Why Helping Your Friends Might Be the Smartest Career Move You Can Make (Especially in TV)

In television, most of us grew up freelancing… hustling from project to project, chasing the next call sheet, constantly proving ourselves. It teaches you to compete. You’re trained to protect your lane, guard your contacts, and hold your ideas close.

But I think it’s time to shift that thinking.

The truth is, competition isn’t what’s holding us back… isolation is.

Right now, the most exciting things happening in this industry are coming from collaboration. Creators, producers, editors, and visionaries joining forces to make something bigger than any one person could make alone. 

When you help a friend get their project off the ground, you’re not “giving away” your time or resources… you’re investing in a circle that will eventually lift you higher, too. 

When we pool experience, share crews, share strategy, share knowledge, everyone wins.

The TV industry is full of talented people who know how to be scrappy and go after their dreams. 

We did it early in our careers and we can do it again. But this time around we have a pool of talented friends and colleagues who can help us. 

I know it's a tough time in the industry... but remember that feeling of excitement, determination and drive that you felt when you were just starting out? Dig deep and try to connect with that again.

Then, reach out and collaborate because we rise faster and stronger when we rise together.

In this new era of television and content creation, friendship is strategy. 

What's the last thing you volunteered your skills for? I want to hear about it in the comments. 

Here's one of mine: 

This summer, when my friend Patrick Caligiuri wanted to start a podcast series, I volunteered to produce it. Within a week I had a group of friends and colleagues who donated their time, enthusiasm and vision to the project. 

Daniel Gámez donated his Happy Hour Studios location; John Parenteau threw in cameras; Rajan Shandil and Jim Morrison IV - DGC oversaw the design and 3 camera setup; Jeff Eberle production managed; Wilfredo Hernandez offered to edit; Cassandra Ellis was set to run camera; Solange Florentina Brunet Bustamante offered to film BTS. 

The week before filming, Patrick called it off... because actual paid work got in the way!

But we were excited and ready to go! 

So, thank you to my friends who are always willing to jump in and have some fun!