Making it in Hollywood: An Agent's Perspective

ATHENS, GA--- Among the formal halls of the University of Georgia’s Law School, Norman Aladjem, current Paradigm Agency celebrity agent, presented an informal look into the entertainment industry.

With a client list that includes power players from film, television, and music, as well as success in the entertainment, law, and political sphere, one might believe that Norman Aladjem has a secret formula to achieving success. And he does.

No matter your dream, passion, or goal, Aladjem recommends you get your foot in the door “somehow.”

That might mean months of making copies, coffee, and calls but Aladjem believes it is a crucial element of overall career development. Perhaps you will find that the barista at the coffee shop knows someone with connections to a company in your dream field. You might be standing at the copy machine when an industry leader strolls through the mailroom.

Aladjem believes career opportunities are created in the world outside of the classroom. However, it is up to the individual to seek them out.

Aladjem serves as a good example of someone who succeeded through a process he called “connecting the dots.” In other words, making connections and spotting opportunities in unique situations.

Judging from his success, Aladjem can connect the right dots. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Aladjem moved to Los Angeles to attend law school at UCLA. He had zero contacts or connections. While working his way through law school at a comedy club, Aladjem began recruiting his friends and fellow comedians- including Larry David and Robin Williams- as clients.

Before Aladjem even passed the bar exam, he had a client base of 15 entertainers. After seven years with the prestigious entertainment law firm Armstrong, Hirsch, Jackoway, Tyerman & Wertheimer, left the law business to test his talents as a film producer.

Finding production was not in line with his talents or interests, Aladjem moved on to start a personal management company with a friend. In 1992, Aladjem was offered a spot on the national advance team for future president Bill Clinton. Aladjem worked on the team through inauguration where, after once again making the right connection, Aladjem then moved on to head up the grassroots marketing campaign for the World Cup.

For reasons many students can relate to- “I was spending $5 for every $1 I made”- Aladjem decided to move back to Los Angeles and test out a new career- that of an agent.

“I can’t act, sing, or dance,” he said, “but what I do have is the ability to marry creative talent with creative opportunity.” Indeed, Aladjem quickly rose through the ranks of the Writers and Artists Agency and was named its CEO in 1999.

Aladjem acknowledged that the entertainment industry can be tricky to navigate, as the career path is not as clearly defined as a doctor or lawyer.

"In the entertainment industry, there is no one path to success. There are many paths to failure, but no one path to success,” he said.

Aladjem recommended getting ahead through two main facets. First, Aladjem suggested really understanding the industry in your chosen field. “Be a student of your industry, “ he suggested. Secondly, “find successful people in your field” who will mentor or advise you. “I don’t want to say history repeats itself,” he said, “but history unfolds in largely the same way.” Most importantly, Aladjem stated, is to commit to excellence.

“If you do the process right, success is inevitable,” he said.

Aladjem stressed to start small but dream big. While he promised that, if each person in attendance called he would return every call within 48 hours, in reality an agent of his stature cannot develop the craft of every person coming through his office. Not for a lack of want, but a lack of time.

Giving interview advice, Aladjem stressed the importance of researching the prospective company- “especially with Google, it is criminal not to be informed”- as well as the importance of being an active listener.

Anna Lawson, a senior political science major, agreed with Aladjem on the importance of research. “I once interviewed for an internship where I was tested on the company’s high-profile officials as well as its history,” she said, “I had not done my research and could not answer most of the questions. Needless to say, I didn’t get the job.”

In the entertainment industry, as well as most career fields, Aladjem stated that rejection is inevitable and, usually, not personal. However, Aladjem encouraged those in attendance to keep persevering and, eventually through hard work, dedication, and timing, the right opportunity would emerge.

That message of reality and hope was a central theme in Aladjem’s speech, and he summarized it best when speaking of the possibility of “making it’ in Hollywood.

“It’s brutally, brutally hard,” he said, “and yet it happens every day.”