Kathi Carey talks about Jane Sullivan (Interview)

[After producing 500 half-hour installments of my television series (Interview) from 1985-2001, and more recently launching a French version of the show, I have begun producing the series in English again. Here Kathi Carey, a veteran of the original series, talks of our recent taping.]

Q: How would you describe Jane Sullivan?

KC: I would describe Jane as a woman who has a strong sense of right and wrong ... a woman who knows how to take care of herself and someone, ultimately, who exacted her own form of reciprocity in a highly unusual way.

Q: What aspect of your own character did you bring to this role?

KC: My own philosophy regarding fairness, privacy and, of course, relationships in general.

Q: Did you have any difficulties in performing this role?

KC: It was as easy as two friends talking over coffee.

Q: What was the method of working with Stephen?

KC: Stephen has his own unique way of working with actors--he likes to get to know you a bit and then craft a role and a story that will use your unique strengths and personality so that you’re not “acting” per se, but instead inhabiting the role ... being the character from the inside out. Having done a couple dozen of these “Interview” shows I must say it’s the most fun I’ve had in front of a camera!

What is the difference between managing "Hollywood" talent and business executives?

Having managed actors, writers and directors for the better part of thirty years, I've been asked what is the difference between managing "Hollywood" talent and business executives. For me, there is no difference since the objectives are the same: Increase the client's visibility in the public media so as to attract enhanced offers and to proliferate sources of cash flow to the client.

The only difference I have to deal with is that, while every actor, writer and director I ever dealt with understood the need for strategic management and actively sought it out, business executives rarely understand the subject and believe that mailing out résumés and phoning their network contacts constitutes marketing. What this actually does is to advertise your misfortune rather than to create a demand for your services.

A presence in the media is the fastest way to double or triple an executive's earnings and television is the optimum outlet. It is a tool I've been using since 1980, so I speak from experience.

The question is: What does it take for an executive to see that television will do things a résumé could never hope to accomplish? The answer to this question could mean the difference between comedy and tragedy.

Andy Grove

From a friend:

"I thought this was an appropriate quote for you, attributed to Andy Grove: 'Your career is your business, and you are its CEO.'"