The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian

"It’s important not only to empower ourselves, but to empower each other. We are 200% stronger together than we are as an individual in our common endeavors.”

Imagine a Post Department where you feel a sense of community and mutual respect.

Imagine a Post Department where you are consulted about schedule changes and asked for your input in solving problems.

Imagine a Post Producer who allows for flexibility to balance both work and life responsibilities.

Imagine a Post Producer who believes you should get paid for every hour you work (yes...even nights and weekends!) and wants you to go home when your work is complete…even if it’s before your twelve hours are up.

This is the world that Producer Janace Tashjian has created one show after another during her 30+ year career in the film and television industry, having worked in the past on big name movies such as Avatar and TV shows like Entourage, Shooter, From the Earth to the Moon, Dark Angel, and Ballers (to name just a few).

I’ve spent multiple seasons editing shows alongside Janace, so I can say first hand that she runs her departments in a way that allows for everyone to do their best work while also having a life. In fact, every person I meet who has worked with Janace says the same thing: BEST show I have ever worked on.

So it’s no surprise that when Janace read my article, Dear Hollywood: We Don’t Want to “Go Back to Normal”she struggled to relate to some of the complaints about long hours, people being taken advantage of, and having no work life balance. In today’s conversation we discuss these issues as well as the ways that Janace creates the positive working environments that so many editors appreciate and love.

I hope what you hear today provides a new perspective and a refreshing look at what is possible when we come together and work as a team.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• The limiting beliefs we work up in our mind are sometimes inflated to what’s happening in the real world.
• Becoming your own self advocate is necessary to setting boundaries and for finding the people willing to listen and want to help.
• The way to release the pressure of saying yes and the fear of being the difficult one to ensure that everyone’s needs are being met and proper expectations are set from the start.
• The importance of planning contingencies in creating schedules so people aren’t getting burned out.
• KEY TAKEAWAY: The quality of the questions you ask determines the quality of your life.
• The core question Janace asks at the start of each project and throughout the process: “What do I need to do to make sure that everyone on my team has what they need to succeed?"
• Why she sees the Post department (Post coordinator, Post supervisor, PA) and the editors and their assistants as one entity and builds the team to work as one cohesive unit.
• She expects that everyone on the team supports each other and works towards one common goal to make the best product possible.
• Her thoughts on the 60 hour work week on call editor classification
• She believes that there should be communication about the work that is being asked and that flexibility is important for both sides so that life and work demands are met for everyone involved.
• When it comes to tight deadlines and working overtime, Janace’s motto is: “How can we help each other figure this situation out?”
• The importance of recognizing and addressing self talk that can be inhibiting your ability to set boundaries.
• Asking for help is not a sign of personal failure.
• We now have the opportunity to share concerns and find interventions that will benefit the whole without compromising the results

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Dear Hollywood: We Don’t Want to “Go Back to Normal.” Normal Wasn’t Working.

Ep111: Parenting In a Post-Pandemic Hollywood | with Natalie Boschan, Bari Winter, Yvette Amirian ACE, and Monica Daniel

Ep112: On Signing COVID Waivers, Kit Rental Fees, and Working Humane Hours | with Cathy Repola, MPEG National Executive Director

Dear Hollywood: It’s Time For An Intervention About The Hours We Work [Change.org Petition Inside]

Guest Bio:

Janace Tashjian is a producer and production manager, known for Avatar (2009), Ballers (2016 - (2018), Shooter (2017) - (2018), 2 Guns(2013) and From the Earth to the Moon (1998).

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).