Creativity is the ability to create, produce, or develop original work theories, techniques, thoughts and ways of seeing. You are creative, whether you tap into it or not, and you take your creativity wherever you go, and I think it's often overlooked how valuable creativity is as a transferable skill: the abilities you take from job to job.

Here to discuss is BAFTA-nominated television director, Ed Bazalgette, who exemplifies creativity as a transferable skill, having first found success as a musician, then editor, and now director and producer. I first met Ed when he was the lead guitarist for The Vapors, supporting their global hit, Turning Japanese, and I've been a super fan ever since. Please do yourself a favor and check out the power-pop majesty of their full albums, New Clear Days and Magnets.

Ed's directing credits include Dr. Who, Poldark, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, and The Witcher.

Ed opened my eyes in so many ways:

• stay humble
• there's room for more than one person's creativity on a project
• creating an environment that fosters sharing creative ideas serves the project
• leadership, communications and soft skills are essential
• never stop learning and questioning what's in service of the story
• combine a let's try it! mentality with discipline
• the ripple effect of creativity as a transferable skill because the more you put out there, the more everybody working with you takes with them to the next thing they do

Ed's currently in post-production on Marie Antoinette for PBS.

For more on creativity, listen to Maria Brito discuss how Creativity Rules the World.

For more on breaking into directing, listen to Mike Simon discuss Directing Talent.

If you want to know how to build a sustainable and successful career, then look no further because this episode of Camera Ready & Abel delivers a masterclass from 2 titans of the unscripted television world, Roni Selig and Marcie Mulé.

Roni is a multi-Emmy-winning producer whose credits span from GMA to CNN most recently launched a new digital platform for The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and executive produced The Call to Unite, a 24-hour global livestream event, hosted by Tim Shriver in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.

Marcie is a two-time Emmy-winning producer for the Bravo series Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List and the former co-founder of Picture This Television, a full -service production company that created programming for Bravo, Lifetime, TLC, Food Network, MTV and PBS.

Now Roni and Marcie have joined forces to create RonMar Studios Inc, producing innovative unscripted content from long form documentaries and reality programs to digital fundraisers, live streams including and musical performances. These legends dive into the role their rugged, resourceful, and resilient work ethic played in growing and sustaining a successful career.

Learn more about RonMar Studios Inc. by visiting their website at www.ronmarstudios.com and check out their impressive body of work.

This is one of my favorite evergreen episodes.

Chris Witherspoon is an entertainment journalist, producer, entrepreneur and CEO of PopViewers who taught me how his career soared to the next level when he unlearned the importance of seeking approval. Instead of looking outward he focused inward on his approval matrix: Feeling happy, great in his own skin, confident and loving his work.

As a recovering people pleaser I know firsthand how much time and energy is wasted seeking approval.

Chris has overcome enormous challenges to create his life and career. Therapy, digging dip and doing the hard work helped Chris learn to let go of needing approval. So did listening to the sage advice of two very wise women:

Sister Harden (14:17) - one of the church muthas at his congregation growing up in Ohio - told Chris before he left for college, “If you don’t see the example, be the example."

Oprah has a soft spot for Chris as an interviewer and shared with him how, when the chips are down and you feel you're at rock bottom, go sit under a tree, get settled and at peace with the moment so you can receive the answers you seek (21:13) and how early in her career she sacrificed her authenticity and integrity in exchange for approval and never made that mistake again (25:54).

Bonus tip: Oprah always repeats your name when you interview her. So does Barack Obama.

More key takeaways:

Ask what makes you happy?

Ask what makes you feel alive?

Ask what makes you jump out of bed in the morning?

Ask for help - it's an act of bravery.

Chris is the founder and CEO of PopViewers, the platform that helps you find what to watch next, invites you to react to the TV and movies you’ve watched, and encourages you to share the experience with fellow content-lovers.

Follow Chris on instagram @witherspoonc and connect on LinkedIn.

My guest for this episode, Shannon O'Dowd, has one of the most unique perspectives of the camera-ready universe of anyone I've ever interviewed because her experience covers every aspect of the industry both in-front of and behind the camera. Shannon is an on-camera host, commercial spokesperson, actor, media trainer, certified life coach, author, CEO of Shannon O'Dowd Presents and agent with Taylor Talent Services.

When Shannon says determination is essential for success, she knows what she's talking about. She also revealed:

• Being a performing and earning a living at it is one of the most challenging things you can do
• If you wake up in the morning and there is anything else that you wanna do for a living, you should go do that
• Be coachable and open to feedback - it's as important as your determination
• Learn to adjust your vision and pivot with purpose (you'll reap the rewards)
• Ask yourself: Who do I need to know? and Who needs to know me?

Follow Shannon on Instagram @theshannonodowd.

Explore Shannon’s brand positioning course

Visit Taylor Talent Services

Listen to Shannon's partner, Blair Taylor discuss How To Create Opportunity and Make Money

Seizing opportunity is essential to getting ahead in media and entertainment. It is not a passive, I-think-I'll-wait-until-it-comes-to-me kind of a business.

You not only have to seize the day - carpe your diem - you have to do something with the opportunity if you want to move forward in your life and career.

My guest for this episode, Hena Doba, generously walks me through how she did just that, going from a local news producer, behind the camera in Watertown, NY, to anchor and contributor on national programs from CBS News (where she became one of the first Pakistani anchors in America) to Cheddar (where we met) to NewsNation where Hena now hosts the weekend edition of Morning in America.

Key takeaways:

• Be adaptable
• Take smart risks
• Listen to feedback
• Invest in training
• Learn how to write and tell a story
• Know how to use video and communicate with your audience through a lens
• Observe industry standards (as well as the competition)
• Know the competition
• Study your weaknesses
• Work through insecurities
• Play to your strengths

Connect with Hena on Instagram and LinkedIn.

If you have a word, phrase, or topic you'd like me to explore on Camera Ready & Abel, please shoot me a note by my website or send me a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn.

It's one thing to get in the room. It's a whole other strategy to stay there. Here to discuss and go deep is multi-Emmy award winning television host, producer and journalist, Buki Elegbede.

Buki shares that when you get in the room it feels good and it's a cause for celebration but it's only base camp. You've still got a whole mountain to climb. 

• Be prepared to play the long game
• When the industry shuts down, you don't shut down - you hone your craft and strategize
• Embrace delayed gratification and know that the rewards will come later
• Ask yourself: and then what?
• Stay ready so you never have to get ready
• Focus on relationships

Buki is the creator/host/executive producer of the Emmy award winning Table for All, which takes you into NJ restaurants and home kitchens to try new cuisines, meet the people and hear their fascinating stories behind the recipes, serving up a cinematic docu-series focusing on culture and diversity. Buki has also produced content for ABC, ESPN, Create TV, PBS, Disney and Health Magazine + has produced & hosted docu-series, talk shows, panel shows and LIVE events. 

Watch Table for All with Buki Elegbede, check out Work Ethic is a Supower, Buki’s previous episode of Camera Ready & Abel and follow Buki on IG @thebukishow.

This episode of Camera, Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase, How to Know When You Are Ready for Your Big Break. It's an important question to ponder because, let's face it, the world is full of people you don't remember who flamed out because they weren't ready. And it's very hard to get a second chance, especially in the entertainment arena. But it's not impossible.

My guest for this episode is Kamie Crawford - television and podcast host, content creator, genuine influencer, body positivity activist, former Miss Teen USA, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Rookie of the Year and host of Catfish on MTV - who generously opens up about how unprepared she was the first time we met at an audition for E!. 

Kamie was a 19-year old college student who made an enormous impression on me that day. She had that ineffable quality, that IT factor, but she wasn't ready for her TV break yet. Unbeknownst to be, Kamie was a puddle of nerves and tears on her way to my office.

With enormous candor and vulnerability, Kamie explains how she struggled to learn how to connect to herself in order to connect to the camera, the content and the audience to build her career.  By the time Kamie auditioned for Catfish on MTV, she blew them away. Her confidence was through the roof and she owned it. There was no one else who could step into that role like she could, and Kamie quickly became a fan favorite. 

Key takeaways:

• It's okay to say I'm not ready 
• Learn the difference between caution and fear
• Focus on doing the work of developing your craft - and stick with it
• Build connections and find people who can help you
• When you are ready mentally, emotionally and physically the dots will connect and opportunities will come to you

Have fun and keep up with Kamie at www.kamiecrawford.com, on Instagram, in Sports Illustrated and her check out her podcast Relationsh*t.

If you want to feel confident and prepared for your big break - or your next presentation - I'd love to work with you. Shoot me a note via my website abelintermedia.com. 

This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase Redefining Success, a personal, perennial favorite of mine. The Berkeley Wellbeing Institute defines success as: reaching your goals, learning something new or overcoming fear. If that's what success is, why don't we all feel massively successful?

My guest for this episode, Leila Sbitani, is a beloved TV host, media coach and teacher with one of the best workshops in New York City (I highly recommend). Her list of credits is a mile long. Highlights include: Entertainment Tonight, Full Frontal Fashion, FYE for E! and most recently Sit Down With the Stars for Regal Cinemas.

Leila says success happened for her when she "had to get rid of that kind of rigid career plan that I had for myself and realize that if I would just let go of that and open myself up to unexpected opportunities, wonderful things can happen.” 

She then had to dig deep and redefine success for herself when a cousin, at a family gathering, turned to her and said, "oh, it never really happened for you did it?" Her cousin was equating fame with success, that because Leila wasn't a household name she hadn't "made it."

This is a false narrative. Fame does not equal success. Nor do followers and likes. 

If you are making a living as a performer - television host, presenter, actor, voice artist etc - you are successful. 

Celebrate your wins. 

Learn more about Leila and her classes + private coaching (virtual and in person) at https://www.leilasbitani.com/media-training and follow @leilasbitani on all platforms.