Birthday Thoughts for an Ambitious Year

The facebook response to my birthday has been wonderful and (happily) overwhelming. Since there's no way to respond to everyone personally, I thought I'd put a few reflections down here, and share the link with whoever would like to read.

This past year has been incredible. With the faith that so many of you put in me, I was able to raise money for, shoot and finish a feature film (www.amodestsuggestion.com). That in itself is an achievement many people with an interest in filmmaking can only dream of, and it's something I could not have done without so much support from all of you.

Looking ahead, I've got some big new horizons to conquer this year. At the end of May, Talia and I are packing up and shipping out, crossing the country to California, where Talia begins a three year residency in Family Medicine. Of course, I will be working in the industry... somewhere.

In the past, the prospect of a job hunt always intimidated me. It was depressing, sending my resume out to companies I didn't care for, for jobs I didn't want (but that I needed!). Rejections flew at me left and right (because, after all, I've never successfully hidden the fact that I've got a one-track professional mind). But this job hunt is very different. I'm looking for jobs that I REALLY want, in the heart of the industry that I love, in the place where the magic (otherwise known as 'really hard work') of film happens every minute of every day. Now, the job-hunting tasks that I set for myself are the tasks I look forward to the most.

But just like making a film, finding a job isn't something that can be done alone. If any of you know anyone who knows anyone at all in the film business (especially in Hollywood, and even more especially in a production company or an agency), please let me know! From everything I'm reading, it appears that contacts, connections and real-life interactions get people jobs, not resumes and websites. I know that once I land there, it will be on account of many of you who step in to help, and I thank you all in advance for it.

If you'd like to help, but you can't think of any connections to suggest, how about looking over my web-presence? In particular, I'm trying to pare down my online resume (http://www.visualcv.com/shorr) and to make sure everything on my youtube channel represents only my best material (www.youtube.com/oxrockproductions). I do need to update and upgrade the OxRock website, and I'm considering launching a more personally-oriented website to specifically focus on my own career and credits.

Any advice or suggestions on any of these sites (or anywhere on the web that I can control my self-presentation) would be extremely valuable and welcome.

I'm feeling very good about this upcoming year. I've got fantastic friends, wonderful collaborators, an amazing family and a loving wife (who's willingly and happily launching herself across the country so I can pursue my dream!) It's hard to imagine how I could really be luckier (lottery winnings aside, of course!)

-Arnon