The associate producer for "That '70's Show" and "3rd Rock fromthe Sun," spoke to students about details and necessary skills oftelevision and movie production and writing.
Timothy Ryder, a fifth generation Los Angeles native, had aquick response to the number of people who come to Los Angeles totry to break into the television and movie industries.
"Pack your bags and go back to where you came from," Ryder said."It's ruthless; people are here to make money."
Ryder suggested other cities, such as Chicago, New York, Torontoand Houston, as better places to get into the industries.
"Houston is becoming a town where films are created," Rydersaid. "The quality of crew has increased and chances of gettingonto a crew in Houston than what you would have in LA. Chicago hasbig opportunities for advertisements."
No matter where a person chooses to go to try to get into eitherindustry, building relationships and getting to know people is akey to success, Ryder said.
"A hot coffee, correctly served, can help in the future," Rydersaid. "Getting contacts and building relationships is the wholebusiness."
Right now, reality television is the best type of programming tostart with, Ryder said. Reality television shows require the sameamount of manpower as any other television, but they run on muchsmaller budgets.
"If you are working for a reality television show, you get afoot in the door, you meet people and can make money to pay rentand, hopefully, eat," Ryder said.
Though a glamorous life may be portrayed when describing a jobinvolved in the movies and television, reality is harsher.
"This is a terrible business, you have to have passion," Rydersaid. "If you're not sure, forget it. I lived in my car when Istarted. I could lose everything again and I would still tryagain."
Ryder credited his education for a large part of his success andurged students at Ball State to use the resources they haveavailable to them.
"There are incredible assets here," Ryder said. "If you want toget into the business after college, try to get as much as you candone while you are here."
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