SMU theatre students had a surprise on Monday afternoon.Scriptwriter, novelist, producer and actor Stephen Cannell, knownfor such shows as “Rockford Files” and “21 JumpStreet,” spoke for an hour about his accomplishments and hardtimes and offered advice to Hollywood hopefuls.
Cannell opened up the hour by telling students, “Thiscareer is in your grasp.”
But, he said this career path is not easy. The 60-year-oldCannell, who has severe dyslexia, told students it took him fiveand a half years to sell his first television script, but he”wanted it more than anything” which is what kept himtrying for so long.
He gave examples from his 35-year-old daughter’s career toillustrate that making it in showbiz is not easy.
He said that when his daughter was interning she would go andobserve the set of “NYPD Blue.” Cannell said she wouldarrive on set at 5:15 a.m. and leave at wrap at 8 p.m.
Once all of her fellow interns decided they were not going tostay around for all the nonsense, she was given her first directingassignment.
This is a great example of how you have to overachieve in showbusiness, he said.
After some general advice, he opened the floor forquestions.
Most of the students wanted to know how to differentiatethemselves from everyone else in Los Angeles who wants a career inshowbiz.
Cannell said that aside from being handsome and beautiful, youhave to be a great at what you do.
A student in the crowd asked Cannell what his favoritetelevision show was, and he responded with a long line of shows hehad produced.
He spoke of “Rockford Files,” “Beretta,””Great American Hero,” “Wise Guy,””Renegade” and “21 Jump Street.”
“I get ideas constantly. … It’s so easy evena fool can do it,” Cannell said.
When Cannell ended his talk, he said he would “much ratherbe your teammate than your boss.” There is no room forcockiness and that everyone is human, he said.
Cannell’s wife Marsha and daughter Chelsea, a seniorcinema-television major at SMU, were among the audience.
He is a very brilliant man and father, Marsha Cannell said.
