Corey Miller On How To Break Into The Business

CSI: Miami writer Corey Miller was asked recently how to succeed in the entertainment industry. Though the writer admitted to not having an answer, he hoped his own story could serve as example.

Miller started working on the set of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman as a production assistant. "I started during the first season, and by season three I had decided I wanted to be a writer. I stalked John McNamara, one of the show's writer/producers, until he would read a spec sample I had written. Long story short, he indulged me, and let me pitch stories to him. One of which he bought. Suddenly I was twenty-four years old, and got my first story credit on a TV show."

But after that high came a disappointing low. "Having no knowledge of the business, I figured I was on the fast track to fame and fortune," Miller added. "My episode was produced. It aired to an audience of millions. I anxiously awaited the inevitable barrage of phone calls from agents and producers who were no doubt salivating at the very thought of working with me. I didn't get one call, and went back to work the next day making photocopies, answering phones, and filing paperwork."

Miller continued to write, mostly fruitlessly, but admitted he never gave up. His persistence eventually paid off. "In August of 2000 I received a call from my friend Ben Kunde telling me that he heard of an open Writer's Assistant position on some new television show called Crime Scene Investigation. The offices were a good forty-five minutes from my home, but I wasn't one to turn down an opportunity until the facts were in."

"I met with Carol Mendelsohn, and as it turned out, the open position was for an Executive Producer's Assistant. Not only that, but she was the Show Runner. We hit it off immediately, and she offered me the job. I read Anthony Zuiker's script of the Pilot episode, thought it was really cool, and accepted. Judging from my past experiences, it was no wonder I told my wife, 'At least I'll get a few months of work before it gets cancelled.'"

Miller eventually became a full time write for the show, and was later transferred to CSI: Miami. He has 13 episodes under his belt thus far. "Even though I still don't know how to succeed in the entertainment business, I do know that Southern California is filled with people who came to 'Hollywood' to stake a claim, met with some opposition, and bowed out. It is certainly not for everyone. But I still hold it to be true that if you believe in yourself, relish every opportunity and take full advantage of each one, all those pistons will eventually fire simultaneously."

Visit Miller's blog to read more about his experiences in Hollywood.

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