EPPS Reveals The Art of Interviewing

EPPS Workshop in Hollywood

“Take A Copy of Your Resume Says National Recruiter” at Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) LA Workshop

By George S. Mc Quade III

“Often the hiring chief has not had time to look at your resume, so you should be ready to tell them about your four or five skill set,” Pamela Robinson, a entertainment recruiter and career expert told about 50 publicists at an Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) Business Wire-sponsored event, held at the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG Local 600) auditorium in Hollywood recently (4-15-07). “You want to let people see your personality, and talk about your broad base interest,” she said. Robinson, who is the co-author of the book “If I don’t Do It Now. Career Makeovers For The Working Woman,” also writes the Online career column for www.VarietyCareers.com. Robinson drew a laugh in warning people who talk about extra curricular activities like skydiving in an interview, which makes you appear to be high risk, she said.

Robinson is a premiere leader in executive search and is the founder/owner of the Robinson Company. She began her career in New York City working for an employment agency. Two years later she Robinson founded her own search firm, Carlton Management Limited, which specialized in the placement of accounting and financial professionals. After moving to LA in the late 70’s, she worked for Search West before opening her own entertainment search firm in 1985. The Robinson Company places executives in all areas of the entertainment business and has a specialty in the marketing and creative services area.

“Establish a comfort zone, look at the environment in the office and if you see a stuffed fish feel free to strike up a conversation about it,” said Madelyn Hammond, senior vice president of sales, marketing and retail for Landmark Theaters. “Learn how to ask questions in the office. You don’t want to take job and learn it wasn’t what you expected it to be. Do your research, show interest in the person, and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to talk about disasters on the job, they build character and it shows you can handle adversity,” said Hammond, who is also an EPPS Board member.

Hammond develops strategic alliances and revenue-generating opportunities, marketing, creative services and retail sales of specialized merchandise. Prior to working for Landmark Theatres, she was a producer of Sunday Morning Shootout, the AMC weekly talk show featuring Daily Variety Editor-in-Chief Peter Bart and Peter Guber. For eight years she served as chief marketing officer and associate publisher of Daily Variety and before that was with Sony Pictures Consumer Products, MGM/UA, and Turner Pictures.

Hammond and Robinson conducted interactive interview situations involving members from the audience that came up front and center to be introduced and critiqued on first impressions. Each participant was given personal advice on how to get an edge on the interview.

“Eye contact and a good handshake are important,” said Hammond as participants took turns socializing at a mock networking situation. “Don’t take a network meeting unless you come away with specific information or you’re wasting your time. If you work for an abusive boss, you don’t want to be a victim, but show strength. If they ask you why you’re leaving, you can reply ‘I’m not challenged anymore, never bring up anything negative.”

Hammond offered these tips having been on both sides of the fence and currently supervising several employees. “I have only 20 minutes to get to know you,” she said. “Be ready to answer the questions like, ‘what are you looking for in this job.’” Hammond and Robinson both agreed that job candidates should also know their accomplishments and even rehearse them in front of a mirror. “Before you interview, rehearse various interview scenarios with yourself and a trusted colleague,” said Robinson.

Money is the number one factor people look to move on, according to Robinson.

“It’s the people, they’re out of work, need to be challenged or money,” she said. As for closing the deal, “don’t send gift baskets, a handwritten note is perfect. Write a thank you note with a reminder about your skill set that fit the job.”

Anderson answers a few job seeker questions each month at www.varietycareers.com.
You can email your questions to AskPamela@ReedbBusiness.com. Variety Careers may select it to feature on the site with Pamela Robinson's response. To ask Madelyn Hammond career questions send your inquiries to: madelynh@mac.com.

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Anti-Piracy Technology Company Rock Solid In Security

SafeMedia Corp. Technology Applies A Tourniquet
On Hollywood’s Bleeding Internet Piracy

***

California loses $407 million, including $213 million in lost
state income taxes, and $194 million in sales taxes study says

by George S. McQuade III

Hollywood, CA — SafeMedia Corporation, based in Boca Raton, Florida has developed technology that completely wipes out illegal file sharing. “SafeMedia’s ‘Clouseau®’ makes it impossible for anyone to send or receive any illegal Peer-2-Peer transmissions or file sharing,” said President Safwat Fahmy, the founder and CEO of SafeMedia Corporation. “Clouseau® examines all incoming and outgoing packets of information, destroys all illegal P2P while legal P2P goes to its desired location without any delay.” SafeMedia has retained MAYO Communications, Los Angeles to help spread the word that its core technologies are the best and only solution to ending Online piracy.

"Current technology is worthless in stopping P2P piracy,” he explained. “What was needed is a totally new approach in system architecture, and the Clouseau® is the best-of-breed Internet Piracy Prevention solution. It was designed from scratch specifically to stop all P2P Internet piracy no matter where it originates world wide."

According to a study released this year by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), state and local governments lose three times from piracy. First, they lose the sales taxes that should have been paid on the copied items. Next, they lose additional taxes when lost business revenues translate into lower spending and fewer jobs. And third, they bear the increased police, court, and prison costs associated with combating counterfeiting and related criminal activity.

The MPAA commissioned study reveals that the sound recording industry lost billions to piracy in 2005: sales of pirated music CDs were worth an estimated $4.5 billion and there were about 20 billion illegal downloads,” said Study Author Greg Freeman, vice president, Public Policy and Consulting, LAEDC.

“Valuing the illegal downloads is trickier still, yet even a modest value of 10 cents per song suggests further industry losses of $2 billion,” explained Freeman. “Global sales (physical and digital) of music in 2005 were $33.5 billion, with The Recording Industry Assn. of America (RIAA) members (U.S. companies) accounting for about 37 percent of the sales. Assuming a proportionate share of the global losses suggest U.S. firms lost $2.4 billion to piracy in 2005. Using the Los Angeles County’s share of national employment in the sound recording industry (36 percent) suggests losses to L.A. County of $851 million.”

“The technology moves through multi-layered encryptions, analyzes network patterns and updates itself frequently,” explained Fahmy. “The packet examinations are noninvasive and foolproof. Clouseau® prevents the illegal back and forth flow of copyrighted files like you would find through LimeWire, Morpheus or eMule. This technology prevents a real loss to the industry.”

Advanced technology and a unique approach to fingerprinting and DNA markers created by SafeMedia allow the thorough examination of all incoming and outgoing packets: illegal P2P is eradicated, while legal P2P passes along to its destination with no measurable delay.

At the industry level, the RIAA has threatened some of the nation’s top universities with copyright infringement lawsuits, and hundreds of pre-litigation letters have been sent to students who have illegally downloaded thousands of songs. They’ve been given the option of settling for $3,000 - $5,000 or face lawsuits for up to $750 per song or more than $1 million in fines.

“For the first time ever, policy makers have the solution to insure compliance with the law. Businesses, universities, organizations and Internet users can comply in a friendly, positive environment without expensive and hostile legal action enforcement. Copyright holders can finally make the Internet available as a safe, viable distribution channel for all content industries,” said Fahmy.

About SafeMedia Corporation
SafeMedia’s technologies provide individual users, businesses, educational institutions, and public/private organizations with an immediate, effective way to totally safeguard their network infrastructure from every risks associated with illegal file sharing of copyrighted files, insure 24/7/365 compliance with all federal and state digital copyright laws and eliminate the risk of legal prosecution. For more about the unique technology visit: www.SafeMediaCorp.com.

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