ALWAYS FIND YOUR ROCK

A major filmmaker discusses the importance of having a trusted confidant

- WILL PACKER

IN OUR industry, everyone is focused on titles and positions. They want to meet the big shots, the presidents, the CEOS, the heads of marketing and distribution and film production. I'm that big shot to a lot of folks. A lot of them are trying to get to me. But let me tell you who truly has my ear: Shayla. As my executive assistant, she was my trusted advisor, and her opinion weighed heavily in my decisions. Yet, despite her immense value, people would often overlook her. They would skip over her and try to go straight to me, thinking that I was the one solely making the decisions. But I knew better.

I knew that Shayla was one of the crucial keys to my success. One of the best ways to judge someone is how they treat people whom they perceive can't offer them anything. I learned early in my career to be savvy and find the Shayla in every person's life.