announcer?
Ideally, writing full-time

Life Philosophy
Treat others as you would like them to treat you.

Favorite Food
Pizza

Favorite Read
Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series

Favorite Authors
Stephen King, Richard Matheson, Raymond Chandler, and Arthur Conan Doyle

Favorite Sports Team
Any Chicago team

Favorite Travel Destination
Europe (someday, I hope)

Favorite Music
Classic rock

Favorite Movie
Star Wars

Favorite City
Chicago

Favorite Country
USA

Your Hobbies
Writing, golf, reading, tinkering with computers, entertaining my children

Favorite Websites (Other Than Your Own)
rottentomatoes.com; imdb.com

Favorite Quotation
Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think.  Jean de la Bruyere

Favorite Drink
Alcoholic: Guinness or Corona; non-alcoholic: Coca-Cola

Why Do You Live Where You Live?
Work and family

If You Could Live Anywhere You Wanted, Where Would It Be?
Chicago—see above

The Greatest Things About Being a Radio/Voice-Over Announcer Are:
Getting paid for talking.  And when you start making money at it, you feel overpaid for doing something you enjoy. Most of the people I’ve met in the business are laid-back, friendly people who help each other.

The Worst Thing About Being a Radio/Voice-Over Announcer
Not getting paid enough, sometimes.

If A Young Person Approached You About Getting Into Radio/Voice-Over Announcing, What Would You Say?
I would tell them to start doing it part-time, as a side venture and see how it goes . . . not to try and make a go at it full-time right away like I did.

If An Older, Career-Changer Approached You About Getting Into Radio/Voice-Over Announcing, What Would You Say?
Go for it!  But, again, get your feet wet part-time first.

How Would You Define Success?
Success is when you’ve finally found that elusive balance between work and play — where work almost seems like play, and going to work each day doesn’t feel like “going to work each day.”  In a word, I would say that success is balance.

The Most Important Piece of Advice Anyone Ever Gave You About Radio/Voice-Over Announcing?
There are two kinds of people in radio: Those who’ve been fired, and those who will be. This taught me to always keep my options open, and the importance of networking. And while this may be true initially, once you get established at a good company, you can often stay there as long as you want – like most other professions.

Questions about radio or voice-over professions?  Just holler by posting in the Comments section here.

We’ll do our best to answer.

Popularity: 9% [?]